Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

October 13, 2023,

by and among

GRAHAM CORPORATION,

as Borrower,

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Lender

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

             Page  
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS      1  
 

SECTION 1.1

 

Definitions

     1  

  

 

SECTION 1.2

 

Other Definitions and Provisions

     30  
 

SECTION 1.3

 

Accounting Terms

     30  
 

SECTION 1.4

 

UCC Terms

     31  
 

SECTION 1.5

 

Rounding

     31  
 

SECTION 1.6

 

References to Agreement and Laws

     31  
 

SECTION 1.7

 

Times of Day

     31  
 

SECTION 1.8

 

Guarantees/Earn-Outs

     31  
 

SECTION 1.9

 

Covenant Compliance Generally

     31  
 

SECTION 1.10

 

Rates

     31  
 

SECTION 1.11

 

Divisions

     32  
ARTICLE II REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY      32  
 

SECTION 2.1

 

Revolving Credit Loans

     32  
 

SECTION 2.2

 

[Reserved]

     32  
 

SECTION 2.3

 

Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans

     32  
 

SECTION 2.4

 

Repayment and Prepayment of Revolving Credit Loans

     33  
 

SECTION 2.5

 

Permanent Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment

     34  
 

SECTION 2.6

 

Termination of Revolving Credit Facility

     34  
ARTICLE III LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITIES      34  
 

SECTION 3.1

 

Letter of Credit Availability

     34  
 

SECTION 3.2

 

Terms of Letters of Credit

     35  
 

SECTION 3.3

 

Procedure for Issuance and Disbursement of Letters of Credit

     35  
 

SECTION 3.4

 

Commissions and Other Charges

     36  
 

SECTION 3.5

 

Reimbursement

     36  
 

SECTION 3.6

 

Obligations Absolute

     37  
 

SECTION 3.7

 

Effect of Letter of Credit Documents

     38  
 

SECTION 3.8

 

Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries

     38  
 

SECTION 3.9

 

Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account

     38  
 

SECTION 3.10

 

Permanent Reduction of the Cash Secured L/C Commitment

     39  
 

SECTION 3.11

 

Letter of Credit Amounts

     39  
 

SECTION 3.12

 

Cash Collateral for Extended Revolving Letters of Credit

     39  
ARTICLE IV [RESERVED]      40  

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

 

              Page  
ARTICLE V GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS      40  

  

 

SECTION 5.1

 

Interest

     40  
 

SECTION 5.2

 

Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans

     41  

  

 

SECTION 5.3

 

Fees

     41  
 

SECTION 5.4

 

Manner of Payment

     42  
 

SECTION 5.5

 

Evidence of Indebtedness

     42  
 

SECTION 5.6

 

Changed Circumstances

     42  
 

SECTION 5.7

 

Indemnity

     44  
 

SECTION 5.8

 

Increased Costs

     45  
 

SECTION 5.9

 

Taxes

     46  
 

SECTION 5.10

 

Designation of a Different Lending Office

     47  
 

SECTION 5.11

 

Revolving Credit Facility Increases

     47  

ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING

     48  
 

SECTION 6.1

 

Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit

     48  
 

SECTION 6.2

 

Conditions to All Extensions of Credit

     51  
 

SECTION 6.3

 

Conditions Precedent to Committed Facility Increase

     52  

ARTICLE VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CREDIT PARTIES

     52  
 

SECTION 7.1

 

Organization; Power; Qualification

     52  
 

SECTION 7.2

 

Ownership

     52  
 

SECTION 7.3

 

Authorization; Enforceability

     52  
 

SECTION 7.4

 

Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing with Laws, Etc.

     53  
 

SECTION 7.5

 

Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals

     53  
 

SECTION 7.6

 

Tax Returns and Payments

     53  
 

SECTION 7.7

 

Intellectual Property Matters

     54  
 

SECTION 7.8

 

Environmental Matters

     54  
 

SECTION 7.9

 

Employee Benefit Matters

     55  
 

SECTION 7.10

 

Margin Stock

     56  
 

SECTION 7.11

 

Government Regulation

     56  
 

SECTION 7.12

 

Material Contracts

     56  
 

SECTION 7.13

 

Employee Relations

     56  
 

SECTION 7.14

 

Financial Statements

     57  
 

SECTION 7.15

 

No Material Adverse Change

     57  
 

SECTION 7.16

 

Solvency

     57  
 

SECTION 7.17

 

Title to Properties

     57  

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

 

              Page  
 

SECTION 7.18

 

Litigation

     57  

  

 

SECTION 7.19

 

Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions

     57  
 

SECTION 7.20

 

Absence of Defaults

     58  
 

SECTION 7.21

 

Disclosure

     58  

ARTICLE VIII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

     58  
 

SECTION 8.1

 

Financial Statements and Budgets

     58  
 

SECTION 8.2

 

Certificates; Other Reports

     59  
 

SECTION 8.3

 

Notice of Litigation and Other Matters

     60  
 

SECTION 8.4

 

Preservation of Corporate Existence and Related Matters

     61  
 

SECTION 8.5

 

Maintenance of Property and Licenses

     61  
 

SECTION 8.6

 

Insurance

     61  
 

SECTION 8.7

 

Accounting Methods and Financial Records

     62  
 

SECTION 8.8

 

Payment of Taxes and Other Obligations

     62  
 

SECTION 8.9

 

Compliance with Laws and Approvals

     62  
 

SECTION 8.10

 

Environmental Laws

     62  
 

SECTION 8.11

 

Compliance with ERISA

     62  
 

SECTION 8.12

 

Compliance with Material Contracts

     62  
 

SECTION 8.13

 

Visits and Inspections

     62  
 

SECTION 8.14

 

Additional Guarantors and Collateral

     63  
 

SECTION 8.15

 

Use of Proceeds

     64  
 

SECTION 8.16

  Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulation, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions      64  
 

SECTION 8.17

 

Deposit Accounts

     65  
 

SECTION 8.18

 

Further Assurances

     65  
 

SECTION 8.19

 

Post-Closing Matters

     65  

ARTICLE IX NEGATIVE COVENANTS

     65  
 

SECTION 9.1

 

Indebtedness

     66  
 

SECTION 9.2

 

Liens

     67  
 

SECTION 9.3

 

Investments

     69  
 

SECTION 9.4

 

Fundamental Changes

     70  
 

SECTION 9.5

 

Asset Dispositions

     71  
 

SECTION 9.6

 

Restricted Payments

     72  
 

SECTION 9.7

 

Transactions with Affiliates

     72  
 

SECTION 9.8

 

Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents

     73  

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

 

               Page  
 

SECTION 9.9

  

No Further Negative Pledges; Restrictive Agreements

     73  
 

SECTION 9.10

  

Nature of Business

     74  

  

 

SECTION 9.11

  

Sale Leasebacks

     74  
 

SECTION 9.12

  

Disposal of Subsidiary Interests

     74  
 

SECTION 9.13

  

Financial Covenants

     74  
ARTICLE X DEFAULT AND REMEDIES      74  
 

SECTION 10.1

  

Events of Default

     74  
 

SECTION 10.2

  

Remedies

     76  
 

SECTION 10.3

  

Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; Etc.

     77  
 

SECTION 10.4

  

Crediting of Payments and Proceeds

     77  
ARTICLE XI [RESERVED]      77  
ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS      77  
 

SECTION 12.1

  

Notices

     77  
 

SECTION 12.2

  

Amendments, Waivers and Consents

     79  
 

SECTION 12.3

  

Expenses; Indemnity

     79  
 

SECTION 12.4

  

Right of Setoff

     80  
 

SECTION 12.5

  

Governing Law; Jurisdiction, Etc.

     81  
 

SECTION 12.6

  

Waiver of Jury Trial

     81  
 

SECTION 12.7

  

Reversal of Payments

     82  
 

SECTION 12.8

  

Injunctive Relief

     82  
 

SECTION 12.9

  

Successors and Assigns; Participations

     82  
 

SECTION 12.10

  

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

     83  
 

SECTION 12.11

  

Performance of Duties

     84  
 

SECTION 12.12

  

All Powers Coupled with Interest

     84  
 

SECTION 12.13

  

Survival

     84  
 

SECTION 12.14

  

Titles and Captions

     84  
 

SECTION 12.15

  

Severability of Provisions

     84  
 

SECTION 12.16

  

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution

     85  
 

SECTION 12.17

  

Term of Agreement

     85  
 

SECTION 12.18

  

USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Money Laundering Laws

     86  
 

SECTION 12.19

  

Independent Effect of Covenants

     86  
 

SECTION 12.20

  

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

     86  
 

SECTION 12.21

  

Inconsistencies with Other Documents

     87  

 

iv


TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

 

               Page  

  

 

SECTION 12.22

  

Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions

     87  
 

SECTION 12.23

  

Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs

     87  

 

v


EXHIBITS

     

Exhibit A

   -    Form of Revolving Credit Note

Exhibit B

   -    Form of Notice of Borrowing

Exhibit C

  

-

   Form of Notice of Account Designation

Exhibit D

   -    Form of Notice of Prepayment

Exhibit E

   -    Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation

Exhibit F

   -    Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit G

   -    Form of Joinder Agreement

SCHEDULES

Schedule 7.1

   -    Jurisdictions of Organization and Qualification and Subsidiary Guarantors

Schedule 7.2

   -    Subsidiaries and Capitalization

Schedule 7.6

   -    Tax Matters

Schedule 7.9

   -    ERISA Plans

Schedule 7.12

   -    Material Contracts

Schedule 7.13

   -    Labor and Collective Bargaining Agreements

Schedule 7.18

   -    Litigation

Schedule 9.1

   -    Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 9.2

   -    Existing Liens

Schedule 9.3

   -    Existing Loans, Advances and Investments

Schedule 9.7

   -    Transactions with Affiliates

 

vi


CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 13, 2023, by and among GRAHAM CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, as Borrower, and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Lender.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Lender has agreed to extend, certain credit facilities to the Borrower.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, such parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1 Definitions. The following terms when used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them below:

Acquired EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person or business acquired pursuant to an Acquisition for any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of any such Person or business so acquired (determined using such definitions as if references to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries therein were to such Person or business), as calculated by the Borrower in good faith and which shall be reasonably acceptable to the Lender and factually supported by historical financial statements; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, in determining Acquired EBITDA for any Person or business that does not have historical financial accounting periods which coincide with that of the financial accounting periods of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (a) references to Reference Period in any applicable definitions shall be deemed to mean the same relevant period as the applicable period of determination for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (b) to the extent the commencement of any such Reference Period shall occur during a fiscal quarter of such acquired Person or business (such that only a portion of such fiscal quarter shall be included in such Reference Period), Acquired EBITDA for the portion of such fiscal quarter so included in such Reference Period shall be deemed to be an amount equal to (x) Acquired EBITDA otherwise attributable to the entire fiscal quarter (determined in a manner consistent with the terms set forth above) multiplied by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days of such fiscal quarter included in the relevant Reference Period and the denominator of which shall be actual days in such fiscal quarter.

Acquisition” means any acquisition, or any series of related acquisitions, consummated on or after the date of this Agreement, by which any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries (a) acquires any business or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person, or business unit, line of business or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, exchange, issuance of stock or other equity or debt securities, merger, reorganization, amalgamation, division or otherwise or (b) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the securities of a corporation which have ordinary voting power for the election of members of the board of directors or the equivalent governing body (other than securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority (by percentage or voting power) of the outstanding ownership interests of a partnership or limited liability company.

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


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

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption, including the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and the rules and regulations thereunder and the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any and all laws, statutes, regulations or obligatory government orders, decrees, ordinances or rules related to terrorism financing, money laundering, any predicate crime to money laundering or any financial record keeping, including any applicable provision of the PATRIOT Act and The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act,” 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959).

Applicable Law” means all applicable provisions of constitutions, laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, treaties, regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, interpretations and orders of Governmental Authorities and all orders and decrees of all courts and arbitrators.

Applicable Margin” means the corresponding percentages per annum as set forth below based on the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio:

 

Level

  

Consolidated Total Leverage

Ratio

   Applicable
Margin for
Term SOFR
Loans
    Applicable
Margin for
Base Rate
Loans
    Commitment
Fees
 
I    Less than 1.75 to 1.00      1.250     0.250     0.100
II    Greater than or equal to 1.75 to 1.00 but less than 2.50 to 1.00      1.650     0.650     0.125
III    Greater than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00 but less than 3.00 to 1.00      2.000     1.000     0.175
IV    Greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00      2.500     1.500     0.200

The Applicable Margin shall be determined and adjusted quarterly on the date five (5) Business Days after the day on which the Borrower provides a Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 8.2(a) for the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower (each such date, a “Calculation Date”); provided that (a) the Applicable Margin and Commitment Fees shall be based on Pricing Level I until the first Calculation Date occurring one year after the Closing Date notwithstanding the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio and, thereafter the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date, and (b) if the Borrower fails to provide a Compliance Certificate when due as required by Section 8.2(a) for the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding the applicable Calculation Date, the Applicable Margin from the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered shall be based on Pricing Level IV until such time as such Compliance Certificate is delivered, at which time the Pricing Level shall be determined by reference to the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower preceding such Calculation Date. The applicable Pricing Level shall be effective from one Calculation Date until the next Calculation Date. Any adjustment in the Pricing Level shall be applicable to all Extensions of Credit then existing or subsequently made or issued.

 

2


Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any financial statement or Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.1 or 8.2(a) is shown to be inaccurate (regardless of whether (i) this Agreement is in effect, (ii) the Revolving Credit Commitment is in effect, or (iii) any Extension of Credit is outstanding when such inaccuracy is discovered or such financial statement or Compliance Certificate was delivered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Margin for any period (an “Applicable Period”) than the Applicable Margin applied for such Applicable Period, then (A) the Borrower shall promptly (and in any case within five (5) Business Days) deliver to the Lender a corrected Compliance Certificate for such Applicable Period, (B) the Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period shall be determined as if the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio in the corrected Compliance Certificate were applicable for such Applicable Period, and (C) the Borrower shall promptly (and in any case within five (5) Business Days) and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Lender the accrued additional interest and fees owing as a result of such increased Applicable Margin for such Applicable Period, which payment shall be promptly applied by the Lender in accordance with Section 5.4. Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the rights of the Lender with respect to Sections 5.1(b) and 10.2 nor any of its other rights under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. The Borrower’s obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) the Lender or (b) an Affiliate of the Lender.

Asset Disposition” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition of any Property (including any sale and leaseback transaction, division, merger or disposition of Equity Interests), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, and any issuance of Equity Interests by any Subsidiary of the Borrower to any Person that is not a Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof.

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

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (a) if such Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining the length of an interest period pursuant to this Agreement or (b) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, in each case, as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 5.6(c)(iv).

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

 

3


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

Bankruptcy Code” means 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq.

Base Rate” means, at any time, the highest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% and (c) Term SOFR for a one-month tenor in effect on such day plus 1.0%; each change in the Base Rate shall take effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or Term SOFR, as applicable (provided that clause (c) shall not be applicable during any period in which Term SOFR is unavailable or unascertainable). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Base Rate be less than 1.0%.

Base Rate Loan” means any Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon the Base Rate as provided in Section 5.1(a).

Benchmark” means, initially, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 5.6(c)(i).

Benchmark Replacement” means, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event for any then-current Benchmark, the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Lender and the Borrower as the replacement for such Benchmark giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated credit facilities and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if such Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than the Floor, such Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Available Tenor, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Lender and the Borrower giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for Dollar-denominated credit facilities.

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

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

 

4


(b) in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative; provided that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

For the avoidance of doubt, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Transition Event means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

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

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

(c) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof)announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative.

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

Benchmark Transition Start Date” means, in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (a) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (b) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than 90 days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication).

 

5


Benchmark Unavailability Period” means the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 5.6(c)(i) and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 5.6(c)(i).

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

Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 CFR § 1010.230.

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

Borrower” means Graham Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is closed.

Calculation Date” has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of Applicable Margin.

Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, for any period, (a) the additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures that are (or would be) set forth in a Consolidated statement of cash flows of such Person for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP and (b) Capital Lease Obligations during such period, but excluding expenditures for the restoration, repair or replacement of any fixed or capital asset which was destroyed or damaged, in whole or in part, to the extent financed by the proceeds of an insurance policy maintained by such Person.

Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means, subject to Section 1.3(b), the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as finance leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Cash Collateralize” means, to deposit in a Controlled Account or to pledge and deposit with, or deliver to the Lender as collateral for Revolving L/C Obligations cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender. “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, collectively, (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States or any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case maturing within one (1) year from the date of acquisition thereof, (b) commercial paper maturing no more than two hundred seventy (270) days from the date of creation thereof and currently having the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s (or, if at any time either S&P or Moody’s are not rating such fund, an equivalent rating from another nationally

 

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recognized statistical rating agency), (c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances, money market deposits and time deposits maturing within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof that has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000 and having a long-term debt rating of “A” or better by S&P or “A2” or better from Moody’s (or, if at any time either S&P or Moody’s are not rating the debt of such bank, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency), (d) investments in any money market fund or money market mutual fund that has (i) substantially all of its assets invested in the types of investments referred to in clauses (a) through (c) above, (ii) net assets of not less than $250,000,000 and (iii) a rating of at least A-2 from S&P or at least P-2 from Moody’s (or, if at any time either S&P or Moody’s are not rating such fund, an equivalent rating from another nationally recognized statistical rating agency) and (e) solely with respect to any Subsidiary domiciled outside the United States, substantially equivalent investments to those outlined in clauses (a) through (d) above which are reasonably comparable in tenor and credit quality (taking into account the jurisdiction where such Subsidiary conducts business) and customarily used in the ordinary course of business by similar companies for cash management purposes in any jurisdictions in which such Person conducts business (it being understood that such investments may be denominated in the currency of any jurisdiction in which such Person conducts business).

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

Cash Secured L/C Collateral” means the Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account, all cash, funds, securities or other investments on deposit therein and all interest, dividends and other property received in respect of, or as proceeds of, or in substitution or exchange for, any of the foregoing.

Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account” means the deposit account separately disclosed to and established with the Lender and any substitute or successor account (or any alternative account designated by the Lender for the Cash Secured L/C Collateral).

Cash Secured L/C Commitment” means $7,500,000.

Cash Secured L/C Facility” means the letter of credit facility established pursuant to Section 3.1(b).

Cash Secured L/C Maturity Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) October 13, 2024, (b) the date of termination of the entire Cash Secured L/C Commitment by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.10, and (c) the date of termination of the Cash Secured L/C Commitment pursuant to Section 10.2(a).

Cash Secured L/C Obligations” means at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Cash Secured Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Cash Secured Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5(b).

Cash Secured Letters of Credit” means the collective reference to letters of credit issued pursuant to Section 3.1(b).

CFC” means a Foreign Subsidiary that is a “controlled foreign corporation” under Section 957 of the Code and any Subsidiary owned directly or indirectly by such Foreign Subsidiary.

 

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CFC Holdco” means a Subsidiary substantially all the assets of which consist of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries that each constitute a CFC and/or Indebtedness or accounts receivable owed by Foreign Subsidiaries that each constitute a CFC or are treated as owed by any such Foreign Subsidiaries for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

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

(a) (i) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of 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) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a “person” or “group” shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Equity Interests 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 more than thirty-five percent (35%) of the Equity Interests of the Borrower entitled to vote in the election of members of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower or (ii) a majority of the members of the board of directors (or other equivalent governing body) of the Borrower shall not constitute Continuing Directors; or

(b) there shall have occurred under any indenture or other instrument evidencing any Equity Interests in excess of the Threshold Amount any “change in control” or similar provision obligating the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase or redeem Equity Interests provided for therein.

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

Closing Date” means the date of this Agreement.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Collateral” means the collateral security for the Secured Obligations pledged or granted pursuant to the Security Documents.

Collateral Agreement” means the collateral agreement of even date herewith executed by the Credit Parties in favor of the Lender, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, which shall be in form and substance acceptable to the Lender.

Commitments” means the Revolving Credit Commitment and the Cash Secured L/C Commitment.

Committed Facility Increase” means an increase in the principal amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment in the principal amount of $15,000,000.

 

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Committed Facility Increase Effective Date” means the date on which all of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 6.3 have been satisfied or waived in writing by the Lender.

Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.).

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Borrower substantially in the form attached as Exhibit F.

Conforming Changes” means, with respect to either the use or administration of Term SOFR or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period” or any similar or analogous definition (or the addition of a concept of “interest period”), timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of Section 5.7 and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Lender decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Lender in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Lender decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Lender determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Lender decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

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

Consolidated” means, when used with reference to financial statements or financial statement items of any Person, such statements or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable principles of consolidation under GAAP.

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries:

(a) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus

(b) the sum of the following, without duplication, to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income (other than as set forth in clause (b)(vi)(B)) for such period:

(i) Consolidated Interest Expense;

(ii) expense for income taxes paid or accrued, including federal and state and local income taxes and foreign income taxes;

(iii) (A) depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges or expenses, excluding any non-cash charge or expense that represents an accrual for a cash expense to be taken in a future period, and (B) any loss from Asset Dispositions during such period;

(iv) all transaction fees, legal fees, accounting fees, charges and other amounts related to the Transactions and any amendment or other modification to the Loan Documents, in each case to the extent paid within six (6) months of the Closing Date or the effectiveness of such amendment or other modification, including but not limited to any exit fees or other expenses payable to Bank of America, N.A. in connection with the payoff of existing Indebtedness concurrent with the closing of the Transactions;

 

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(v) (A) all transaction fees, charges and other amounts (including any financing fees, merger and acquisition fees, legal fees and expenses, due diligence fees or any other fees and expenses in connection therewith) in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, Investment, disposition, issuance or repurchase of Equity Interests, or the incurrence, amendment or waiver of Indebtedness permitted hereunder (other than those related to the Transactions or with respect to any amendment or modification of the Loan Documents), and (B) up to $500,000 of integration fees in the aggregate for any Reference Period, in each case of clauses (A) and (B), whether or not consummated and to the extent paid within six (6) months of the closing or effectiveness of such event or the termination or abandonment of such transaction, as the case may be; provided that the aggregate amount added pursuant to this clause (b)(v) and clause (b)(vi) below for any Reference Period shall in no event exceed 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated after giving effect to any such add-backs pursuant to this clause (b)(v) or clause (b)(vi)); and

(vi) (A) other unusual and non-recurring cash expenses or charges that have been incurred during the applicable Reference Period, (B) earn-out payments (to the extent such earn-out payments are included as an expense) with respect to any Permitted Acquisition, including those related to the acquisition of Barber-Nichols, LLC, and (C) expenses with respect to the purchase and implementation of an enterprise resource planning system for the Borrower’s or a Subsidiary’s operations; provided that (i) no such amounts shall be added pursuant to this clause to the extent duplicative of any expenses or charges otherwise added to Consolidated EBITDA, whether through a pro forma adjustment, the definition of Pro Forma Basis or otherwise and (ii) the aggregate amount added pursuant to this clause (b)(vi) and clause (b)(v) above for any Reference Period shall in no event exceed 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated after giving effect to any such add-backs pursuant to this clause (b)(vi) or clause (b)(v)); less

(c) the sum of the following, without duplication, to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period:

(i) interest income,

(ii) income tax credits of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period (to the extent not netted from income tax expense);

(iii) (A) any unusual and non-recurring gains and (B) any gain from Asset Dispositions during such period;

(iv) non-cash gains or non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income; and

(v) any cash expense made during such period which represents the reversal of any non-cash expense that was added in a prior period pursuant to clause (b)(iii) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expenses, charges or losses were incurred.

For purposes of this Agreement, Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed Reference Period minus (ii) Maintenance Capital Expenditures to (b) the sum of the following determined on a Consolidated basis for such period, without duplication, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense paid or payable in cash net of any interest income received, (ii) scheduled principal payments with respect to Indebtedness to be paid during the following four consecutive fiscal quarter period, (iii) federal, state, local and foreign income taxes paid in cash and (iv) cash dividends and distributions.

 

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Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, the sum of, without duplication, (a) all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness for borrowed money including, but not limited to, obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments of any such Person, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services of any such Person (including all payment obligations under non-competition, earn-out or similar agreements, solely to the extent any such payment obligation under non-competition, earn-out or similar agreements becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP), except trade payables arising in the ordinary course of business, (d) the Attributable Indebtedness of such Person with respect to such Person’s Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Leases (regardless of whether accounted for as indebtedness under GAAP), (e) all drawn and unreimbursed obligations, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person relative to letters of credit, including any Reimbursement Obligation, bank guarantees and banker’s acceptances issued for the account of any such Person (excluding any letters of credit or bank guarantees that are fully secured by either cash collateral or a backstop letter of credit), (f) all obligations of any such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests which shall be valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends that are past due, (g) all Guarantees of any such Person with respect to any of the foregoing and (h) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above 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 joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person.

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the sum of the following determined on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, interest expense (including interest expense attributable to Capital Lease Obligations and all net payment obligations pursuant to Hedge Agreements) for such period.

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a Consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness on such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed Reference Period.

Continuing Directors” means the directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower on the Closing Date and each other director (or equivalent) of the Borrower, if, in each case, such other Person’s nomination for election to the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower is approved by at least 51% of the then Continuing Directors.

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 Account” means each deposit account and securities account that is subject to an account control agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

 

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Covered Party” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.23(a).

Credit Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of America, 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.

Default” means any of the events specified in Section 10.1 which with the passage of time, the giving of notice or any other condition, would constitute an Event of Default.

Disposed EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person or business that is sold or disposed of in an Asset Disposition during any period, the amount for such period of Consolidated EBITDA of any such Person or business subject to such Asset Disposition (determined using such definitions as if references to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries therein were to such Person or business), as calculated by the Borrower in good faith.

Disqualified Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interests of such Person that, by their terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interest into which they are convertible or for which they are exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event or condition, (a) mature or are mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full in cash of the Revolving Credit Loans and all other Obligations ((other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment), (b) are redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests) (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full in cash of the Revolving Credit Loans and all other Obligations ((other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) and the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment), in whole or in part, (c) provide for the scheduled payment of dividends in cash or (d) are or become convertible into, or exchangeable for, Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case of clauses (a) through (d), prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such officers or employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.

Dollars” or “$” means, unless otherwise qualified, dollars in lawful currency of the United States.

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

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

 

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

EEA Resolution Authority” means any public administrative authority or any Person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country.

Electronic Record” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 15 U.S.C. 7006.

Electronic Signature” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 15 U.S.C. 7006.

Employee Benefit Plan” means (a) any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA that is maintained for employees of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan that has at any time within the preceding five (5) years been maintained, funded or administered for the employees of any Credit Party or any current or former ERISA Affiliate.

Environmental Claims” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, accusations, allegations, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations (other than internal reports prepared by any Person in the ordinary course of business and not in response to any third party action or request of any kind) or proceedings relating in any way to any actual violation or violation alleged in writing of or liability under any Environmental Law or relating to any permit issued, or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law, including any and all claims by Governmental Authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to public health or the environment.

Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable federal, foreign, state, provincial and local laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, standards (having the force of law) and regulations, permits, licenses, approvals, interpretations (having the force of law) and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities, relating to the protection of public health or the environment, including, but not limited to, requirements pertaining to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, handling, reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or remediation of Hazardous Materials.

Equity Interests” means (a) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (c) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (d) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests, (e) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person and (f) any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

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

ERISA Affiliate” means any Person who together with any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.

 

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

Event of Default” means any of the events specified in Section 10.1; provided that any requirement for passage of time, giving of notice, or any other condition, has been satisfied.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. § 77 et seq.).

Excluded Subsidiary” means (a) any Foreign Subsidiary, (b) each Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a CFC, (c) each CFC Holdco, (d) any Subsidiary that is prohibited by Applicable Law or by any contractual obligation existing on the Closing Date or existing at the time of acquisition of such Subsidiary after the Closing Date (and not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition), in each case from Guaranteeing the Obligations, but only so long as such prohibition exists and (e) any other Subsidiary with respect to which the Lender and the Borrower mutually agree that the cost of providing a Guarantee would be excessive in relation to the benefit to be afforded thereby.

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Credit Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the liability of such Credit Party for or the guarantee of such Credit Party of, or the grant by such Credit Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any liability or guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Credit Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the liability for or the guarantee of such Credit Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation (such determination being made after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support or other agreement for the benefit of the applicable Credit Party, including under the keepwell provisions in the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement). If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal for the reasons identified in the immediately preceding sentence of this definition.

Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to the Lender or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to the Lender, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of the Lender being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or its applicable Lending Office located in the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes and (b) any United States federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

Extended Revolving Letter of Credit” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.1(b).

Extensions of Credit” means (a) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding, (ii) the Revolving L/C Obligations then outstanding and (iii) Cash Secured L/C Obligations then outstanding, or (b) the making of any Revolving Credit Loan or the issuance of any Letter of Credit, as the context requires.

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

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

 

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FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

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, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average of the quotation for such day on such transactions received by the Lender from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Federal Funds Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

First Tier Foreign Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary, the Equity Interests of which are owned directly by one or more Credit Parties.

Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries ending on March 31.

Floor” means a rate of interest equal to 0.0%.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

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

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, bonds 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 Approvals” means all authorizations, consents, approvals, permits, licenses and exemptions of, and all registrations and filings with or issued by, any Governmental Authorities.

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).

Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition

 

15


or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation or (e) 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 (whether in whole or in part); provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in connection with any disposition of assets permitted under this Agreement (other than any such obligations with respect to Indebtedness).

Hazardous Materials” means any substances or materials (a) which are or become defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, chemical substances or mixtures or toxic substances under any Environmental Law, (b) which are toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable, infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise harmful to public health or the environment and are or become regulated by any Governmental Authority, (c) the presence of which require investigation or remediation under any Environmental Law or common law, (d) the discharge or emission or release of which requires a permit or license under any Environmental Law or other Governmental Approval, (e) which are deemed by a Governmental Authority to constitute a nuisance or a trespass which pose a health or safety hazard to Persons or neighboring properties, or (f) which contain, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum derived substances or waste, crude oil, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic gas.

Hedge Agreement” 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.

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

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person at any date and without duplication, the sum of the following:

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

 

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(b) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services of such Person (including all payment obligations under non-competition, earn-out or similar agreements, solely to the extent any such payment obligation under non-competition, earn-out or similar agreements becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP), except trade payables arising in the ordinary course of business;

(c) the Attributable Indebtedness of such Person with respect to such Person’s Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Leases (regardless of whether accounted for as indebtedness under GAAP);

(d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person to the extent of the value of such property (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business);

(e) all Indebtedness of any other Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements except trade payables arising in the ordinary course of business), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person relative to the face amount of letters of credit, whether or not drawn, including any Reimbursement Obligation, bank guarantees and banker’s acceptances issued for the account of such Person;

(g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Disqualified Equity Interests;

(h) all net obligations of such Person under any Hedge Agreements; and

(i) all Guarantees of such Person with respect to 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 such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. In respect of Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on the assets of the specified Person, if such Indebtedness shall not have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse to the assets securing such Lien, the amount of such Indebtedness as of any date of determination will be the lesser of (x) the fair market value of such assets as of such date (as determined in good faith by the Borrower) and (y) the amount of such Indebtedness as of such date. The amount of any net obligation under any Hedge Agreement on any date shall be deemed to be the Hedge Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of obligations in respect of any Disqualified Equity Interests shall be valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends that are past due.

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

Indemnitee” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.3(b).

Information” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.10.

 

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Interest Period” means, as to any SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date such SOFR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a SOFR Loan and ending on the date one (1), three (3) or six (6) months thereafter, in each case as selected by the Borrower in its Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation and subject to availability; provided that:

(a) the Interest Period shall commence on the date of advance of or conversion to any SOFR Loan and, in the case of immediately successive Interest Periods, each successive Interest Period shall commence on the date on which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires;

(b) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next succeeding Business Day; provided that if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the immediately preceding Business Day;

(c) 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 relevant calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;

(d) there shall be no more than eight (8) Interest Periods in effect at any time; and

(e) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 5.6(c)(iv) shall be available for specification in any Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation.

Interstate Commerce Act” means the body of law commonly known as the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. App. § 1 et seq.).

Investment” means, with respect to any Person, that such Person (a) purchases, owns, invests in or otherwise acquires (in one transaction or a series of transactions), by division or otherwise, directly or indirectly, any Equity Interests, interests in any partnership or joint venture (including the creation or capitalization of any Subsidiary), evidence of Indebtedness or other obligation or security, substantially all or a portion of the business or assets of any other Person or any other investment or interest whatsoever in any other Person, (b) makes any Acquisition or (c) makes or holds, directly or indirectly, any loans, advances or extensions of credit to, or any investment in cash or by delivery of Property in, any Person.

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. § 80(a)(1), et seq.).

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

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

Joinder Agreement” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto or such other form as may be approved by the Lender and the Borrower.

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

Lending Office” means the office of the Lender maintaining the Lender’s Extensions of Credit.

 

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Letter of Credit Application” means an application requesting the Lender to issue a Letter of Credit in the form specified by the Lender from time to time.

Letter of Credit Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, a letter of credit agreement or reimbursement agreement and any other document, agreement and instrument required by the Lender and relating to such Letter of Credit, in each case in the form specified by the Lender from time to time.

Letters of Credit” means the Revolving Letters of Credit and the Cash Secured Letters of Credit or each Revolving Letter of Credit or Cash Secured Letter of Credit, as the context requires.

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, leasehold mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, hypothecation or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital Lease Obligation or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, any Revolving Credit Note, the Letter of Credit Documents, the Security Documents, the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement and each other document, instrument, certificate and agreement executed and delivered by the Credit Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries in favor of or provided to the Lender or any Secured Party in connection with this Agreement or otherwise referred to herein or contemplated hereby (excluding any Secured Hedge Agreement and any Secured Cash Management Agreement).

Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means Capital Expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or repair of existing assets.

Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (a) a material adverse effect on the operations, business, assets, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of such Persons, taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of any such Person to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) a material impairment of the rights and remedies of the Lender under any Loan Document or (d) an impairment of the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Credit Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

Material Contract” means (a) any written contract or agreement of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries involving monetary liability of or to any such Person in an amount in excess of $2,000,000 per annum or (b) any other written contract or agreement of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries, the breach, non-performance, cancellation or failure to renew of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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

Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is accruing an obligation to make, or has accrued an obligation to make contributions within the preceding five (5) years, or to which any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability (contingent or otherwise).

Non-Guarantor Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor.

 

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Non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not Wholly-Owned.

Notice of Account Designation” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.3(b).

Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.3(a).

Notice of Conversion/Continuation” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.2.

Notice of Prepayment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.4(c).

Obligations” means, in each case, whether now in existence or hereafter arising: (a) the principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after the filing of any bankruptcy or similar petition) the Revolving Credit Loans, (b) the Revolving L/C Obligations, (c) the Cash Secured L/C Obligations and (d) all other fees and commissions (including attorneys’ fees), charges, indebtedness, loans, liabilities, financial accommodations, obligations, covenants and duties owing by the Credit Parties to the Lender, in each case under any Loan Document, with respect to any Revolving Credit Loan or Letter of Credit of every kind, nature and description, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, contractual or tortious, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether or not evidenced by any note and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Credit Party 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.

Organizational Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement or limited liability company agreement (or equivalent or comparable documents); 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 Connection Taxes” means, with respect to the Lender, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between the Lender and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from the Lender having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Revolving Credit Loan or Loan Document).

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

Participant” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 12.9(c).

 

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PATRIOT Act” means the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor agency.

Pension Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code and which (a) is maintained, funded or administered for the employees of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate, (b) has at any time within the preceding five (5) years been maintained, funded or administered for the employees of any Credit Party or any current or former ERISA Affiliates or (c) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate has any liability (contingent or otherwise).

Permitted Acquisition” means:

 

  (i)

any Acquisition that meets all of the following requirements:

 

  (a)

such Acquisition is consummated after the Committed Facility Increase Effective Date;

 

  (b)

no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing both before and immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition;

 

  (c)

the Borrower shall have demonstrated compliance with a Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio of not more than 2.75 to 1.00 on a Pro Forma Basis (based on the most recently completed Reference Period), after giving effect to such Acquisition and any Indebtedness which would be incurred in connection therewith;

 

  (d)

the Borrower shall have delivered written notice of such Acquisition to the Lender no less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the proposed closing date of such Acquisition; and

 

  (e)

the board of directors or other similar governing body of the Person to be acquired shall have approved such Acquisition (and, if requested, the Lender shall have received evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, of such approval); or

 

  (ii)

any other Acquisition otherwise consented to in writing by the Lender.

Permitted Liens” means the Liens permitted pursuant to Section 9.2.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”), the proceeds of which are used to refinance, refund, renew, extend or replace outstanding Indebtedness (such outstanding Indebtedness, the “Refinanced Indebtedness”); provided that (a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Refinancing Indebtedness (including any unused commitments thereunder) is not greater than the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Refinanced Indebtedness at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement, except by an amount equal to any original issue discount thereon and the amount of unpaid accrued interest and premium thereon plus other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with

 

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such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement, and by an amount equal to any existing commitments thereunder that have not been utilized at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement; (b) the final stated maturity and Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be prior to or shorter than that applicable to the Refinanced Indebtedness and such Refinancing Indebtedness does not require any scheduled payment of principal, mandatory repayment, redemption or repurchase that is more favorable to the holders of the Refinancing Indebtedness than the corresponding terms (if any) of the Refinanced Indebtedness (including by virtue of such Refinancing Indebtedness participating on a greater basis in any mandatory repayment, redemption or repurchase as compared to the Refinanced Indebtedness, but excluding any scheduled payment of principal, mandatory repayment, redemption or repurchase occurring on or after the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date); (c) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be secured by (i) Liens on assets other than assets securing the Refinanced Indebtedness at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement or (ii) Liens having a higher priority than the Liens, if any, securing the Refinanced Indebtedness at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement; (d) such Refinancing Indebtedness shall not be guaranteed by or otherwise recourse to any Person other than the Person(s) to whom the Refinanced Indebtedness is recourse or by whom it is guaranteed, in each case as of the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement; (e) to the extent such Refinanced Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations (or the Liens securing such Indebtedness were originally contractually subordinated to the Liens securing the Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents), such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations (or the Liens securing such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Liens securing the Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents) on terms at least as favorable to the Lender as those contained in the documentation governing such Refinanced Indebtedness or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Lender; (f) the covenants with respect to such Refinancing Indebtedness, when taken as a whole, are not materially more restrictive to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries than those in the Refinanced Indebtedness (taken as a whole); (g) in the event that the Refinancing Indebtedness is unsecured Indebtedness (including unsecured Subordinated Indebtedness) such Refinancing Indebtedness does not include cross-defaults (but may include cross-payment defaults and cross-defaults at the final stated maturity thereof and cross-acceleration); and (h) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of, or would result from, such refinancing, refunding, renewal, extension or replacement.

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

Prime Rate” means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Lender as its prime rate. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such change in such prime rate occurs. The parties hereto acknowledge that the rate announced publicly by the Lender as its prime rate is an index or base rate and shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or other banks.

Pro Forma Basis” means:

(a) for purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period during which one or more Specified Transactions occurs, that (i) such Specified Transaction (and all other Specified Transactions that have been consummated during the applicable period) shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement, (ii) there shall be included in determining Consolidated EBITDA for such period, without duplication, the Acquired EBITDA of any Person or business, or attributable to any property or asset, acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such period (but not the Acquired EBITDA of any related Person or business or any Acquired EBITDA attributable to any assets or property, in each case to the extent not so acquired) in connection with a Permitted Acquisition to the extent not

 

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subsequently sold, transferred, abandoned or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower or such Subsidiary during such period, based on the actual Acquired EBITDA of such acquired entity or business for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such acquisition) and (iii) there shall be excluded in determining Consolidated EBITDA for such period, without duplication, the Disposed EBITDA of any Person or business, or attributable to any property or asset, disposed of by the Borrower or any Subsidiary during such period in connection with a Specified Disposition or discontinuation of operations, based on the Disposed EBITDA of such disposed entity or business or discontinued operations for such period (including the portion thereof occurring prior to such disposition or discontinuation); provided that the foregoing amounts shall be without duplication of any adjustments that are already included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA; and

(b) in the event that the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof incurs (including by assumption or guarantees) or repays (including by redemption, repayment, retirement, discharge, defeasance or extinguishment) any Indebtedness included in the calculations of any financial ratio or test (in each case, other than Indebtedness incurred or repaid under any revolving credit facility in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes), (i) during the applicable measurement period or (ii) subsequent to the end of the applicable measurement period and prior to or simultaneously with the event for which the calculation of any such ratio is made, then such financial ratio or test shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, to the extent required, as if the same had occurred on the first day of the applicable measurement period and any such Indebtedness that is incurred (including by assumption or guarantee) that has a floating or formula rate of interest shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as of the relevant date of determination.

Property” means any right or interest in or to property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, including Equity Interests.

Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

Reference Period” means, as of any date of determination, the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ended on or immediately prior to such date for which financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been delivered to the Lender hereunder.

Reimbursement Obligation” means the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit issued by the Lender (including with amounts on deposit in the Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account).

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

Relevant Governmental Body” means the FRB or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the FRB or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

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

Responsible Officer” means, as to any Person, the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, controller, treasurer or assistant treasurer of such Person or any other officer of such Person designated in writing by the Borrower or such Person and reasonably acceptable to the Lender; provided

 

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that, to the extent requested thereby, the Lender shall have received a certificate of such Person certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each such officer. Any document delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Person shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Person and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Person.

Restricted Payment” means any dividend on, or the making of any payment or other distribution on account of, or the purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition (directly or indirectly) of, or the setting apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for the purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition of, any class of Equity Interests of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, or the making of any distribution of cash, property or assets to the holders of any Equity Interests of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof on account of such Equity Interests.

Revolving Credit Commitment” means the obligation of the Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans and to issue Revolving Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed (a) at all times prior to the Committed Facility Increase Effective Date, $35,000,000 and (b) at all times on or after to the Committed Facility Increase Effective Date, $50,000,000, as such amount may be modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.

Revolving Credit Commitment Fee” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.3(a).

Revolving Credit Facility” means the revolving credit facility established pursuant to Article II (including any increase in such revolving credit facility pursuant to Section 5.11).

Revolving Credit Facility Increase” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 5.11(a).

Revolving Credit Loan” means any revolving loan made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1, and all such revolving loans collectively as the context requires.

Revolving Credit Maturity Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) October 13, 2028, (b) the date of termination of the entire Revolving Credit Commitment by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5 and (c) the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to Section 10.2(a).

Revolving Credit Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of the Lender evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans made by the Lender, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A, and any substitutes therefor, and any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.

Revolving Credit Outstandings” means the sum of (a) with respect to Revolving Credit Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Credit Loans occurring on such date; plus (b) with respect to any Revolving L/C Obligations on any date, the aggregate outstanding amount thereof on such date after giving effect to any Revolving Credit Loans made or Revolving Letters of Credit issued on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the Revolving L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements of outstanding unpaid drawings under any Revolving Letters of Credit or any reductions in the maximum amount available for drawing under Revolving Letters of Credit taking effect on such date.

Revolving L/C Facility” means the letter of credit facility established pursuant to Section 3.1(a).

 

24


Revolving L/C Obligations” means at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Revolving Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Revolving Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.

Revolving L/C Sublimit” means the lesser of (a) $25,000,000 and (b) the Revolving Credit Commitment.

Revolving Letters of Credit” means the collective reference to letters of credit issued pursuant to Section 3.1(a). For the avoidance of doubt, Cash Secured Letters of Credit do not constitute Revolving Letters of Credit.

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Rating Service, a division of S&P Global Inc. and any successor thereto.

Sanctioned Country” means at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself (or whose government is) the subject or target of any Sanctions (including, as of the Closing Date, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela and Crimea).

Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC (including OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List and OFAC’s Consolidated Non-SDN List), the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any such Person or Persons described in clauses (a) and (b), including a Person that is deemed by OFAC to be a Sanctions target based on the ownership of such legal entity by Sanctioned Person(s) or (d) any Person otherwise a target of Sanctions, including vessels and aircraft, that are designated under any Sanctions program.

Sanctions” means any and all economic or financial sanctions, sectoral sanctions, secondary sanctions, trade embargoes and restrictions and anti-terrorism laws, including but not limited to those imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government (including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority in any jurisdiction in which (a) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is located or conducts business, (b) in which any of the proceeds of the Extensions of Credit will be used, or (c) from which repayment of the Extensions of Credit will be derived.

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

Secured Cash Management Agreement” means (a) any Cash Management Agreement in effect on the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty that is (i) the Lender or (ii) an Affiliate of the Lender, in each case as determined as of the Closing Date or (b) any Cash Management Agreement entered into after the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty that is (i) the Lender or (ii) an Affiliate of the Lender, in each case as determined at the time such Cash Management Agreement is entered into.

 

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Secured Cash Management Obligations” means all existing or future payment and other obligations owing by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries under any Secured Cash Management Agreement.

Secured Hedge Agreement” means (a) any Hedge Agreement in effect on the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty that is (i) the Lender or (ii) an Affiliate of the Lender, in each case as determined as of the Closing Date or (b) any Hedge Agreement entered into after the Closing Date between or among any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries and a counterparty that is (i) the Lender or (ii) an Affiliate of the Lender, in each case as determined at the time such Hedge Agreement is entered into.

Secured Hedge Obligations” means all existing or future payment and other obligations owing by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries under any Secured Hedge Agreement; provided that the “Secured Hedge Obligations” of a Credit Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Credit Party.

Secured Obligations” means, collectively, (a) the Obligations, (b) any Secured Hedge Obligations and (c) any Secured Cash Management Obligations.

Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Lender, the holders of any Secured Hedge Obligations, the holders of any Secured Cash Management Obligations, any other holder from time to time of any of any Secured Obligations and, in each case, their respective successors and permitted assigns.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. § 77 et seq.).

Security Documents” means the collective reference to the Collateral Agreement, the deposit account and securities account control agreements and each other agreement or writing pursuant to which any Credit Party pledges or grants a security interest in any Property or assets securing the Secured Obligations.

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

SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

SOFR Loan” means any Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at a rate based on Term SOFR as provided in Section 5.1(a).

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 ordinary course of business. For purposes of this definition, 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.

 

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Specified Disposition” means any Asset Disposition having gross sales proceeds in excess of $5,000,000.

Specified Transactions” means (a) any Specified Disposition, (b) any Permitted Acquisition and (c) the Transactions.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means the collective reference to any Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is subordinated in right and time of payment to the Obligations on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

Subsidiary” means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Equity Interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) or other managers of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity is at the time owned by (directly or indirectly) or the management is otherwise controlled by (directly or indirectly) such Person (irrespective of whether, at the time, Equity Interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency). Unless otherwise qualified, references to “Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” herein shall refer to those of the Borrower.

Subsidiary Guarantors” means, collectively, (a) the Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower listed on Schedule 7.1 that are identified as a “Guarantor” and (b) each other Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that shall be required to execute and deliver a guaranty or guaranty supplement pursuant to Section 8.14.

Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement” means the unconditional guaranty agreement of even date herewith executed by the Subsidiary Guarantors in favor of the Lender, for the ratable benefit and the Secured Parties, which shall be in form and substance acceptable to the Lender.

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

Synthetic Lease” means any synthetic lease, tax retention operating lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar off-balance sheet financing product where such transaction is considered borrowed money indebtedness for tax purposes but is classified as an operating lease in accordance with GAAP.

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, fines, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

Term SOFR” means,

(a) for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Loan, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, and

 

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(b) for any calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of one month on the day (such day, the “Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on any Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day;

provided, further, that if Term SOFR determined as provided above (including pursuant to the proviso under clause (a) or clause (b) above) shall ever be less than the Floor, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.

Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Lender in its reasonable discretion).

Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

Termination Event” means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) a “Reportable Event” described in Section 4043 of ERISA, other than any Reportable Event for which the PBGC has waived the requirement that a Reportable Event notice be filed, or (b) the withdrawal of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA, or (c) the termination of a Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination, under Section 4041 of ERISA, if the plan assets are not sufficient to pay all plan liabilities, or (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate, or the appointment of a trustee with respect to, any Pension Plan by the PBGC, or (e) any other event or condition which would constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan, or (f) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA, or (g) the determination that any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan is considered an at-risk plan or plan in endangered or critical status within the meaning of Sections 430, 431 or 432 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 or 305 of ERISA or (h) the partial or complete withdrawal of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan if withdrawal liability is asserted by such plan, or (i) any event or condition which results in the insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4245 of ERISA, or (j) any event or condition which results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the institution by PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA, or (k) 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 any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate.

Threshold Amount” means $2,000,000.

 

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Transactions” means, collectively, (a) the initial Extensions of Credit and the use of proceeds thereof and (b) the payment of all fees, expenses and costs incurred in connection with the foregoing.

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

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

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

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

United States” means the United States of America.

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities; provided, that for purposes of notice requirements in Sections 2.3(a), 2.4(c) and 5.2, in each case, such day is also a Business Day.

Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness, in each case of clauses (a) and (b), without giving effect to the application of any prior prepayment to such installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal.

Wells Fargo” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association.

Wholly-Owned” means, with respect to a Subsidiary, that all of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary are, directly or indirectly, owned or controlled by the Borrower and/or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries (except for directors’ qualifying shares or other shares required by Applicable Law to be owned by a Person other than the Borrower and/or one or more of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries).

Withholding Agent” means the Borrower and the Lender.

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

 

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SECTION 1.2 Other Definitions and Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document: (a) the definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined, (b) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms, (c) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (d) the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”, (e) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (f) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (g) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (h) 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, (i) the term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form and (j) 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”.

SECTION 1.3 Accounting Terms.

(a) 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 and in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the audited financial statements required by Section 6.1(e) and Section 8.1(a), 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 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

(b) 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 Lender shall so request, the Lender 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; 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 Lender 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; provided, further that (A) all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to the effectiveness of FASB ASC 842 shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases for purposes of all financial definitions and calculations for purpose of this Agreement (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with FASB ASC 842 (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as Capital Lease Obligations in the financial statements and (B) all financial statements delivered to the Lender hereunder shall contain a schedule showing the modifications necessary to reconcile the adjustments made pursuant to clause (A) above with such financial statements.

 

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SECTION 1.4 UCC Terms. Terms defined in the UCC in effect on the Closing Date and not otherwise defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, have the meanings provided by those definitions. Subject to the foregoing, the term “UCC” refers, as of any date of determination, to the UCC then in effect.

SECTION 1.5 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained 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 or percentage is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

SECTION 1.6 References to Agreement and Laws. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) any definition or reference to formation documents, governing documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual documents or instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) any definition or reference to any Applicable Law, including Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, the Bankruptcy Code, the Code, the Commodity Exchange Act, ERISA, the Exchange Act, the PATRIOT Act, the Securities Act, the UCC, the Investment Company Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department, shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Applicable Law.

SECTION 1.7 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

SECTION 1.8 Guarantees/Earn-Outs. Unless otherwise specified, (a) the amount of any Guarantee shall be the lesser of the amount of the obligations guaranteed and still outstanding and the maximum amount for which the guaranteeing Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee and (b) the amount of any earn-out or similar obligation shall be the amount of such obligation as reflected on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP.

SECTION 1.9 Covenant Compliance Generally. For purposes of determining compliance under Sections 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.5 and 9.6, any amount in a currency other than Dollars will be converted to Dollars in a manner consistent with that used in calculating Consolidated Net Income in the most recent annual financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or Section 6.1(e), as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with Sections 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3, with respect to any amount of Indebtedness or Investment in a currency other than Dollars, no breach of any basket contained in such sections shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in rates of exchange occurring after the time such Indebtedness or Investment is incurred; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.9 shall otherwise apply to such Sections, including with respect to determining whether any Indebtedness or Investment may be incurred at any time under such Sections.

SECTION 1.10 Rates. The Lender does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to the Term SOFR Reference Rate or Term SOFR, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or with respect to any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement), as it may or may not be adjusted pursuant to Section 5.6(c), will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, the Term SOFR

 

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Reference Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any Conforming Changes. The Lender and its Affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto and such transactions may be adverse to the Borrower. The Lender may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Term SOFR Reference Rate or Term SOFR, or any other Benchmark, any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

SECTION 1.11 Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.

ARTICLE II

REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY

SECTION 2.1 Revolving Credit Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Lender agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date to, but not including, the Revolving Credit Maturity Date as requested by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.3; provided, that the Revolving Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Revolving Credit Loans hereunder until the Revolving Credit Maturity Date. Unless sooner paid pursuant to the provisions hereof, the principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans shall be paid in full, together with accrued interest thereon, on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

SECTION 2.2 [Reserved].

SECTION 2.3 Procedure for Advances of Revolving Credit Loans.

(a) Requests for Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the Lender irrevocable prior written notice substantially in the form of Exhibit B (a “Notice of Borrowing”) not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the same Business Day a request is made for a Base Rate Loan and (ii) at least three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before each borrowing of a SOFR Loan, of its intention to borrow, specifying (A) the date of such borrowing, which shall be a Business Day, (B) the amount of such borrowing, which, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Lender, shall be, (x) with respect to Base Rate Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and (y) with respect to SOFR Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, in each case, the remaining amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment), (C) whether such Revolving Credit Loan is to be a SOFR Loan or a Base Rate Loan, and (D) in the case of a SOFR Loan, the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a type of loan in a Notice of Borrowing, then the applicable Revolving Credit Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan.

 

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If the Borrower requests a borrowing of a SOFR Loan in any such Notice of Borrowing, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. A Notice of Borrowing received after 11:00 a.m. shall be deemed received on the next Business Day or U.S. Government Securities Business Day, as applicable.

(b) Disbursement of Revolving Credit Loans. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Lender to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing requested pursuant to this Section in immediately available funds by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit account of the Borrower identified in the most recent notice substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C (a “Notice of Account Designation”) delivered by the Borrower to the Lender or as may be otherwise agreed upon by the Borrower and the Lender from time to time.

SECTION 2.4 Repayment and Prepayment of Revolving Credit Loans.

(a) Repayment on Termination Date. The Borrower hereby agrees to repay the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans in full on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, together with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon.

(b) Mandatory Prepayments. If at any time the Revolving Credit Outstandings exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment, the Borrower agrees to promptly repay (and in any event within one (1) Business Day) upon notice from the Lender, by payment to the Lender, Revolving Credit Loans and/or Revolving Letters of Credit in an amount equal to such excess with each such repayment applied first, to the principal amount of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and second, with respect to any Revolving Letters of Credit then outstanding, as a payment of Cash Collateral into a Cash Collateral account opened by the Lender in an amount equal to such excess (such Cash Collateral to be applied in accordance with Section 10.2(b)).

(c) Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay Revolving Credit Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, with irrevocable prior written notice to the Lender substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D (a “Notice of Prepayment”) given not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the same Business Day as prepayment of each Base Rate Loan and (ii) at least three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before prepayment of each SOFR Loan, specifying the date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of SOFR Loans, Base Rate Loans or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date set forth in such notice. Partial prepayments shall be in an aggregate amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof with respect to Base Rate Loans and $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof with respect to SOFR Loans. A Notice of Prepayment received after 11:00 a.m. shall be deemed received on the next Business Day or U.S. Government Securities Business Day, as applicable. Each such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.7 hereof.

(d) Limitation on Prepayment of SOFR Loans. The Borrower may not prepay any SOFR Loan on any day other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto unless such prepayment is accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.7 hereof.

(e) Hedge Agreements. No repayment or prepayment of the Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Section shall affect any of the Borrower’s obligations under any Hedge Agreement entered into with respect to the Revolving Credit Loans.

 

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SECTION 2.5 Permanent Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time, upon at least five (5) Business Days prior irrevocable written notice to the Lender, to permanently reduce, without premium or penalty, (a) the entire Revolving Credit Commitment at any time or (b) portions of the Revolving Credit Commitment, from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not less than $1,000,000 or any whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. All Revolving Credit Commitment Fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment shall be paid on the effective date of such termination. Each permanent reduction permitted pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a payment of principal sufficient to reduce the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Revolving L/C Obligations, as applicable, after such reduction to the Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced, and if the aggregate amount of all outstanding Revolving Letters of Credit exceeds the Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced, the Borrower shall be required to deposit Cash Collateral in a Cash Collateral account opened by the Lender in an amount equal to such excess. Such Cash Collateral shall be applied in accordance with Section 10.2(b). Any reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment to zero shall be accompanied by payment of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans (and furnishing of Cash Collateral satisfactory to the Lender for all Revolving L/C Obligations or other arrangements satisfactory to the Lender) and shall result in the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and the Revolving Credit Facility. If the reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment requires the repayment of any SOFR Loan, such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.7 hereof.

SECTION 2.6 Termination of Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility and the Revolving Credit Commitment shall terminate on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.

ARTICLE III

LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITIES

SECTION 3.1 Letter of Credit Availability.

(a) Revolving Letters of Credit. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Lender agrees to issue standby Revolving Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Revolving L/C Sublimit for the account of the Borrower or, subject to Section 3.8, any Subsidiary thereof. Revolving Letters of Credit may be issued on any Business Day from the Closing Date to, but not including the fifteenth (15th) Business Day prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Lender; provided, that the Lender shall not be required to issue any Revolving Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (i) Revolving L/C Obligations would exceed the Revolving L/C Sublimit or (ii) the Revolving Credit Outstandings would exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment. Revolving Letters of Credit issued hereunder shall constitute utilization of the Revolving Credit Commitment.

(b) Cash Secured Letters of Credit. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Lender agrees to issue standby Cash Secured Letters of Credit in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Cash Secured L/C Commitment for the account of the Borrower or, subject to Section 3.8, any Subsidiary thereof. Cash Secured Letters of Credit may be issued on any Business Day from the Closing Date to, but not including the fifteenth (15th) Business Day prior to the Cash Secured L/C Maturity Date in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Lender; provided, that the Lender shall not be required to issue any Cash Secured Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (i) Cash Secured L/C Obligations would exceed the Cash Secured L/C Commitment or (ii) the amount on deposit in the Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account would be less than an amount equal to 100% of the Cash Secured L/C Obligations. The Cash Secured L/C Facility and the Cash Secured L/C Commitment shall terminate on the Cash Secured L/C Maturity Date.

 

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SECTION 3.2 Terms of Letters of Credit. Each Letter of Credit shall (a) be denominated in Dollars in a minimum amount of $25,000 (or such lesser amount as agreed to by the Lender), (b) expire on a date no more than sixty (60) months after the date of issuance or last renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit (provided that any Revolving Letter of Credit that expires after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (each such Revolving Letter of Credit, an “Extended Revolving Letter of Credit”) shall be subject to the requirements of Section 3.12) and (c) unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Lender and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued by it, be subject to the ISP as set forth in the Letter of Credit Documents or as determined by the Lender and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of New York. The Lender shall not at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if (i) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the Lender from issuing such Letter of Credit, or request that the Lender refrain from, or any Applicable Law applicable to the Lender or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Lender shall prohibit, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Lender with respect to letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular any restriction or reserve or capital requirement (for which the Lender is not otherwise compensated) not in effect on the Closing Date, or any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense that was not applicable, in effect or known to the Lender as of the Closing Date and that the Lender in good faith deems material to it, (ii) the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 are not satisfied, (iii) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the Lender applicable to letters of credit generally or (iv) the proceeds of which would be made available to any Person (A) to fund any activity or business of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country or (B) in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any party to this Agreement, unless the Lender has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the Lender (in its sole discretion) with the Borrower, as it may elect in its sole discretion. The Lender shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (x) the Lender would have no obligation at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof or (y) the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to the Letter of Credit. References herein to “issue” and derivations thereof with respect to Letters of Credit shall also include extensions or modifications of any outstanding Letters of Credit, unless the context otherwise requires.

SECTION 3.3 Procedure for Issuance and Disbursement of Letters of Credit.

(a) The Borrower may from time to time request that the Lender issue, amend, renew or extend a Letter of Credit by delivering to the Lender at its applicable office a Letter of Credit Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of the Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other Letter of Credit Documents and information as the Lender may request, not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two (2) Business Days (or such later date and time as the Lender may agree in its sole discretion) prior to the proposed date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, as the case may be. Such notice shall specify (i) the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with Section 3.2), (iii) the amount of such Letter of Credit, (iv) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, (v) the purpose and nature of such Letter of Credit and (vi) such other information as shall be necessary to issue, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. Upon receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the Lender shall process such Letter of Credit Application and the certificates, documents and other Letter of Credit Documents and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall, subject to Section 3.1 and Article VI, promptly issue, amend, renew or extend the Letter of Credit requested thereby (subject to the timing requirements set forth in this Section 3.3) by issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as otherwise may be agreed by the Lender and the Borrower. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the Lender such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, renewal or extension, including any Letter of Credit Documents, as the Lender may require. The Lender shall promptly furnish to the Borrower a copy of such Letter of Credit and the related Letter of Credit Documents.

 

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(b) The Lender shall, within the time allowed by Applicable Laws or the specific terms of the Letter of Credit following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under such Letter of Credit. The Lender shall promptly after such examination notify the Borrower in writing of such demand for payment if the Lender has or will honor such demand for payment thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Lender with respect to such payment.

SECTION 3.4 Commissions and Other Charges.

(a) Letter of Credit Commissions. The Borrower shall pay to the Lender a letter of credit commission (i) with respect to each Revolving Letter of Credit in the amount equal to the daily amount available to be drawn under such Revolving Letters of Credit times the Applicable Margin with respect to Revolving Credit Loans that are SOFR Loans (determined, in each case, on a per annum basis) and (ii) with respect to each Cash Secured Letter of Credit in the amount equal to the daily amount available to be drawn under such Cash Secured Letters of Credit times 0.65% per annum. Such commission shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter (commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit), on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date or Cash Secured L/C Maturity Date, as applicable, and thereafter on demand of the Lender.

(b) Other Fees, Costs, Charges and Expenses. In addition to the foregoing fees and commissions, the Borrower shall pay or reimburse the Lender for such normal and customary fees, costs, charges and expenses as are incurred or charged by the Lender in issuing, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit issued by it. Such customary fees, costs, charges and expenses are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

SECTION 3.5 Reimbursement.

(a) Revolving Letters of Credit. In the event of any drawing under any Revolving Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees to reimburse (either with the proceeds of a Revolving Credit Loan as provided for in this Section or with funds from other sources), in same day funds, the Lender by paying to the Lender the amount of such drawing not later than 4:00 p.m. on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice of such drawing, if such notice is received by the Borrower prior to 10:00 a.m., or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time, for the amount of such draft so paid.

(b) Cash Secured Letters of Credit. In the event of any drawing under any Cash Secured Letter of Credit, the Borrower authorized the Lender to reimburse the amount of such drawing from the Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account; provided that, if there are not sufficient funds the Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account for such reimbursement, the Borrower agrees to reimburse, in same day funds, the Lender by paying to the Lender the amount of such shortfall not later than 4:00 p.m. on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice of such drawing, if such notice is received by the Borrower prior to 10:00 a.m., or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time, for the amount of such shortfall.

 

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SECTION 3.6 Obligations Absolute.

(a) The Borrower’s obligations under this Article III (including the Reimbursement Obligation) shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable under any and all circumstances whatsoever, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and irrespective of:

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

(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower may have or have had against the Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the Lender 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) the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent, forged or insufficient in any respect or any statement in such draft or other document being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;

(iv) any payment by the Lender under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;

(v) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement in such draft or other document being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or

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

(b) The Borrower also agrees that the Lender shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligation under Section 3.5 shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to which such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such transferee. The Lender and its Related Parties shall not have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit, or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Lender; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Lender from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by Applicable Law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused by the Lender’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Lender (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Lender shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination.

 

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(c) In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that (i) with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Lender may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit, (ii) the Lender may act upon any instruction or request relative to a Letter of Credit or requested Letter of Credit that the Lender in good faith believes to have been given by a Person authorized to give such instruction or request and (iii) the Lender may replace a purportedly lost, stolen, or destroyed original Letter of Credit or missing amendment thereto with a certified true copy marked as such or waive a requirement for its presentation. The responsibility of the Lender to the Borrower in connection with any draft presented for payment under any Letter of Credit issued by it shall, in addition to any payment obligation expressly provided for in such Letter of Credit, be limited to determining that the documents (including each draft) delivered under such Letter of Credit in connection with such presentment substantially conforms to the requirements under such Letter of Credit.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Lender shall not be responsible to the Borrower for, and the Lender’s rights and remedies against the Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the Lender required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including the Applicable Laws or any order of a jurisdiction in which the Lender or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements or official commentary of the International Chamber of Commerce Banking Commission, the Banker’s Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such laws or practice rules.

SECTION 3.7 Effect of Letter of Credit Documents. To the extent that any provision of any Letter of Credit Document related to any Letter of Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this Article III, the provisions of this Article III shall apply.

SECTION 3.8 Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, or states that a Subsidiary is the “account party,” “applicant,” “customer,” “instructing party,” or the like of or for such Letter of Credit, and without derogating from any rights of the Lender (whether arising by contract, at law, in equity or otherwise) against such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit, the Borrower (a) shall be obligated to reimburse, or to cause the applicable Subsidiary to reimburse, the Lender for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit as if such Letter of Credit had been issued solely for the account of the Borrower and (b) irrevocably waives any and all defenses that might otherwise be available to it as a guarantor or surety of any or all of the obligations of such Subsidiary in respect of such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of any of its Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

SECTION 3.9 Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account.

(a) Maintenance of Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account. The Borrower shall maintain, at all times, an amount in the Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account of not less than 100% of the Cash Secured L/C Obligations at such time. The Cash Secured L/C Collateral shall be subject to the exclusive dominion and control of the Lender, which shall hold the Cash Secured L/C Collateral subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. No Credit Party shall have any right to withdraw from the Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account nor any other right or power with respect to the Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account or the Cash Secured L/C Collateral, except as expressly provided herein.

 

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(b) Release of Amounts in Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account. If at any time the amount on deposit in the Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account shall exceed 100% of the Cash Secured L/C Obligations at such time, then upon the written request of the Borrower and so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Lender shall release such excess amount from the Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account to the Borrower.

SECTION 3.10 Permanent Reduction of the Cash Secured L/C Commitment. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time, upon at least five (5) Business Days prior irrevocable written notice to the Lender, to permanently reduce, without premium or penalty, (a) the entire Cash Secured L/C Commitment at any time or (b) portions of the Cash Secured L/C Commitment, from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not less than $500,000 or any whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof; provided that, after giving effect to any such reduction (i) Cash Secured L/C Obligations would not exceed the Cash Secured L/C Commitment and (ii) the amount on deposit in the Cash Secured L/C Collateral Account would not be less than an amount equal to 100% of the Cash Secured L/C Obligations.

SECTION 3.11 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to mean the maximum face amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all increases thereof contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the Letter of Credit Documents therefor (at the time specified therefor in such applicable Letter of Credit or Letter of Credit Documents and as such amount may be reduced by (a) any permanent reduction of such Letter of Credit or (b) any amount which is drawn, reimbursed and no longer available under such Letter of Credit).

SECTION 3.12 Cash Collateral for Extended Revolving Letters of Credit.

(a) Cash Collateralization. The Borrower shall Cash Collateralize each Extended Revolving Letter of Credit (in an amount equal to 100% of the maximum face amount of each Extended Revolving Letter of Credit, calculated in accordance with Section 3.11) by a date that is no later than 95 days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (or, if any such Extended Revolving Letters of Credit are issued within 95 days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, upon issuance of such Extended Revolving Letter of Credit) and shall enter into a cash collateral agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender and such other documentation as the Lender may reasonably request.

(b) Grant of Security Interest. The Borrower hereby grants to the Lender for each Extended Revolving Letter of Credit, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in, all Cash Collateral required to be provided by this Section 3.12 as security for the Lender’s obligation to fund draws under such Extended Revolving Letters of Credit. If at any time the Lender determines that the Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Lender as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the amount required pursuant to subsection (a) above, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand by the Lender, pay or provide to the Lender additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.

(c) Survival. With respect to any Extended Revolving Letter of Credit, each party’s obligations under this Article III and all other rights and duties of the Lender of such Extended Revolving Letter of Credit and the Credit Parties with respect to such Extended Revolving Letter of Credit shall survive any assignment of rights by the Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of the Obligations.

 

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ARTICLE IV

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE V

GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS

SECTION 5.1 Interest.

(a) Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this Section, at the election of the Borrower, Revolving Credit Loans shall bear interest at (A) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin or (B) Term SOFR plus the Applicable Margin (provided that Term SOFR shall not be available until three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days after the Closing Date unless the Borrower has delivered to the Lender a letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender indemnifying the Lender in the manner set forth in Section 5.7 of this Agreement). The Borrower shall select the rate of interest and Interest Period, if any, applicable to any Revolving Credit Loan at the time a Notice of Borrowing is given or at the time a Notice of Conversion/Continuation is given pursuant to Section 5.2.

(b) Default Rate. Subject to Section 10.3, (i) immediately upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 10.1(a), (b), (h) or (i), or (ii) at the election of the Lender, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any other Event of Default, (A) the Borrower shall no longer have the option to request SOFR Loans or Letters of Credit, (B) all outstanding SOFR Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum of two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to SOFR Loans until the end of the applicable Interest Period and thereafter at a rate per annum of two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to Base Rate Loans, (C) all outstanding Base Rate Loans and other Obligations arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall bear interest at a rate per annum of two percent (2%) in excess of the rate (including the Applicable Margin) then applicable to Base Rate Loans or such other Obligations arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document and (D) all accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable on demand of the Lender. Interest shall continue to accrue on the Obligations after the filing by or against the Borrower of any petition seeking any relief in bankruptcy or under any Debtor Relief Law.

(c) Interest Payment and Computation. Interest on each Base Rate Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter commencing December 31, 2023 and interest on each SOFR Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and if such Interest Period extends over three (3) months, at the end of each three (3) month interval during such Interest Period; provided that (i) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any SOFR Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (ii) in the event of any conversion of any SOFR Loan prior to the end of the Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such SOFR Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans 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 provided hereunder 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 365/366-day year).

(d) Maximum Rate. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the aggregate of all amounts deemed interest under this Agreement charged or collected pursuant to the terms of this Agreement exceed the highest rate permissible under any Applicable Law which a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto. In the event that such a court determines that the Lender has

 

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charged or received interest hereunder in excess of the highest applicable rate, the rate in effect hereunder shall automatically be reduced to the maximum rate permitted by Applicable Law and the Lender shall at the Lender’s option (i) promptly refund to the Borrower any interest received by the Lender in excess of the maximum lawful rate or (ii) apply such excess to the principal balance of the Obligations. It is the intent hereof that the Borrower not pay or contract to pay, and that the Lender not receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, interest in excess of that which may be paid by the Borrower under Applicable Law.

(e) Term SOFR Conforming Changes. In connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR, the Lender will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document. The Lender will promptly notify the Borrower of the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR.

SECTION 5.2 Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans. Provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the Borrower shall have the option to (a) convert at any time following the third U.S. Government Securities Business Day after the Closing Date, subject to the notice requirements herein, all or any portion of any outstanding Base Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $500,000 or any whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or such lesser amount as shall represent all of the Base Rate Loans then outstanding) into one or more SOFR Loans and (b) upon the expiration of any Interest Period therefor, (i) convert all or any part of any outstanding SOFR Loans in a principal amount equal to $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or such lesser amount as shall represent all of the SOFR Loans then outstanding) into Base Rate Loans or (ii) continue any such SOFR Loans as SOFR Loans. Whenever the Borrower desires to convert or continue Revolving Credit Loans as provided above, the Borrower shall give the Lender irrevocable prior written notice in the form attached as Exhibit E (a “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”) not later than 11:00 a.m. three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days before the day on which a proposed conversion or continuation of such Revolving Credit Loan is to be effective specifying (A) the Revolving Credit Loans to be converted or continued, and, in the case of any SOFR Loan to be converted or continued, the last day of the Interest Period therefor, (B) the effective date of such conversion or continuation (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the principal amount of such Revolving Credit Loans to be converted or continued, and (D) the Interest Period to be applicable to such converted or continued SOFR Loan. If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Notice of Conversion/Continuation prior to the end of the Interest Period for any SOFR Loan, then the applicable SOFR Loan shall be automatically converted to a Base Rate Loan. Any such automatic conversion to a Base Rate Loan shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable SOFR Loan. If the Borrower requests a conversion to, or continuation of, a SOFR Loan, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

SECTION 5.3 Fees.

(a) Revolving Credit Commitment Fee. Commencing on the Closing Date, the Borrower shall pay to the Lender a non-refundable commitment fee (the “Revolving Credit Commitment Fee”) on the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment at a rate per annum equal to the applicable percentage under “Commitment Fees” as set forth in the definition of Applicable Margin. The Revolving Credit Commitment Fee shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter during the term of this Agreement commencing December 31, 2023 and ending on the date upon which all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) arising under the Revolving Credit Facility shall have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) and the Revolving Credit

 

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Commitment has been terminated. For purposes of calculating the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee, the unused portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment shall be calculated as (i) the Revolving Credit Commitment minus (ii) the sum of (A) the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding, plus (B) the aggregate amount of Revolving L/C Obligations.

(b) Committed Facility Fee. Commencing on the Closing Date through the Committed Facility Increase Effective Date, the Borrower shall pay to the Lender a non-refundable commitment fee (the “Committed Facility Fee”) on the Committed Facility Increase at a rate per annum equal to 0.05% per annum. The Committed Facility Fee shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter during the term of this Agreement commencing December 31, 2023 and ending on the earlier to occur of (i) the Committed Facility Increase Effective Date and (ii) the date upon which all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) arising under the Revolving Credit Facility shall have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) and the Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated.

(c) Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Lender such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified.

SECTION 5.4 Manner of Payment. Each payment by the Borrower on account of the principal of or interest on the Revolving Credit Loans or of any fee, commission or other amounts (including the Reimbursement Obligation) payable to the Lender under this Agreement shall be made not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date specified for payment under this Agreement to the Lender in Dollars, in immediately available funds and shall be made without any setoff, counterclaim or deduction whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 2:00 p.m. on such day shall be deemed a payment on such date for the purposes of Section 10.1, but for all other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day. Any payment received after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes. Subject to the definition of Interest Period, if any payment under this Agreement shall be specified to be made upon a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and such extension of time shall in such case be included in computing any interest if payable along with such payment.

SECTION 5.5 Evidence of Indebtedness. The Revolving Credit Loans shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Revolving Credit Loans 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. Upon the request of the Lender, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Lender a Revolving Credit Note which shall evidence the Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans in addition to such accounts or records. The Lender may attach schedules to its Revolving Credit Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Revolving Credit Loans and payments with respect thereto.

SECTION 5.6 Changed Circumstances.

(a) Circumstances Affecting Benchmark Availability. Subject to clause (c) below, in connection with any request for a SOFR Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof or otherwise, if for any reason the Lender shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that (i) reasonable and adequate means do not exist for ascertaining Term SOFR for the applicable Interest Period with respect to a proposed SOFR Loan on or prior to the first day of such Interest Period or (ii) Term SOFR does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lender of making or

 

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maintaining such Revolving Credit Loans during such Interest Period, then, in each case, the Lender shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower. Upon notice thereof by the Lender to the Borrower, any obligation of the Lender to make SOFR Loans, and any right of the Borrower to convert any Revolving Credit Loan to or continue any Revolving Credit Loan as a SOFR Loan, shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or the affected Interest Periods) until the Lender revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (A) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or the affected Interest Periods) or, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein and (B) any outstanding affected SOFR Loans will be deemed to have been converted into Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 5.7.

(b) Laws Affecting SOFR Availability. If, after the date hereof, the introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by the Lender (or any of its Lending Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall make it unlawful or impossible for the Lender (or any of its Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any SOFR Loan, or to determine or charge interest based upon SOFR, the Term SOFR Reference Rate or Term SOFR, the Lender shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower (an “Illegality Notice”). Thereafter, until the Lender notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist, (i) any obligation of the Lender to make SOFR Loans, and any right of the Borrower to convert any Revolving Credit Loan to a SOFR Loan or continue any Revolving Credit Loan as a SOFR Loan, shall be suspended and (ii) if necessary to avoid such illegality, the Lender shall compute the Base Rate without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Base Rate”. Upon receipt of an Illegality Notice, the Borrower shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, upon demand from the Lender, prepay or, if applicable, convert all SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans (in each case, if necessary to avoid such illegality, the Lender shall compute the Base Rate without reference to clause (c) of the definition of “Base Rate”), on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if the Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans to such day, or immediately, if the Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans to such day. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 5.7.

(c) Benchmark Replacement Setting.

(i) Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, the Lender and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace the then-current Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement. No replacement of a Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement pursuant to this Section 5.6(c)(i)(A) will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Date.

(ii) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Lender will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

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(iii) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Lender will promptly notify the Borrower of (A) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (B) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Lender will promptly notify the Borrower of the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 5.6(c)(iv). Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Lender pursuant to this Section 5.6(c), including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 5.6(c).

(iv) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (A) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Reference Rate) and either (1) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Lender in its reasonable discretion or (2) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is not or will not be representative, then the Lender may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (B) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (A) above either (1) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (2) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Lender may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

(v) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, (A) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans and (B) any outstanding affected SOFR Loans will be deemed to have been converted to Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable Interest Period. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark that is the subject of such Benchmark Unavailability Period or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Base Rate.

SECTION 5.7 Indemnity. The Borrower hereby indemnifies the Lender against any loss, cost or expense (including any loss, cost or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds or from any fees payable) which may arise, be attributable to or result due to or as a consequence of (a) any failure by the Borrower to make any payment when due of any amount due hereunder in connection with a SOFR Loan, (b) any failure of the Borrower to borrow or continue a SOFR Loan or convert to a SOFR Loan on a date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation, (c) any failure of the Borrower to prepay any SOFR Loan on a date specified therefor in any Notice of Prepayment (regardless of whether any such Notice of Prepayment may be revoked under Section 2.4(c) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (d) any payment, prepayment or conversion of any SOFR Loan on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor (including as a result of an Event of Default). A certificate

 

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of the Lender setting forth the basis for determining such amount or amounts necessary to compensate the Lender shall be forwarded to the Borrower and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for manifest error. All of the obligations of the Credit Parties under this Section 5.7 shall survive the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations.

SECTION 5.8 Increased Costs.

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

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve (including pursuant to regulations issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, special, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D of the FRB, as amended and in effect from time to time)), special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or advances, loans or other credit extended or participated in by, the Lender;

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

(iii) impose on the Lender any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Loans or any Letter of Credit;

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

(b) Capital Requirements. If the Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting the Lender or any Lending Office of the Lender or the Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the Lender’s capital or on the capital of the Lender’s or the Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Commitment or the Revolving Credit Loans, or the Letters of Credit, to a level below that which the Lender or the Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration the Lender’s policies and the policies of the Lender’s or the Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time upon written request of the Lender, the Borrower shall promptly pay to the Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Lender or the Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

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

 

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

(e) Survival. All of the obligations of the Credit Parties under this Section 5.8 shall survive the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the Obligations.

SECTION 5.9 Taxes.

(a) Defined Terms. For purposes of this Section 5.9, the term “Applicable Law” includes FATCA.

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

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

(d) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender, within ten (10) days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) payable or paid by the Lender or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to the Lender and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by the Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(e) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 5.9, the Borrower shall deliver to the Lender the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

 

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(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 5.11 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 5.9), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (f) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (f), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (f) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

(g) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section 5.9 shall survive the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the Obligations.

SECTION 5.10 Designation of a Different Lending Office. If the Lender requests compensation under Section 5.8, or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to the Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of the Lender pursuant to Section 5.9, then the Lender shall, at the request of the Borrower, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Revolving Credit Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of the Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 5.8 or Section 5.9, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject the Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to the Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

SECTION 5.11 Revolving Credit Facility Increases.

(a) Request for Revolving Credit Facility Increase. At any time after the Committed Facility Increase Effective Date, in addition to the Committed Facility Increase (which Committed Facility Increase shall occur automatically upon the satisfaction or waiver in writing by the Lender of the conditions set forth in Section 6.3 and shall not be subject to the requirements set forth in this Section 5.11), upon written notice to the Lender, the Borrower may, from time to time, request one or more increases in the Revolving Credit Commitment (each, a “Revolving Credit Facility Increase”); provided that (A) the aggregate initial principal amount of all such Revolving Credit Facility Increases shall not exceed $15,000,000 and (B) the Lender will not be required or otherwise obligated to provide any portion of such Revolving Credit Facility Increase.

(b) Terms of Revolving Credit Facility Increases. Unless otherwise agreed by the Lender and the Borrower, each Revolving Credit Facility Increase shall have the same terms, including maturity, Applicable Margin and Revolving Credit Commitment Fee, as the Revolving Credit Facility and will be guaranteed by the Guarantors and secured on a pari passu basis with the other Secured Obligations.

 

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(c) Conditions to Effectiveness of Revolving Credit Facility Increases. Any Revolving Credit Facility Increase shall be subject to the following conditions precedent:

(i) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior to or after giving effect to such Revolving Credit Facility Increase;

(ii) all of the representations and warranties set forth in Article VII shall be true and correct in all material respects (or if qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects), or if such representation speaks as of an earlier date, as of such earlier date;

(iii) the Lender shall have received from the Borrower, a Compliance Certificate demonstrating that the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 9.13 based on the financial statements for the most recently completed Reference Period, both before and after giving effect on a Pro Forma Basis to the incurrence of any such Revolving Credit Facility Increase (and assuming that any such Revolving Credit Facility Increase is fully drawn) and any Permitted Acquisition, refinancing of Indebtedness or other event consummated in connection therewith giving rise to a Pro Forma Basis adjustment; and

(iv) the Lender shall have received from the Borrower, any customary legal opinions or other documents (including a resolution duly adopted by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of each Credit Party authorizing such Revolving Credit Facility Increase) and other instruments and documents reasonably requested by the Lender.

ARTICLE VI

CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING

SECTION 6.1 Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit. Except for those items that are permitted to be satisfied on a post-closing basis pursuant to Section 8.19, the obligation of the Lender to close this Agreement and to make the initial Revolving Credit Loans or issue or participate in the initial Letter of Credit, if any, is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

(a) Executed Loan Documents. This Agreement, a Revolving Credit Note, the Security Documents to be delivered on the Closing Date and the Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, together with any other applicable Loan Documents, shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered to the Lender by the parties thereto, shall be in full force and effect and no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

(b) Closing Certificates; Etc. The Lender shall have received each of the following in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender:

(i) Officer’s Certificate. A certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that (A) all representations and warranties of the Credit Parties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects (except to the extent any such representation and warranty is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be true, correct and complete in all respects), (B) after giving effect to the Transactions, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (C) since March 31, 2023, no event has occurred or condition arisen, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(ii) Certificate of Secretary of each Credit Party. A certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Credit Party certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signature of each officer of such Credit Party executing Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying that attached thereto is a true, correct and complete copy of (A) the articles or certificate of incorporation or formation (or equivalent), as applicable, of such Credit Party and all amendments thereto, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation (or equivalent), as applicable, (B) the bylaws or governing documents of such Credit Party as in effect on the Closing Date, (C) resolutions duly adopted by the board of directors (or other governing body) of such Credit Party authorizing and approving the transactions contemplated hereunder and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (D) each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(b)(iii).

(iii) Certificates of Good Standing. Certificates as of a recent date of the good standing of each Credit Party under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation (or equivalent), as applicable.

(iv) Opinions of Counsel. Opinions of counsel to the Credit Parties, including opinions of special counsel and local counsel as may be reasonably requested by the Lender, addressed to the Lender with respect to the Credit Parties, the Loan Documents and such other matters as the Lender shall request.

(c) Personal Property Collateral.

(i) Filings and Recordings. Subject to the limitations and qualifications in the Security Documents, the Lender shall have received all filings and recordations that are necessary to perfect the security interests of the Lender, on behalf of the Secured Parties, in the Collateral and the Lender shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Lender that upon such filings and recordations such security interests constitute valid and perfected first priority Liens thereon (subject to Permitted Liens).

(ii) Pledged Collateral. The Lender shall have received (A) original stock certificates or other certificates evidencing the certificated Equity Interests pledged pursuant to the Security Documents, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof and (B) each original promissory note pledged pursuant to the Security Documents together with an undated allonge for each such promissory note duly executed in blank by the holder thereof.

(iii) Lien Search. The Lender shall have received the results of a Lien search (including a search as to UCC, bankruptcy and intellectual property matters), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory thereto, made against the Credit Parties under the Uniform Commercial Code (or applicable judicial docket) as in effect in each jurisdiction in which filings or recordations under the applicable Uniform Commercial Code should be made to evidence or perfect security interests in all assets of such Credit Party, indicating among other things that the assets of each such Credit Party are free and clear of any Lien (except for Permitted Liens).

(iv) Property and Liability Insurance. The Lender shall have received, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, evidence of property, business interruption and liability insurance covering each Credit Party (with appropriate endorsements naming the Lender as lender’s loss payee on all policies for property hazard insurance and as additional insured on all policies for liability insurance), and if requested by the Lender, copies of such insurance policies.

 

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(v) Intellectual Property. The Lender shall have received security agreements duly executed by the applicable Credit Parties for all federally registered copyrights, copyright applications, patents, patent applications, trademarks and trademark applications included in the Collateral, in each case in proper form for filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or U.S. Copyright Office, as applicable.

(d) Consents; Defaults.

(i) Governmental and Third Party Approvals. The Credit Parties shall have received all material governmental, shareholder and third party consents and approvals necessary (or any other material consents as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Lender) in connection with the Transactions, which shall be in full force and effect.

(ii) No Injunction, Etc. No action, suit, proceeding or investigation shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or any Governmental Authority that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Financial Matters.

(i) Financial Statements. The Lender shall have received (A) the audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of March 31, 2023 and the related audited statements of income and retained earnings and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended and (B) unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2023 and related unaudited interim statements of income and retained earnings.

(ii) Financial Projections. The Lender shall have received pro forma Consolidated financial statements for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and projections prepared by management of the Borrower, of balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements on a quarterly basis for the first year following June 2023 and on an annual basis for each Fiscal Year thereafter during the term of the Revolving Credit Facility consistent with Section 8.1(c).

(iii) Solvency Certificate. The Borrower shall have delivered to the Lender a certificate, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, and certified as accurate by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, that as of the Closing Date and after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated basis, are Solvent.

(iv) Payment at Closing. The Borrower shall have paid or made arrangements to pay contemporaneously with closing (A) to the Lender the fees set forth or referenced in Section 5.3 and any other accrued and unpaid fees or commissions due hereunder, (B) all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Lender (directly to such counsel if requested by the Lender) to the extent accrued and unpaid 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 Lender) and (C) to any other Person such amount as may be due thereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including all taxes, fees and other charges in connection with the execution, delivery, recording, filing and registration of any of the Loan Documents.

 

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(f) Miscellaneous.

(i) Notice of Account Designation. The Lender shall have received a Notice of Account Designation specifying the account or accounts to which the proceeds of any Revolving Credit Loans made on or after the Closing Date are to be disbursed.

(ii) Existing Indebtedness. All existing Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to the Loan Agreement dated as of June 1, 2021 (the “Existing BofA Agreement”) between the Borrower and Bank of America, N.A., as amended, shall be repaid in full, all commitments (if any) in respect thereof shall have been terminated and all guarantees therefor and security therefor shall be released, and the Lender shall have received pay-off letters in form and substance satisfactory to it evidencing such repayment, termination and release (provided that, Indebtedness related to letters of credit issued under such Existing BofA Agreement listed on Schedule 9.1 shall be permitted to remain outstanding);

(iii) PATRIOT Act, etc. The Lender shall have received, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information requested by the Lender or required by regulatory authorities in order for the Lender to comply with requirements of any Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including the PATRIOT Act and any applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations.

SECTION 6.2 Conditions to All Extensions of Credit. The obligations of the Lender to make any Revolving Credit Loan, convert or continue any Revolving Credit Loan and/or issue or extend any Letter of Credit are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent on the relevant borrowing, continuation, conversion, issuance or extension date:

(a) Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects, except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects, on and as of such borrowing, continuation, conversion, issuance or extension date with the same effect as if made on and as of such date (except for any such representation and warranty that by its terms is made only as of an earlier date, which representation and warranty shall remain true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, except for any representation and warranty that is qualified by materiality or reference to Material Adverse Effect, which such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date).

(b) No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) on the borrowing, continuation or conversion date with respect to such Revolving Credit Loan or after giving effect to the Revolving Credit Loans to be made, continued or converted on such date or (ii) on the issuance or extension date with respect to such Letter of Credit or after giving effect to the issuance or extension of such Letter of Credit on such date.

(c) Notices. The Lender shall have received a Notice of Borrowing, Letter of Credit Application, or Notice of Conversion/Continuation, as applicable, from the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.3(a), Section 3.3 or Section 5.2, as applicable.

Each Notice of Borrowing, Letter of Credit Application or Notice of Conversion/Continuation, as applicable, submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 6.2(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Extension of Credit.

 

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SECTION 6.3 Conditions Precedent to Committed Facility Increase. The effectiveness of the Committed Facility Increase will be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Minimum Consolidated EBITDA. Consolidated EBITDA for the Reference Periods ending on each of the three (3) most recently ended consecutive fiscal quarters occurring after the Closing Date shall not be less than $15,000,000; provided that solely for purposes of determining compliance with this clause (a), Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated to limit the addbacks under clause (b)(v) and (b)(vi) of the definition thereof to $3,000,000 in the aggregate for each such Reference Period.

(b) Minimum Liquidity. The sum of (i) unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents and (ii) availability under the Revolving Credit Facility shall be greater than $7,500,000 at such time (prior to giving effect to the Committed Facility Increase).

ARTICLE VII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CREDIT PARTIES

To induce the Lender to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lender to make Extensions of Credit, the Credit Parties hereby represent and warrant to the Lender both before and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereunder, which representations and warranties shall be deemed made on the Closing Date and as otherwise set forth in Section 6.2, that:

SECTION 7.1 Organization; Power; Qualification. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent the concept is applicable in such jurisdiction) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, (b) has the power and authority to own its Properties and to carry on its business as now being and hereafter proposed to be conducted, except where the failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) is duly qualified and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of its Properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification and authorization except in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The jurisdictions in which each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof are organized and qualified to do business as of the Closing Date are described on Schedule 7.1. Schedule 7.1 identifies each Subsidiary Guarantor as of the Closing Date. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is an Affected Financial Institution or a Covered Party.

SECTION 7.2 Ownership. Each Subsidiary of each Credit Party as of the Closing Date is listed on Schedule 7.2. As of the Closing Date, the capitalization of each Credit Party (other than the Borrower) and its Subsidiaries consists of the number of shares, authorized, issued and outstanding, of such classes and series, with or without par value, described on Schedule 7.2. All outstanding shares have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights, except as described in Schedule 7.2. As of the Closing Date, there are no outstanding stock purchase warrants, subscriptions, options, securities, instruments or other rights of any type or nature whatsoever, which are convertible into, exchangeable for or otherwise provide for or require the issuance of Equity Interests of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, except as described on Schedule 7.2.

SECTION 7.3 Authorization; Enforceability. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof has the right, power and authority and has taken all necessary corporate and other action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party in accordance with their respective terms. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of each Credit Party and each

 

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Subsidiary thereof that is a party thereto, and each such document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof that is a party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar state or federal Debtor Relief Laws from time to time in effect which affect the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and the availability of equitable remedies.

SECTION 7.4 Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing with Laws, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof of the Loan Documents to which each such Person is a party, in accordance with their respective terms, the Extensions of Credit hereunder and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby do not and will not, by the passage of time, the giving of notice or otherwise, (a) require any Governmental Approval or violate any Applicable Law relating to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof where the failure to obtain such Governmental Approvals or such violation, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under the Organizational Documents of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, (c) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which such Person is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound or any Governmental Approval relating to such Person, which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (d) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Person other than Permitted Liens or (e) require any consent or authorization of, filing with, or other act in respect of, an arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement other than (i) consents, authorizations, filings or other acts or consents for which the failure to obtain or make could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) consents or filings under the UCC and (iii) filings with the United States Copyright Office and/or the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

SECTION 7.5 Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof (a) has all Governmental Approvals required by any Applicable Law for it to conduct its business, each of which is in full force and effect, is final and not subject to review on appeal and is not the subject of any pending or, to its knowledge, threatened attack by direct or collateral proceeding, (b) is in compliance with each Governmental Approval applicable to it and in compliance with all other Applicable Laws relating to it or any of its respective properties and (c) has timely filed all material reports, documents and other materials required to be filed by it under all Applicable Laws with any Governmental Authority and has retained all material records and documents required to be retained by it under Applicable Law, except in each case of clauses (a), (b) or (c) where the failure to have, comply or file could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 7.6 Tax Returns and Payments. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof has duly filed or caused to be filed all federal, state, local and other tax returns required by Applicable Law to be filed, and has paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of, all federal, state, local and other taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable (other than any amount the validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of the relevant Credit Party), in each case except to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Such returns accurately reflect in all material respects all liability for taxes of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof for the periods covered thereby. As of the Closing Date, except as set forth on Schedule 7.6, there is no ongoing audit or examination or, to the knowledge of each of the Credit Parties and each Subsidiary thereof, other investigation by any Governmental Authority of the tax liability of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof. No Governmental Authority has asserted any Lien or other claim against any Credit Party or any

 

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Subsidiary thereof with respect to unpaid taxes which has not been discharged or resolved (other than (a) any amount the validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided for on the books of the relevant Credit Party and (b) Permitted Liens). The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof in respect of federal, state, local and other taxes for all Fiscal Years and portions thereof since the organization of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof are in the judgment of the Borrower adequate, and the Borrower does not anticipate any additional taxes or assessments for any of such years.

SECTION 7.7 Intellectual Property Matters. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof owns or possesses rights to use all material franchises, licenses, copyrights, copyright applications, patents, patent rights or licenses, patent applications, trademarks, trademark rights, service mark, service mark rights, trade names, trade name rights, copyrights and other rights with respect to the foregoing which are reasonably necessary to conduct its business. No event has occurred which permits, or after notice or lapse of time or both would permit, the revocation or termination of any such rights, and no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is liable to any Person for infringement under Applicable Law with respect to any such rights as a result of its business operations.

SECTION 7.8 Environmental Matters. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:

(a) The properties owned, leased or operated by each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof now or, to their knowledge, in the past, do not contain, and to their knowledge have not previously contained, any Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations which constitute or constituted a violation of applicable Environmental Laws;

(b) Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof and such properties and all operations conducted in connection therewith are in compliance, and (to their knowledge) have been in compliance, with all applicable Environmental Laws, and there is no contamination at, under or about such properties or such operations which could interfere with the continued operation of such properties or impair the fair saleable value thereof;

(c) No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof has received any notice of violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability regarding environmental matters, Hazardous Materials, or compliance with Environmental Laws that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, nor does any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened;

(d) To its knowledge, Hazardous Materials have not been transported or disposed of to or from the properties owned, leased or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof in violation of, or in a manner or to a location which could give rise to liability under, Environmental Laws, nor have any Hazardous Materials been generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of such properties in violation of, or in a manner that could give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Laws;

(e) No judicial proceedings or governmental or administrative action is pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof is or will be named as a potentially responsible party, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any applicable Environmental Law with respect to any Credit Party, any Subsidiary thereof, with respect to any real property owned, leased or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or operations conducted in connection therewith that could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

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(f) There has been no release, or to its knowledge, threat of release, of Hazardous Materials at or from properties owned, leased or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, now or in the past, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that could give rise to liability under applicable Environmental Laws that could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 7.9 Employee Benefit Matters.

(a) As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any obligation under, any Pension Plans or Multiemployer Plans other than those identified on Schedule 7.9;

(b) Except where a failure to so comply could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Credit Party and each ERISA Affiliate is in compliance with all applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans except for any required amendments for which the remedial amendment period as defined in Section 401(b) of the Code has not yet expired, (ii) each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or is maintained on an IRS preapproved plan document, except for such plans that have not yet received determination letters but for which the remedial amendment period for submitting a determination letter has not yet expired and (iii) no liability has been incurred by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate which remains unsatisfied for any taxes or penalties assessed with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan or any Multiemployer Plan;

(c) As of the Closing Date, no Pension Plan has been terminated, nor has any Pension Plan become subject to funding based upon benefit restrictions under Section 436 of the Code, nor has any funding waiver from the IRS been received or requested with respect to any Pension Plan, nor has any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate failed to make any contributions or to pay any amounts due and owing as required by Sections 412 or 430 of the Code, Section 302 of ERISA or the terms of any Pension Plan on or prior to the due dates of such contributions under Sections 412 or 430 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, nor has there been any event requiring any disclosure under Section 4041(c)(3)(C) or 4063(a) of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan, in each case which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(d) Except where the failure of any of the following representations to be correct could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Credit Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has: (i) engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described in Section 406 of the ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, (ii) incurred any liability to the PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums and there are no premium payments which are due and unpaid, (iii) failed to make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer Plan, or (iv) failed to make a required installment or other required payment under Sections 412 or 430 of the Code;

(e) No Termination Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(f) Except where the failure of any of the following representations to be correct could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no proceeding, claim (other than a benefits claim in the ordinary course of business), lawsuit and/or investigation is existing or, to its knowledge, threatened concerning or involving (i) any employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) currently maintained or contributed to by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate, (ii) any Pension Plan or (iii) any Multiemployer Plan.

 

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(g) No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is a party to any contract, agreement or arrangement that could, solely as a result of the delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of transactions contemplated hereby, result in the payment of any “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code.

(h) As of the Closing Date the Borrower is not nor will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Revolving Credit Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Revolving Credit Commitment.

SECTION 7.10 Margin Stock. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is engaged principally or as one of its activities in the business of extending credit for the purpose of “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” (as each such term is defined or used, directly or indirectly, in Regulation U of the FRB). Following the application of the proceeds of each Extension of Credit, not more than twenty-five percent (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 9.2 or Section 9.5 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower and the Lender or any Affiliate of the Lender relating to Indebtedness in excess of the Threshold Amount will be “margin stock”.

SECTION 7.11 Government Regulation. No Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” (as each such term is defined or used in the Investment Company Act) and no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is, or after giving effect to any Extension of Credit will be, subject to regulation under the Interstate Commerce Act, or any other Applicable Law which limits its ability to incur or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 7.12 Material Contracts. Schedule 7.12 sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Material Contracts of each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof in effect as of the Closing Date. Other than as set forth in Schedule 7.12, as of the Closing Date, each such Material Contract is, and after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents will be, in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof. To the extent requested by the Lender and permitted to be shared by the terms of such Material Contract, each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof will make available to the Lender a true and complete copy of each Material Contract required to be listed on Schedule 7.12 or any other Schedule hereto. As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof (nor, to its knowledge, any other party thereto) is in breach of or in default under any Material Contract in any material respect.

SECTION 7.13 Employee Relations. As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary thereof is party to any collective bargaining agreement, nor has any labor union been recognized as the representative of its employees except as set forth on Schedule 7.13. The Borrower knows of no pending, threatened or contemplated strikes, work stoppage or other collective labor disputes involving its employees or those of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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SECTION 7.14 Financial Statements. The audited and unaudited financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(e)(i) are complete and correct and fairly present on a Consolidated basis the assets, liabilities and financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such dates, and the results of the operations and changes of financial position for the periods then ended (other than customary year-end adjustments for unaudited financial statements and the absence of footnotes from unaudited financial statements). All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Such financial statements show all material indebtedness and other material liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including material liabilities for taxes, material commitments, and Indebtedness, in each case, to the extent required to be disclosed under GAAP. The projections delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(e)(ii) were prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions are believed to be reasonable in light of then existing conditions except that such financial projections and statements shall be subject to normal year end closing and audit adjustments (it being recognized by the Lender that projections are not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections may vary from such projections).

SECTION 7.15 No Material Adverse Change. Since March 31, 2023, there has been no material adverse change in the properties, business, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and no event has occurred or condition arisen, either individually or in the aggregate, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 7.16 Solvency. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a Consolidated basis, are Solvent.

SECTION 7.17 Title to Properties. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary thereof has such title to the real property owned by it as is necessary or desirable to the conduct of its business and valid and legal title to all of its personal property and assets, except (i) those which have been disposed of by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries subsequent to such date which dispositions have been in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder or (ii) as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 7.18 Litigation. Except for matters existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.18, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending nor, to its knowledge, threatened against or in any other way relating adversely to or affecting any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or before or by any Governmental Authority that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 7.19 Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions.

(a) None of (i) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, any of their respective directors, officers, employees or Affiliates, or (ii) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent or representative of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the Revolving Credit Facility, (A) is a Sanctioned Person or currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (B) has its assets located in a Sanctioned Country, (C) is under administrative, civil or criminal investigation for an alleged material violation of, or received notice from or made a voluntary disclosure to any governmental entity regarding a possible material violation of, Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Sanctions by a governmental authority that enforces Sanctions or any Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws, or (D) directly or indirectly derives revenues from investments in, or transactions with, Sanctioned Persons in violation of Applicable Law.

(b) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates with all Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and applicable Sanctions.

 

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(c) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Borrower, director, officer, employee and Affiliate of Borrower and each such Subsidiary, is in compliance with all Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws in all material respects and applicable Sanctions.

(d) No proceeds of any Extension of Credit have been used, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents in violation of Section 8.15(b).

SECTION 7.20 Absence of Defaults. No event has occurred or is continuing (a) which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, or (b) which constitutes, or which with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute, a default or event of default by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof under (i) any Material Contract or (ii) any judgment, decree or order to which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof is a party or by which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties may be bound or which would require any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof to make any payment thereunder prior to the scheduled maturity date therefor that, in any case under this clause (ii), could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 7.21 Disclosure. The Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries have disclosed to the Lender all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which any Credit Party and any Subsidiary thereof are subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No financial statement, material report, material certificate or other material written information furnished by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof to the Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished in writing), taken together as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, pro forma financial information, estimated financial information and other projected or estimated information, such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being recognized by the Lender that projections are not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections may vary from such projections). As of the Closing Date, all of the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct.

ARTICLE VIII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until all of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) have been paid and satisfied in full in cash, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) and the Revolving Credit Commitment terminated, each Credit Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to:

SECTION 8.1 Financial Statements and Budgets. Deliver to the Lender, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Lender:

(a) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days (or, if earlier, on the date of any required public filing thereof) after the end of each Fiscal Year (commencing with the Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2024), an audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such Fiscal Year and audited Consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth

 

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in comparative form the corresponding figures as of the end of and for the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect on the financial position or results of operations of any change in the application of accounting principles and practices during the year. Such annual financial statements shall be audited by an independent certified public accounting firm of recognized national standing reasonably acceptable to the Lender, and accompanied by a report and opinion thereon by such certified public accountants prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards that is not subject to any “going concern” or similar qualification or exception or any qualification as to the scope of such audit (other than solely as a result of the current debt maturity in the final year of Indebtedness outstanding under this Agreement) or with respect to accounting principles followed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries not in accordance with GAAP.

(b) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and in any event within forty-five (45) days (or, if earlier, on the date of any required public filing thereof) after the end of the first three fiscal quarters of each Fiscal Year (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2023), an unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and unaudited Consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows for the fiscal quarter then ended and that portion of the Fiscal Year then ended, including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures as of the end of and for the corresponding period in the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared by the Borrower in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect on the financial position or results of operations of any change in the application of accounting principles and practices during the period, and certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower to present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis as of their respective dates and the results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the respective periods then ended, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

(c) Annual Business Plan and Budget. As soon as practicable and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a business plan and operating and capital budget of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the ensuing four (4) fiscal quarters, such plan to be prepared in accordance with GAAP and to include, on a quarterly basis, the following: a quarterly operating and capital budget, a projected income statement, statement of cash flows and balance sheet, calculations demonstrating projected compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 9.13 and a report containing management’s discussion and analysis of such budget with a reasonable disclosure of the key assumptions and drivers with respect to such budget, accompanied by a certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that such budget contains good faith estimates (utilizing assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of delivery of such budget) of the financial condition and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period.

SECTION 8.2 Certificates; Other Reports. Deliver to the Lender:

(a) at each time financial statements are delivered pursuant to Sections 8.1(a) or (b) and at such other times as the Lender shall reasonably request, a duly completed Compliance Certificate that, among other things, (i) states that no Default or Event of Default is continuing as of the date of delivery of such Compliance Certificate or, if a Default or Event of Default is continuing, states the nature thereof and the action that the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto and (ii) demonstrates compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 9.13 as of the last day of the applicable Reference Period ending on the last day of the Reference Period covered by such financial statements, together with a report containing management’s discussion and analysis of the Borrower’s material quarterly and annual operating results, as applicable, and a report containing management’s discussion and analysis of such financial statements;

 

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(b) promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all reports, if any, submitted to any Credit Party, any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective boards of directors by their respective independent public accountants in connection with their auditing function, including any management report and any management responses thereto;

(c) promptly after the assertion or occurrence thereof, notice of any action or proceeding against or of any noncompliance by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof with any Environmental Law that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(d) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or with any national securities exchange, and in any case not otherwise required to be delivered to the Lender pursuant hereto;

(e) promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, 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 Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof;

(f) promptly upon the request thereof, such other information and documentation required under applicable “know your customer” rules and regulations, the PATRIOT Act or any applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws, in each case as from time to time reasonably requested by the Lender; and

(g) such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof as the Lender may reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8.1(a) or (b) or Section 8.2(c) or (d) (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 on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet; provided that the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Lender, if requested.

SECTION 8.3 Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Promptly (but in no event later than ten (10) days after any Responsible Officer of any Credit Party obtains knowledge thereof) notify the Lender in writing of:

(a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

(b) the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or before any Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in any court or before any arbitrator against or involving any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective properties, assets or businesses in each case that if adversely determined could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) any notice of any violation received by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof from any Governmental Authority including any notice of violation of Environmental Laws which in any such case could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(d) any attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order exceeding the Threshold Amount that may be assessed against or threatened against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof; and

(e) any unfavorable determination letter from the IRS regarding the qualification of an Employee Benefit Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code (along with a copy thereof), (ii) all notices received by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC’s intent to terminate any Pension Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Pension Plan, (iii) all notices received by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning the imposition or amount of withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA and (iv) the Borrower obtaining knowledge or reason to know that any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate has filed or intends to file a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan under a distress termination within the meaning of Section 4041(c) of ERISA.

Each notice pursuant to Section 8.3 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 8.3(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

SECTION 8.4 Preservation of Corporate Existence and Related Matters. Except as permitted by Section 9.4, preserve and maintain its separate corporate existence or equivalent form and all rights, franchises, licenses and privileges necessary to the conduct of its business, and qualify and remain qualified as a foreign corporation or other entity and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.5 Maintenance of Property and Licenses.

(a) In addition to the requirements of any of the Security Documents, protect and preserve all Properties necessary in and material to its business, including copyrights, patents, trade names, service marks and trademarks; maintain in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, all buildings, equipment and other tangible real and personal property; and from time to time make or cause to be made all repairs, renewals and replacements thereof and additions to such Property necessary for the conduct of its business, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be conducted in a commercially reasonable manner, except as such action or inaction could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or except as expressly permitted under Section 9.5.

(b) Maintain, in full force and effect in all material respects, each and every license, permit, certification, qualification, approval or franchise issued by any Governmental Authority required for each of them to conduct their respective businesses as presently conducted, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.6 Insurance. Maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies against at least such risks and in at least such amounts as are customarily maintained by similar businesses and as may be required by Applicable Law (including hazard and business interruption insurance). All such insurance shall, (a) provide that no cancellation or material modification thereof shall be effective until at least 30 days after receipt by the Lender of written notice thereof (except as a result of non-payment of premium in which case only 10 days’ prior written notice shall be required), (b) in the case of liability insurance, name the Lender as an additional insured party thereunder and (c) in the case of each property insurance policy, name the Lender as lender’s loss payee. On the Closing Date and from time to time thereafter deliver to the Lender upon its request information in reasonable detail as to the insurance then in effect, stating the names of the insurance companies, the amounts and rates of the insurance, the dates of the expiration thereof and the properties and risks covered thereby.

 

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SECTION 8.7 Accounting Methods and Financial Records. Maintain a system of accounting, and keep proper books, records and accounts (which shall be accurate and complete in all material respects) as may be required or as may be necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance in all material respects with GAAP and in compliance with the regulations of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or any of its Properties.

SECTION 8.8 Payment of Taxes and Other Obligations. Pay and perform (a) all taxes, assessments and other governmental charges that may be levied or assessed upon it or any of its Property and (b) all other Indebtedness, obligations and liabilities in accordance with customary trade practices, except where the failure to pay or perform such items described in clauses (a) or (b) of this Section could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.9 Compliance with Laws and Approvals. Observe and remain in compliance with all Applicable Laws and maintain in full force and effect all Governmental Approvals, in each case applicable to the conduct of its business except where the failure to do so could not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.10 Environmental Laws. In addition to and without limiting the generality of Section 8.9, (a) comply with, and ensure such compliance by all tenants and subtenants with all applicable Environmental Laws and obtain and comply with and maintain, and ensure that all tenants and subtenants, if any, obtain and comply with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws and (b) conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions required under Environmental Laws, and promptly comply with all lawful orders and directives of any Governmental Authority regarding Environmental Laws; except where the failure to perform such item described in clause (a) or (b) of this Section could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.11 Compliance with ERISA. (a) Except where the failure to so comply could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) comply with applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans, (ii) not take any action or fail to take action the result of which could reasonably be expected to result in a liability to the PBGC or to a Multiemployer Plan, (iii) not participate in any prohibited transaction that could reasonably be expected to result in any civil penalty under ERISA or tax under the Code and (iv) operate each Employee Benefit Plan in such a manner that will not incur any tax liability under Section 4980B of the Code or any liability to any qualified beneficiary as defined in Section 4980B of the Code and (b) furnish to the Lender upon the Lender’s written request such additional information about any Employee Benefit Plan as may be reasonably requested by the Lender.

SECTION 8.12 Compliance with Material Contracts. Comply in all respects with, and maintain in full force and effect, each Material Contract, except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 8.13 Visits and Inspections. Permit representatives of the Lender, from time to time upon prior reasonable notice (which shall not be less than one (1) Business Day, except as expressly provided below) and at such times during normal business hours, all at the expense of the Borrower, to visit and inspect its properties; inspect, audit and make extracts from its books, records and files, including, but not limited to, management letters prepared by independent accountants; and discuss with its principal officers, and its independent accountants, its business, assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of

 

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operations and business prospects; provided that excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Lender shall not exercise such rights more often than two (2) times during any calendar year at the Borrower’s expense; provided further that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Lender may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time without advance notice. The Borrower shall have the right to have one or more employees or representatives accompany the Lender or their representatives during any visits, inspections or access. All visits, inspections and access shall be conducted in such a way so as to minimize, to the greatest practical extent, any interference with the use or operation of the respective properties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, during any such access the Lender and their representatives shall observe and comply with all of the Borrower’s commercially reasonable safety, security and other similar rules at any of its respective properties. Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be required to disclose, grant access to, permit inspection of or discuss any document, information or other matter (i) that constitutes non- financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) the disclosure of which is prohibited by applicable laws, rules or regulations, or (iii) that is subject to the attorney-client privilege or that constitutes attorney work product.

SECTION 8.14 Additional Guarantors and Collateral.

(a) Additional Subsidiaries. Promptly notify the Lender of (i) the creation or acquisition (including by division) of a Person that becomes a Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) and (ii) any Domestic Subsidiary that was an Excluded Subsidiary which no longer constitutes an Excluded Subsidiary and, within thirty (30) days after such event, as such time period may be extended by the Lender in its sole discretion, cause such Subsidiary to (A) become a Subsidiary Guarantor by delivering to the Lender a duly executed Joinder Agreement or such other document as the Lender shall reasonably deem appropriate for such purpose, (B) grant a security interest in all Collateral (subject to the exceptions specified in the Collateral Agreement) owned by such Subsidiary by delivering to the Lender a duly executed Joinder Agreement and a supplement to each applicable Security Document or such other document as the Lender shall deem appropriate for such purpose and comply with the terms of each applicable Security Document, (C) deliver to the Lender such opinions, documents and certificates of the type referred to in Section 6.1 as may be reasonably requested by the Lender, (D) if such Equity Interests are certificated, deliver to the Lender such original certificated Equity Interests or other certificates and stock or other transfer powers evidencing the Equity Interests of such Person, (E) deliver to the Lender such updated Schedules to the Security Documents as requested by the Lender with respect to such Subsidiary, and (F) deliver to the Lender such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Lender, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

(b) Additional First Tier Foreign Subsidiaries and CFC Holdcos. In each case, subject to the limitation set forth in clause (e) below, notify the Lender promptly after any Person becomes a First Tier Foreign Subsidiary or a CFC Holdco, and promptly thereafter (and, in any event, within forty five (45) days after such notification, as such time period may be extended by the Lender in its sole discretion), cause (i) the applicable Credit Party to deliver to the Lender Security Documents pledging sixty-five percent (65%) of the total outstanding voting Equity Interests (and one hundred percent (100%) of the non-voting Equity Interests) of any such new First Tier Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC or any such CFC Holdco and 100% of the Equity Interests of any First Tier Foreign Subsidiary that is not a CFC and a consent thereto executed by such new First Tier Foreign Subsidiary (including, if applicable, original certificated Equity Interests (or the equivalent thereof pursuant to the Applicable Laws and practices of any relevant foreign jurisdiction) evidencing the Equity Interests of such new First Tier Foreign Subsidiary or CFC Holdco, as applicable, together with an appropriate undated stock or other transfer power for each certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof), (ii) such Person to deliver to the Lender such opinions, documents and certificates of the type referred to in Section 6.1 as may be reasonably requested by the Lender, (iii) such Person to deliver to the Lender such updated Schedules to the Loan Documents as requested by the Lender with regard to such Person and (iv) such Person to deliver to the Lender such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Lender, all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

 

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(c) Merger Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any new Subsidiary is created solely for the purpose of consummating a merger transaction pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, and such new Subsidiary at no time holds any assets or liabilities other than any merger consideration contributed to it contemporaneously with the closing of such merger transaction, such new Subsidiary shall not be required to take the actions set forth in Section 8.14(a) or (b), as applicable, until the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (at which time, the surviving entity of the respective merger transaction shall be required to so comply with Section 8.14(a) or (b), as applicable, within ten (10) Business Days of the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition, as such time period may be extended by the Lender in its sole discretion).

(d) Additional Collateral. Comply with the requirements set forth in the Security Documents with respect to any Property constituting Collateral thereunder.

(e) Exclusions. The provisions of this Section 8.14 shall be subject to the limitations and exclusions set forth in the Security Documents.

SECTION 8.15 Use of Proceeds.

(a) (i) Use the Revolving Credit Facility and the Revolving L/C Facility (A) to refinance existing Indebtedness of the Borrower on the Closing Date, (B) pay fees, commissions and expenses in connection with the Transactions, (C) to finance the exit fee to Bank of America, (D) for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (E) to backstop and/or replace certain existing letters of credit issued for the benefit of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (F) finance certain Permitted Acquisitions, and (ii) use the Cash Secured L/C Facility (A) to backstop and/or replace certain existing letters of credit issued for the benefit of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (B) for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; provided that no part of the proceeds of any of the Revolving Credit Loans or Letters of Credit shall be used for purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X of the FRB) or for any purpose which violates the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the FRB. If requested by the Lender, the Borrower shall promptly furnish to the Lender and each requesting Lender a statement in conformity with the requirements of Form G-3 or Form U-1, as applicable, under Regulation U of the FRB.

(b) Not request any Extension of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and shall ensure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Extension of Credit, directly or indirectly, (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or Anti-Money Laundering Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, in violation of Applicable Law, or (iii) in any manner that would otherwise result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.

SECTION 8.16 Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws; Beneficial Ownership Regulation, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions. (a) Maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with all Anti-Corruption Laws, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and applicable Sanctions, (b) notify the Lender that previously received a Beneficial Ownership Certification (or a certification that the Borrower qualifies for an express exclusion to the “legal entity customer” definition

 

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under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation) of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified therein (or, if applicable, the Borrower ceasing to fall within an express exclusion to the definition of “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation) and (c) promptly upon the reasonable request of the Lender, provide the Lender any information or documentation requested by it for purposes of complying with the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

SECTION 8.17 Deposit Accounts. Subject to Section 8.19, maintain their primary U.S. depository and treasury management relationship with the Lender or one or more of its Affiliates.

SECTION 8.18 Further Assurances. Execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents), which may be required under any Applicable Law, or which the Lender may reasonably request, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents or the validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Credit Parties. The Borrower also agrees to provide to the Lender, from time to time upon the reasonable request by the Lender, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Lender as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Documents.

SECTION 8.19 Post-Closing Matters.

(a) Within 120 days after the Closing Date (or such later date as may be determined by the Lender in its reasonable discretion), the Borrower shall establish its primary U.S. depository and treasury management relationships with the Lender or one or more of its Affiliates.

(b) Within one hundred and eighty (180) days after the Closing Date (or such later date as may be determined by the Lender in its reasonable discretion), the Lender shall have received, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, all such Deposit Account Control Agreements (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) and Securities Account Control Agreements (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) that are required by Section 4.6 of the Collateral Agreement.

(c) Within ninety (90) days after the Closing Date (or such later date as may be determined by the Lender in its reasonable discretion), the Lender shall have received (i) an original stock certificate evidencing 65% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests and an original undated stock power for each such certificate duly executed in blank by the registered owner thereof for (A) Graham Vacuum and Heat Transfer and Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China and (B) Graham India Private Limited, a private limited company formed under the laws of India, and (ii) a complete Schedule 7.2 to the Credit Agreement and Schedule 3.10 to the Collateral Agreement.

ARTICLE IX

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until all of the Obligations (other than contingent, indemnification obligations not then due) have been paid and satisfied in full in cash, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) and the Revolving Credit Commitment terminated, the Credit Parties will not, and will not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to.

 

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SECTION 9.1 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness except:

(a) the Obligations;

(b) Indebtedness (i) owing under Hedge Agreements entered into in order to manage existing or anticipated interest rate, exchange rate or commodity price risks and not for speculative purposes and (ii) in respect of Cash Management Agreements (including those with Bank of America, N.A. or any of its Affiliates) entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(c) Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 9.1, and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(d) Attributable Indebtedness with respect to Capital Lease Obligations and Indebtedness incurred in connection with purchase money Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,500,000 at any time outstanding;

(e) Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person became a Subsidiary or assets were acquired from such Person in connection with an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 9.3; provided that (i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Subsidiary or the acquisition of such assets, (ii) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof (other than such Person or any other Person that such Person merges with or that acquires the assets of such Person) shall have any liability or other obligation with respect to such Indebtedness, (iii) the Lender shall have received satisfactory written evidence that the Borrower would be in compliance with the Financial Covenants on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the incurrence any such Indebtedness and (iv) such Indebtedness under this clause (e) shall not exceed an aggregate principal amount of $2,500,000 at any time outstanding;

(f) (i) Guarantees by any Credit Party of Indebtedness of any other Credit Party not otherwise prohibited pursuant to this Section 9.1 and (ii) Guarantees by any Credit Party of Indebtedness of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 9.3 (other than clause (l) thereof); provided further that any Guarantee of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall only be permitted if it meets the requirements of the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

(g) unsecured intercompany Indebtedness (i) owed by any Credit Party to another Credit Party, (ii) owed by any Credit Party to any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary (provided that such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Lender), (iii) owed by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and (iv) owed by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to any Credit Party to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 9.3(c);

(h) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or other similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;

(i) Indebtedness under performance bonds, surety bonds, release, appeal and similar bonds, statutory obligations or with respect to workers’ compensation claims, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business, and reimbursement obligations in respect of any of the foregoing;

(j) Indebtedness that is incurred after the Closing Date arising from any letters of credit or bank guarantees that are secured by cash entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(k) Indebtedness in the form of any purchase price adjustment, earn-out obligations, holdback or deferred payment of a similar nature;

 

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(l) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $2,000,000; and

(m) Indebtedness of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding.

The Borrower shall be permitted to allocate and reallocate any Indebtedness among any combination of the applicable categories in this Section 9.1 upon and at any time after the original incurrence thereof; provided that, at the time of such reallocation, such Indebtedness meets the requirements set forth in the applicable categories.

SECTION 9.2 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except:

(a) Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents (including Liens in favor of the Lender on Cash Collateral and Cash Secured L/C Collateral granted pursuant to the Loan Documents);

(b) Liens in existence on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 9.2, and the replacement, renewal or extension thereof (including Liens incurred, assumed or suffered to exist in connection with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted pursuant to Section 9.1(c) (solely to the extent that such Liens were in existence on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 9.2)); provided that the scope of any such Lien shall not be increased, or otherwise expanded, to cover any additional property or type of asset, as applicable, beyond that in existence on the Closing Date, except for products and proceeds of the foregoing;

(c) Liens for taxes, assessments and other governmental charges or levies (excluding any Lien imposed pursuant to any of the provisions of ERISA or Environmental Laws) (i) not yet due or as to which the period of grace (not to exceed thirty (30) days), if any, related thereto has not expired or (ii) which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves are maintained to the extent required by GAAP;

(d) the claims of materialmen, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, processors or landlords for labor, materials, supplies or rentals incurred in the ordinary course of business, which (i) are not overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days, or if more than sixty (60) days overdue, no action has been taken to enforce such Liens and such Liens are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves are maintained to the extent required by GAAP and (ii) do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(e) deposits or pledges made in the ordinary course of business in connection with, or to secure payment of, obligations under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or similar legislation, or to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business, in each case, so long as no foreclosure sale or similar proceeding has been commenced with respect to any portion of the Collateral on account thereof;

(f) encumbrances in the nature of zoning restrictions, easements and rights or restrictions of record on the use of real property, which in the aggregate are not substantial in amount and which do not, in any case, materially detract from the value of such property or materially impair the use thereof in the ordinary conduct of business;

 

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(g) Liens arising from the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating solely to personal property leased pursuant to operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(h) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 9.1(d); provided that (i) such Liens shall be created within one hundred twenty (120) days of the acquisition, repair, construction, improvement or lease, as applicable, of the related Property, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the Property financed or improved by such Indebtedness, (iii) the amount of Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased and (iv) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured by any such Lien shall at no time exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the original price for the purchase, repair, construction, improvement or lease amount (as applicable) of such Property at the time of purchase, repair, construction, improvement or lease (as applicable);

(i) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 10.1(l) or securing appeal or other surety bonds relating to such judgments;

(j) Liens on Property (i) of a Person that becomes a Subsidiary existing at the time that such Person becomes a Subsidiary in connection with an acquisition permitted hereunder and (ii) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such Property is purchased or otherwise acquired by the Borrower or such Subsidiary pursuant to a transaction permitted hereunder and, in each case any modification, replacement, renewal and extension thereof; provided that, with respect to each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), (A) such Liens are not incurred in connection with, or in anticipation of, such Permitted Acquisition, purchase or other acquisition, (B) such Liens do not encumber any Property other than Property encumbered at the time of such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary and the proceeds and products thereof and are not all asset Liens, (C) such Liens do not attach to any other Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (D) such Liens will secure only those obligations which it secures at the time such acquisition or purchase occurs;

(k) Liens on assets of Foreign Subsidiaries; provided that (i) such Liens do not extend to, or encumber, assets that constitute Collateral or the Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, and (ii) such Liens extending to the assets of any Foreign Subsidiary secure only Indebtedness incurred by such Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to Section 9.1(c) or (j);

(l) (i) Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the relevant jurisdiction, (ii) Liens of any depositary bank in connection with statutory, common law and contractual rights of setoff and recoupment with respect to any deposit account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof and (iii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of any assets or property in the ordinary course of business;

(m) (i) Liens of landlords arising in the ordinary course of business to the extent relating to the property and assets relating to any lease agreements with such landlord, and (ii) Liens of suppliers (including sellers of goods) or customers arising in the ordinary course of business to the extent limited to the property or assets relating to such contract;

(n) (i) leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses granted to others which do not (A) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or materially detract from the value of the relevant assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or (B) secure any Indebtedness and (ii) any interest or title of a licensor, sub-licensor, lessor or sub-lessor under leases, licenses, subleases or sublicenses entered into by any of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as licensee, sub-licensee, lessee or sub-lessee in the ordinary course of business or any customary restriction or encumbrance with respect to the Property subject to any such lease, license, sublease or sublicense;

 

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(o) (i) Liens on Equity Interests of joint ventures securing capital contributions thereto and (ii) customary rights of first refusal and tag, drag and similar rights in joint venture agreements and agreements with respect to Non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries;

(p) Liens arising after the Closing Date in connection with any letters of credit or bank guarantees that are secured by cash entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

(q) Liens not otherwise permitted hereunder on assets other than the Collateral securing Indebtedness or other obligations in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding.

SECTION 9.3 Investments. Make, hold or otherwise permit to exist any Investment, except:

(a) Investments existing on the Closing Date (other than Investments in Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date) and described on Schedule 9.3 and any modification, replacement, renewal or extension thereof so long as such modification, renewal or extension thereof does not increase the amount of such Investment except as otherwise permitted by this Section 9.3;

(b) Investments (i) existing on the Closing Date in Subsidiaries existing on the Closing Date, (ii) made after the Closing Date by any Credit Party in any other Credit Party, (iii) made after the Closing Date by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary in any Credit Party and (iv) made after the Closing Date by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary in any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary;

(c) Investments made after the Closing Date by any Credit Party in any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $2,000,000 (provided that any Investments in the form of loans or advances made by any Credit Party to any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary pursuant to this clause (c) shall be evidenced by a demand note in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender and shall be pledged and delivered to the Lender pursuant to the Security Documents);

(d) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

(e) Investments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries consisting of Capital Expenditures permitted by this Agreement;

(f) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of leases or other obligations as permitted by Section 9.2;

(g) Hedge Agreements permitted pursuant to Section 9.1;

(h) purchases of assets in the ordinary course of business;

(i) Investments by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof in the form of Permitted Acquisitions;

(j) Investments in the form of loans and advances to officers, directors and employees in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding $250,000 (determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such loans or advances);

(k) Investments in the form of Restricted Payments permitted pursuant to Section 9.6;

 

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(l) Guarantees permitted pursuant to Section 9.1;

(m) non-cash consideration received in connection with Asset Dispositions expressly permitted by Section 9.5; and

(n) Investments not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding.

For purposes of determining the amount of any Investment outstanding for purposes of this Section 9.3, such amount shall be deemed to be the amount of such Investment when made, purchased or acquired (without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment) less any amount realized in respect of such Investment upon the sale, collection or return of capital (not to exceed the original amount invested).

SECTION 9.4 Fundamental Changes. Merge, consolidate, amalgamate or enter into any similar combination with (including by division), or enter into any Asset Disposition of all or substantially all of its assets (whether in a single transaction or a series of transactions) with, any other Person or liquidate, wind-up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution) except:

(a) (i) any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower may be merged, amalgamated, liquidated, dissolved, wound up or consolidated with or into the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving entity) or (ii) any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into any Subsidiary Guarantor (provided that when any Subsidiary Guarantor is merging, amalgamating, liquidating, dissolving, winding up or consolidating with another Subsidiary, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving entity or the continuing or surviving entity shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor to the extent required under, and within the time period set forth in Section 8.14, with which the Borrower shall comply in connection with such transaction);

(b) (i) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into, or be liquidated into (including any equivalent concept of the foregoing transactions in any foreign jurisdiction), any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary or a Credit Party and (ii) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary may be merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into, or be liquidated into, any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary or a Credit Party;

(c) any Subsidiary may dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up, division or otherwise) to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor; provided that, with respect to any such disposition by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary, the consideration for such disposition shall not exceed the fair value of such assets;

(d) (i) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary may dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up, division or otherwise) to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary and (ii) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary may dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up or otherwise) to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary;

(e) Asset Dispositions permitted by Section 9.5 (other than clause (b) thereof);

(f) any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge with or into the Person such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary was formed to acquire in connection with any acquisition permitted hereunder (including any Permitted Acquisition permitted pursuant to Section 9.3(i)); provided that in the case of any merger involving a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary, (i) a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving entity or (ii) simultaneously with such transaction, the continuing or surviving entity shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor and the Borrower shall comply with Section 8.14 in connection therewith; and

 

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(g) any Person may merge with or into the Borrower or any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries in connection with a Permitted Acquisition permitted pursuant to Section 9.3(i); provided that (i) in the case of a merger involving the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor, the continuing or surviving Person shall be the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) the continuing or surviving Person shall be the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.

SECTION 9.5 Asset Dispositions. Make any Asset Disposition except:

(a) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of assets to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to any other transaction permitted pursuant to Section 9.4;

(c) the write-off, discount, sale or other disposition of defaulted or past-due receivables and similar obligations in the ordinary course of business and not undertaken as part of an accounts receivable financing transaction;

(d) the disposition, termination or unwinding of any Hedge Agreement;

(e) dispositions of cash and Cash Equivalents;

(f) Asset Dispositions (i) between or among Credit Parties, (ii) by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to any Credit Party (provided that in connection with any new transfer, such Credit Party shall not pay more than an amount equal to the fair market value of such assets as determined in good faith by the Borrower at the time of such transfer) and (iii) by any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary;

(g) the sale or other disposition of obsolete, worn-out or surplus assets no longer used or useful in the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(h) licenses and sublicenses of intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business not interfering, individually or in the aggregate, in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(i) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses of real or personal property granted by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to others in the ordinary course of business not materially detracting from the value of such real or personal property or interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(j) Asset Dispositions by reason of theft, loss, physical destruction or damage, taking or similar event with respect to any of their respective Property; and

(k) Asset Dispositions of property in the form of an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 9.3 (other than clause (m) thereof); and

 

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(l) Asset Dispositions not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section; provided that (i) at the time of such Asset Disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall exist or would result from such Asset Disposition, (ii) such Asset Disposition is made for at least fair market value as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower and (iii) the aggregate fair market value of all property disposed of in reliance on this clause (l) shall not exceed $500,000 in any Fiscal Year.

SECTION 9.6 Restricted Payments. Declare or make any Restricted Payments; provided that:

(a) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may pay dividends in shares of its own Qualified Equity Interests;

(b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (and, if applicable, to other holders of its outstanding Qualified Equity Interests on a pro rata basis);

(c) (i) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary (and, if applicable, to other holders of its outstanding Equity Interests on a ratable basis) and (ii) any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to any other Non-Guarantor Subsidiary (and, if applicable, to other holders of its outstanding Equity Interests on a ratable basis);

(d) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire shares of its Equity Interests or options or other equity or phantom equity in respect of its Equity Interests from present or former officers, employees, directors or consultants (or their family members or trusts or other entities for the benefit of any of the foregoing) or make severance payments to such Persons in connection with the death, disability or termination of employment or consultancy of any such officer, employee, director or consultant (A) to the extent that such purchase is made with the proceeds of any offering of Qualified Equity Interests of or capital contributions to the Borrower or (B) otherwise in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000; and

(e) after the Committed Facility Increase Effective Date and so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) the Borrower is in compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with the financial covenants set forth in Section 9.13 after giving effect to such Restricted Payment and any Indebtedness incurred in connection therewith, the Borrower may make additional Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 per Fiscal Year.

SECTION 9.7 Transactions with Affiliates. Directly or indirectly enter into any transaction, including any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of Property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management, advisory or similar fees, with (a) any officer, director, holder of any Equity Interests in, or other Affiliate of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) any Affiliate of any such officer, director or holder, other than:

(i) transactions permitted by Sections 9.1, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, and 9.6;

(ii) transactions existing on the Closing Date and described on Schedule 9.7;

(iii) transactions among Credit Parties not prohibited hereunder;

(iv) other transactions in the ordinary course of business on terms at least as favorable to the Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries as would be obtained by it on a comparable arm’s-length transaction with an independent, unrelated third party as determined in good faith by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Borrower;

 

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(v) employment, severance and other similar compensation arrangements (including equity incentive plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements) with their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business; and

(vi) payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities for the benefit of, directors, officers and employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 9.8 Accounting Changes; Organizational Documents.

(a) Change its Fiscal Year end, or make (without the consent of the Lender) any material change in its accounting treatment and reporting practices except as required by GAAP.

(b) Amend, modify or change its Organizational Documents in any manner materially adverse to the rights or interests of the Lender.

SECTION 9.9 No Further Negative Pledges; Restrictive Agreements.

(a) Enter into, assume or be subject to any agreement prohibiting or otherwise restricting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon its properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or requiring the grant of any security for such obligation if security is given for some other obligation, except (i) pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) pursuant to any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 9.1(d) (provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets financed thereby), (iii) customary restrictions contained in the organizational documents of any Non-Guarantor Subsidiary as of the Closing Date and (iv) customary restrictions in connection with any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien (provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien).

(b) Create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof to (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary on its Equity Interests or with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, (ii) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Credit Party or (iii) make loans or advances to any Credit Party, except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (A) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (B) Applicable Law.

(c) Create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof to (i) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to any Credit Party or (ii) act as a Credit Party pursuant to the Loan Documents or any renewals, refinancings, exchanges, refundings or extension thereof, except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (A) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (B) Applicable Law, (C) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 9.1(d) (provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets acquired in connection therewith), (D) any Permitted Lien or any document or instrument governing any Permitted Lien (provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets subject to such Permitted Lien), (E) obligations that are binding on a Subsidiary at the time such Subsidiary

 

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first becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as such obligations are not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary, (F) customary restrictions contained in an agreement related to the sale of Property (to the extent such sale is permitted pursuant to Section 9.5) that limit the transfer of such Property pending the consummation of such sale, (G) customary restrictions in leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted by this Agreement so long as such restrictions relate only to the assets subject thereto and (H) customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business.

SECTION 9.10 Nature of Business. Engage in any business other than the businesses conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date and businesses and business activities reasonably related, complementary or ancillary thereto or that are reasonable extensions thereof.

SECTION 9.11 Sale Leasebacks. Except as permitted by Section 9.1(d) and Section 9.5, directly or indirectly become or remain liable as lessee or as guarantor or other surety with respect to any lease, whether an operating lease, a finance lease or a capital lease, of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, (a) which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof has sold or transferred or is to sell or transfer to a Person which is not another Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party or (b) which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party intends to use for substantially the same purpose as any other Property that has been sold or is to be sold or transferred by such Credit Party or such Subsidiary to another Person which is not another Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party in connection with such lease.

SECTION 9.12 Disposal of Subsidiary Interests. Permit any Domestic Subsidiary to be a non-Wholly-Owned Subsidiary except as a result of or in connection with a dissolution, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or disposition permitted by Section 9.4 or 9.5.

SECTION 9.13 Financial Covenants.

(a) Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio. As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, permit the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio to be greater than 3.50 to 1.00.

(b) Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. As of the last day of any fiscal quarter, permit the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to be less than 1.20 to 1.00.

ARTICLE X

DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

SECTION 10.1 Events of Default. Each of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a) Default in Payment of Principal of Revolving Credit Loans and Reimbursement Obligations. The Borrower or any other Credit Party shall default in any payment of principal of any Revolving Credit Loan or Reimbursement Obligation when and as due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) or fail to provide Cash Collateral pursuant to the terms hereof.

(b) Other Payment Default. The Borrower or any other Credit Party shall default in the payment when and as due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) of interest on any Revolving Credit Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or the payment of any other Obligation, and such default shall continue for a period of five (5) Business Days.

 

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(c) Misrepresentation. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof in this Agreement, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith that is subject to materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications, shall be incorrect or misleading in any respect when made or deemed made or any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof in this Agreement, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith that is not subject to materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualifications, shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made.

(d) Default in Performance of Certain Covenants. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof shall default in the performance or observance of any covenant or agreement contained in Sections 8.1, 8.2(a), 8.3(a), 8.4, 8.13, 8.14, 8.15, 8.16, 8.17, or 8.19 or Article IX and, solely with respect to a default in the performance or observance of the covenants set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2(a), such default shall continue for a period of two (2) Business Days.

(e) Default in Performance of Other Covenants and Conditions. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof shall default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than as specifically provided for in this Section 10.1) or any other Loan Document and such default shall continue for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of (i) the Lender’s delivery of written notice thereof to the Borrower and (ii) a Responsible Officer of any Credit Party having obtained knowledge thereof.

(f) Indebtedness Cross-Default. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof shall (i) default in the payment of any Indebtedness (other than the Revolving Credit Loans or any Reimbursement Obligation) the aggregate principal amount, or with respect to any Hedge Agreement, the Hedge Termination Value, of which is in excess of the Threshold Amount beyond the period of grace if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created, or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any Indebtedness (other than the Revolving Credit Loans or any Reimbursement Obligation) the aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts), or with respect to any Hedge Agreement, the Hedge Termination Value, of which is in excess of the Threshold Amount or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of notice and/or lapse of time, if required, any such Indebtedness to (A) 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 (any applicable grace period having expired) or (B) be cash collateralized.

(g) Change in Control. Any Change in Control shall occur.

(h) Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof shall (i) commence a voluntary case under any Debtor Relief Laws, (ii) file a petition seeking to take advantage of any Debtor Relief Laws, (iii) consent to or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner any petition filed against it in an involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Laws, (iv) apply for or consent to, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of itself or of a substantial part of its property, domestic or foreign, (v) admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, (vi) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vii) take any corporate action for the purpose of authorizing any of the foregoing.

 

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(i) Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. A case or other proceeding shall be commenced against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof in any court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief under any Debtor Relief Laws, or (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or the like for any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or for all or any substantial part of its assets, domestic or foreign, and such case or proceeding shall continue without dismissal or stay for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days, or an order granting the relief requested in such case or proceeding under such Debtor Relief Laws shall be entered.

(j) Failure of Agreements. Any provision of this Agreement or any provision of any other Loan Document shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof party thereto or any such Person shall so state in writing, or any Loan Document shall for any reason cease to create a valid and perfected first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on, or security interest in, any of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, in each case other than in accordance with the express terms hereof or thereof.

(k) ERISA Events. The occurrence of any of the following events: (i) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate fails to make full payment when due of all amounts which, under the provisions of any Pension Plan or Sections 412 or 430 of the Code, any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is required to pay as contributions thereto, (ii) a Termination Event or (iii) any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate makes a complete or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan and the Multiemployer Plan notifies such Credit Party or ERISA Affiliate that such entity has incurred a withdrawal liability requiring payments, in each case of clauses (i), (ii) and (ii) either individually or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

(l) Judgment. One or more judgments, orders or decrees shall be entered against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof by any court and continues without having been discharged, vacated or stayed for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days after the entry thereof and such judgments, orders or decrees (i) in the case of the payment of money, are individually or in the aggregate (to the extent not paid or covered by insurance as to which the relevant insurance company has acknowledged the claim and has not disputed coverage), in excess of the Threshold Amount or (ii) in the case of injunctive or other non-monetary relief, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

SECTION 10.2 Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Lender may, by notice to the Borrower:

(a) Acceleration; Termination of Facility. Terminate the Revolving Credit Commitment and the Cash Secured L/C Commitment and declare the principal of and interest on the Revolving Credit Loans and the Reimbursement Obligations at the time outstanding, and all other amounts owed to the Lender under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (including all Revolving L/C Obligations and Cash Secured L/C Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented or shall be entitled to present the documents required thereunder) and all other Obligations, to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Credit Party, anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, and terminate the Revolving Credit Facility, the Cash Secured L/C Facility and any right of the Borrower to request borrowings or Letters of Credit thereunder; provided, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 10.1(h) or (i), the Revolving Credit Facility and the Cash Secured L/C Facility shall be automatically terminated and all Obligations shall automatically become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Credit Party, anything in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

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(b) Revolving Letters of Credit. With respect to all Revolving Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to the preceding paragraph, demand that the Borrower shall at such time deposit in a Cash Collateral account opened by the Lender an amount equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Revolving Letter of Credit. Amounts held in such Cash Collateral account shall be applied by the Lender to the payment of drafts drawn under such Revolving Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after all such Revolving Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay the other Secured Obligations in accordance with Section 10.4. After all such Revolving Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, the Reimbursement Obligation with respect thereto shall have been satisfied and all other Secured Obligations shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such Cash Collateral account shall be returned to the Borrower.

(c) General Remedies. Exercise on behalf of the Secured Parties all of its other rights and remedies under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and Applicable Law, in order to satisfy all of the Secured Obligations.

SECTION 10.3 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; Etc. The enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Lender set forth in this Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and the exercise by the Lender of any right or remedy shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies, all of which shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist at law or in equity or by suit or otherwise. No delay or failure to take action on the part of the Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default. No course of dealing between the Borrower and the Lender or its agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or discharge any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to constitute a waiver of any Event of Default.

SECTION 10.4 Crediting of Payments and Proceeds. In the event that the Obligations have been accelerated pursuant to Section 10.2 or the Lender has exercised any remedy set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, all payments received on account of the Secured Obligations and all net proceeds from the enforcement of the Secured Obligations shall be applied as determined by the Lender in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE XI

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 12.1 Notices.

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

 

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If to the Borrower:

Graham Corporation

20 Florence Avenue

Batavia, New York 14020

Attention of: Christopher J. Thome, CFO

Telephone No.: 585-343-2216 x4820

E-mail: CThome@graham-mfg.com

With copies to:

Hodgson Russ LLP

140 Pearl Street, Suite 100

Buffalo, New York 14202

Attention of: John J. Zak, Esq.

Telephone No.: 716-848-1253

Facsimile No.: 716-819-4617

E-mail: jzak@hodgsonruss.com

If to the Lender:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

6400 Sheridan Drive, Suite 300

Buffalo, New York 14221

MAC J1205-030

Attention of: Michael J. Prendergast

Telephone No.: (716) 932-2301

Facsimile No.: (716) 932-9465

E-mail: Michael.J.Prendergast@wellsfargo.com

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

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Lender. The Lender or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Lender 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), 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; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice, email or other communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.

 

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(c) Change of Address, Etc. The Borrower or the Lender may change its address or other contact information for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

SECTION 12.2 Amendments, Waivers and Consents. Except as specifically provided in any Loan Document, no term, covenant, agreement or condition of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents may be amended or waived unless approved in writing by the Lender and the Borrower.

SECTION 12.3 Expenses; Indemnity.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower and any other Credit Party, jointly and severally, shall pay (i) all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Lender and its Affiliates (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Lender, but limited to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel to the Lender and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction and with respect to each relevant specialty, due diligence expenses and all printing, reproduction, document delivery, travel and communication costs, incurred in connection with the preparation, review, negotiation, execution, delivery, enforcement and administration of this Agreement), in connection with the Revolving Credit Facility, the Cash Secured L/C Facility, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated); provided that the payment of costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, review, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement incurred on or before the Closing Date shall be subject to the terms of that certain letter agreement dated as of August 22, 2023 between the Borrower and the Lender, (ii) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out of pocket expenses incurred by the Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Lender, but limited to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel to the Lender and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction and with respect to each relevant specialty and in the case of any actual or perceived conflict of interest, of another firm of counsel for such affected Person), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Revolving Credit 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 Revolving Credit Loans or Letters of Credit.

(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender (and any sub-agent thereof), the Lender and each Related Party of the Lender (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, and shall pay or reimburse any such Indemnitee for, any and all losses, claims (including any Environmental Claims), penalties, damages, liabilities and related costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, but limited to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of one counsel to all Indemnitees (taken as a whole) and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction and with respect to each relevant specialty and in the case of any actual or perceived conflict of interest, of another firm of counsel for such affected Person), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Borrower or any other Credit Party), arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution

 

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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 (including the Transactions), (ii) any Revolving Credit Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, or any Environmental Claim related in any way to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, (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 any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, or (v) any claim (including any Environmental Claims), investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether or not the Lender is a party thereto) and the prosecution and defense thereof, arising out of or in any way connected with the Revolving Credit Loans, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including reasonable attorneys and consultant’s fees, provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. This Section 12.3(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Borrower and each other Credit Party 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 Revolving Credit Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in clause (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it 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.

(d) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after demand therefor.

(e) Survival. Each party’s obligations under this Section shall survive the termination of the Loan Documents and payment of the obligations hereunder.

SECTION 12.4 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Lender and its Affiliates are hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to setoff 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 the Lender or such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Credit Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the Lender or any of its Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not the Lender or such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of the Lender or such Affiliate different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of the Lender and its Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Lender or its Affiliates may have. The Lender agrees to notify the Borrower 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.

 

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SECTION 12.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction, Etc.

(a) Governing Law. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except, as to any other Loan Document, as expressly set forth therein) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

(b) Submission to Jurisdiction. The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not commence any action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Lender or any Related Party of the Lender in any way relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the 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, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such 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, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or any other Credit Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) Waiver of Venue. The Borrower and each other Credit Party irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. 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 12.1. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law.

SECTION 12.6 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

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SECTION 12.7 Reversal of Payments. To the extent any Credit Party makes a payment or payments to the Lender for the ratable benefit of any of the Secured Parties or to any Secured Party directly or the Lender or any Secured Party receives any payment or proceeds of the Collateral or any Secured Party exercises its right of setoff, which payments or proceeds (including any proceeds of such setoff) or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any Debtor Relief Law, other Applicable Law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or proceeds repaid, the Secured Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Lender.

SECTION 12.8 Injunctive Relief. The Borrower recognizes that, in the event the Borrower fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Lender. Therefore, the Borrower agrees that the Lender, at the Lender’s option, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.

SECTION 12.9 Successors and Assigns; Participations.

(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 Credit Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Lender. 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 paragraph (c) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of the Lender) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignment by the Lender. The Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment and the Revolving Credit Loans at the time owing to it); provided that the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (i) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (ii) such assignment is to an Affiliate of the Lender or an Approved Fund.

(c) Participations. The Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person, (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person, or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of the Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Revolving Credit Commitment and/or the Revolving Credit Loans owing to it); provided that (i) the Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged and (ii) the Borrower shall continue to deal solely and directly with the Lender in connection with the Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which the Lender sells such a participation shall provide that the 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 the Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that directly and adversely affects such Participant. The Borrower agrees that each

 

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Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 5.9, 5.10 and 5.11 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein) to the same extent as if it were the Lender; provided that such Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 5.10 or 5.11, with respect to any participation, than the Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12.4 as though it were the Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 12.4 as though it were the Lender.

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

SECTION 12.10 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. The Lender 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 Related Parties in connection with the Revolving Credit Facility, the Cash Secured L/C Facility, this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or in connection with marketing of services by such Affiliate or Related Party to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (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 required or requested by, or required to be disclosed to, any regulatory or similar authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners) or in accordance with the Lender’s regulatory compliance policy if the Lender deems such disclosure to be necessary for the mitigation of claims by those authorities against the Lender or any of its Related Parties (in which case, the Lender shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or any governmental bank regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority, promptly notify the Borrower, in advance, to the extent practicable and otherwise permitted by Applicable Law), (c) as to the extent required by Applicable Laws or regulations or in any legal, judicial, administrative proceeding or other compulsory process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies under this Agreement, under any other Loan Document or under any Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement, or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any Secured Hedge Agreement or Secured Cash Management Agreement, or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and, in each case, their respective financing sources, (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) with the consent of the Borrower, (h) deal terms and other information customarily reported to Thomson Reuters, other bank market data collectors and similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Lender in connection with the administration of the Loan Documents, (i) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Lender or any of its Affiliates from a third party that is not, to such Person’s knowledge, subject to confidentiality obligations to the Borrower, (j) to the extent that such information is independently developed by such Person, (k) to the extent required by an insurance company in connection with providing insurance coverage or providing reimbursement pursuant to this Agreement or (l) for purposes of establishing a “due diligence” defense. For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof relating to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective

 

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businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof; provided that, in the case of information received from a Credit Party or any Subsidiary thereof after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

SECTION 12.11 Performance of Duties. Each of the Credit Party’s obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents shall be performed by such Credit Party at its sole cost and expense.

SECTION 12.12 All Powers Coupled with Interest. All powers of attorney and other authorizations granted to the Lender and any Persons designated by the Lender pursuant to any provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be deemed coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Obligations remain unpaid or unsatisfied (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due), the Revolving Credit Commitment remains in effect or the Revolving Credit Facility and the Cash Secured L/C Facility have not been terminated.

SECTION 12.13 Survival.

(a) All representations and warranties set forth in Article VII and all representations and warranties contained in any certificate, or any of the Loan Documents (including, but not limited to, any such representation or warranty made in or in connection with any amendment thereto) shall constitute representations and warranties made under this Agreement. All representations and warranties made under this Agreement shall be made or deemed to be made at and as of the Closing Date (except those that are expressly made as of a specific date), shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived by the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf of the Lender or any borrowing hereunder.

(b) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the indemnities to which the Lender is entitled under the provisions of this Article XII and any other provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect and shall protect the Lender against events arising after such termination as well as before.

SECTION 12.14 Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of Articles, Sections and subsections in, and the table of contents of, this Agreement are for convenience only, and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 12.15 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. In the event that any provision is held to be so prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the Lender and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such provision to preserve the original intent thereof in such jurisdiction.

 

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SECTION 12.16 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness; Electronic Execution.

(a) Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Lender, 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 6.1, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Lender and when the Lender shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

(b) Electronic Execution. The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery” and words of like import in or related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any document, amendment, approval, consent, waiver, modification, information, notice, certificate, report, statement, disclosure, or authorization to be signed or delivered in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures or execution in the form of an Electronic Record, and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Lender, deliveries 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. Each party hereto agrees that any Electronic Signature or execution in the form of an Electronic Record shall be valid and binding on itself and each of the other parties hereto to the same extent as a manual, original signature. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this paragraph may include, without limitation, use or acceptance by the parties of a manually signed paper which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into PDF format), or an electronically signed paper converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Lender is under no obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Lender pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Lender has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature from any party hereto, the Lender and the other parties hereto shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the executing party without further verification and (ii) upon the request of the Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by an original manually executed counterpart thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby (A) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Lender and any of the Credit Parties, electronic images of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (in each case, including with respect to any signature pages thereto) shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, and (B) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents based solely on the lack of paper original copies of any Loan Documents, including with respect to any signature pages thereto.

SECTION 12.17 Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in effect from the Closing Date through and including the date upon which all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations not then due) arising hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall have been paid and satisfied in full, all Letters of Credit have been terminated or expired (or been Cash Collateralized) or otherwise satisfied in a manner acceptable to the Lender) and the Revolving Credit Commitment has been terminated. No termination of this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of the parties hereto arising prior to such termination or in respect of any provision of this Agreement which survives such termination.

 

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SECTION 12.18 USA PATRIOT Act; Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act or any other Anti-Money Laundering Laws, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Credit Party, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and other information that will allow the Lender to identify each Credit Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act or such Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

SECTION 12.19 Independent Effect of Covenants. The Borrower expressly acknowledges and agrees that each covenant contained in Articles VIII or IX hereof shall be given independent effect. Accordingly, the Borrower shall not engage in any transaction or other act otherwise permitted under any covenant contained in Articles VIII or IX, before or after giving effect to such transaction or act, the Borrower shall or would be in breach of any other covenant contained in Articles VIII or IX.

SECTION 12.20 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.

(a) In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that (i) the facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lender, on the other hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof), (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Lender is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person, (iii) the Lender has not assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether the Lender has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and the Lender has no obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the financing transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, (iv) the Lender and its Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from, and may conflict with, those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and the Lender has no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship and (v) the Lender has not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Credit Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate.

(b) Each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that the Lender and any Affiliate thereof may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any of the Borrower, any Affiliate thereof or any other person or entity that may do business with or own securities of any of the foregoing, all as if the Lender or such Affiliate thereof were not the Lender or an Affiliate thereof and without any duty to account therefor to the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof. The Lender and any Affiliate thereof may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof for services in connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof.

 

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SECTION 12.21 Inconsistencies with Other Documents. In the event there is a conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall control; provided that any provision of the Security Documents which imposes additional burdens on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or further restricts the rights of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or gives the Lender additional rights shall not be deemed to be in conflict or inconsistent with this Agreement and shall be given full force and effect.

SECTION 12.22 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and

(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority.

SECTION 12.23 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Hedge Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support” and, each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):

(a) In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

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(b) As used in this Section 12.23, the following terms have the following meanings:

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

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

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

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

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

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

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

[Signature pages to follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed under seal by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first written above.

 

GRAHAM CORPORATION, as the Borrower
By:   /s/ Christopher J. Thome
Name: Christopher J. Thome
Title: Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer,
Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Secretary

 

Graham Corporation

Credit Agreement

Signature Page


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as the Lender
By:   /s/ Michael J. Prendergast
Name: Michael J. Prendergast
Title: Director

 

Graham Corporation

Credit Agreement

Signature Page