false000182139300018213932024-02-262024-02-26

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 ________________________________
 FORM 8-K
________________________________
CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):    February 26, 2024 (February 23, 2024)
 THE AARON'S COMPANY, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Georgia
1-39681
85-2483376
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File
Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
400 Galleria Parkway SESuite 300AtlantaGeorgia30339-3194
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (678) 402-3000
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
    Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
        Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
        Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
        Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
        Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Trading SymbolName of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.50 Par ValueAAN New York Stock Exchange



    Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
    Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.




ITEM 1.01.     ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT
Credit Facility Amendment
On February 23, 2024, The Aaron’s Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”) amended its Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended by the Credit Facility Amendment (as defined below), the “Credit Agreement”), among the Company, Aaron’s, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Borrower”), the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, as lenders (the “Lenders”), and Truist Bank, as administrative agent (the “Agent”), pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “Credit Facility Amendment”), among the Company, Borrower, the various subsidiaries of Borrower party thereto as guarantors (collectively with the Company and Borrower, the “Credit Facility Loan Parties”), the Lenders party thereto and the Agent. The Credit Facility Amendment, among other things: (i) decreases the Revolving Facility Commitments (as defined in the Credit Agreement) from $375 million to $275 million, (ii) includes a requirement that the Credit Facility Loan Parties deliver a security and pledge agreement, pursuant to which the Credit Facility Loan Parties will grant a first priority lien (subject only to certain permitted liens) on substantially all of their respective assets (subject to certain agreed upon exclusions including, without limitation, all fee and leasehold interests in real property) to secure their respective obligations under or in respect of the Credit Agreement and (iii) amends the existing Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) covenant to lower the required minimum threshold for each of the fiscal quarters from and including Q1 2024 to and including Q4 2027 to the corresponding levels in the table set forth in the Credit Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Credit Facility Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Credit Facility Amendment, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Loan Facility Amendment
On February 23, 2024, the Company amended its Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended by the Franchise Facility Amendment (as defined below), the “Franchise Agreement”), among the Company, Borrower, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, as participants (the “Participants”), and Truist Bank, as servicer (the “Servicer”), pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain Second Amendment to Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty (the “Franchise Facility Amendment”), among the Company, Borrower, the various subsidiaries of Borrower party thereto as guarantors (collectively, together with the Company and Borrower, the “Franchise Facility Loan Parties”), the Participants party thereto and the Servicer. The Franchise Facility Amendment, among other things, (i) includes a requirement that the Franchise Facility Loan Parties deliver a security and pledge agreement, pursuant to which the Franchise Loan Parties will grant a first priority lien (subject only to certain permitted liens) on substantially all of their respective assets (subject to certain agreed upon exclusions including, without limitation, all fee and leasehold interests in real property) to secure their respective obligations under or in respect of the Franchise Agreement and (ii) amends the existing Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Franchise Agreement) covenant to lower the required minimum threshold for each of the fiscal quarters from and including Q1 2024 to and including Q4 2027 to the corresponding levels in the table set forth in the Franchise Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Franchise Facility Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Franchise Facility Amendment, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 2.02.     RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
On February 26, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.




ITEM 2.03.     CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT
The information under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 2.03.
ITEM 7.01.     REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE
The Company frequently provides relevant information to its investors via posting to its corporate website. On February 26, 2024, the Company posted an investor presentation entitled "Aaron's Company Overview" on the Company's website at https://investor.aarons.com. A copy of the presentation is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 8.01.     OTHER EVENTS
Dividend Declaration
On February 26, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a first quarter cash dividend of $0.125 per share on the Company's common stock. The dividend will be paid on April 3, 2024 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 14, 2024.
A copy of the press release announcing the dividend is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Compensation
On February 23, 2024, to better align executive pay with company performance, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”) approved adjustments to the compensation of Douglas A. Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Olsen, President, and C. Kelly Wall, Chief Financial Officer, for the 2024 fiscal year.
The Committee approved an aggregate reduction of approximately 17% to Mr. Lindsay’s total target direct compensation for 2024 (as compared to 2023), consisting of: (i) a 20% reduction in Mr. Lindsay’s target annual cash incentive award (from $1,200,000 to $960,000); and (ii) a 20% reduction in Mr. Lindsay’s targeted long-term incentive (“LTI”) award value (from $3,550,000 to $2,840,000).
In connection with such adjustments, the Committee approved a change in the mix of Mr. Lindsay’s LTI awards for 2024 so that they will be granted entirely in performance shares that are subject to performance-based vesting conditions, as compared to being weighted at 30% for time-based restricted stock, 20% for stock options, and 50% for performance shares in 2023.
The Committee also approved an aggregate reduction of approximately 8% to each of Mr. Olsen’s and Mr. Wall’s total target direct compensation for 2024 (as compared to 2023), consisting of a 20% reduction in each such officer’s targeted LTI award value (from $950,000 to $760,000 for Mr. Olsen, and from $625,000 to $500,000 for Mr. Wall). In addition, the Committee determined that each of Mr. Olsen’s and Mr. Wall’s LTI awards for 2024 would consist of performance shares (weighted at 62.5%) and time-based restricted stock (weighted at 37.5%), as compared to being weighted at 30% for time-based restricted stock, 20% for stock options, and 50% for performance shares in 2023.




ITEM 9.01.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d)    Exhibits:

Exhibit No.
Description
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).





SIGNATURES

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

THE AARON'S COMPANY, INC.
By:
/s/ C. Kelly Wall
Date:
February 26, 2024
C. Kelly Wall
Chief Financial Officer



Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated February 23, 2024 (this “Amendment”) is entered into among Aaron’s, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the “Borrower”), The Aaron’s Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“Holdings”), the other Guarantors party hereto, the Lenders party hereto, the Issuing Banks party hereto and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Borrower, Holdings, the other Guarantors from time to time party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, the Issuing Banks from time to time party thereto and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent, entered into that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested certain amendments to the Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Lenders have agreed to provide such requested amendments, subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment (the Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment and as further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Amended Credit Agreement”);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.    Introductory Paragraph and Recitals. The above introductory paragraph and recitals of this Amendment are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Amended Credit Agreement.

2.    Voluntary Reduction in Aggregate Revolving Commitments. The Borrower hereby makes a voluntary reduction in the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in accordance with Section 2.9(b) of the Credit Agreement in the amount of $100,000,000, such that, as of the First Amendment Effective Date (as defined below) (immediately after giving effect to this Amendment), the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall be $275,000,000. Such reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall be applied to the Revolving Commitment of each Lender on a pro rata basis. The Lenders party hereto hereby waive compliance by the Borrower with the notice and minimum amount requirements set forth in Section 2.9(b) of the Credit Agreement with respect to such reduction in the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

3.    Amendments to Credit Agreement. In accordance with Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
(a)    the terms of the Credit Agreement (but not the Exhibits and/or Schedules thereto, except as set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(c) below) are amended and replaced in their entirety to read as set forth in the copy of the entire body of the Credit Agreement attached hereto as Annex A;
(b)    Schedule 1.1(b) (Lender Commitments) to the Credit Agreement is amended and replaced in its entirety with the Schedule attached hereto as Annex B; and
(c)    Exhibit 5.12 (Form of Security Agreement) to the Credit Agreement is amended and replaced in its entirety with the Exhibit attached hereto as Annex C.



4.    Conditions Precedent. This Amendment shall be effective upon satisfaction (or waiver) of the following conditions precedent in each case in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (such date, the “First Amendment Effective Date”):
(a)    Amendment. Receipt of a counterpart of this Amendment duly executed by each of the Loan Parties, the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks, the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent.

(b)    Amendment to Loan Facility Agreement. The Loan Facility Agreement shall have been amended in a manner consistent with this Amendment and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(c)    Representations and Warranties. At the time of and immediately after giving effect to this Amendment on the First Amendment Effective Date, all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects); provided, that to the extent such representation or warranty relates to a specific prior date, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) only as of such specific prior date.
(d)    No Default. No Default or Event of Default exists or would result from the entering into of this Amendment.
(e)    KYC Information; Beneficial Ownership. Upon the reasonable request of any Lender, the Borrower shall have provided to such Lender, and such Lender shall be reasonably satisfied with, the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act, and any Loan Party that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation shall have delivered to each Lender that so requests, at least five (5) Business Days prior to the First Amendment Effective Date, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Loan Party.
(f)    Fees and Attorney Costs. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the First Amendment Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior to the First Amendment Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder, under any other Loan Document and under any agreement with the Administrative Agent.
5.    Post-Effectiveness Covenant. By no later than the date that is ninety (90) consecutive calendar days after the First Amendment Effective Date (or by such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), the Administrative shall have received:
(a)    Security Agreement. A counterpart of the Security Agreement duly executed by each of the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent.

(b)    Organization Documents; Resolutions and Certificates. A duly executed certificate of the chief financial officer, manager, secretary or assistant secretary (or other Responsible Officer of substantially equivalent title and authority) of each Loan Party:

(i)    attaching a copy of the organizational documents that is certified, as of a recent date, by the applicable Governmental Authority of such Loan Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation or formation (as the case may be));
(ii)    attaching and certifying a copy of resolutions (or unanimous written consents) of the board of directors or managers (or equivalent governing body) of such Loan Party,



authorizing the timely execution and delivery of the Security Agreement and the performance by such Loan Party of its obligations under the Security Agreement;
(iii)    an executed, original incumbency certificate (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) with respect to each Responsible Officer of a Loan Party signing the Security Agreement and/or any other document, agreement, letter, certificate and/or instrument executed, or required to be executed, in connection therewith; and
(iv)    copies of certificates of good standing, existence, or the like for each Loan Party, certified, as of a recent date, by the applicable Governmental Authority of such Loan Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation or formation (as the case may be).
(c)    Opinions of Counsel. Written opinions of counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and each of the Lenders, and covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Security Agreement, the transactions contemplated thereby as are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks (which opinions of counsel shall (i) include, without limitation, customary legal opinions relating to (A) existence, good standing and corporate authority of the Loan Parties, and (B) governing law and enforceability of the Security Agreement, and (ii) in any event, expressly permit reliance by the successors and permitted assigns of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders).
(d)    Personal Property.
(i)    copies of UCC, tax and judgment lien search results (in each case, as required by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion) in the jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, as the case may be, of each Loan Party, together with any such search results in any other necessary or appropriate jurisdiction(s) as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, indicating that there are no prior Liens on any of the Collateral, other than Liens permitted to continue in existence after the First Amendment Effective Date pursuant to Section 7.2 of the Amended Credit Agreement;
(ii)    UCC financing statements (including any amendments thereto), duly authorized by the Loan Parties for filing by the Administrative Agent, with respect to each appropriate jurisdiction as is necessary or advisable, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion, to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the Collateral (to the extent that such security interest is not, for any reason, perfected with respect to any of the Collateral immediately prior to the First Amendment Effective Date);
(iii)    searches of ownership of, and Liens on, United States registered intellectual property owned by any Loan Party in the appropriate governmental offices (as required by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); and
(iv)    duly executed notices of grant of security interest, in the form required by the Security Agreement, as are necessary, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion, to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in the United States registered intellectual property owned by the Loan Parties (if, and to the extent that, perfection may be achieved by the filing thereof in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in the United States Copyright Office).
(e)    Insurance. Certificates of insurance issued on behalf of insurers of the Loan Parties, describing in reasonable detail the types and amounts of insurance (property and liability) maintained by the Loan Parties, and endorsements with respect to the applicable insurance policies as required by Section 5.8 of the Amended Credit Agreement.
(f)    Intercreditor Agreement. A counterpart of the Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders, the Required Participants (as defined in the Loan Facility Agreement) and the Servicer (as defined in the



Loan Facility Agreement), duly executed by the Administrative Agent and the Servicer (as defined in the Loan Facility Agreement).
(g)    Fees and Attorney Costs. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Security Agreement Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Security Agreement Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder, under any other Loan Document and under any agreement with the Administrative Agent
6.    Miscellaneous.
(a)    This Amendment shall be deemed to be, and is, a Loan Document.
(b)    Each Loan Party (i) acknowledges and consents to all of the terms and conditions of this Amendment, (ii) agrees that this Amendment and all documents executed in connection herewith do not operate to reduce or discharge its obligations under the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any certificates, documents, agreements and instruments executed in connection therewith, (iii) affirms all of its obligations under the Loan Documents, (iv) affirms that each of the Liens granted in or pursuant to the Loan Documents are valid and subsisting and (v) agrees that this Amendment shall in no manner impair or otherwise adversely affect any of the Liens granted in or pursuant to the Loan Documents.
(c)    Effective as of the First Amendment Effective Date, all references to the Credit Agreement in each of the Loan Documents shall hereafter mean the Amended Credit Agreement.
(d)    Each of the Loan Parties hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that as of the First Amendment Effective Date after giving effect to this Amendment:
(i)    such Loan Party has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment;
(ii)    this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitutes such Loan Party’s legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be subject to (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (B) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity);
(iii)    no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or Governmental Authority or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by any Loan Party of this Amendment, other than such consents, approvals or authorizations that have been obtained;
(iv)    no Default or Event of Default exists;
(v)    all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects); provided, that to the extent such representation or warranty relates to a specific prior date, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) only as of such specific prior date; and
(vi)     since the date of the audited financial statements of the Borrower described in Section 4.4 of the Amended Credit Agreement, there has been no changes with respect to the



Borrower and its Subsidiaries which has had or could reasonably be expected to have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(e)    This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Amendment by telecopy, pdf or other similar electronic transmission shall be effective as an original and shall constitute a representation that an executed original shall be delivered.
(f)    This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the law (without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof) of the State of New York.

[Signature pages follow]





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

BORROWER:                    AARON’S, LLC
By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall    
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

GUARANTORS:                THE AARON’S COMPANY, INC.

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

AARON INVESTMENT COMPANY, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer

AARON’S BUSINESS REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC

By: /s/ Steve Olsen                
Name: Steve Olsen    
Title: Vice President

AARON’S LOGISTICS, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Vice President

AARON’S US HOLDCO, INC.

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and
Treasurer

AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


ENVIZZO, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Vice President and Treasurer

WOODHAVEN FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall
Title:     Chief Financial Officer

INTERBOND RETAIL SOLUTIONS, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

RETAIL RTO SOLUTIONS, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

INTERBOND OF AMERICA, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer

BRANDSMART USA OF SOUTH DADE, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer

AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


BRANDSMART U.S.A. OF GEORGIA, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer

BRANDS MART SERVICE, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer

BRANDSMART USA DADELAND, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer

BRANDSMART USA OF CLAYTON COUNTY, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall
Title: Chief Financial Officer
AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:    TRUIST BANK,
as Administrative Agent
By /s/ Lisa Garling    
Name: Lisa Garling
Title: Director

AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


LENDERS:    TRUIST BANK,
as an Issuing Bank, as Swingline Lender and as a Lender
By /s/ Lisa Garling    
Name: Lisa Garling
Title: Director

AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as a Lender and an Issuing Bank

By /s/ Andrew Rossman    
Name: Andrew Rossman
Title: Executive Director

AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as a Lender and an Issuing Bank
By /s/ Allen A. Taylor    
Name: Allen A. Taylor
Title: Senior Vice President

AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,
as a Lender and an Issuing Bank
By /s/ Christopher Domanico    
Name: Christopher Domanico
Title: Senior Vice President


AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as a Lender
By /s/ Nate Calloway    
Name: Nate Calloway
Title: Officer, Corporate Banking Associate

AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


REGIONS BANK,
as a Lender

By /s/ Cheryl L. Shelhart    
Name: Cheryl L. Shelhart
Title: Director


AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


SYNOVUS BANK,
as a Lender

By /s/ Zachary Braun    
Name: Zachary Braun
Title: Director


AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT


FIRST HORIZON BANK,
as a Lender

By /s/ Terence J Dolch    
Name: Terence J Dolch
Title: Senior Vice President

AARON’S, LLC
FIRST AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

ANNEX A
Body of Credit Agreement
See attached.


ANNEX A
Published CUSIP Number: 00253KAA7
Revolver CUSIP Number: 00253KAB5
Term Loan CUSIP Number: 00253KAC3

CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of April 1, 2022
among
AARON’S, LLC,
as the Borrower,
THE AARON’S COMPANY, INC.,
as Holdings
THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,
and
TRUIST BANK,
as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and an Issuing Bank
TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.,
and
CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Runners
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
and
CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,
as Co-Syndication Agents
FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
and
REGIONS BANK,
as Co-Documentation Agents




TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page










Schedules
Schedule 1.1(a)        -    Applicable Margin and Applicable Percentage
Schedule 1.1(b)        -    Lender Commitments
Schedule 1.1(c)        -    Inactive Subsidiaries
Schedule 2.24        -    Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 4.14        -    Subsidiaries
Schedule 7.1        -    Outstanding Indebtedness
Schedule 7.2        -    Existing Liens
Schedule 7.4        -    Existing Investments
Exhibits
Exhibit A        -    Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit B        -    Form of Guarantee Agreement
Exhibit C        -    Form of Borrower Guarantee Agreement
Exhibit 2.3        -    Notice of Revolving Borrowing
Exhibit 2.6        -    Notice of Swingline Borrowing
Exhibit 2.8        -    Form of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit 3.1(a)(iv)    -    Form of Secretary’s Certificate
Exhibit 3.1(a)(vii)    -    Form of Officer’s Certificate
Exhibit 5.1(c)        -    Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit 5.12        -    Form of Security Agreement




CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of April 1, 2022, by and among AARON’S, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the “Borrower”), THE AARON’S COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation (“Holdings”), the several banks and other financial institutions from time to time party hereto (the “Lenders”) and TRUIST BANK, in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders (a) establish in its favor a $275,000,000 revolving credit facility (as reduced on the First Amendment Effective Date from a $375,000,000 revolving credit facility pursuant to the First Amendment) (including a $35,000,000 letter of credit subfacility and a $35,000,000 swingline subfacility) and (b) provide a term loan (advanced on the Closing Date) in an aggregate principal amount equal to $175,000,000; and
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender, to the extent of their respective Commitments as defined herein, are willing severally to establish the requested revolving credit facility, letter of credit subfacility and swingline subfacility in favor of the Borrower, and the Lenders agree to make the term loan to the Borrower on the Closing Date;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the Borrower, Holdings, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent agree as follows:


DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION
Definitions. In addition to the other terms defined herein, the following terms used herein shall have the meanings herein specified (to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
Accepting Lenders” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.28.
Acquired Business” shall mean the Target and its subsidiaries.
Acquisition” shall mean any transaction in which Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly (i) acquires any ongoing business, (ii) acquires all or substantially all of the assets of any Person or division thereof, whether through a purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, (iii) acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) control of at least a majority of the voting stock of a corporation, other than the acquisition of voting stock of a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary solely in connection with the organization and capitalization of that Restricted Subsidiary by the Borrower, Holdings or another Subsidiary Loan Party, or (iv) acquires control of more than fifty percent (50%) ownership interest in any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company.
Acquisition Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.25(c).
Additional Lenders” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.25(a).
Administrative Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph hereof.
Administrative Questionnaire” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, an administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent and submitted to the Administrative Agent duly completed by such Lender.




Affected Financial Institution” shall mean (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
Affiliate” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition “Control” shall mean the power, directly or indirectly, either to (i) vote ten percent (10%) or more of securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of a Person or (ii) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms “Controlled by”, and “under common Control with” have meanings correlative thereto.
Agent Parties” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 10.1(b).
Aggregate Revolving Commitments” shall mean, collectively, all Revolving Commitments of all Lenders at any time outstanding. As of the First Amendment Effective Date, the amount of Aggregate Revolving Commitments is $275,000,000 (as reduced on the First Amendment Effective Date from $375,000,000 pursuant to the First Amendment).
Agreement” shall have the meaning given to such term in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Anti-Corruption Laws” shall mean all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
Applicable Lending Office” shall mean, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the “Lending Office” of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) designated for such Type of Loan in the Administrative Questionnaire submitted by such Lender or such other office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.
Applicable Margin” shall mean (a) with respect to all Base Rate Loans outstanding on any date, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio in effect on such date and the column applicable to Base Rate Loans in Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto and (b) with respect to all SOFR Loans outstanding on any date and all letter of credit fees, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio in effect on such date and the column applicable to SOFR Loans in Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto; provided, that a change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall be effective on the second day after which the Borrower has delivered the financial statements required by Section 5.1(a) or (b) and the Compliance Certificate required by Section 5.1(c); provided further, that if at any time the Borrower shall have failed to deliver such financial statements and such certificate, the Applicable Margin shall be at Level IV until such time as such financial statements and certificate are delivered, at which time the Applicable Margin shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Margin from the Closing Date until the financial statements and Compliance Certificate for the Fiscal Quarter ending on September 30, 2022 are delivered shall be at Level II.
Applicable Percentage” shall mean, with respect to the commitment fee, as of any date, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio in effect on such date as set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto; provided, that a change in the Applicable Percentage resulting from a change in the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall be effective on the second day after which the Borrower has delivered the financial statements required by Section 5.1(a) or (b) and the Compliance Certificate required by Section 5.1(c); provided, further, that if at any time the Borrower shall have failed to deliver such financial statements and such certificate, the Applicable Percentage shall be at Level IV until such time as such financial statements and certificate are delivered, at which time the Applicable Percentage shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Percentage for the commitment fee from the Closing Date until the financial statements and Compliance Certificate for the Fiscal Quarter ending on September 30, 2022 are delivered shall be at Level II.



Approved Fund” shall mean any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender or (iii) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Arrangers” shall mean Truist Securities, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., BofA Securities, Inc. and Citizens Bank, N.A., in their capacities as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.
Assignment and Acceptance” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.4(b)) and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Auto Borrow Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(e).
Availability Period” shall mean the period from the Closing Date to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
Available Tenor” shall mean, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) 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 (y) 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 2.17(e)
Bail-In Action” shall mean the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
Bail-In Legislation” shall mean (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 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).
Base Rate” shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the highest of (i) the rate which the Administrative Agent publicly announces from time to time to be its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate, as in effect from time to time, plus one-half of one percent (0.50%) and (iii) Term SOFR for a one-month tenor in effect on such day, plus one percent (1.00%) per annum (any changes in such rates to be effective as of the date of any change in such rate). The Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate charged to customers. The Administrative Agent may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the prime lending rate, the Federal Funds Rate, or Term SOFR will be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the prime lending rate, the Federal Funds Rate, or Term SOFR, respectively. If the Base Rate as so determined shall ever be less than the Floor, then the Base Rate shall be deemed to be the Floor.
Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Term SOFR”.
Benchmark” shall mean, 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 2.17(b).



Benchmark Replacement” shall mean with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:
Daily Simple SOFR; or
the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (B) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” shall mean, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower 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 syndicated credit facilities.
Benchmark Replacement Date” shall mean the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
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
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 or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative or non-compliant with or non-aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks; provided that such non-representativeness, non-compliance or non-alignment 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) above 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” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
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);
a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the 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
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) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component 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 or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.
For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
Benchmark Unavailability Period” shall mean, the period (if any) (a) 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 2.17 and (b) 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 2.17.
Beneficial Ownership Certification” shall mean a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Beneficial Ownership Regulation” shall mean 31 C.F.R.  § 1010.230.
Benefit Plan” shall mean 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” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Borrower Guarantee Agreement shall mean the Borrower Guarantee Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, made by the Borrower in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of (i) Hedging Obligations owed by Holdings, any Subsidiary Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender and (ii) Treasury Management Obligations owed by Holdings, any Subsidiary Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender.
Borrowing” shall mean a borrowing consisting of (i) Loans of the same Class and Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and in the case of SOFR Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, or (ii) a Swingline Loan.



Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Charlotte, North Carolina or New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.
Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person shall mean all obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases 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.
Capital Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
Cash Collateralize” shall mean, in respect of any Obligations, to provide and pledge (as a first priority perfected security interest) cash collateral for such Obligations in Dollars, to the Administrative Agent pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (and “Cash Collateralization” and “Cash Collateral” have a corresponding meaning).
Cash Equivalents” shall mean, as at any date, (i) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (ii) Dollar denominated time deposits and certificates of deposit of (A) any Lender, (B) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (C) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Bank”), in each case with maturities of not more than two hundred seventy (270) days from the date of acquisition, (iii) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s and maturing within six months of the date of acquisition, (iv) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with a bank or trust company (including any Lender) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States in which such Person shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of the repurchase obligations and (v) investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 which are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000 and the portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv).
Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of Holdings to any Person or “group” (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder in effect on the Closing Date), (ii) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or “group” (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the Closing Date) of thirty-three and one third (33⅓) or more of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors of Holdings; (iii) during any period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of Holdings cease to be composed of individuals (A) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (B) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (A) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (C)



whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (A) and (B) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or (iv) Holdings shall cease to own and control, of record and beneficially, directly one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding Capital Stock in the Borrower.
Change in Law” shall mean (i) the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation after the Closing Date, (ii) any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation, implementation or application thereof, by any Governmental Authority after the Closing Date, or (iii) compliance by any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or any Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.19(b), by such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company, if applicable) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the Closing Date; provided, that for purposes of this Agreement, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.
Charges” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 10.12.
Class refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans or Term Loans and when used in reference to any Commitment, refers to whether such Commitment is a Revolving Commitment, a Swingline Commitment or a Term Loan A Commitment.
Closing Date” shall mean April 1, 2022.
Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.
Collateral” shall mean all tangible and intangible property, real and personal, of any Loan Party that is or purports to be the subject of a Lien to the Administrative Agent to secure the whole or any part of the Obligations or any Guarantee thereof, and shall include, without limitation, all casualty insurance proceeds and condemnation awards with respect to any of the foregoing.
Collateral Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Security Agreement, all assignments of key man life insurance policies and all other instruments and agreements now or hereafter securing or perfecting the Liens securing the whole or any part of the Obligations or any Guarantee thereof, all UCC financing statements, fixture filings and stock powers, and all other documents, instruments, agreements and certificates executed and delivered by any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the foregoing.
Commitment” shall mean a Revolving Commitment, a Swingline Commitment or a Term Loan A Commitment or any combination thereof (as the context shall permit or require).
Commodity Exchange Act” shall mean the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Communications” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 10.1(b).
Compliance Certificate” shall mean a certificate from the principal executive officer or the principal financial officer of the Borrower in the form of, and containing the certifications set forth in, the certificate attached hereto as Exhibit 5.1(c).
Conforming Changes” shall mean, 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 2.20 and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate (in consultation with the Borrower) to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).
Consolidated EBITDAshall mean for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (ii) to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, but without duplication, (A) Consolidated Interest Expense, (B) income tax expense, (C) depreciation (excluding depreciation of rental merchandise) and amortization, (D) all other non-cash charges (including, without limitation, any non-cash charges, expenses or losses incurred in connection with any stock option plan, cash incentive plan or any other employee benefit plan or agreement, but excluding any such non-cash charges or losses (1) representing an accrual or reserve for future cash charges or losses, (2) to the extent that there were cash charges or losses with respect thereto in past accounting periods, and (3) representing a write-down of current assets; provided that in the case of (1) and (2), if any such non-cash charges or losses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid), (E) any fees, expenses or charges related to any issuance of Capital Stock, Investment, Acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (in each case including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including such fees, expenses or charges related to the Project Everglade Acquisition, (F) business optimization, restructuring and transition expenses, costs, charges, accruals or reserves, all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, which for the avoidance of doubt shall include severance payments and costs, legal defense and settlement costs (including any costs paid in satisfaction of judgments), relocation costs, costs related to the closure, opening, curtailment and/or consolidation of facilities (including retail stores), retention charges, systems establishment costs, spin-off costs, integration costs, signing costs, retention and completion bonuses, amortization of signing bonuses, inventory optimization expenses, contract termination costs, transaction costs, costs related to entry into new markets, consulting fees, recruiter fees; (G) loss of on-lease and off-lease inventory, physical damage to stores, infrastructure, capital assets and other assets of the business and loss of revenue, in each case, (1) to the extent reasonably identifiable by the Borrower as having resulted from significant weather events or other natural disasters in areas that have been declared a federal disaster or otherwise qualify for federal emergency assistance, (2) to the extent occurring within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of such significant weather event or natural disaster, and (3) net of all related insurance proceeds received related thereto (including, without limitation, all business interruption insurance and casualty insurance), all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; and (H) expenses, cost, charges, accruals or reserves relating to the repositioning, relocating, remodeling, consolidation and closure of retail locations, offices or operating centers, all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, plus (iii) the amount of cost savings and synergies projected by the Borrower in good faith to be reasonably anticipated to be realized from actions taken or committed to be taken during such period in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or any permitted disposition of assets (in each case calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period, net of the amount of actual benefits realized prior to or during such period from such actions); provided that such actions have been taken or have been committed to be taken, and the benefits resulting therefrom are anticipated by the Borrower in good faith to be realized within twenty-four (24) months after the completion of the related Permitted Acquisition or permitted disposition of assets (provided that, with respect to the Project Everglade Acquisition only, any such actions have been taken or have been committed to be taken, and the benefits resulting therefrom are anticipated by the Borrower in good faith to be realized on or before the end of the second full fiscal year following the consummation of the Project Everglade Acquisition); and provided, further, that the aggregate amount for all such items under this clause (iii) shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sum of (x) the amounts added back to Consolidated Net Income in reliance on clauses (ii)(F), (ii)(G), (ii)(H) and (iii) above and (y) the amounts excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income in reliance on clause (d) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income” shall not exceed, in the aggregate during any four fiscal quarter period,



the greater of (i) $40,000,000 and (ii) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated prior to adding back any such amounts).
Consolidated EBITDAR” shall mean, for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Consolidated EBITDA plus (b) Consolidated Lease Expense.
Consolidated Fixed Charges” shall mean, for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense paid or payable for such period plus (b) Consolidated Lease Expense.
Consolidated Interest Expense” shall mean, for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, total cash interest expense, including without limitation the interest component of any payments in respect of Capital Leases Obligations capitalized or expensed during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period).
Consolidated Lease Expense” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate amount of fixed and contingent rentals payable by Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to leases of real and personal property (excluding Capital Lease Obligations) determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period.
Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, for any period, the net income (or loss) of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but excluding therefrom (to the extent otherwise included therein) (a) any extraordinary gains or losses, (b) any gains attributable to write ups of assets, (c) any equity interest of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings in the unremitted earnings of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary, (d) any loss attributable to any retail store opened during the fifteen (15) months immediately preceding the end of such period, and (e) any income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on the date that such Person’s assets are acquired by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, except to the extent provided for in the definition of Pro Forma Basis in connection with a Permitted Acquisition. For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated Net Income (i) shall exclude any income (or loss) for such period of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (ii) shall include any amounts actually distributed in cash by Unrestricted Subsidiaries to Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary.
Consolidated Total Debt” shall mean, at any time, all then currently outstanding obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis of the types described in the definition of “Indebtedness”.
Daily Simple SOFR” shall mean, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple SOFR” for syndicated business loans; provided, that if the Administrative Agent decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, then the Administrative Agent may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.
Default” shall mean any condition or event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
Default Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d).
Defaulting Lender” shall mean, at any time, subject to Section 2.26(b), (i) any Lender that has failed for two (2) or more Business Days to comply with its obligations under this Agreement to make a Loan, to make a payment to the applicable Issuing Bank in respect of a Letter of Credit or to the Swingline Lender in respect of a Swingline Loan or to make any other payment due hereunder (each a “funding obligation”), unless such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding has not been satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Default, will be specifically identified in such writing), (ii)



any Lender that has notified the Administrative Agent in writing, or has stated publicly, that it does not intend to comply with any such funding obligation hereunder, unless such writing or public statement states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding cannot be satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Default, will be specifically identified in such writing or public statement), (iii) any Lender that has defaulted on its obligation to fund generally under any other loan agreement, credit agreement or other financing agreement, (iv) any Lender that has, for three (3) or more Business Days after written request of the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, failed to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (iv) upon the Administrative Agent’s and the Borrower’s receipt of such written confirmation), (v) any Lender with respect to which a Lender Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing or (vi) any Lender that has become the subject of a Bail-In Action. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender will be conclusive and binding, absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.26(b)) upon notification of such determination by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, the Issuing Banks, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders.
Delaware Divided LLC” shall mean any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon the consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.
Delaware LLC” shall mean any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Delaware LLC Division” shall mean the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
Dollar(s)” and the sign “$” shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.
Domestic Controlled Affiliate” shall mean each Affiliate of the Borrower that is (a) Controlled by the Borrower, and (b) incorporated or organized under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary which is incorporated or organized under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
EEA Financial Institution” shall mean (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 clause (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
EEA Member Country” shall mean any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
EEA Resolution Authority” shall mean any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
Environmental Laws” shall mean all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
Environmental Liability” shall mean any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental investigation and remediation, costs of administrative oversight, fines, natural resource damages, penalties or indemnities), of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (i) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, (ii) the



generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (iii) any actual or alleged exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (iv) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (v) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated), which, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for the purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
ERISA Event shall mean (i) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (ii) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (iii) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (iv) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (v) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator appointed by the PBGC of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (vi) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (vii) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
Erroneous Payment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(a).
Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(d).
Erroneous Payment Impacted Class” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(d).
Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(d).
Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(d).
EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” shall mean the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.
Event of Default” shall have the meaning provided in Article VIII.
Excluded Swap Obligation” shall mean, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’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 Guarantee of such Guarantor, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest, becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, in determining whether any Guarantor is an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act, the “keepwell” provision set forth in Section 24 of the Guarantee Agreement and Section 24 of the Borrower Guarantee Agreement shall be taken into account. If a Swap Obligation arises under a Master Agreement governing more than one Hedging Transaction, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Hedging Transactions for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.



Excluded Taxes shall mean with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (i) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income or franchise taxes (A) imposed by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its Applicable Lending Office is located or (B) that are Other Connection Taxes, (ii) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which any Lender is located and (iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any withholding tax that (A) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to a law in effect at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, (B) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to a law in effect at any time that such Foreign Lender designates a new lending office, other than taxes that have accrued prior to the designation of such lending office that are otherwise not Excluded Taxes, (C) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.21(e), and (D) is imposed under FATCA.
Existing Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 9, 2020 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time) among the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Truist Bank, as administrative agent.
Existing Letters of Credit” shall mean the letters of credit set forth on Schedule 2.24.
FATCA” shall mean Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the Closing Date (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, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or official practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing.
Federal Funds Rate” shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with member banks of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, (i) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day and (ii) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to Truist Bank or any other Lender selected by the Administrative Agent on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
Federal Reserve Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
Fee Letters shall mean each of (a) that certain letter agreement dated as of February 23, 2022 by and among the Borrower, the Arrangers, Truist Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A. and Citizens Bank, N.A., (b) that certain letter agreement dated as of March 3, 2022 by and among the Borrower and the Arrangers and (c) that certain letter agreement dated as of the Closing Date by and among the Borrower, Truist Securities, Inc. and Truist Bank.
First Amendment” shall mean that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, by and among the Borrower, Holdings, the other Guarantors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and the Administrative Agent.
First Amendment Effective Date” shall mean February 23, 2024.
Fiscal Quarter” shall mean any fiscal quarter of Holdings.
Fiscal Year shall mean a fiscal year of Holdings.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall mean, at any date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDAR for the four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date to (ii) Consolidated Fixed Charges for the four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date.



Floor” shall mean a rate of interest equal to 0.00%.
Foreign Lender shall mean any Lender that is not a United States person under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to the terms of Section 1.3.
Governmental Authority” shall mean the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) shall mean 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, direct or indirect, of the guarantor (i) 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, (ii) 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, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued in support of such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposits in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which Guarantee is made or, if not so stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
Guarantee Agreement” shall mean the Guarantee Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, made by Holdings and the Subsidiary Loan Parties in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations.
Guarantors” shall mean, collectively, (i) Holdings, (ii) each Subsidiary Loan Party, including each Person that joins as a Subsidiary Loan Party pursuant to Section 5.10 or otherwise, (iii) with respect to (A) any Hedging Obligations between any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) or Restricted Subsidiary and any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender that are permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.12 and any Treasury Management Obligations owing by any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) or Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower and (B) the payment and performance by each Specified Loan Party of its obligations under its Guarantee with respect to all Swap Obligations, the Borrower and (iv) the successors and permitted assigns of the foregoing.
Hazardous Materials” shall mean all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
Hedging Obligations” of any Person shall mean any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired under (i) any and all Hedging Transactions, (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Hedging Transactions and (iii) any and all renewals, extensions and modifications of any Hedging Transactions and any and all substitutions for any Hedging Transactions.



Hedging Transaction” of any Person shall mean (i) any transaction (including an agreement with respect to any such transaction) now existing or hereafter entered into by such Person that is a rate swap transaction, swap option, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap or option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option, spot transaction, credit protection transaction, credit swap, credit default swap, credit default option, total return swap, credit spread transaction, repurchase transaction, reverse repurchase transaction, buy/sell-back transaction, securities lending transaction, or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement and (ii) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
Holdings” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereto.
Inactive Subsidiaries” shall mean the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on Schedule 1.1(c).
Incremental Funds Certain Provision” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.25(c).
Incremental Revolving Commitment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.25(a).
Incremental Term Loan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.25(a).
Indebtedness” of any Person shall mean, without duplication (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; provided, that for purposes of Section 8.1(g), trade payables overdue by more than one hundred twenty (120) days shall be included in this definition except to the extent that any of such trade payables are being disputed in good faith and by appropriate measures), (iv) all obligations of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement(s) relating to property acquired by such Person, (v) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (vi) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of letters of credit, acceptances or similar extensions of credit, (vii) all Guarantees of such Person of the type of Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, (viii) all Indebtedness of a third party secured by any Lien on property owned by such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person, provided, that, if such Indebtedness shall not have been assumed by such Person and is otherwise limited in recourse only to the property of such Person securing such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the fair market value of the property of such Person securing such obligation as determined by such Person in good faith and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness so secured, (ix) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of such Person, and (x) Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
Indemnified Taxes” shall mean (i) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document and (ii) to the extent not otherwise described in (i), Other Taxes.
Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean an intercreditor agreement to be entered into upon the Security Agreement Effective Date by the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders and other holders of the Obligations, and Truist Bank, as servicer under the Loan Facility Agreement, on behalf of the Participants (as defined in the Loan Facility Agreement), which intercreditor agreement shall provide for the ratable sharing of collateral and the proceeds thereof as provided more specifically therein.
Interest Period” shall mean, with respect to any SOFR Borrowing, a period of one, three or six months (in each case, subject to the availability thereof); provided, that:



the initial Interest Period for such Borrowing shall commence on the date of such Borrowing (including the date of any conversion from a Borrowing of another Type), and each Interest Period occurring thereafter in respect of such Borrowing shall commence on the day on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;
if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;
any Interest Period which 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 such calendar month;
each principal installment of the Term Loans shall have an Interest Period ending on each installment payment date and the remaining principal balance (if any) of the Term Loans shall have an Interest Period determined as set forth above;
no Interest Period may extend beyond the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, unless on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans is equal to or greater than the aggregate principal amount of SOFR Loans with Interest Periods expiring after such date, and no Interest Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; and
no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.17(e) shall be available for specification in such Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation.
Inventory Financing Agreement” shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Inventory Financing Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013 by and among Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance, LLC (formerly known as Capital Solutions for the Home Product Industry) and the other parties thereto, as amended, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time.
Investments shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 7.4.
Issuing Bank” shall mean, with respect to a particular Letter of Credit, (a) Truist Bank, in its capacity as issuer of such Letters of Credit hereunder, (b) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as issuer of such Letters of Credit hereunder, (c) Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as issuer of such Letters of Credit hereunder, (d) Citizens Bank, N.A., in its capacity as issuer of such Letters or Credit hereunder and (e) any successor issuer of such Letter of Credit hereunder.
LC Commitment” shall mean, with respect to (a) Truist Bank, $20,000,000, (b) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., $5,000,000, (c) Bank of America, N.A., $5,000,000 and (d) Citizens Bank, N.A., $5,000,000.
LC Disbursement” shall mean a payment made by the applicable Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
LC Documents” shall mean the Letters of Credit and all applications, agreements and instruments relating to the Letters of Credit.
LC Exposure” shall mean, at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender shall be its Pro Rata Share of the total LC Exposure at such time.
LC Sublimit” shall mean that portion of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments that may be used by the Borrower for the issuance of Letters of Credit in an aggregate face amount not to exceed $35,000,000.



Lender Insolvency Event” shall mean that (i) a Lender or its Parent Company is insolvent, or is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (ii) a Lender or its Parent Company is the subject of a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation or similar proceeding, or a receiver, trustee, conservator, custodian or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such capacity, has been appointed for such Lender or its Parent Company, or such Lender or its Parent Company has taken any action in furtherance of or indicating its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or (iii) a Lender or its Parent Company has been adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Person or its assets to be, insolvent; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a Lender Insolvency Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in or control of a Lender or a Parent Company thereof by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof so long as such ownership or acquisition does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.
Lenders” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement and shall include, where appropriate, the Swingline Lender and each Additional Lender that joins this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.25 or 2.27.
Letter of Credit” shall mean any standby letter of credit issued pursuant to Section 2.24 by an Issuing Bank for the account of the Borrower pursuant to the LC Sublimit and the Existing Letters of Credit.
Leverage Increase Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.1.
Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, encumbrance, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, or other arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having the same economic effect as any of the foregoing). A covenant not to grant a Lien or a “negative pledge” shall not be determined a Lien for purposes of this Agreement.
Loan Documents” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the LC Documents, the Fee Letters, all Notices of Borrowing, all Notices of Conversion/Continuation, the Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the Guarantee Agreement, the Borrower Guarantee Agreement, the Collateral Documents (if any), and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings executed in connection with any of the foregoing.
Loan Facility Agreement” shall mean that certain Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Borrower, Truist Bank, as Servicer and the financial institutions from time to time a party thereto, as Participants, as amended, restated, amended and restated, refinanced, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Loan Facility Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Loan Facility Agreement and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings executed in connection with the foregoing.
Loan Parties” shall mean Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.
Loans” shall mean all Term Loans, Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans in the aggregate or any of them, as the context shall require.
Master Agreement” shall have the definition set forth in the definition of “Hedging Transaction”.
Material Adverse Effect” shall mean, with respect to any event, act, condition or occurrence of whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any litigation, arbitration, or governmental investigation or proceeding), whether singularly or in conjunction with any other event or events, act or acts,



condition or conditions, occurrence or occurrences whether or not related, resulting in a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, (i) the business, results of operations, financial condition, assets or liabilities of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower or the Loan Parties taken as a whole to perform any of their respective obligations under the Loan Documents, (iii) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents or (iv) the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.
Material Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean any Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrower) that is a Restricted Subsidiary that has not already become a Subsidiary Loan Party that (i) at any time (A) accounted for five percent (5.0%) or more of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters ended or (B) holds assets in an amount equal to or greater than five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter, or (ii) when taken together with other Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries that are not already Subsidiary Loan Parties, (x) accounted for ten percent (10.0%) or more of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters ended or (y) holds assets in an amount equal to or greater than ten percent (10.0%) of the aggregate fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter. Upon the acquisition of a new Domestic Subsidiary or the merger or consolidation of any Person with or into an existing Domestic Subsidiary (or the acquisition of other assets by an existing Domestic Subsidiary), in each case, that is a Restricted Subsidiary, the qualification of the affected Domestic Subsidiary as a “Material Domestic Subsidiary” pursuant to the foregoing requirements of this definition shall be determined on a Pro Forma Basis as if such Domestic Subsidiary had been acquired or such merger, consolidation or other acquisition had occurred, as applicable, at the beginning of the relevant period of four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters.
Material Indebtedness” shall mean, as of any date of determination, Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit) of any one or more of Holdings, the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount greater than an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered.
Material Subsidiary” shall mean at any time any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings having: (a) assets in an amount equal to at least five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter at such time; or (b) revenues or net income in an amount equal to at least five percent (5.0%) of the total revenues or net income of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the 12-month period ending on the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter at such time.
Maturity Date” shall mean, (a) with respect to the Term Loan A, the earlier of (i) April 1, 2027 and (ii) the date on which the principal amount of the outstanding Term Loan A has been declared or automatically has become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise), (b) with respect to any Incremental Term Loan, the earlier of (i) the maturity date set forth in the applicable documentation with respect thereto and (ii) the date on which the principal amount of such outstanding Incremental Term Loan has been declared or automatically has become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise) and (c) with respect to any Refinancing Term Loan, the earlier of (i) the maturity date set forth in the applicable Refinancing Facility Amendment and (ii) the date on which the principal amount of such outstanding Refinancing Term Loan has been declared or automatically has become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).
Maximum Incremental Facility Amount” shall mean the greater of (a) $300,000,000 and (b) 100% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended period of four Fiscal Quarters for which the Borrower has delivered the financial statements required by Sections 5.1(a) or 5.1(b).
Maximum Rate” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 10.12.
Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and any successor thereto.



Multiemployer Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
Net Cash Proceeds” shall mean the aggregate cash or Cash Equivalents proceeds received by Holdings or any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any (i) sale or disposition by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any of its assets, (ii) any casualty insurance policies or eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceedings or (iii) any issuance of Indebtedness not permitted under Section 7.1, in each case net of direct costs incurred in connection therewith (including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales commissions), taxes paid or payable as a result thereof and, in the case of any sale or disposition or casualty, eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceeding, (A) the amount necessary to retire any Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted under this Agreement (ranking senior to any Lien of the Administrative Agent) on the related property, (B) amounts reasonably and in good faith reserved, if any, for (1) pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities, (2) workers compensation liabilities, (3) liabilities associated with retiree benefits and (4) liabilities relating to environmental matters and (C) until no longer reserved, any reserves for indemnification liabilities, the amount of which are reasonably ascertainable on or prior to the consummation of such sale; it being understood that “Net Cash Proceeds” shall include any cash or Cash Equivalents received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received by Holdings or any Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any sale or disposition by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any of its assets, any casualty insurance policies or eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceedings or any issuance of Indebtedness not permitted under Section 7.1.
Non-Defaulting Lender” shall mean, at any time, a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender.
Notes” shall mean any promissory notes issued hereunder at the request of any Lender.
Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(b).
Notice of Revolving Borrowing” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.3.
Notice of Swingline Borrowing shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.6.
Notices of Borrowing” shall mean, collectively, the Notices of Revolving Borrowing and the Notices of Swingline Borrowing.
Obligations” shall mean, collectively, (i) all amounts owing by the Loan Parties to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) or the Arrangers pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit including without limitation, all principal, interest (including any interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding relating to Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), all reimbursement obligations, all obligations pursuant to the Administrative Agent’s Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights, fees, expenses, indemnification and reimbursement payments, costs and expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank and any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) incurred pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, now existing or hereafter arising hereunder or thereunder, and all obligations and liabilities incurred in connection with collecting and enforcing the foregoing, (ii) all Hedging Obligations owed by any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender and (iii) all Treasury Management Obligations between any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender, together with all renewals, extensions, modifications or refinancings of any of the foregoing; provided, that, “Obligations” of a Guarantor shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations of such Guarantor.
OFAC” shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities” of any Person shall mean (i) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, other than indemnity obligations for any breach of any representation or warranty which are customary in nonrecourse sales of such assets, (ii) any liability of such Person under any sale and leaseback transactions which do not create a liability on the balance sheet of such Person, (iii) any liability of such Person under any so-called “synthetic” lease



transaction or (iv) any obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person.
OSHA” shall mean the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Other Connection Taxes” shall mean, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Administrative Agent, Lender, Issuing Bank or recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Person having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
Other Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.23(b)).
Parent Company” shall mean, with respect to a Lender or an Issuing Bank, the bank holding company (as defined in Regulation Y), if any, of such Lender or Issuing Bank, and/or any Person owning, beneficially or of record, directly or indirectly, a majority of the shares of such Lender or Issuing Bank.
Participant” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(d).
Participant Register” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.4(e).
Patriot Act” shall mean the USA PATRIOT Act, Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001), as amended and in effect from time to time.
Payment Office” shall mean the office of the Administrative Agent located at 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30308, or such other location as to which the Administrative Agent shall have given written notice to the Borrower and the other Lenders.
PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, and any successor entity performing similar functions.
Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Term SOFR”.
Permitted Acquisition” shall mean any Acquisition (whether foreign or domestic) so long as (a) immediately before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, no Default or Event of Default is in existence (except, in the case of an Acquisition subject to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision, in which case there is no Default or Event of Default immediately before or immediately after execution and delivery of the applicable Acquisition Agreement and there is no Specified Event of Default at the date the applicable Permitted Acquisition is consummated), (b) such Acquisition has been approved by the board of directors of the Person being acquired prior to any public announcement thereof, (c) to the extent such Acquisition is of a Person or Persons that are not organized in the United States and/or of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person located outside the United States and the aggregate EBITDA attributable to all Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended twelve month period (giving pro forma effect to such Acquisition; provided that, in the case of an Acquisition subject to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision, the date of determination for giving pro forma effect to such Acquisition to determine compliance with this clause (c) shall, at the option of the Borrower, be the date of execution of the applicable Acquisition Agreement, and such determination shall be made after giving effect to such Acquisition (and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof))) exceeds twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended twelve month period, the Borrower complies with Section 5.12 hereof and (d) immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be engaged in any business other



than (A) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease purchase programs), (B) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower and (C) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding. As used herein, Acquisitions will be considered related Acquisitions if the sellers under such Acquisitions are the same Person or any Affiliate thereof.
Permitted Amendments” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 2.28.
Permitted Encumbrances” shall mean
Liens imposed by law for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens imposed by law created in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
judgment and attachment liens not giving rise to an Event of Default or Liens created by or existing from any litigation or legal proceeding that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
other Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or the ownership of its property and assets which were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit, and which do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business; and
Liens on insurance policies owned by the Borrower on the lives of its officers securing policy loans obtained from the insurers under such policies; provided that (A) the aggregate amount borrowed on each policy shall not exceed the loan value thereof, and (B) the Borrower shall not incur any liability to repay any such loan;
provided, that, the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.



Permitted Investments” shall mean:
direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States (or by 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 year from the date of acquisition thereof;
commercial paper having an A or better rating, at the time of acquisition thereof, of S&P or Moody’s and in either case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year of 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 or any state thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;
fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (i) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (iii) above; and
mutual funds investing solely in any one or more of the Permitted Investments described in clauses (i) through (iv) above.
Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity or any Governmental Authority.
Plan” shall mean any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3 of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has or may have an obligation to contribute, and each such plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA for the five-year period immediately following the latest date on which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate maintained, contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to (or is deemed under Section 4069 of ERISA to have maintained or contributed to or to have had an obligation to contribute to, or otherwise to have liability with respect to) such plan.
Platform” shall mean Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.
Pro Forma Basis” shall mean, for purposes of calculating compliance with respect to any asset sale (including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), casualty event, Permitted Acquisition, Restricted Payment or incurrence of Indebtedness, or any other transaction subject to calculation on a “Pro Forma Basis” as indicated herein (including without limitation, for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI, and determining the Applicable Margin and Applicable Percentage) that such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently ended (the “Reference Period”) for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b). For purposes of any such calculation in respect of any Permitted Acquisition, (a) income statement and cash flow statement items attributable to the Person or property subject to such Permitted Acquisition shall be included in Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Permitted Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period; (b) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (including the Person or property acquired) in connection with such transaction and any Indebtedness of the Person or property acquired which is not retired in connection with such transaction (i) shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period and (ii) if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; (c) capital expenditures attributable to the Person or property acquired shall be included beginning as of the first day of the applicable period; and (d) except as permitted pursuant to clauses (ii)(G) and (iii) of the definition of Consolidated EBITDA, no adjustments for unrealized synergies shall



be included. For purposes of any such calculation in respect of (a) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (i) income statement and cash flow statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to such Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent relating to any period occurring prior to the date of such designation and (ii) Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be excluded and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of the Reference Period and (b) the designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as an Restricted Subsidiary, (i) income statement and cash flow statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to such Subsidiary shall be included to the extent relating to any period prior to the date of such designation to the extent such items are not otherwise included in such income statement and cash flow statement items for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with any defined terms set forth in this Section 1.01.
Pro Forma Compliance Certificate” shall mean a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower containing (x) reasonably detailed calculations of the financial covenants set forth in Article VI recomputed as of the end of the period of the four Fiscal Quarters most recently ended for which the Borrower has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b) after giving effect to the applicable transaction on a Pro Forma Basis and (y) if delivered in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, certifications that clauses (i) through (iv) of the definition of “Permitted Acquisition” have been satisfied (or will be satisfied in the time permitted under this Agreement).
Pro Rata Share” shall mean (a) with respect to any Commitment of any Lender at any time, a percentage, the numerator of which shall be such Lender’s Commitment (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure or Term Loans, as applicable), and the denominator of which shall be the sum of such Commitments of all Lenders (or if such Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Revolving Credit Exposure or Term Loans, as applicable, of all Lenders) and (b) with respect to all Commitments of any Lender at any time, the numerator of which shall be the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment (or if such Revolving Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure) and Term Loans and the denominator of which shall be the sum of all Lenders’ Revolving Commitments (or if such Revolving Commitments have been terminated or expired or the Loans have been declared to be due and payable, all Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders funded under such Commitments) and Term Loans.
Project Everglade Acquisition” shall mean the acquisition by Holdings, directly or indirectly, of all of the outstanding equity interests of the Acquired Business from the Seller pursuant to the terms of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement.
Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement” shall mean that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of February 23, 2022 by and among Aaron’s Retail Solutions, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, Interbond Enterprises, Inc., a Florida corporation, Michael Perlman, an individual resident of the State of Florida and the other sellers (collectively, the “Seller”).
Project Everglade Refinancing” shall mean the refinancing of certain outstanding indebtedness of the Acquired Business.
Project Everglade Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations” shall mean such of the representations and warranties with respect to the Target made by or on behalf of the Seller (as defined in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement) and the Target in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that the Borrower or any of its Affiliates has the right (after accounting for all applicable cure periods) to terminate its obligations under the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement or decline to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement as a result of a breach of such representations in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement.
Project Everglade Specified Representations” shall mean the Specified Representations made in connection with the Project Everglade Acquisition. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, to the extent any of the Specified Representations as to the Target are qualified or subject to “material adverse effect”, the definition thereof shall be “Material Adverse Effect” as defined in the Project Everglade



Acquisition Agreement as in effect on February 23, 2022 (“Target Material Adverse Effect”) for purposes of any Specified Representations as to the Target made or to be made on, or as of, the Closing Date.
PTE” shall mean a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
Qualified Acquisition” shall mean (a) the Project Everglade Acquisition and (b) a Permitted Acquisition with aggregate consideration of at least $150,000,000, or any series of related Permitted Acquisitions in any twelve (12) month period with aggregate consideration for all such Permitted Acquisitions of at least $150,000,000; provided that for any such Permitted Acquisition or series of related Permitted Acquisitions, a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent, prior to (i) the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (or the last in such series of related Permitted Acquisitions, as applicable) or (ii) the date of required delivery of a Compliance Certificate for the Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, ended immediately following the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (or the last in such series of related Permitted Acquisitions, as applicable), a certificate (any such certificate, a “Qualified Acquisition Notice”) (x) certifying that such Permitted Acquisition or series of Permitted Acquisitions qualifies as a Qualified Acquisition and (y) notifying the Administrative Agent that the Borrower has elected to treat such Permitted Acquisition or series of related Acquisitions as a Qualified Acquisition.
Qualified Acquisition Notice” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Qualified Acquisition”.
Qualified Acquisition Pro Forma Determination” shall mean, to the extent required in connection with determining the permissibility of any Permitted Acquisition or series of related Permitted Acquisitions that the Loan Parties elect to treat as a Qualified Acquisition, the determination of whether the Loan Parties are in compliance with Section 6.1 on a Pro Forma Basis.
Recipient” shall mean (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank as applicable.
Refinancing Facility” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.27(a).
Refinancing Facility Amendment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.27(a).
Refinancing Revolving Facility” shall mean any Refinancing Facility that is a revolving facility.
Refinancing Revolving Maturity Date” shall mean the maturity date of any Refinancing Revolving Facility.
Refinancing Term Loan” shall mean any Refinancing Facility that is a term loan.
Regulation D” shall mean Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation T” shall mean Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation U” shall mean Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation X” shall mean Regulation X of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
Regulation Y” shall mean Regulation Y of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.



Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.
Release” shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.
Relevant Governmental Body” shall mean the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.
Required Lenders” shall mean, at any time, Lenders holding at least fifty-one percent (51.0%) of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the Term Loans at such time or if the Lenders have no Commitments outstanding, then Lenders holding at least fifty-one percent (51.0%) of the Revolving Credit Exposure and the Term Loans; provided, that, to the extent that any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender and all of its Revolving Commitments, Revolving Credit Exposure and Term Loans shall be excluded for purposes of determining Required Lenders.
Required Revolving Lenders” shall mean, at any time, Lenders holding at least fifty-one percent (51.0%) of the aggregate outstanding Revolving Commitments at such time or, if the Lenders have no Revolving Commitments outstanding, then Lenders holding at least fifty-one percent (51.0%) of the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure; provided that to the extent that any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender and all of its Revolving Commitments and Revolving Credit Exposure shall be excluded for purposes of determining Required Revolving Lenders.
Resolution Authority” shall mean an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
Responsible Officer” shall mean any of the president, the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer, the controller or a vice president of the Borrower or such other representative of the Borrower as may be designated in writing by any one of the foregoing with the consent of the Administrative Agent; and, with respect to the financial covenants only, the chief financial officer, the controller or the treasurer of the Borrower.
Restricted Payment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.
Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “Restricted Subsidiary” hereunder shall mean a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings. For the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings for all purposes of the Loan Documents.
Revolving Commitment” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower and to participate in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on Schedule 1.1(b) (as such Schedule was in effect on the First Amendment Effective Date), or in the case of a Person becoming a Lender after the First Amendment Effective Date through an assignment of an existing Revolving Commitment, the amount of the assigned “Revolving Commitment” as provided in the Assignment and Acceptance executed by such Person as an assignee, or the joinder executed by such Person, as the same may be increased or decreased pursuant to terms hereof, or in any documentation executed by such Lender in connection with an Incremental Revolving Commitment, Incremental Term Loan or Refinancing Facility, as applicable.
Revolving Commitment Termination Date” shall mean the earliest of (i) April 1, 2027, (ii) the date on which the Revolving Commitments are terminated pursuant to Section 2.9(b) or Section 8.1, and (iii) the date on which all amounts outstanding under this Agreement have been declared or have automatically become due and payable (whether by acceleration or otherwise).



Revolving Credit Exposure” shall mean, for any Lender, the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure.
Revolving Loan” shall mean a loan made by a Lender (other than the Swingline Lender) to the Borrower under its Revolving Commitment, which may either be a Base Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan.
S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc. and any successor thereto.
Sanctioned Country” shall mean, at any time, a country, region or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject or target of any Sanctions.
Sanctioned Person” shall mean, at any time, (i) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (ii) any Person located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (iii) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or (iv) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.
Sanctions” shall mean economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes administered or enforced from time to time by (i) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (ii) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any EU Member State or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.
Security Agreement” shall mean the security and pledge agreement in the form of Exhibit 5.12, dated as of the Security Agreement Effective Date, by and among the Obligors (as defined therein) party thereto and the Administrative Agent.
Security Agreement Effective Date” shall mean the date the Security Agreement becomes effective, which in any case shall be within ninety (90) days following the First Amendment Effective Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion).
SOFR” shall mean a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.
SOFR Administrator” shall mean the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
SOFR Loan” shall mean a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Term SOFR, other than pursuant to clause (iii) of the definition of “Base Rate”.
Solvent” shall mean, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities, of such Person; (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts and liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities 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 as such debts and liabilities mature; and (d) such Person is not engaged in a business or transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities (such as litigation, guaranties and pension plan liabilities) at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
Specified Event of Default” shall mean an Event of Default arising under Section 8.1(a), (b), (h) or (i).
Specified Loan Party” shall mean each Loan Party that is, at the time on which the relevant Guarantee or grant of the relevant security interest under the Loan Documents by such Loan Party becomes effective with respect to a Swap Obligation, a corporation, partnership, proprietorship, organization, trust or



other entity that would not be an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act at such time but for the “keepwell” provision in Section 24 of the Guarantee Agreement and Section 24 of the Borrower Guarantee Agreement.
Specified Representations” shall mean the representations of the Loan Parties contained in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3(a), 4.3(b), 4.6 (insofar as it relates to the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents), 4.7, 4.9, 4.15, 4.16 and 4.17.
Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person (the “parent”), any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than fifty percent (50.0%) of the equity or more than fifty percent (50.0%) of the ordinary voting power, or in the case of a partnership, more than fifty percent (50.0%) of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “Subsidiary” hereunder shall mean a Subsidiary of Holdings.
Subsidiary Loan Party” shall mean any Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) that is party to the Guarantee Agreement (whether as original party thereto or by subsequent joinder thereto).
Swap Obligations” shall mean with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of Section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.
Swingline Commitment” shall mean the commitment of the Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $35,000,000.
Swingline Exposure” shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the principal amount of the Swingline Loans in which such Lender is legally obligated either to make a Base Rate Loan or to purchase a participation in accordance with Section 2.7, which shall equal such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of all outstanding Swingline Loans.
Swingline Lender” shall mean Truist Bank in its capacity as provider of Swingline Loans hereunder.
Swingline Loan” shall mean a loan made to the Borrower by the Swingline Lender under the Swingline Commitment.
Swingline Rate” shall mean, for any Interest Period, the rate as offered by the Administrative Agent and accepted by the Borrower. The Borrower is under no obligation to accept this rate and the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to provide it.
Target” shall mean Interbond Corporation of America, a Florida corporation.
Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.
Term Loan A” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
Term Loan A Commitment shall mean, with respect to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make its portion of the Term Loan A pursuant to Section 2.5, in a principal amount not exceeding the amount set forth with respect to such Lender on Schedule 1.1(b). The aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan A on the Closing Date is $175,000,000.



Term Loans” shall mean the Term Loan A and any term loan made by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.25 or Section 2.27.
Term SOFR” shall mean,
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, that if as of 5:00 p.m. 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
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 that if as of 5:00 p.m. 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, that if Term SOFR determined as provided above (excluding pursuant to clause (b) above) shall ever be less than the Floor, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.
Term SOFR Administrator” shall mean the CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).
Term SOFR Reference Rate” shall mean the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.
Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio” shall mean, at any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time the aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on deposit with, or otherwise held by, any Lenders or Affiliate thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, cash in accounts that are subject to an account control agreement in favor of the Administrative Agent) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date.
Transaction Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Loan Documents and the Loan Facility Documents.
Transactions” shall mean the closing of this Agreement and the initial extensions of credit hereunder, the Project Everglade Acquisition, the Project Everglade Refinancing and the closing of the Loan Facility Documents.
Treasury Management Obligations” shall mean, collectively, (a) any treasury or other cash management services, including deposit accounts, automated clearing house (ACH) origination and other funds transfer, depository (including cash vault and check deposit), zero balance accounts and sweeps, return items



processing, controlled disbursement accounts, positive pay, lockboxes and lockbox accounts, account reconciliation and information reporting, payables outsourcing, payroll processing, trade finance services, investment accounts, securities accounts and supply chain financing, and (b) card services, including credit cards (including purchasing cards and commercial cards), prepaid cards, including payroll, stored value and gift cards, merchant services processing, and debit card services.
Type”, when used in reference to a Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to Term SOFR or the Base Rate.
UK Financial Institution” shall mean 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” shall mean the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.
United States or U.S. shall mean the United States of America.
Unrestricted Cash” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount (without duplication) of cash and Cash Equivalents of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent the same would be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries if the same were prepared as of such date; provided, that, “Unrestricted Cash” of Foreign Subsidiaries shall be net of repatriation costs.
Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean, collectively, each Subsidiary designated by the Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.14.
U.S. Government Securities Business Day” shall mean any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
Withdrawal Liability” shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
Write-Down and Conversion Powers” shall mean (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.
Classifications of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g. a “Revolving Loan” or “Term Loan”) or by Type (e.g. a “SOFR Loan” or “Base



Rate Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g. “Revolving SOFR Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g. “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g. “SOFR Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g. “Revolving SOFR Borrowing”).
Accounting Terms and Determination.
Unless otherwise defined or specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statement of Holdings delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) (or, if no such financial statements have been delivered, on a basis consistent with the audited consolidated financial statements of Holdings last delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement); provided, that if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes to amend any covenant in Article VI to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders wish to amend Article VI for such purpose), then the Borrower’s compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders.
Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (i) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification Section 825-10 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of any Loan Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Loan Party at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) all liability amounts shall be determined excluding any liability relating to any operating lease, all asset amounts shall be determined excluding any right-of-use assets relating to any operating lease, all amortization amounts shall be determined excluding any amortization of a right-of-use asset relating to any operating lease, and all interest amounts shall be determined excluding any deemed interest comprising a portion of fixed rent payable under any operating lease, in each case to the extent that such liability, asset, amortization or interest pertains to an operating lease under which the covenantor or a member of its consolidated group is the lessee and would not have been accounted for as such under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2015.
Notwithstanding the above, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that all calculations of the financial covenants in Article VI (including for purposes of determining the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage and any transaction that by the terms of this Agreement requires that any financial covenant contained in Article VI be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to (a) sales, leases, transfers and/or involuntary dispositions of property in any period of twelve months with an aggregate fair market value in excess of $15,000,000, (b) any Acquisition, (c) any incurrence of any Incremental Term Loan and/or Incremental Revolving Commitment, (d) any determination of whether a Domestic Subsidiary qualifies as a “Material Subsidiary” pursuant to the definition of “Material Domestic Subsidiary” or (e) any payment of a Restricted Payment occurring during such period.
Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the word “to” means “to but excluding”. Unless the context requires otherwise (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as it was originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns, (iii) the words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import shall be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any



particular provision hereof, (iv) all references to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement and (v) all references to a specific time shall be construed to refer to the time in the city and state of the Administrative Agent’s principal office, unless otherwise indicated.
Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any LC Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.
Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
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.
Rates. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept 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 Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate or Term SOFR, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or 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) will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, the Base Rate, the Term SOFR 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 Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of the Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.


AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE COMMITMENTS
General Description of Facilities. Subject to and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, (i) the Lenders hereby establish in favor of the Borrower a revolving credit facility pursuant to which the Lenders severally agree (to the extent of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment) to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.2, (ii) the Issuing Banks may issue Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 2.24, (iii) the Swingline Lender may make Swingline Loans in accordance with Section 2.4, (iv) each Lender agrees to purchase a participation interest in the Letters of Credit and the Swingline Loans pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof; provided, that in no event shall the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and outstanding LC Exposure exceed at any time the Aggregate Revolving Commitments from time to time in effect, and (v) each Lender severally agrees to advance its portion of the Term Loan A in Dollars to the Borrower on the Closing Date in a principal amount not exceeding such Lender’s Term Loan A Commitment in accordance with Section 2.5.



Revolving Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Loans in Dollars, ratably in proportion to its Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Commitments, to the Borrower, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time that will not result in (i) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, or (ii) the sum of the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders exceeding the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. During the Availability Period, the Borrower shall be entitled to borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; provided, that the Borrower may not borrow or reborrow should there exist a Default or Event of Default.
Procedure for Revolving Borrowings. The Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Revolving Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.3 attached hereto (a “Notice of Revolving Borrowing”) (x) prior to 11:00 a.m. on the requested date of each Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the requested date of each SOFR Borrowing. Each Notice of Revolving Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Borrowing, (ii) the date of such Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the Type of such Revolving Loan comprising such Borrowing and (iv) in the case of a SOFR Borrowing, the duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto (subject to the provisions of the definition of “Interest Period”). Each Revolving Borrowing shall consist entirely of Base Rate Loans or SOFR Loans, as the Borrower may request. The aggregate principal amount of each SOFR Borrowing shall be not less than $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $500,000, and the aggregate principal amount of each Base Rate Borrowing shall not be less than $1,000,000 or a larger multiple of $100,000; provided, that Base Rate Loans made pursuant to Section 2.5 or Section 2.24(d) may be made in lesser amounts as provided therein. At no time shall the total number of SOFR Borrowings outstanding at any time exceed twelve (12). Promptly following the receipt of a Notice of Revolving Borrowing in accordance herewith, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loan to be made as part of the requested Revolving Borrowing.
Swingline Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the Borrower in Dollars, from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed the lesser of (i) the Swingline Commitment then in effect and (ii) the difference between the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders; provided, that the Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. The Borrower shall be entitled to borrow, repay and reborrow Swingline Loans in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Term Loan A Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make its portion of a single term loan (the “Term Loan A”) to the Borrower in Dollars in one advance on the Closing Date in a principal amount equal to the Term Loan A Commitment of such Lender. The Term Loan A may be, from time to time, Base Rate Loans or SOFR Loans or a combination thereof; provided, that on the Closing Date the Term Loan A shall be Base Rate Loans unless the Administrative Agent shall have received a funding indemnity letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Borrower and the satisfaction of all conditions precedent pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be deemed to constitute the Borrower’s request to borrow the Term Loan A on the Closing Date. Amounts repaid on the Term Loan A may not be reborrowed.
Procedure for Borrowing of Swingline Loans; Etc.
Except in connection with any Auto Borrow Agreement, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Swingline Borrowing in substantially the form of Exhibit 2.6 hereto (“Notice of Swingline Borrowing”) prior to 10:00 a.m. on the requested date of each Swingline Borrowing. Each Notice of Swingline Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify: (i) the principal amount of such Swingline Loan, (ii) the date of such Swingline Loan (which shall be a Business Day) and (iii) the account of the Borrower to which the proceeds of such Swingline Loan should be credited. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of each Notice of Swingline Borrowing. Each Swingline Loan shall accrue interest at the Swingline Rate or any other interest rate as agreed between the Borrower and the Swingline Lender and shall have an Interest Period (subject to the definition thereof) as agreed between the Borrower and the Swingline Lender. The aggregate principal amount of each Swingline



Loan shall be not less than $100,000 or a larger multiple of $50,000, or such other minimum or maximum amounts agreed to by the Swingline Lender and the Borrower. The Swingline Lender will make the proceeds of each Swingline Loan available to the Borrower in Dollars in immediately available funds at the account specified by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Swingline Borrowing not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested date of such Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders on a quarterly basis if any Swingline Loans occurred during such quarter.
The Swingline Lender, at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion, may, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Swingline Lender to act on its behalf), give a Notice of Revolving Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting the Lenders (including the Swingline Lender) to make Base Rate Loans in an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of any Swingline Loan. Each Lender will make the proceeds of its Base Rate Loan included in such Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender in accordance with Section 2.6, which will be used solely for the repayment of such Swingline Loan.
If for any reason a Base Rate Borrowing may not be (as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), or is not, made in accordance with the foregoing provisions, then each Lender (other than the Swingline Lender) shall purchase an undivided participating interest in such Swingline Loan in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share thereof on the date that such Base Rate Borrowing should have occurred. On the date of such required purchase, each Lender shall promptly transfer, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participating interest to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender. If such Swingline Loan bears interest at a rate other than the Base Rate, such Swingline Loan shall automatically become a Base Rate Loan on the effective date of any such participation and interest shall become payable on demand.
Each Lender’s obligation to make a Base Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.6(b) or to purchase the participating interests pursuant to Section 2.6(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including without limitation (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Lender or any other Person may have or claim against the Swingline Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the existence of a Default or an Event of Default or the termination of any Lender’s Revolving Commitment, (iii) the existence (or alleged existence) of any event or condition which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) any breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or any Lender or (v) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. If such amount is not in fact made available to the Swingline Lender by any Lender, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender, together with accrued interest thereon for each day from the date of demand thereof at the Federal Funds Rate. Until such time as such Lender makes its required payment, the Swingline Lender shall be deemed to continue to have outstanding Swingline Loans in the amount of the unpaid participation for all purposes of the Loan Documents. In addition, such Lender shall be deemed to have assigned any and all payments made of principal and interest on its Loans and any other amounts due to it hereunder, to the Swingline Lender to fund the amount of such Lender’s participation interest in such Swingline Loans that such Lender failed to fund pursuant to this Section 2.6, until such amount has been purchased in full.
In order to facilitate the borrowing of Swingline Loans, the Borrower and the Swingline Lender may mutually agree to, and are hereby authorized to, enter into an auto borrow agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent (the “Auto Borrow Agreement”) providing for the automatic advance by the Swingline Lender of Swingline Loans under the conditions set forth in the Auto Borrow Agreement, subject to the conditions set forth herein. At any time an Auto Borrow Agreement is in effect, advances under the Auto Borrow Agreement shall be deemed Swingline Loans for all purposes hereof, except that Borrowings of Swingline Loans under the Auto Borrow Agreement shall be made in accordance with the Auto Borrow Agreement. For purposes of determining the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders at any time during which an Auto Borrow Agreement is in effect, the outstanding amount of all Swingline Loans shall be deemed to be the sum of the outstanding amount of Swingline Loans at such time plus the maximum amount available to be borrowed under such Auto Borrow Agreement at such time.



Funding of Borrowings.
Each Lender will make available each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer in immediately available funds by 11:00 a.m. to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office; provided, that the Swingline Loans will be made as set forth in Section 2.6. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts that it receives, in like funds by the close of business on such proposed date, to an account maintained by the Borrower with the Administrative Agent or at the Borrower’s option, by effecting a wire transfer of such amounts to an account designated by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent.
Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to 5:00 p.m. one (1) Business Day prior to the date of a Borrowing in which such Lender is participating that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such date, and the Administrative Agent, in reliance on such assumption, may make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender on the date of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest at the Federal Funds Rate for up to two (2) days and thereafter at the Base Rate. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent together with interest at the rate specified for such Borrowing. Nothing in this Section 2.7(b) shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Borrowing hereunder or to prejudice any rights which the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.
All Borrowings shall be made by the Lenders on the basis of their respective Pro Rata Shares. No Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in its obligations hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make its Loans provided to be made by it hereunder, regardless of the failure of any other Lender to make its Loans hereunder.
Interest Elections.
Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing, and in the case of a SOFR Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Notice of Borrowing. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing into a different Type or to continue such Borrowing, and in the case of a SOFR Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section 2.8. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section 2.8 shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.
To make an election pursuant to this Section 2.8, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of each Borrowing substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.8 attached hereto (a “Notice of Conversion/Continuation”) that is to be converted or continued, as the case may be, (x) prior to 11:00 a.m. one (1) Business Day prior to the requested date of a conversion into a Base Rate Borrowing and (y) prior to 11:00 a.m. three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to a continuation of or conversion into a SOFR Borrowing. Each such Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall be irrevocable and shall specify (i) the Borrowing to which such Notice of Conversion/Continuation applies and if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof that are to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to Section 2.8(b)(iii) and Section 2.8(b)(iv) shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing); (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Notice of Conversion/Continuation, which shall be a Business Day, (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing or a SOFR Borrowing; and (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is to be a SOFR Borrowing, the Interest Period applicable thereto after giving effect to such



election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of “Interest Period”. If any such Notice of Conversion/Continuation requests a SOFR Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month. The principal amount of any resulting Borrowing shall satisfy the minimum borrowing amount for SOFR Borrowings and Base Rate Borrowings set forth in Section 2.3.
If, on the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of any SOFR Borrowing, the Borrower shall have failed to deliver a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Borrowing to a Base Rate Borrowing. No Borrowing may be converted into, or continued as, a SOFR Borrowing if a Default or an Event of Default exists, unless the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall have otherwise consented in writing. No conversion of any SOFR Loans shall be permitted except on the last day of the Interest Period in respect thereof.
Upon receipt of any Notice of Conversion/Continuation, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.
Optional Reduction and Termination of Commitments.
Unless previously terminated, all Revolving Commitments and the Swingline Commitment shall terminate on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. The Term Loan A Commitments in effect on the Closing Date terminated on the Closing Date upon the making of the initial Term Loan A pursuant to Section 2.5.
Upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be irrevocable), the Borrower may reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in part or terminate the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in whole; provided, that (i) any partial reduction shall apply to reduce proportionately and permanently the Revolving Commitment of each Lender, (ii) any partial reduction pursuant to this Section 2.9 shall be in an amount of at least $5,000,000 and any larger multiple of $1,000,000, and (iii) no such reduction shall be permitted which would reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments to an amount less than the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Exposures of all Lenders. Any such reduction in the Aggregate Revolving Commitments below the principal amount of the Swingline Commitment and the LC Sublimit shall result in a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the Swingline Commitment and the LC Sublimit.
Repayment of Loans.
The outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans made by the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.2 shall be due and payable by Borrower (together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon) on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
The principal amount of each Swingline Borrowing shall be due and payable (together with accrued interest thereon) on the earlier of (i) the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing and (ii) the Revolving Commitment Termination Date.
The Borrower unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, the unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan A in quarterly installments in the amounts set forth below (as such installments may hereafter be adjusted as a result of prepayments made pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.13), payable on the dates set forth below, with the aggregate unpaid principal balance of the Term Loan A due and payable on the Maturity Date (together with all accrued and unpaid interest on the amount so repaid).



Payment DatesPrincipal Payment Amount
December 31, 2022$1,093,750
March 31, 2023$1,093,750
June 30, 2023$1,093,750
September 30, 2023$1,093,750
December 31, 2023$1,093,750
March 31, 2024$1,093,750
June 30, 2024$1,093,750
September 30, 2024$2,187,500
December 31, 2024$2,187,500
March 31, 2025$2,187,500
June 30, 2025$2,187,500
September 30, 2025$2,187,500
December 31, 2025$2,187,500
March 31, 2026$2,187,500
June 30, 2026$2,187,500
September 30, 2026$2,187,500
December 31, 2026$2,187,500
March 31, 2027$2,187,500
Maturity Date
Remaining principal balance
of the Term Loan A

The Borrower unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each applicable Lender, the unpaid principal amount of the Incremental Term Loans of such Lender in installments payable on the dates set forth in the definitive documentation therefor (and on such other date(s) and in such other amounts as may be required from time to time pursuant to this Agreement).
Evidence of Indebtedness.
Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice appropriate records evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable thereon and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall maintain appropriate records in which shall be recorded (i) the Revolving Commitment and Term Loan A Commitment of each Lender, (ii) the amount of each Loan made hereunder by each Lender, the Class and Type thereof and, in the case of each SOFR Loan, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (iii) the date of each continuation thereof pursuant to Section 2.8, (iv) the date of each conversion of all or a portion thereof to another Type pursuant to Section 2.8, (v) the date and amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder in respect of such Loans and (vi) both the date and amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower in respect of the Loans and each Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. The entries made in such records shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided, that the failure or delay of any Lender or the Administrative Agent in maintaining or making entries into any such record or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans (both principal and unpaid accrued interest) of such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
This Agreement evidences the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans and is being executed as a “noteless” credit agreement. However, at the request of any Lender (including the Swingline Lender) at any time, the Borrower agrees that it will prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and



its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment permitted hereunder) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or to such payee and its registered assigns).
Optional Prepayments. The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, by giving irrevocable written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) to the Administrative Agent no later than (i) in the case of prepayment of any SOFR Borrowing, 11:00 a.m. not less than three (3) Business Days prior to any such prepayment, (ii) in the case of any prepayment of any Base Rate Borrowing, not less than one Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment, and (iii) in the case of Swingline Borrowings, 11:00 a.m. on the date of such prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the proposed date of such prepayment and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid. Upon receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each affected Lender of the contents thereof and of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any such prepayment. If such notice is given, the aggregate amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date designated in such notice, together with accrued interest to such date on the amount so prepaid in accordance with Section 2.14(e); provided, that if a SOFR Borrowing is prepaid on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay all amounts required pursuant to Section 2.20. Each partial prepayment of any Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be in an amount not less than $1,000,000 and in integral multiples of $500,000. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans comprising such Borrowing and in the case of a prepayment of the Term Loan A or any Incremental Term Loan, ratably to the Term Loan A and all outstanding Incremental Term Loans, and to the scheduled principal installments thereof as directed by the Borrower (and, absent any such direction, in direct order of maturity). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice of prepayment delivered in connection with any refinancing of the Obligations under the Loan Documents with the proceeds of such refinancing or of any other incurrence of Indebtedness may be, if expressly so stated to be, contingent upon the consummation of such refinancing or incurrence and may be revoked by the Borrower in the event such refinancing is not consummated; provided that the delay or failure of such contingency shall not relieve the Borrower from its obligations in respect thereof under Section 2.20.
Mandatory Prepayments.
If at any time the Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time, as reduced pursuant to Section 2.9 or otherwise, by no later than the following Business Day, the Borrower shall repay Swingline Loans and Revolving Loans in an amount equal to such excess, together with all accrued and unpaid interest on such excess amount and any amounts due under Section 2.20. Each such prepayment shall be applied ratably first to the Swingline Loans to the full extent thereof, then to the Revolving Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof, and finally to Revolving SOFR Loans to the full extent thereof. If after giving effect to prepayment of all Swingline Loans and Revolving Loans, the Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders exceeds the Aggregate Revolving Commitments at such time, the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize its reimbursement obligations with respect to all Letters of Credit in an amount equal to such excess plus any accrued and unpaid fees thereon.
Promptly upon receipt by the Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries of any (i) Net Cash Proceeds of any sale or disposition by the Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries of any of its assets or (ii) any Net Cash Proceeds from any casualty insurance policies or eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceedings that, with respect to Section 2.13(b)(i) and (b)(ii), exceed (A) $15,000,000 for any such single asset sale (or series of related asset sales, including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC (other than a Delaware Divided LLC which is a Loan Party) pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division) or for any such single casualty event or (B) as of any date of determination, an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered for all such asset sales or casualty events from the First Amendment Effective Date through the Maturity Date, the Borrower shall prepay the Term Loans in an amount equal to all such Net Cash Proceeds; provided, that the Borrower shall not be required to prepay the Term Loans with respect to Net Cash Proceeds from (x) sales of assets in the ordinary course of business of the type described in Sections 7.6(a) and 7.6(b), (y)



other sales of assets of the types described in Section 7.6 or (z) casualty insurance policies or eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceedings that are, in either case of Section 2.13(b)(y) or (z), reinvested in assets then used or usable in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries within three hundred sixty (360) days following receipt thereof or committed to be reinvested pursuant to a binding contract prior to the expiration of such 360-day period and actually reinvested within five hundred forty (540) days following receipt thereof, so long as such proceeds are held in accounts at Truist Bank until reinvested. Any such prepayment shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.13(d).
No later than the Business Day following the date of receipt by the Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries of any Net Cash Proceeds from any issuance of Indebtedness by the Borrower or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries, the Borrower shall prepay the Term Loans in an amount equal to all such Net Cash Proceeds (subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement); provided, that the Borrower shall not be required to prepay the Term Loans with respect to proceeds of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.1. Any such prepayment shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.13(d).
Any prepayments made by the Borrower pursuant to Sections 2.13(b) or 2.13(c) shall be applied to the principal balance of the Term Loans on a pro rata basis until the same shall have been paid in full, pro rata to the Lenders based on their Pro Rata Shares thereof, and applied to the remaining principal installments thereof (excluding the installment due on the Maturity Date thereof) on a pro rata basis; provided, that if a SOFR Borrowing is prepaid on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay all amounts required pursuant to Section 2.20; provided that, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if any prepayment of SOFR Loans is required to be made under Sections 2.13(b) or 2.13(c) prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, in lieu of making any payment pursuant to Sections 2.13(b) or 2.13(c) in respect of any such SOFR Loan prior to the last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, deposit an amount sufficient to make any such prepayment otherwise required to be made thereunder together with accrued interest to the last day of such Interest Period into an account held at, and subject to the sole control of, the Administrative Agent until the last day of such Interest Period, at which time the Administrative Agent shall be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of such Term Loans in accordance with this Section 2.13(d).  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall also be authorized (without any further action by or notice to or from the Borrower or any other Loan Party) to apply such amount to the prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Section 2.13(d).
Interest on Loans.
The Borrower shall pay interest with respect to the Revolving Loans made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2 and the Term Loan A made to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.5: (i) on each Base Rate Loan at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time and (ii) on each SOFR Loan at Term SOFR for the applicable Interest Period in effect for such Loan plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time.
The Borrower shall pay interest on each Swingline Loan at the Swingline Rate in effect from time to time.
The Borrower shall pay interest on each Incremental Term Loan as provided in the definitive documentation establishing such Incremental Term Loan.
Notwithstanding Sections 2.14(a), 2.14(b) and 2.14(c), if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at the option of the Required Lenders, or automatically in the case of an Event of Default under Sections 8.1(a), (g) or (h), the Borrower shall pay interest (“Default Interest”) with respect to all SOFR Loans at the rate otherwise applicable for the then-current Interest Period plus an additional two percent (2%) per annum until the last day of such Interest Period, and thereafter, and with respect to all Base Rate Loans (including all Swingline Loans) and all other Obligations hereunder (other than Loans), at an all-in rate in effect for Base Rate Loans plus an additional two percent (2%) per annum.



Interest on the principal amount of all Loans shall accrue from and including the date such Loans are made to but excluding the date of any repayment thereof. Interest on all outstanding Base Rate Loans shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Interest on all outstanding SOFR Loans shall be payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable thereto, and, in the case of any SOFR Loans having an Interest Period in excess of three (3) months or ninety (90) days, respectively, on each day which occurs every three (3) months or ninety (90) days, as the case may be, after the initial date of such Interest Period, and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Interest on each Swingline Loan shall be payable on the maturity date of such Loan, which shall be the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date. Interest on any Loan which is converted into a Loan of another Type or which is repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such conversion or on the date of any such repayment or prepayment (on the amount repaid or prepaid) thereof. All Default Interest shall be payable on demand by the Required Lenders.
The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to the Loans hereunder and shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of such rate in writing (or by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing). Any such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
In connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent 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 Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR.
Fees.
The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account fees in the amounts and at the times agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in the Fee Letters. The Borrower shall pay all fees and other amounts separately agreed in writing that are due and payable on or prior to the First Amendment Effective Date.
Commitment Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Percentage (determined daily in accordance with Schedule 1.1(a)) on the daily amount of the unused Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the Availability Period. For purposes of computing commitment fees with respect to the Revolving Commitments, the Revolving Commitment of each Lender shall be deemed used to the extent of the outstanding Revolving Loans and LC Exposure, but not Swingline Exposure, of such Lender.
Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, a letter of credit fee with respect to its participation in each Letter of Credit, which shall accrue at the Applicable Margin for SOFR Revolving Loans then in effect on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) attributable to such Letter of Credit during the period from and including the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to but excluding the date on which such Letter of Credit expires or is drawn in full (including without limitation any LC Exposure that remains outstanding after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date) and (ii) to each Issuing Bank for its own account a fronting fee with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the Availability Period (or until the date that such Letter of Credit is irrevocably cancelled, whichever is later), as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder.
Payments. The fees described in Sections 2.15(b) and 2.15(c) above shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing on June 30, 2022



and on the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (and if later, the date the Loans and LC Exposure shall be repaid in their entirety).
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, during such period as a Lender is a Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender will not be entitled to commitment fees accruing with respect to its Revolving Commitment during such period pursuant to Section 2.15(b) or letter of credit fees accruing during such period pursuant to Section 2.15(c) (without prejudice to the rights of the Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders in respect of such fees); provided that (x) to the extent that a portion of the LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender is reallocated to the Non-Defaulting Lenders pursuant to Section 2.26, such fees that would have accrued for the benefit of such Defaulting Lender will instead accrue for the benefit of and be payable to such Non-Defaulting Lenders, pro rata in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments, and (y) to the extent any portion of such LC Exposure cannot be so reallocated, such fees will instead accrue for the benefit of and be payable to the applicable Issuing Bank. The pro rata payment provisions of Section 2.22 shall automatically be deemed adjusted to reflect the provisions of this Section 2.15(e).
Computation of Interest and Fees.
All computations of interest and fees hereunder shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty (360) days for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or fees are payable (to the extent computed on the basis of days elapsed); provided that interest hereunder based on the Administrative Agent’s prime lending rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty-five (365) days (or three hundred sixty-six (366) days in a leap year) and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest amount or fee hereunder shall be made in good faith and, except for manifest error, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.
Inability to Determine Interest Rates.
Subject to Sections 2.17(b) through 2.17(f), if, prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for any SOFR Borrowing,
the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that “Term SOFR” cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof, or
the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Required Lenders that Term SOFR for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their SOFR Loans for such Interest Period,
then the Administrative Agent shall give written notice thereof (or telephonic notice, promptly confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and to the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. Upon notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower, any obligation of the Lenders to make SOFR Loans, and any right of the Borrower to continue SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to SOFR Loans, shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or affected Interest Periods) until the Administrative Agent revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, (i) 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 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 (ii) 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 conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 2.20. Subject to Sections 2.17(b) through 2.17(f), if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that “Term SOFR” cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof on any given day, the interest rate on Base Rate Loans shall be determined by



the Administrative Agent without reference to clause (iii) of the definition of “Base Rate” until the Administrative Agent revokes such determination.
Benchmark Replacement.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.
No swap agreement shall be deemed to be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 2.17.
Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent 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 (and no other changes) will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (i) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (ii) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower of the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 2.17(e). Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.17, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.17.
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), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Reference Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark or 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 be not be representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks, then the Administrative Agent 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 (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above



either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent 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.
Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a SOFR 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. During a 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 or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Base Rate.
Illegality. If any Change in Law shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Lender to perform any of its obligations hereunder, to make, maintain or fund any SOFR Loan or to or to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR, the Term SOFR Reference Rate or Term SOFR and such Lender shall so notify the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice thereof to the Borrower and the other Lenders, whereupon until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Lender to make SOFR Loans, or to continue or convert outstanding Loans as or into SOFR Loans, shall be suspended. In the case of the making of a SOFR Borrowing, such Lender’s Revolving Loan shall be made as a Base Rate Loan as part of the same Revolving Borrowing for the same Interest Period and, if the affected SOFR Loan is then outstanding, such Loan shall be converted to a Base Rate Loan either (i) on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such SOFR Loan if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Loan to such date or (ii) immediately if such Lender shall determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loan to such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the affected Lender shall, prior to giving such notice to the Administrative Agent, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation would avoid the need for giving such notice and if such designation would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in the good faith exercise of its discretion. 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 2.20.
Increased Costs.
If any Change in Law shall:
impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve (including pursuant to regulations issued from time to time by the Federal Reserve Board for determining maximum reserve requirements (including any emergency, special, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirements) with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” in Regulation D)), special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender or any Issuing Bank; or
subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes and (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of “Excluded Taxes”); or
impose on any Lender, the Issuing Bank any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Loans made by such Lender;
and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of making, converting into, continuing or maintaining a SOFR Loan or to increase the cost to such Lender or any Issuing Bank of participating in or issuing any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount received or receivable by such Lender or such Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other



amount), then, from time to time, such Lender or such Issuing Bank may provide the Borrower (with a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent) with written notice and demand with respect to such increased costs or reduced amounts, and within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice and demand, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank for any such increased costs incurred or reduction suffered.
If any Lender or any Issuing Bank shall have determined that on or after the Closing Date any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity ratios or requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s capital (or on the capital of the Parent Company of such Lender or such Issuing Bank) as a consequence of its obligations hereunder or under or in respect of any Letter of Credit to a level below that which such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such Parent Company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s policies or the policies of such Parent Company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then, from time to time, such Lender or such Issuing Bank may provide the Borrower (with a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent) with written notice and demand with respect to such reduced amounts, and within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such notice and demand the Borrower shall pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender, such Issuing Bank or such Parent Company for any such reduction suffered.
A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s Parent Company, as the case may be, specified in Sections 2.19(a) or (b) shall be delivered to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay any such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such amount or amounts within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 2.19 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation.
Funding Indemnity. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of a SOFR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion or continuation of a SOFR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or (c) the failure by the Borrower to borrow, prepay, convert or continue any SOFR Loan on the date specified in any applicable notice (regardless of whether such notice is withdrawn or revoked), then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender, within five (5) Business Days after written demand from such Lender, for any loss, cost or expense attributable to such event. In the case of a SOFR Loan, such loss, cost or expense shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (A) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such SOFR Loan if such event had not occurred at Term SOFR applicable to such SOFR Loan for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such SOFR Loan) over (B) the amount of interest that would accrue on the principal amount of such SOFR Loan for the same period if Term SOFR were set on the date such SOFR Loan was prepaid or converted or the date on which the Borrower failed to borrow, convert or continue such SOFR Loan. A certificate as to any additional amount payable under this Section 2.20 submitted to the Borrower or by any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
Taxes.
Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes; provided, that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.21) the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank (as the case may be) shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such



deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Issuing Bank, within five (5) Business Days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.21) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or an Issuing Bank, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the Code or any treaty to which the United States is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Foreign Lender agrees that it will deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (or in the case of a Participant, to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased), as appropriate, two (2) duly completed copies of (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, or any successor form thereto, certifying that the payments received from the Borrower hereunder are effectively connected with such Foreign Lender’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States; (ii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or any successor form thereto, certifying that such Foreign Lender is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party which reduces the rate of withholding tax on payments of interest; (iii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or any successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, together with a certificate (A) establishing that the payment to the Foreign Lender qualifies as “portfolio interest” exempt from U.S. withholding tax under Code section 871(h) or 881(c), (B) stating that (1) the Foreign Lender is not a bank for purposes of Code section 881(c)(3)(A) or the obligation of the Borrower hereunder is not, with respect to such Foreign Lender, a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, within the meaning of that section; (2) the Foreign Lender is not a ten percent (10%) shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Code section 871(h)(3) or 881(c)(3)(B) and (3) the Foreign Lender is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the Borrower within the meaning of Code section 881(c)(3)(C); or (iv) such other Internal Revenue Service forms as may be applicable to the Foreign Lender, including Forms W-8IMY or W-8EXP. Each such Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent such forms on or before the date that it becomes a party to this Agreement (or in the case of a Participant, on or before the date such Participant purchases the related participation) and (C) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine



the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (C), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Closing Date. In addition, each such Foreign Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Foreign Lender. Each such Foreign Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at any time that it determines that it is no longer in a position to provide any previously delivered certificate to the Borrower (or any other form of certification adopted by the Internal Revenue Service for such purpose).
If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.21 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.21), 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.
Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.21 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
For purposes of this Section 2.21, the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank and the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.
Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.
The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.19, 2.20 or 2.21, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, free and clear of any defenses, rights of set-off, counterclaim, or withholding or deduction of taxes. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office, except payments to be made directly to the applicable Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.19, 2.20 and 2.21 and 10.3 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be made payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.
If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then



due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties.
If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans or participations in LC Disbursements, Term Loans or Swingline Loans that would result in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, Term Loans and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, Term Loans and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements, Term Loans and Swingline Loans; provided, that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this Section 2.22(c) shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements, Term Loans or Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to Holdings or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.22(c) shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or an Issuing Bank hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount or amounts due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or such Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any amount paid by the Borrower for the account of a Defaulting Lender under this Agreement (whether on account of principal, interest, fees, reimbursement of LC Disbursements, indemnity payments or other amounts) will be retained by the Administrative Agent in a segregated non-interest bearing account until the Revolving Commitment Termination Date, at which time the funds in such account will be applied by the Administrative Agent, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in the following order of priority: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement; second, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender under this Agreement; third, to the payment of interest due and payable to the Lenders hereunder that are not Defaulting Lenders, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such interest then due and payable to them; fourth, to the payment of fees then due and payable to the Lenders hereunder that are not Defaulting Lenders, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such fees then due and payable to them; fifth, to the payment of principal and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due and payable to the Lenders hereunder that are not Defaulting Lenders, ratably in accordance with the amounts thereof then due and payable to them; sixth, to the ratable payment of other amounts then due and payable to the Lenders hereunder that are not Defaulting Lenders; and seventh, to pay amounts owing under this Agreement to such Defaulting Lender or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.



Mitigation of Obligations.
If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.19, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.21, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the sole judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable under Section 2.19 or Section 2.21, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower agrees to pay all costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with such designation or assignment.
If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.19, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority of the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.21, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or if any Lender is not an Accepting Lender pursuant to Section 2.28, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 10.4(b)) all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender); provided, that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of all Loans owed to it, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (in the case of such outstanding principal and accrued interest) and from the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of a claim for compensation under Section 2.19 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.21, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
The Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank under Section 2.19, 2.20 or 2.21 for any taxes, increased costs or reductions incurred more than six (6) months prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank notifies the Borrower of such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided, further, that if any Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then such six-month period shall be extended to include the period of such retroactive effect.
Letters of Credit.
During the Availability Period, each Issuing Bank, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders pursuant to Section 2.24(d) and 2.24(e), may, in its sole discretion, issue, at the request of the Borrower, Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars for the account of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; provided, that (i) each Letter of Credit shall expire on the earlier of (A) the date one year after the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit (or in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (B) the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Commitment Termination Date; (ii) each Letter of Credit shall be in a stated amount of at least $250,000; and (iii) the Borrower may not request on behalf of itself or any Restricted Subsidiary any Letter of Credit, if, after giving effect to such issuance (A) the aggregate LC Exposure would exceed the LC Sublimit, (B) the aggregate LC Exposure plus the aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Exposure of all Lenders would exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments or (C) the LC Exposure of such Issuing Bank would exceed the LC Commitment of such Issuing Bank. Upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the applicable Issuing Bank without recourse a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (i) on the Closing Date with respect to all Existing Letters of Credit and (ii) on the date of issuance with respect to all other Letters of Credit. Each



issuance of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to utilize the Revolving Commitment of each Lender by an amount equal to the amount of such participation.
To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or any amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall give the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent irrevocable written notice at least three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of such issuance specifying the date (which shall be a Business Day) such Letter of Credit is to be issued (or amended, extended or renewed, as the case may be), the expiration date of such Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. In addition to the satisfaction of the conditions in Article III, the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or any amendment which increases the amount of such Letter of Credit) will be subject to the further conditions that such Letter of Credit shall be in such form and contain such terms as such Issuing Bank shall approve and that the Borrower shall have executed and delivered any additional applications, agreements and instruments relating to such Letter of Credit as such Issuing Bank shall reasonably require; provided, that in the event of any conflict between such applications, agreements or instruments and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control.
Unless such Issuing Bank has received notice from the Administrative Agent on or before 5:00 p.m. the Business Day immediately preceding the date such Issuing Bank is to issue the requested Letter of Credit directing such Issuing Bank not to issue the Letter of Credit because such issuance is not then permitted hereunder because of the limitations set forth in Section 2.24(a) or that one or more conditions specified in Article III are not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such Issuing Bank shall, on the requested date, issue such Letter of Credit in accordance with such Issuing Bank’s usual and customary business practices.
The applicable Issuing Bank shall examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit promptly following its receipt thereof. The applicable Issuing Bank shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of such demand for payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make a LC Disbursement thereunder; provided, that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to such LC Disbursement. The Borrower shall be irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursements paid by such Issuing Bank in respect of such drawing, without presentment, demand or other formalities of any kind. Unless the Borrower shall have notified the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day immediately prior to the date on which such drawing is honored that the Borrower intends to reimburse such Issuing Bank for the amount of such drawing in funds other than from the proceeds of Revolving Loans, the Borrower shall be deemed to have timely given a Notice of Revolving Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting the Lenders to make a Base Rate Borrowing on the date on which such drawing is honored in an exact amount due to such Issuing Bank; provided, that for purposes solely of such Borrowing, the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.2 hereof and the minimum borrowing limitations set forth in Section 2.3 hereof shall not be applicable. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of such Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.3, and each Lender shall make the proceeds of its Base Rate Loan included in such Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank in accordance with Section 2.7. The proceeds of such Borrowing shall be applied directly by the Administrative Agent to reimburse such Issuing Bank for such LC Disbursement.
If for any reason a Base Rate Borrowing may not be (as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent), or is not, made in accordance with the foregoing provisions, then each Lender (other than the applicable Issuing Bank) shall be obligated to fund the participation that such Lender purchased pursuant to Section 2.24(a) in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of such LC Disbursement on and as of the date which such Base Rate Borrowing should have occurred. Each Lender’s obligation to fund its participation shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including without limitation (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Lender or any other Person may have against the applicable Issuing Bank or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the existence of a Default or an Event of Default or the termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, (iii) any adverse change in the condition



(financial or otherwise) of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (iv) any breach of this Agreement by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Lender, (v) any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or (vi) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. On the date that such participation is required to be funded, each Lender shall promptly transfer, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participation to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank. Whenever, at any time after the applicable Issuing Bank has received from any such Lender the funds for its participation in a LC Disbursement, such Issuing Bank (or the Administrative Agent on its behalf) receives any payment on account thereof, the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, will distribute to such Lender its Pro Rata Share of such payment; provided, that if such payment is required to be returned for any reason to the Borrower or to a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or similar official in any bankruptcy proceeding, such Lender will return to the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank any portion thereof previously distributed by the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank to it.
To the extent that any Lender shall fail to pay any amount required to be paid pursuant to Sections 2.24(d) or (e) on the due date therefor, such Lender shall pay interest to the applicable Issuing Bank (through the Administrative Agent) on such amount from such due date to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate; provided, that if such Lender shall fail to make such payment to such Issuing Bank within three (3) Business Days of such due date, then, retroactively to the due date, such Lender shall be obligated to pay interest on such amount at the Base Rate plus an additional two percent (2%) per annum.
If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders demanding the deposit of Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.24(g), the Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the applicable Issuing Bank and the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided, that the obligation to deposit such Cash Collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrower described in Sections 8.1(h) or (i). Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest and profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it had not been reimbursed and to the extent so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, with the consent of the Required Lenders, be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of Cash Collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not so applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.
[reserved].
The Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements hereunder shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of any of the following circumstances:
Any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement;
The existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Holdings may have at any time against a beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons or entities for whom any such



beneficiary or transferee may be acting), any Lender (including any Issuing Bank) or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement or the Letter of Credit or any document related hereto or thereto or any unrelated transaction;
Any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;
Payment by an Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document to such Issuing Bank that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;
Any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.24, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations hereunder; or
The existence of a Default or an Event of Default.
Neither the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, the Lenders nor any Related Party of any of the foregoing shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to above), 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 Issuing Banks; provided, that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse any Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential 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 such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise due care when determining whether drafts or other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree, that in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of an Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised due care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the applicable Issuing Bank and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued and subject to applicable laws, each Letter of Credit shall be governed by the “International Standby Practices 1998” (ISP98) (or such later revision as may be published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice on any date any Letter of Credit may be issued) and to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the governing law of this Agreement set forth in Section 10.5.
In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any LC Document, the terms hereof shall control.
Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Restricted Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefit from the businesses of such Restricted Subsidiaries.
Any Issuing Bank may resign as an “Issuing Bank” hereunder upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower; provided that on or prior to the



expiration of such 30-day period with respect to such resignation, the applicable Issuing Bank shall have identified a successor Issuing Bank reasonably acceptable to the Borrower willing to accept its appointment as successor Issuing Bank, and the effectiveness of such resignation shall be conditioned upon such successor assuming the rights and duties of the resigning Issuing Bank. In the event of any such resignation as Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor Issuing Bank hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of the resigning Issuing Bank except as expressly provided above. The Borrower may terminate the appointment of any Issuing Bank as an “Issuing Bank” hereunder by providing a written notice thereof to such Issuing Bank, with a copy to the Administrative Agent. Any such termination shall become effective upon the earlier of (i) such Issuing Bank acknowledging receipt of such notice and (ii) the third Business Day following the date of the delivery thereof; provided that no such termination shall become effective until and unless the LC Exposure attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank (or its Affiliates) shall have been reduced to zero. At the time any such resignation or termination shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the resigning or terminated Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.15(c). Notwithstanding the effectiveness of any such resignation or termination, the resigning or terminated Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation or termination, but shall not be required to issue any additional Letters of Credit.
Increase of Commitments; Additional Lenders.
From time to time after the Closing Date but before the termination of this Agreement and in accordance with this Section 2.25, the Borrower may from time to time, upon at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly provide a copy of such notice to each Lender), propose to increase the Aggregate Revolving Commitments (each such increase, an “Incremental Revolving Commitment”) or to increase any existing Term Loan or establish one or more new additional term loans (each, an “Incremental Term Loan”); provided, that:
the aggregate amount of all Incremental Revolving Commitments plus the aggregate initial principal amount all Incremental Term Loans shall not exceed the Maximum Incremental Facility Amount immediately after giving effect to the establishment of any Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan;
any Incremental Revolving Commitment or establishment of an Incremental Term Loan shall be in a minimum principal amount of $10,000,000 and in integral multiples of $5,000,000 in excess thereof;
no Default or Event of Default shall exist and be continuing at the time of the establishment of any Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan;
the conditions set forth in Section 3.2 shall be satisfied as of the date of the establishment of any Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan;
the Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate, in form and detail reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI after giving effect to such Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan on a Pro Forma Basis (assuming for purposes hereof, that the Aggregate Revolving Commitments (including any Incremental Revolving Commitments) are fully drawn and funded); provided, that, in the case of an Incremental Term Loan subject to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision, such compliance will be determined at the option of the Borrower either (A) at the time of funding of such Incremental Term Loan, or (B) at the time the applicable Acquisition Agreement is entered into;
the Administrative Agent shall have received all documents (including resolutions of the board of directors of the Loan Parties and opinions of counsel to the Loan Parties) it may reasonably request relating to such Incremental Revolving Commitments or such establishment



of such Incremental Term Loan, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(A) the Applicable Margin of each Incremental Term Loan shall be as set forth in the definitive documentation therefor; provided that if the Initial Yield applicable to any such Incremental Term Loans exceeds the sum of the Applicable Margin then in effect for SOFR Term Loans plus one fourth of the Up-Front Fees paid in respect of the Term Loans (the “Existing Yield”), then the Applicable Margin of the Term Loans shall increase by an amount equal to the difference between the Initial Yield and the Existing Yield, and (B) any Incremental Term Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.25 shall have a maturity date no earlier than the latest existing Maturity Date or the then applicable Revolving Commitment Termination Date and shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity no shorter than that of the Term Loan A or any other then-existing Incremental Term Loan;
any Incremental Revolving Commitments under this Section 2.25 shall have terms identical to those for the Revolving Commitments under this Agreement, other than with respect to the payment of Up-Front Fees;
no Lender shall have any obligation to provide any Incremental Revolving Commitment or any Incremental Term Loan, and any decision by a Lender to provide any Incremental Revolving Commitment or any Incremental Term Loan shall be made in its sole discretion independently from any other Lender;
the Borrower may designate a bank or other financial institution that is not already a Lender to provide all or any portion of any Incremental Revolving Commitments or an Incremental Term Loan, so long as (i) such Person (an “Additional Lender”) becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to a lender joinder agreement or other document in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that has been executed by the Borrower and such Additional Lender, (ii) any such Person proposed by the Borrower to become an Additional Lender must be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and, if such Additional Lender is to provide a Revolving Commitment, each of the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender;
any Incremental Revolving Commitments or establishment of an Incremental Term Loan shall be pursuant to an agreement in writing entered into by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and each Person (including any existing Lender) that agrees to provide a portion of such Incremental Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Loan, as applicable (each an “Incremental Facility Amendment”), and upon the effectiveness of such Incremental Facility Amendment pursuant to the terms thereof, the Commitments, as applicable, shall automatically be increased by the amount of the Commitments added through such Incremental Facility Amendment and Schedule 1.1(a) shall automatically be deemed amended to reflect the Commitments of all Lenders after giving effect to the addition of such Commitments;
with respect to any Incremental Revolving Commitments, (i) if any Revolving Loans are outstanding upon giving effect to any Incremental Revolving Commitments, the Borrower shall, if applicable, prepay one or more existing Revolving Loans (such prepayment to be subject to Section 2.20) in an amount necessary such that after giving effect to such Incremental Revolving Commitments, each Lender will hold its Pro Rata Share of outstanding Revolving Loans and (ii) effective upon such increase, the amount of the participations held by each Lender in each Letter of Credit then outstanding shall be adjusted automatically such that, after giving effect to such adjustments, the Lenders shall hold participations in each such Letter of Credit in proportion to their respective Revolving Commitments;
the Borrower shall pay any applicable upfront or arrangement fees in connection with such Incremental Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Loan;
subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.25(a)(vii), the amortization or other repayment requirements, the pricing and the use of proceeds applicable to any such Incremental



Term Loan shall in each case be set forth in the definitive documentation with respect to such Incremental Term Loan;
any such Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan shall (A) rank pari passu in right of payment as the other Loans and Commitments, (B) not be guaranteed by any Person that is not a Guarantor, and (C) shall be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the existing Obligations;
all other terms and conditions with respect to any such Incremental Revolving Commitments shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender; and
all other terms and conditions with respect to any such Incremental Term Loan shall be set forth in the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment and be reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loan.
Upon the effectiveness of any such Incremental Revolving Commitment or any Incremental Term Loan, the Commitments and Pro Rata Share of each Lender will be adjusted to give effect to the Incremental Revolving Commitments and/or the Incremental Term Loans, as applicable, and Schedule 1.1(a) shall automatically be deemed amended accordingly.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.25, if the proceeds of any Incremental Term Loan are being used to finance a Permitted Acquisition made pursuant to an acquisition agreement, binding on Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, entered into in advance of the consummation thereof that does not provide for a “financing out” (an “Acquisition Agreement”), and the Borrower has obtained on or prior to the closing thereof binding commitments of Lenders and/or Additional Lenders to fund such Incremental Term Loan, then the conditions to the funding and incurrence of any such Incremental Term Loan may, at the option of the Borrower, be limited as follows: (A) the condition set forth in Section 3.2(b) shall apply only with respect to Specified Representations, (B) all representations and warranties of each Loan Party (excluding for the avoidance of doubt any target entities or subsidiaries thereof to be acquired in connection with any Permitted Acquisition) set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) at the date the applicable Acquisition Agreement is executed and delivered; provided, that to the extent such representation or warranty relates to a specific prior date, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) only as of such specific prior date; (C) the representations and warranties in the Acquisition Agreement made by or with respect to the Person or assets subject to the Permitted Acquisition that are material to the interests of the Lenders shall be true and correct in all material respects, but only to the extent that Holdings, the Borrower and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, has the right to terminate its or their obligations under the Acquisition Agreement or not consummate such Permitted Acquisition as a result of a breach of such representations in such Acquisition Agreement and (D) the reference to “no Default or Event of Default” in Section 3.2(a) shall mean (1) the absence of a Default or Event of Default at the date the applicable Acquisition Agreement is executed and delivered and (2) the absence of a Specified Event of Default at the date the applicable Permitted Acquisition is consummated. For purposes of clarity, the establishment of Incremental Revolving Commitments shall not be subject at any time to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision. Nothing in the foregoing constitutes a waiver of any Default or Event of Default under this Agreement or of any rights or remedies of Lenders and the Administrative Agent under any provision of the Loan Documents. The provisions of this paragraph are collectively referred to in this Agreement as the “Incremental Funds Certain Provision”.
For purposes of determining compliance on a Pro Forma Basis with the financial covenants in Article VI or other ratio requirement under this Agreement, or whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in each case in connection with the consummation of an Acquisition using proceeds from an Incremental Term Loan that qualifies to be subject to the Incremental Funds Certain



Provision, the date of determination shall, at the option of the Borrower, be (A) the date of funding of such Incremental Term Loan, or (B) the date of execution of such Acquisition Agreement, and such determination shall be made after giving effect to such Acquisition (and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith, including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) on a Pro Forma Basis, and, for the avoidance of doubt, if such financial covenants or other ratio requirement is subsequently breached as a result of fluctuations in the ratio that is subject of such financial covenants or other ratio requirement (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or the EBITDA (calculated in a manner consistent with the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA) of the acquired Person or assets), at or prior to the consummation of such Acquisition (and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith), such financial covenants or other ratio requirement will not be deemed to have been breached as a result of such fluctuations solely for the purpose of determining whether such Acquisition (and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith) constitutes a Permitted Acquisition; provided; that (x) if the Borrower elects to have such determination occur at the time of entry into the applicable Acquisition Agreement (and not at the time of consummation of the Acquisition), the Incremental Term Loan to be incurred shall be deemed incurred at the time of such election (unless the applicable Acquisition Agreement is terminated without actually consummating the applicable Permitted Acquisition, in which case such Acquisition and related Incremental Term Loan will not be treated as having occurred) and outstanding thereafter for purposes of calculating compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis, with any applicable financial covenants or other ratio requirement in this Agreement (even if unrelated to determining whether such Acquisition is a Permitted Acquisition) including for purposes of determining the Applicable Margin or compliance with Sections 6.1 and 6.2 and (y) EBITDA (calculated in a manner consistent with the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA) of the acquired business shall be included for all purposes under this Agreement (including for purposes of determining the Applicable Margin or compliance with Sections 6.1 and 6.2) until the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition.
For purposes of this Section 2.25, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:
Initial Yield” shall mean, with respect to Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Revolving Commitments, the amount (as determined by the Administrative Agent) equal to the sum of (A) the margin above Term SOFR on such Incremental Term Loans or such Incremental Revolving Commitment, as applicable (including as margin the effect of the Floor applicable to Term SOFR on the date of the calculation), plus (B) (x) the amount of any Up-Front Fees on such Incremental Term Loans or such Incremental Revolving Commitments, as applicable (including any fee or discount received by the Lenders in connection with the initial extension thereof), divided by (y) the lesser of (1) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Incremental Term Loans or such Incremental Revolving Commitments, as applicable, and (2) four.
Up-Front Fees” shall mean the amount of any fees or discounts received by the Lenders in connection with the making of Loans or extensions of credit, expressed as a percentage of such Loan or extension of credit. For the avoidance of doubt, “Up-Front Fees” shall not include any arrangement fee paid to any Arranger.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity” shall mean, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (x) 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 (y) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment by (ii) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
Defaulting Lenders.
If a Lender holding a Revolving Commitment becomes, and during the period it remains, a Defaulting Lender, the following provisions shall apply, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement:



the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of such Defaulting Lender will, subject to the limitation in the proviso below, automatically be reallocated (effective no later than one (1) Business Day after the Administrative Agent has actual knowledge that such Lender with a Revolving Commitment has become a Defaulting Lender) among the Non-Defaulting Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments (calculated as if the Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment was reduced to zero and each Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Commitment had been increased proportionately); provided that the sum of each Non-Defaulting Lender’s total Revolving Credit Exposure may not in any event exceed the Revolving Commitment of such Non-Defaulting Lender as in effect at the time of such reallocation; and
to the extent that any portion (the “unreallocated portion”) of the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of any Defaulting Lender cannot be reallocated pursuant to Section 2.26(a)(i) above for any reason, the Borrower will, not later than two (2) Business Days after demand by the Administrative Agent (at the direction of the Issuing Bank and/or the Swingline Lender), (x) Cash Collateralize the obligations of the Defaulting Lender to such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in respect of such LC Exposure or such Swingline Exposure, as the case may be, in an amount at least equal to the aggregate amount of the unreallocated portion of the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of such Defaulting Lender, (y) in the case of such Swingline Exposure, prepay and/or Cash Collateralize in full the unreallocated portion thereof, or (z) make other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender in their sole discretion to protect them against the risk of non-payment by such Defaulting Lender;
provided that neither any such reallocation nor any payment by a Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant thereto nor any such Cash Collateralization or reduction will constitute a waiver or release of any claim the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender or any other Lender may have against such Defaulting Lender or cause such Defaulting Lender to be a Non-Defaulting Lender.
If the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender agree in writing in their discretion that any Defaulting Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice, and subject to any conditions set forth therein, the LC Exposure and the Swingline Exposure of the other Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment, and such Lender will purchase at par such portion of outstanding Revolving Loans of the other Lenders and/or make such other adjustments as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Credit Exposure of the Lenders to be on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender and will be a Non-Defaulting Lender (and such Revolving Credit Exposure of each Lender will automatically be adjusted on a prospective basis to reflect the foregoing). If any Cash Collateral has been posted with respect to the LC Exposure or the Swingline Exposure of such Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will promptly return such Cash Collateral to the Borrower; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Non-Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, no Issuing Bank will be required to issue, amend, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit, and the Swingline Lender will not be required to fund any Swingline Loans, as applicable, unless it is satisfied that one hundred percent (100%) of the related LC Exposure and Swingline Exposure after giving effect thereto is fully covered or eliminated by any combination satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, of the following:



in the case of a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Exposure and the LC Exposure of such Defaulting Lender is reallocated to the Non-Defaulting Lenders as provided in Section 2.26(a)(i);
in the case of a Defaulting Lender, without limiting the provisions of Section 2.26(a)(ii), the Borrower Cash Collateralizes its reimbursement obligations in respect of such Letter of Credit or such Swingline Loan in an amount at least equal to the aggregate amount of the unreallocated obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Defaulting Lender in respect of such Letter of Credit or such Swingline Loan, or the Borrower makes other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, in their sole discretion to protect them against the risk of non-payment by such Defaulting Lender; and
in the case of a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower agrees that the face amount of such requested Letter of Credit or the principal amount of such requested Swingline Loan will be reduced by an amount equal to the unreallocated, non-Cash Collateralized portion thereof as to which such Defaulting Lender would otherwise be liable, in which case the obligations of the Non-Defaulting Lenders in respect of such Letter of Credit or such Swingline Loan will, subject to the limitation in the proviso below, be on a pro rata basis in accordance with the Commitments of the Non-Defaulting Lenders, and the pro rata payment provisions of Section 2.22 will be deemed adjusted to reflect this provision; provided that the sum of each Non-Defaulting Lender’s total Revolving Credit Exposure may not in any event exceed the Revolving Commitment of such Non-Defaulting Lender as in effect at the time of such reduction.
Refinancing Facilities.
The Borrower may from time to time, add one or more tranches of term loans or revolving credit facilities to this Agreement (each a “Refinancing Facility”) pursuant to an agreement in writing entered into by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and each Person (including any existing Lender) that agrees to provide a portion of such Refinancing Facility (each a “Refinancing Facility Amendment”) pursuant to procedures reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent to refinance all or any portion of any outstanding Term Loan or any Revolving Loan then in effect; provided, that:
such Refinancing Facility shall not have a principal or commitment amount (or accreted value) greater than the Loans and, in the case of a revolving facility, the Revolving Loans and any undrawn available commitments in respect of such revolving facility being refinanced (plus accrued interest, fees, discounts, premiums and reasonable expenses);
no Default or Event of Default shall exist on the effective date of such Refinancing Facility or would exist after giving effect to such Refinancing Facility;
no existing Lender shall be under any obligation to provide a commitment to such Refinancing Facility and any such decision whether to provide a commitment to such Refinancing Facility shall be in such Lender’s sole and absolute discretion;
such Refinancing Facility shall be in an aggregate principal amount of at least $25,000,000 and each commitment of a Lender to such Refinancing Facility shall be in a minimum principal amount of at least $5,000,000, in the case of a Refinancing Revolving Facility and at least $1,000,000 in the case of a Refinancing Term Loan (or, in each case, such lesser amounts as the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may agree);
each Person providing a commitment to such Refinancing Facility shall meet the requirements in Section 10.04(b);
the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent:



a certificate of each Loan Party dated as of the date of such Refinancing Facility signed by a Responsible Officer of such Loan Party (1) attaching evidence of appropriate corporate authorization on the part of such Loan Party with respect to such Refinancing Facility as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (2) in the case of the Borrower, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such Refinancing Facility, (I) all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects); provided, that to the extent such representation or warranty relates to a specific prior date, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by a Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) only as of such specific prior date, and (II) no Default or Event of Default shall exist;
such amendments to the other Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to reflect such Refinancing Facility;
customary opinions of legal counsel to the Loan Parties as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (including each Person providing any commitment under any Refinancing Facility), dated as of the effective date of such Refinancing Facility;
to the extent requested by any Lender (including each Person providing any commitment under any Refinancing Facility), executed promissory notes evidencing such Refinancing Facility, issued by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.11(b); and
any other certificates or documents that the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
the Administrative Agent shall have received documentation from each Person providing a commitment to such Refinancing Facility evidencing such Person’s commitment and such Person’s obligations under this Agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;
such Refinancing Facility (A) shall rank pari passu in right of payment as the other Loans and Commitments; (B) shall not be guaranteed by any Person that is not a Guarantor; and (C) shall be secured on a pari passu basis;
such Refinancing Facility shall have such interest rates, interest rate margins, fees, discounts, prepayment premiums, amortization and a final maturity date as agreed by the Loan Parties and the Lenders providing such Refinancing Facility; provided that (A) to the extent refinancing a Revolving Loan and constituting a Refinancing Revolving Facility, such Refinancing Facility shall have a termination date no earlier than the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and (B) to the extent refinancing a Term Loan or constituting term loan facilities, such Refinancing Term Loan shall have a maturity date no earlier than the latest then existing Maturity Date, and will have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is not shorter than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Term Loan being refinanced;
if such Refinancing Facility is a Refinancing Revolving Facility then (A) such Refinancing Facility shall have ratable voting rights as the other Revolving Loans (or otherwise provide for more favorable voting rights for the then outstanding Revolving Loans) and (B) such Refinancing Facility may provide for the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on terms substantially equivalent to the terms applicable to Letters of Credit under the existing revolving credit facilities or the making



of swing line loans to the Borrower on terms substantially equivalent to the terms applicable to Swingline Loans under the existing revolving credit facilities;
each Borrowing of Revolving Loans and participations in Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.24 shall be allocated pro rata among the Revolving Loans;
subject to Section 2.27(a)(ix) above, such Refinancing Facility will have terms and conditions that are substantially identical to, or less favorable, when taken as a whole (as determined by the Borrower in its reasonable judgment), to the Lenders providing such Refinancing Facility than, the terms and conditions of the Revolving Loan or Term Loan being refinanced; provided, however, that such Refinancing Facility may provide for any additional or different financial or other covenants or other provisions that are agreed among the Borrower and the Lenders thereof and applicable only during periods after the then latest Revolving Commitment Termination Date or latest Maturity Date in effect; and
substantially concurrent with the incurrence of such Refinancing Facility the Borrower shall apply the Net Cash Proceeds of such Refinancing Facility to the prepayment of outstanding Loans being so refinanced (and, in the case of a Refinancing Facility that refinances a Revolving Loan, the Borrower shall permanently reduce the amount of the commitments to the Revolving Loan being refinanced by the amount of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Refinancing Facility (other than Net Cash Proceeds applied to pay accrued interest, fees, discounts and premiums)).
The Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into, and the Lenders agree that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended by, such Refinancing Facility Amendments to the extent (and only to the extent) the Administrative Agent deems necessary in order to establish Refinancing Facilities on terms consistent with and/or to effect the provisions of this Section 2.27. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Refinancing Facility Amendment. In addition, if so provided in the Refinancing Facility Amendment for a Refinancing Revolving Facility and with the consent of each Issuing Bank, participation in Letters of Credit under the existing revolving credit facilities shall be reallocated from Lenders holding revolving commitments under the existing revolving credit facilities which are being refinanced to Lenders holding revolving commitments under such Refinancing Revolving Facility in accordance with the terms of such Refinancing Facility Amendment.
Extension of Revolving Loans and Term Loans. The Borrower may from time to time, subject to the consent of the Administrative Agent, make one or more offers to all the Lenders holding a Revolving Commitment or to all of the Lenders holding a Term Loan to make one or more amendments or modifications to (a) allow the maturity and scheduled amortization (if any) of such Loans and Commitments of the accepting Lenders to be extended and (b) increase or decrease the Applicable Margin, Applicable Percentage, and/or fees payable with respect to such Loans and Commitments (if any) of the accepting Lenders (“Permitted Amendments”) pursuant to procedures reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent. Permitted Amendments shall become effective only with respect to the Loans and/or Commitments of the Lenders that accept the applicable offer (such Lenders, the “Accepting Lenders”) and, in the case of any Accepting Lender, only with respect to such Lender’s Loans and/or Commitments as to which such Lender’s acceptance has been made. Each Loan Party and each Accepting Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such written agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably require to evidence the acceptance of the Permitted Amendments and the terms and conditions thereof, and the Loan Parties shall also deliver such certified resolutions, legal opinions and other documents as requested by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of any Permitted Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that (x) upon the effectiveness of any Permitted Amendment, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Permitted Amendments evidenced thereby and only with respect to the Loans and Commitments of the Accepting Lenders as to which such Lenders’ acceptance has been made and (y) any applicable Lender who is not an Accepting Lender may be replaced by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.23(b).





CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS
Conditions To Closing and the Initial Credit Extension on the Closing Date. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan and of any Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 10.2) of the following conditions:
The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received the following:
a counterpart of this Agreement signed by or on behalf of each party hereto or written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile or form of electronic attachment (e.g., “.pdf” or “.tif”) transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement;
a duly executed Guarantee Agreement by Holdings and the Domestic Subsidiaries identified as Guarantors on Schedule 4.14 and (B) a duly executed Borrower Guarantee Agreement (with respect to the Hedging Obligations and Treasury Management Obligations of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Borrower);
if requested by any Lender, a Note for such Lender;
a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each Loan Party, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1(a)(iv), attaching and certifying copies of its bylaws or operating agreement, as applicable, and of the resolutions of its board of directors (or equivalent governing body), authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and certifying the name, title and true signature of each officer of such Loan Party executing the Loan Documents to which it is a party;
certified copies of the articles of incorporation or other charter documents of each Loan Party, together with certificates of good standing or existence, as may be available from the Secretary of State of the jurisdiction of incorporation of such Loan Party;
a favorable written opinion of Jones Day, counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders, and covering such matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated therein as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall reasonably request;
a certificate, dated the Closing Date substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1(a)(vii) and signed by a Responsible Officer confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in Sections 3.1(b), (c), (d) and (e);
evidence that (A) all obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no demand has been made) under the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been repaid in full (or substantially concurrently with the Closing Date, will be repaid in full) and the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been terminated and (B) the Project Everglade Refinancing shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the Closing Date;
copies of all governmental and third party consents and approvals to the Transactions (all of which shall be final, with no waiting period to expire or ongoing governmental inquiry or investigation);
(A) audited consolidated financial statements of Holdings for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2021, (B) the audited consolidated financial statements of the Acquired Business for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2021, (C) the reviewed financial statements of the Acquired Business for the fiscal quarter ended December 25, 2021 and (D) a five year



projection model in form and substance to be mutually agreed upon by the Arrangers and the Borrower;
a solvency certificate, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of Borrower, confirming that the Borrower is Solvent, and Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, are Solvent before and after giving effect to the Transactions and any extensions of credit on the Closing Date;
a duly executed Notice of Borrowing; and
at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date the documentation and other information with respect to the Acquired Business and the Loan Parties, that is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act, to the extent requested at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. In addition, if the Borrower or any Guarantor qualifies as a “legal entity customer” and if requested, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Beneficial Ownership Certification with respect to the Borrower.
Since the date of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement, there shall not have been a Target Material Adverse Effect.
The Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement shall not be altered, amended or otherwise changed or supplemented or any condition therein waived, in each case in a manner materially adverse to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders without the prior written consent of the Arrangers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); it being understood that (i) any change in the price (including any price decrease) of the Project Everglade Acquisition in excess of 10% of the price as of the Closing Date, (ii) any modifications to any of the provisions relating to the Administrative Agent’s, the Arrangers’ or any Lender’s liability, jurisdiction or status as a third party beneficiary under the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement, (iii) any changes to the definition of Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement) and (iv) any action taken by the Seller at the request of the Borrower that would constitute an exception to Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement), in each case, shall be deemed to be materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders and will require the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and Arrangers).
The Project Everglade Acquisition shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the initial funding hereunder in accordance with all material respects with the terms of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement (as amended or otherwise modified, if applicable, in accordance with Section 3.1(c)).
The Project Everglade Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of such Project Everglade Specified Representations qualified by materiality, in all respects), and the Project Everglade Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct in all respects in accordance with, and solely to the extent required by, the definition thereof.
After giving effect to the Transactions, availability under the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall not be less than $250,000,000.
The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, including reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder, under any other Loan Document and under any agreement with the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers.
For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 3.1, each Lender (including in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, if applicable) that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender (including in its



capacity as the Administrative Agent, if applicable) unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
Conditions to Each Credit Event After the Closing Date. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing and of any Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit (including a request for a credit extension relating to an advance under a Refinancing Facility), in each case, after the Closing Date, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, in each case, subject to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision, as applicable:
at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default or Event of Default shall exist; and
at the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, all representations and warranties of each Loan Party set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects); provided, that to the extent such representation or warranty relates to a specific prior date, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) only as of such specific prior date;
since the date of the audited financial statements of the Borrower described in Section 4.4, there shall have been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
the Borrower shall have delivered the required Notice of Borrowing or written notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit as required under Section 2.24, as applicable.
Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of any Letter of Credit (including a request for a credit extension relating to an advance under a Refinancing Facility) shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in Sections 3.2(a), 3.2(b) and 3.2(c).
Delivery of Documents. All of the Loan Documents, certificates, legal opinions and other documents and papers referred to in this Article III, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent for the account of each of the Lenders and shall be in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to the Administrative Agent.
Termination of Existing Credit Agreement. Upon this Agreement becoming effective, the Existing Credit Agreement shall automatically terminate (other than those provisions that by their terms survive termination of the Existing Credit Agreement), all commitments of the lenders thereunder to fund additional advances shall terminate automatically, and all amounts outstanding thereunder, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, fees and other amounts shall be automatically paid in full by the initial Borrowing hereunder.


REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each of Holdings and the Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender as follows:
Existence; Power. Holdings, the Borrower and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted, and (c) is duly qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where such



qualification is required, except where a failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Organizational Power; Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party are within such Loan Party’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational, and if required, partner, member or stockholder, action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower, and constitutes, and each other Transaction Document to which any Loan Party is a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party (as the case may be), enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.
Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings and the Borrower of this Agreement, and by each Loan Party of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any action by, any Governmental Authority, except those as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect or where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any judgment or order of any Governmental Authority binding on Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding on Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its assets or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except Liens (if any) created under the Loan Documents and the other Liens permitted hereunder.
Financial Statements. The Borrower has furnished to each Lender the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended prepared by Ernst & Young. Such financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such dates and the consolidated results of operations for such periods in conformity with GAAP consistently applied. Since December 31, 2021, there have been no changes with respect to Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries which have had or could reasonably be expected to have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Litigation and Environmental Matters.
No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrators or Governmental Authorities is pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination that could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) which in any manner draws into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
Except as could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, none of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply in any material respect with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law or (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability. None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (y) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability that, in each case, could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Holdings, the Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance with (a) all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority, and (b) all indentures, agreements or other instruments binding upon it or its properties, except in the case of both clauses



(a) and (b) where non-compliance, either singly or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Investment Company Act, Etc. None of Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is (a) an “investment company” or is “controlled” by an “investment company”, as such terms are defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (b) otherwise subject to any other regulatory scheme limiting its ability to incur debt.
Taxes. Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries and each other Person for whose taxes Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary could become liable have timely filed or caused to be filed all Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns that are required to be filed by them, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns or on any assessments made against it or its property and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority, except (a) to the extent the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (b) where the same are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such taxes are adequate, and no tax liabilities that could be materially in excess of the amount so provided are anticipated.
Margin Regulations. None of the proceeds of any of the Loans or Letters of Credit will be used, directly or indirectly, for “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” (with the respective meanings of each of such terms under Regulation U) which would result in a violation of Regulation T, U or X or for any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulation T, U or X. None of Holdings, the Borrower or its Restricted Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying “margin stock.”
ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $20,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $20,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans. As of the Closing Date, no Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries are, and will not be, a Benefit Plan.
Ownership of Property.
Each of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all of its real and personal property material to the operation of its business.
Each of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries owns, or licenses, or otherwise has the right, to use, all patents, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, copyrights and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries does not infringe on the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Disclosure.
The Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments, and corporate or other restrictions to which Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to any of them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports (including without limitation all reports that the Borrower or Holdings is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission), financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or Holdings to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation or syndication of



this Agreement or any other Loan Document or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by any other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that with respect to projected financial information, each of Holdings and the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time, it being recognized by the Lenders that such projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may materially differ from the projected results.
As of the Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification (if any) is true and correct in all respects.
Labor Relations. There are no strikes, lockouts or other material labor disputes or grievances against Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and no significant unfair labor practice, charges or grievances are pending against Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against any of them before any Governmental Authority. All payments due from Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of Holdings, the Borrower or any such Restricted Subsidiary, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.14 sets forth the name of, the ownership interest of Holdings in, the jurisdiction of incorporation of, and the type of, each Subsidiary and identifies each Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Loan Party, in each case as of the Closing Date.
Solvency. After giving effect to the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents (including the provisions of Sections 8, 9 and 23 of the Guarantee Agreement and Sections 8, 9 and 23 of the Borrower Guarantee Agreement) and the making of the Loans under this Agreement, (a) the Borrower is Solvent on the Closing Date and (b) the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis are Solvent.
Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Borrower and Holdings have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by Holdings, the Borrower, their Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and Holdings, the Borrower, their Subsidiaries and their respective officers (in such capacity), employees (in such capacity) and, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, its directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions. None of (a) Holdings, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective officers (in such capacity) or employees (in such capacity), or (b) to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, any director or agent of Holdings, the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a Sanctioned Person. No Borrowing or Letter of Credit, used by the Borrower, Holdings or any Subsidiary of the proceeds thereof or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.
No Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.
Inactive Subsidiaries. The Inactive Subsidiaries do not (a) have assets with an aggregate book value in excess of $1,000,000, (b) have revenue in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate and (c) conduct any business activities.
Collateral Representations.
After the execution and delivery of the Collateral Documents on the Security Agreement Effective Date, the provisions of the Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations, a legal, valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.2) on all right, title and interest of the respective Loan Parties in the Collateral described therein. Except for filings completed prior to Security Agreement Effective Date and as contemplated hereby



and by the Collateral Documents, no filing or other action will be necessary to perfect such Liens that are required to be perfected under the terms of the Collateral Documents.


AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Each of Holdings and the Borrower covenant and agree that so long as any Lender has a Commitment hereunder or the principal of and interest on any Loan or any fee or any LC Disbursement remains unpaid or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding:
Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
as soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a copy of the annual audited report for such Fiscal Year for Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, containing a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows (together with all footnotes thereto) of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and reported on by Ernst & Young or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification, exception or explanation and without any qualification or exception as to scope of such audit) to the effect that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such consolidated financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. It is understood and agreed that the requirements of this Section 5.1(a) (x) shall be satisfied by delivery of the applicable annual report on Form 10-K of Holdings to the Securities and Exchange Commission if delivered within the applicable time period noted herein and is available to the Lenders on EDGAR and (y) are effective as of the Closing Date;
as soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year (other than the last Fiscal Quarter), an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and the then elapsed portion of such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the previous Fiscal Year, all certified by the chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. It is understood and agreed that the requirements of this Section 5.1(b) (x) shall be satisfied by delivery of the applicable quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Holdings to the Securities and Exchange Commission if delivered within the applicable time period noted herein and is available to the Lenders on EDGAR and (y) are effective as of the Closing Date;
concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 5.1(a) and (b) above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer, (i) certifying as to whether there exists a Default or Event of Default on the date of such certificate, and if a Default or an Event of Default then exists, specifying the details thereof and the action which the Borrower has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail calculations demonstrating compliance with Article VI and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or the application thereof has occurred since the date of the Borrower’s audited financial statements referred to in Section 4.4 and, if any change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;
concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 5.1(a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they



obtained any knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial statements of any Default or Event of Default (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);
promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all functions of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by Holdings to its shareholders generally, as the case may be, it being agreed that the requirements of this Section 5.1(e) may be satisfied by the delivery of the applicable reports, statements or other materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission to the extent that such reports, statements or other materials are available to the Lenders on EDGAR;
promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the results of operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request;
as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a forecasted income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows for the following Fiscal Year, in each case, on a quarter by quarter basis for such forecasted Fiscal Year information; and
concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 5.1(a) and (b), for any period in which there exist any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, unaudited consolidating financial statements reflecting adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) and (b), all in reasonable detail and certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:
the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;
the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, affecting Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
the occurrence of any event or any other development by which Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) fails to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) becomes subject to any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000, (iii) receives notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000 or (iv) becomes aware of any basis for any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000 and in each of the preceding clauses, which individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
the occurrence of any ERISA Event that alone, or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000,000;
any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in parts (c) or (d) of such certification; and
any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.



Each notice delivered under this Section 5.2 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
Existence; Conduct of Business. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and its respective rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the conduct of its business and will continue to engage in (a) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease purchase programs), (b) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower and (c) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding; provided, that nothing in this Section 5.3 shall prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 7.3.
Compliance with Laws, Etc. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and requirements of any Governmental Authority applicable to its business and properties, including without limitation, all Environmental Laws, ERISA and OSHA, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Payment of Obligations. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge all taxes (including without limitation all tax liabilities and claims that could result in a statutory Lien) and all other obligations which, if unpaid, might become a Lien or charge upon any of their properties, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and Holdings, the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or (b) the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Books and Records. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities to the extent necessary to prepare the consolidated financial statements of Borrower in conformity with GAAP.
Visitation, Inspection, Etc. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit any representative of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine its books and records and to make copies and take extracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with any of its officers and with its independent certified public accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request after reasonable prior notice to the Borrower; provided, however, if a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no prior notice shall be required. All reasonable expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and, at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, any Lenders in connection with any such visit, inspection, audit, examination and discussions shall be borne by the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, representatives of the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall only have the right to visit and inspect once in every twelve (12) consecutive months, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order



and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (b) maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business, and the properties and business of its Restricted Subsidiaries, against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. In addition, and not in limitation of the foregoing, Holdings shall maintain and keep in force insurance coverage on its inventory, as is consistent with best industry practices. The Loan Parties shall at all times cause the Administrative Agent to be named as additional insured on all of its casualty and liability policies. Promptly after the Security Agreement Effective Date, the Loan Parties shall cause each issuer of an insurance policy to provide the Administrative Agent with an endorsement (i) showing the Administrative Agent as lender’s loss payee with respect to each policy of property or casualty insurance and naming the Administrative Agent and each Lender as an additional insured with respect to each policy of liability insurance, (ii) providing that 30 days’ notice will be given to the Administrative Agent prior to any cancellation of, material reduction or change in coverage provided by or other material modification to such policy and (iii) reasonably acceptable in all other respects to the Administrative Agent.
Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. The Borrower will use the proceeds of all Loans (a) to pay a portion of the purchase price for the Project Everglade Acquisition, (b) to finance working capital needs, (c) to refinance existing debt (including, without limitation, the Project Everglade Refinancing and the remaining principal amount of the loans and accrued and unpaid interest thereon owing under the Existing Credit Agreement), (d) to finance Permitted Acquisitions and (e) for other general corporate purposes of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, not in contravention of any law or Loan Document. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that would violate any rule or regulation of the Federal Reserve Board, including Regulations T, U or X. All Letters of Credit will be used for general corporate purposes.
The Borrower will not request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not use, and the Borrower shall ensure that Holdings and its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (1) 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, (2) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country or (3) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
Additional Subsidiaries; Guarantees.
Within ten (10) Business Days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after any Subsidiary is acquired or formed (including, without limitation, upon the formation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC) or after any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall (i) notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof, (ii) if such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, cause such Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Loan Party by (x) executing agreements in the form of Annex I to the Guarantee Agreement and (y) a security agreement or a joinder agreement thereto granting to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations a first priority security interest and lien in all of its assets pursuant to the Collateral Documents (subject to Liens permitted hereunder), in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (iii) if such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, cause such Domestic Subsidiary to deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 3.1 as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent. In the event that any Domestic Subsidiary that is not already a Subsidiary Loan Party becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary at any time after its formation or acquisition, the Borrower shall have up to ten (10) Business Days (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) to cause it to (x) become a Subsidiary Loan Party by executing agreements in the form of Annex I to the Guarantee Agreement and (y) deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 3.1 as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.
[Reserved].



Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) none of the Inactive Subsidiaries shall be required to become a Subsidiary Loan Party or to execute the Guarantee Agreement, subject to compliance with Section 7.13 and (ii) the Borrower shall cause each Inactive Subsidiary to be dissolved as soon practicable without incurring adverse tax consequences unless otherwise permitted by the Administrative Agent with such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
Holdings will cause any Domestic Subsidiary or any other Domestic Controlled Affiliate that provides a Guarantee or otherwise becomes liable (including as a borrower or co-borrower) in respect of the obligations under any other agreement providing for the incurrence of Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Indebtedness under this Agreement to become a Subsidiary Loan Party by executing agreements in the form of Annex I to the Guarantee Agreement and deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 3.1 as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.
Further Assurances. Promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, (i) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution or acknowledgment thereof, and (ii) do, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such further acts, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent, or any Lender through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably require from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Loan Documents, to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created by the Collateral Documents or the validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Loan Parties.
Collateral.
Promptly upon, and in any event no later than the Security Agreement Effective Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent shall agree in its sole discretion), Holdings shall, and shall cause the Loan Parties, to (i) grant Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and the other holders of the Obligations, in substantially all of its personal property (with exceptions as provided in the Security Agreement) by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Security Agreement and such other Collateral Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and authorizing and delivering, at the request of the Administrative Agent, such UCC financing statements or similar instruments required by the Administrative Agent to perfect the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and the other holders of the Obligations, and granted under any of the Loan Documents and (ii) deliver such other documentation (including, without limitation, certified organizational documents, resolutions, lien searches and legal opinions) reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent. In addition, Holdings shall, or shall cause the applicable Loan Party to (x) pledge all of the Capital Stock of the Borrower and any such Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent as security for the Obligations by executing and delivering a Security Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (y) pledge sixty-six percent (66%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) of the Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries directly owned by the Loan Parties and (z) deliver the original certificates evidencing such pledged capital stock to the Administrative Agent, together with appropriate powers executed in blank. On and after the Security Agreement Effective Date, the requirements of this Section 5.12(a) shall govern the pledge of Capital Stock in Foreign Subsidiaries. Concurrently with the grant of Liens in the first sentence of this Section 5.12(a), the Administrative Agent and the Servicer (as defined in the Loan Facility Agreement) shall enter into the Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders and the Servicer (as defined in the Loan Facility Agreement).
Holdings and the Borrower agree that, following the delivery of any Collateral Documents required to be executed and delivered by this Section 5.12, the Administrative Agent shall have a valid and enforceable, perfected Lien on the property required to be pledged pursuant to Section 5.12(a) and Section 5.12(b) (to the extent that such Lien can be perfected by execution, delivery and/or recording of the Collateral Documents or UCC financing statements, or possession of such Collateral), free and clear



of all Liens other than Liens expressly permitted by Section 7.2. All actions to be taken pursuant to this Section 5.12 shall be at the expense of the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, and shall be taken to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.
[Reserved].
Designation of Subsidiaries.
The Borrower may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (a) no Default or Event of Default shall exist immediately prior or immediately after giving effect to such designation; (b) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that after giving effect to such designation on a Pro Forma Basis, the Loan Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder; (c) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such Restricted Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries (i) owns any equity interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Liens on, any property of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) Guarantees any Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (after giving effect to the release of the Guarantee of the Obligations by such Subsidiary in connection with the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary); (d) any Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary may not subsequently be re-designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and (e) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless concurrent with such designation such Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an “unrestricted subsidiary” (or otherwise not be subject to the covenants) under any Indebtedness.
The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment (which must be an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.4) by its direct parent (whether the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary) in such Subsidiary on the date of such designation in an amount equal to the outstanding amount of all Investments by Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Subsidiary on such date.
The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (i) the incurrence on the date of such designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing on such date and (ii) for purposes of calculating the outstanding amount of Investments by Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in all Unrestricted Subsidiaries, a return on all Investments by Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Subsidiary in an amount equal to the outstanding amount of all such Investments in such Subsidiary on the date of such designation.
If at any time any Unrestricted Subsidiary (i) owns any equity interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Liens on, any property of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) Guarantees any Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) ceases to be an “unrestricted subsidiary” (or otherwise becomes subject to the covenants) under any Indebtedness, then the Borrower shall, concurrent therewith, re-designate such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary.
Notwithstanding any of the definitions or covenants contained in this Agreement to the contrary, Holdings and the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate any transaction that results in the transfer (whether by way of any Restricted Payment, Investment, or any sale, conveyance, transfer, or other disposition, or a designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Subsidiary, and whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of material intellectual property rights (including patents, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, copyrights, proprietary leasing records and systems and other intellectual property) from Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Unrestricted Subsidiary. Except as expressly set forth herein, Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the covenants set forth in this Agreement.





FINANCIAL COVENANTS
Holdings and the Borrower covenant and agree that so long as any Lender has a Commitment hereunder or the principal of or interest on or any Loan remains unpaid or any fee or any LC Disbursement remains unpaid or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding:
Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio. Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall maintain, as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, a Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio of not greater than 2.75:1.00; provided, that, upon the occurrence of a Qualified Acquisition, for the four (4) Fiscal Quarters commencing with the Fiscal Quarter during which such Qualified Acquisition closes (each such period, a “Leverage Increase Period”), the required ratio set forth above may, upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Qualified Acquisition Notice, be increased to 3.00:1.00; provided further, that (i) the maximum Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio permitted pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall revert to 2.75:1.00 following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, (ii) for at least two (2) full Fiscal Quarters ending immediately following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio as of the end of each such Fiscal Quarter shall not be permitted to be greater than 2.75:1.00 prior to giving effect to another Leverage Increase Period and (iii) the Leverage Increase Period shall apply for purposes of (w) determining compliance with this Section 6.1, (x) [reserved], (y) any Qualified Acquisition Pro Forma Determination and (z) determining compliance on a Pro Forma Basis in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 7.1.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall maintain, as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than the ratio set forth below opposite such date:
Fiscal Quarter ending on:Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall not be less than:
March 31, 20241.30:1.00
June 30, 20241.30:1.00
September 30, 20241.30:1.00
December 31, 20241.35:1.00
March 31, 20251.35:1.00
June 30, 20251.40:1.00
September 30, 20251.40:1.00
December 31, 2025 to December 31, 20271.50:1.00



NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Holdings and the Borrower covenant and agree that so long as any Lender has a Commitment hereunder or the principal of or interest on any Loan remains unpaid or any fee or any LC Disbursement remains unpaid or any Letter of Credit remains outstanding:
Indebtedness. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
Indebtedness created pursuant to the Loan Documents;
Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.1 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (immediately prior to giving effect to such extension, renewal or replacement) or shorten the maturity or the weighted average life thereof;



Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred after the Closing Date to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof; provided, that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvements or extensions, renewals, and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (immediately prior to giving effect to such extension, renewal or replacement) or shorten the maturity or the weighted average life thereof; provided further, (x) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, as of any date of determination, does not at any time exceed three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, and (y) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred by Foreign Subsidiaries under this Section 7.1(c), together with the principal amount of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 7.1(i) does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered (giving effect to any Acquisition financed with such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis);
Indebtedness of the Borrower owing to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party and of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party owing to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party;
Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Loan Party and by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Loan Party of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Loan Party;
Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of certain franchise operators of the Borrower; provided such guarantees are given by the Borrower in connection with (i) loans made pursuant to the terms of the Loan Facility Agreement or (ii) loans made pursuant to terms of any other loan facility agreements and guaranteed on an unsecured basis with terms otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent entered into after the Closing Date in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed, as of any date of determination, three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered;
endorsed negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business;
Guarantees by Borrower of permitted Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries;
unsecured Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (whether such Indebtedness represents loans made by the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or by a third party) so long as (i) after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis (as evidenced by a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent), (A) Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (B) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom and (C) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the amount of and Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by such Foreign Subsidiaries under Section 7.1(c), does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered (giving effect to any Acquisition financed with such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis) and (ii) (A) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund



obligations (other than customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and the latest Maturity Date in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (B) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic terms of such Indebtedness are either (1) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) or (2) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (C) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; and (D) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Loan Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Loan Party);
secured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $15,000,000 and (ii) ten percent (10%) of Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters most recently ended prior to the date of determination for which financial statements were delivered under Section 5.1(a) or (b); provided, that, (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (ii) after giving effect to the incurrence thereof on a Pro Forma Basis (as evidenced by delivery of a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate to the Administrative Agent), Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (iii) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations (other than customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and the latest Maturity Date in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (iv) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic terms of such Indebtedness are either (A) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) or (B) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (v) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; (vi) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Loan Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Loan Party); and (vii) such Indebtedness shall not include any restriction on the ability of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries to grant Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent in accordance with the terms hereof;
any other unsecured Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party so long as after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis (as evidenced by delivery of a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate to the Administrative Agent), (i) Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom, (iii) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations (other than customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date and the latest Maturity Date in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (iv) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic terms of such Indebtedness are either (A) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Borrower) or (B) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (v) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; and (vi) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Loan Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Loan Party);
Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or assets were acquired from such Person in connection with an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 7.4, to the extent that (i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of,



such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or the acquisition of such assets and (ii) neither the Borrower nor any Restricted 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; and
Indebtedness created pursuant to the Inventory Financing Agreement, so long as the Inventory Financing Agreement is terminated and no Indebtedness thereunder remains outstanding on or after March 31, 2023.
Negative Pledge. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its assets or property now owned or hereafter acquired (other than any shares of stock of Holdings that are repurchased by the Borrower and retired or held by Holdings), except:
Permitted Encumbrances;
any Liens on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Closing Date set forth on Schedule 7.2; provided, that such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
purchase money Liens upon or in any fixed or capital assets to secure the purchase price or the cost of construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets or to secure Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets (including Liens securing any Capital Lease Obligations); provided, that (i) such Lien secures Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1(c), (ii) such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently or within ninety (90) days after the acquisition, improvement or completion of the construction thereof; (iii) such Lien does not extend to any other asset and (iv) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets together with all interest, fees and costs incurred in connection therewith;
any Lien (i) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person is merged with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower or (iii) existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided, that any such Lien was not created in the contemplation of any of the foregoing and any such Lien secures only those obligations which it secures on the date that such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or the date of such merger or the date of such acquisition;
extensions, renewals, or replacements of any Lien referred to in Sections 7.2(a) through 7.2(d); provided, that the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased and that any such extension, renewal or replacement is limited to the assets originally encumbered thereby;
Liens securing the Obligations;
Liens on shares of stock of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the Obligations are secured pari passu with any other Indebtedness or obligations secured thereby;
Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1(j);
Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than Indebtedness) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time $5,000,000;
Liens securing Indebtedness under the Loan Facility Agreement; and
Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.1(m).
Fundamental Changes.



Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate into any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of (in a single transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and including, in each case, pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division) or all or substantially all of the stock of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired) or liquidate or dissolve; provided, that (i) any Inactive Subsidiary may (A) liquidate into its immediate parent company or dissolve, (B) merge into any other Inactive Subsidiary or (C) merge into the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party; provided that the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary that is a Loan Party is the survivor of such merger, and (ii) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (except, in the case of an Acquisition subject to the Incremental Funds Certain Provision, in which case there is no Default or Event of Default immediately before or immediately after execution and delivery of the applicable Acquisition Agreement and there is no Specified Event of Default at the date the applicable Permitted Acquisition is consummated) (A) the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may merge with a Person (other than Holdings); provided, that (x) if the Borrower is party to such merger, the Borrower shall be the surviving Person and (y) if the Borrower is not a party to such merger, such Restricted Subsidiary or, in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, such Person if upon consummation of such merger such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, is the surviving Person, (B) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into another Restricted Subsidiary or the Borrower; provided, however, that if the Borrower is a party to such merger, the Borrower shall be the surviving Person, provided, further, that if any Restricted Subsidiary to such merger is a Subsidiary Loan Party, the Subsidiary Loan Party shall be the surviving Person, (C) any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to the Borrower or to a Subsidiary Loan Party, or (D) any other Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower, is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders, and such Restricted Subsidiary dissolves into another Subsidiary Loan Party or the Borrower; provided, that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 7.4.
Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than (i) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease purchase programs), (ii) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower and (iii) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Closing Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding.
Investments, Loans, Etc. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary prior to such merger), any Capital Stock, evidence of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant, or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person (all of the foregoing being collectively called “Investments”), or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person that constitute a business unit, or create or form any Subsidiary, except:
Investments (other than Permitted Investments) in Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Closing Date and other Investments existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.4;



Permitted Investments;
Permitted Acquisitions;
Investments made by the Borrower in or to any Subsidiary Loan Party and by any Subsidiary Loan Party to the Borrower or in or to another Subsidiary Loan Party;
loans or advances to employees, officers, stockholders or directors of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such loans and advances does not exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;
loans to franchise operators and owners of franchises acquired or funded pursuant to the Loan Facility Agreement and the other credit facility agreements referenced in Section 7.1(f);
Guarantees permitted under Section 7.1(f);
the acquisition or ownership of stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts (created in the ordinary course of business) owing to any Subsidiary Loan Party or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries;
loans to and other investments in Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that, the aggregate amount of such outstanding loans to and investments in such Foreign Subsidiaries do not exceed the amount permitted under Section 7.1(i);
Investments in investment grade corporate bonds and variable rate demand notes having a rating of BBB+ (or the equivalent) or higher, at the time of acquisition thereof, from S&P or Moody’s and in either case maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000,000 at any time;
other Investments (other than Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries); provided, that, (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder;
other Investments (other than Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries) not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time; and
other Investments not to exceed, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered; provided, that, (i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder.
Restricted Payments. Holdings will not, and will not permit its Restricted Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any dividend on any class of its Capital Stock, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of, any shares of Capital Stock or Indebtedness subordinated to the Obligations of the Borrower or any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock or such subordinated Indebtedness, whether now or hereafter outstanding (each, a “Restricted Payment”), except for (a) dividends payable by Holdings solely in shares of any class of its common stock, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Restricted Subsidiary to Holdings or to another Loan Party and (c) other Restricted Payments made by Holdings in cash so long as (x) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result



therefrom and (y) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder.
Sale of Assets. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of (including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), any of its assets, business or property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, issue or sell any shares of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to any Person other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party (or to qualify directors if required by applicable law), except (a) the sale or other disposition for fair market value of obsolete or worn out property or other property not necessary for operations disposed of in the ordinary course of business, (b) the sale of inventory and Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business, (c) sales and dispositions permitted under Section 7.3(a) and sale leaseback transactions permitted under Section 7.9, (d) sales of assets in connection with the sale of a store owned by Borrower to a franchisee of Borrower, (e) other sales of assets made on or after the Closing Date not to exceed, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, and (f) the sale or other disposition of assets in an amount at least equal to the fair market value of such asset (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Borrower) and at least 75% of the cash consideration of which is paid to the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary in cash or Cash Equivalents.
Transactions with Affiliates. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not materially less favorable to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among Holdings, the Borrower and its wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliates, (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 7.5 and (d) transactions permitted under Section 7.4(e).
Restrictive Agreements. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or permit any Lien upon any of its assets or properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or (b) the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to its Capital Stock, to make or repay loans or advances to Holdings or any other Restricted Subsidiary, to Guarantee Indebtedness of Holdings or any other Restricted Subsidiary or to transfer any of its property or assets to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings; provided, that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, the Loan Facility Agreement, or any other indenture, note purchase agreement or loan agreement in connection with any permitted refinancing of the Loan Facility Agreement, so long as the restrictions and conditions in such other indenture, note purchase agreement or loan agreement are no more burdensome in any material respect than those imposed by the Loan Facility Agreement, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale; provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary that is sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iii) Section 7.8(a) shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement (including the Inventory Financing Agreement) if such restrictions and conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (iv) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions contained in the Inventory Financing Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date and (v) Section 7.8(a) shall not apply to customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment thereof.
Sale and Leaseback Transactions. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred; provided, however, that the Borrower may engage in such sale and leaseback



transactions so long as the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold and leased back does not exceed $150,000,000 from and after the Closing Date.
Legal Name, State of Formation and Form of Entity. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, without providing ten (10) days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent (or such lesser period as the Administrative Agent may agree), change its name, state of formation or form of organization.
Accounting Changes. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or change the fiscal year of Holdings or of any Restricted Subsidiary, except to change the fiscal year of a Restricted Subsidiary to conform its fiscal year to that of Holdings.
Hedging Transactions. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Hedging Transaction, other than Hedging Transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities. Solely for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower acknowledges that a Hedging Transaction entered into for speculative purposes or of a speculative nature is not a Hedging Transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks.
Activities of Inactive Subsidiaries. Unless any Inactive Subsidiary has become a Subsidiary Loan Party in accordance with the terms of Section 5.10 of this Agreement, the Borrower will not permit such Inactive Subsidiary to engage in any business activity other than (a) maintaining its existence and/or winding up its affairs and (b) activities related to the completion of any ongoing tax audits, and (x) no Loan Party shall make any additional Investment in any Inactive Subsidiary other than in connection with the business and activities set forth in Sections 7.13(a) and (b) above and (y) no Inactive Subsidiary shall incur Indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, any guaranties).
Government Regulation. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) be or become subject at any time to any law, regulation, or list of any Governmental Authority of the United States (including, without limitation, the OFAC list) that prohibits or limits the Lenders or the Administrative Agent from making any advance or extension of credit to the Borrower or from otherwise conducting business with the Loan Parties, or (b) fail to provide documentary and other evidence of the identity of the Loan Parties as may be reasonably requested by the Lenders or the Administrative Agent at any time to enable the Lenders or the Administrative Agent to verify the identity of the Loan Parties or to comply with any applicable law or regulation, including, without limitation, Section 326 of the Patriot Act at 31 U.S.C. Section 5318.
Ownership of Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, Holdings will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to (a) permit any Person (other than the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary thereof) to own any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, except to qualify directors if required by applicable law, and except for any dispositions of Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise permitted under this Agreement, or (b) permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue or have outstanding any shares of preferred Capital Stock.
Use of Proceeds. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
Use any part of the proceeds of any Loan, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that would violate any rule or regulation of the Federal Reserve Board, including Regulations T, U or X.
Request any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, or use or allow its respective directors, officers, employees and agents to use, the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party.



Amendment of Organizational Documents. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, amend, modify or waive any of its rights in a manner materially adverse to the Lenders or any Loan Party under its charter, by-laws or other organizational document, except in any manner that would not have an adverse effect on the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, Holdings, the Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Activities of Holdings. Holdings will not engage in any operations, business or activity other than (a) owning the Capital Stock in its Subsidiaries, (b) maintaining its corporate existence including the issuance of Capital Stock, holding director and shareholder meetings, and entering into those agreements and arrangements incidental thereto and incurring and paying fees, costs and expenses relating to thereto, (c) participating in tax, accounting, corporate and other administrative activities or other activities incidental thereto as a member of the consolidated group of companies including the Loan Parties, (d) executing, delivering and the performance of rights and obligations under the Loan Documents, (e) the consummation of the Transactions, (f) making any Restricted Payment permitted by this Agreement, (g) making capital contributions to the other Loan Parties, (h) executing, delivering and the performance of rights and obligations under any employment agreements and any documents related thereto, (i) making Investments permitted under this Agreement, (j) providing indemnification to its officers and directors in the ordinary course of business, (k) the performing of activities in preparation for and consummating any public offering of its Capital Stock or any other issuance or sale of its Capital Stock, (l) the holding of any cash and Cash Equivalents (but not owning or operating any property), (m) the entry into and performance of its obligations with respect to contracts and other arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business providing for indemnification to officers, managers, directors and employees, (n) any activities incidental to the foregoing or required to comply with applicable law, and (o) any action or transaction permitted hereunder.


EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Events of Default. If any of the following events (each an “Event of Default”) shall occur:
the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or of any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment or otherwise; or
the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount payable under Section 8.1(a)) payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) Business Days; or
any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the Schedules attached thereto) and any amendments or modifications hereof or waivers hereunder, or in any certificate, report, financial statement or other document submitted to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by any Loan Party or any representative of any Loan Party pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall prove to be incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made or submitted; or
the Borrower or Holdings shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 (solely with respect to the Borrower’s or Holdings’ existence), 5.9 or 5.11 or Article VI or VII; or
(i) the Borrower or Holdings shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.12, and such failure shall remain unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after the earlier of (A) any officer of the Borrower becomes aware of such failure or (B) notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or (ii) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those referred to in Sections 8.1(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e)(i) above), and such failure shall remain unremedied for



thirty (30) days after the earlier of (A) any officer of the Borrower becomes aware of such failure or (B) notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or
any event of default (after giving effect to any grace period) shall have occurred and be continuing under the Loan Facility Documents, or all or any part of the obligations due and owing under the Loan Facility Agreement are accelerated, declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof;
Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Material Indebtedness that is outstanding, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Indebtedness; or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable; or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or any offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or
Holdings, the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary, or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, shall (i) commence a voluntary case or other proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in Section 8.1(i), (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for Holdings, the Borrower or any such Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or
an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of Holdings, the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, or its debts, or any substantial part of its assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for Holdings, the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, or for a substantial part of its assets, and in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall remain undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered; or
Holdings, the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary shall become unable to pay, shall admit in writing its inability to pay, or shall fail to pay, its debts as they become due; or
an ERISA Event shall have occurred that when taken together with other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability to Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, or otherwise having a Material Adverse Effect; or



judgments and orders for the payment of money in excess of in the aggregate, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, to the extent not covered by insurance for which the insurance carrier has acknowledged coverage, shall be rendered against Holdings, the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, and to the extent such judgments or orders have not been discharged either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be a period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
any non-monetary judgment or order shall be rendered against Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there shall be a period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
a Change in Control shall occur or exist; or
any provision of any Guarantee Agreement or the Borrower Guarantee Agreement shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on, or enforceable against, any Guarantor, or any Guarantor shall so state in writing, or any Guarantor shall seek to terminate its Guarantee under the Guarantee Agreement or the Borrower Guarantee Agreement, as applicable; or
any other Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document, or an event of default occurs under any other Loan Document (after giving effect to any applicable grace period); or
the Administrative Agent shall not have or shall cease to have a valid and perfected lien in any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered by the Collateral Documents for any reason other than the failure of the Administrative Agent to take any action within its control, or any Loan Party shall assert the invalidity of such liens;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to Holdings or the Borrower described in Sections 8.1(h) or (i)) and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the written request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, whereupon the Commitment of each Lender shall terminate immediately; (ii) declare the principal of and any accrued interest on the Loans, and all other Obligations owing hereunder, to be, whereupon the same shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; (iii) exercise all remedies contained in any other Loan Document; and (iv) exercise any other remedies available at law or in equity; and that, if an Event of Default specified in either Section 8.1(h) or 8.1(i) shall occur, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon, and all fees, and all other Obligations shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.
Application of Funds.
After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.1 (or immediately after an Event of Default specified in either Section 8.1(h) or 8.1(i)), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:



first, if there is any collateral securing the Obligations hereunder at such time, to the reimbursable expenses of the Administrative Agent incurred in connection with such sale or other realization upon the collateral, until the same shall have been paid in full;
second, to the fees, all amounts owed pursuant to Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights, and other reimbursable expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Banks then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, until the same shall have been paid in full;
third, to all reimbursable expenses, if any, of the Lenders then due and payable pursuant to any of the Loan Documents, until the same shall have been paid in full;
fourth, to the fees due and payable under the Loan Documents and interest then due and payable under the terms of the Loan Documents, until the same shall have been paid in full;
fifth, to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans on a pro rata basis among each class thereof (allocated pro rata among the Lenders in respect of their Pro Rata Shares), to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans, the LC Exposure, the Hedging Obligations and the Treasury Management Obligations, until the same shall have been paid in full, allocated pro rata among any Lender and any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender holding Hedging Obligations or Treasury Management Obligations, based on their respective Pro Rata Shares of the aggregate amount of such Revolving Loans, LC Exposure, the Hedging Obligations and Treasury Management Obligations;
sixth, to additional Cash Collateral for the aggregate amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit until the aggregate amount of all Cash Collateral held by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement is equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the LC Exposure after giving effect to the foregoing Section 8.2(e); and
to the extent any proceeds remain, to the Borrower or other parties lawfully entitled thereto.
All amounts allocated pursuant to the foregoing Sections 8.2(c) through (f) to the Lenders as a result of amounts owed to the Lenders under the Loan Documents shall be allocated among, and distributed to, the Lenders pro rata based on their respective Pro Rata Shares; provided, that all amounts allocated to that portion of the LC Exposure comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit pursuant to Sections 8.2(e) and (f) shall be distributed to the Administrative Agent, rather than to the Lenders, and held by the Administrative Agent in an account in the name of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Issuing Banks and the Lenders as Cash Collateral for the LC Exposure, such account to be administered in accordance with Section 2.24(g).
Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to any Guarantor shall not be paid with amounts received from such Guarantor or its assets, but appropriate adjustments shall be made with respect to payments from other Loan Parties to preserve the allocation to Obligations otherwise set forth above in this Section 8.2.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Hedging Obligations and Treasury Management Obligations may be excluded from the application described above without any liability to the Administrative Agent, if the Administrative Agent has not received written notice, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, from the applicable Lender or Affiliate of a Lender. Each such Lender or Affiliate of a Lender not a party to this Agreement that has given the notice contemplated by the preceding sentence shall, by such notice, be deemed to have acknowledged and accepted the appointment of the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of Article IX for itself and its Affiliates as if a “Lender” party hereto.


THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Appointment of Administrative Agent.



Each Lender irrevocably appoints Truist Bank as the Administrative Agent and authorizes it to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with all such actions and powers that are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties hereunder or under the other Loan Documents by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions set forth in this Article IX shall apply to any such sub-agent and the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
Each Issuing Bank shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith until such time and except for so long as the Administrative Agent may agree at the request of the Required Lenders to act for such Issuing Bank with respect thereto; provided, that such Issuing Bank shall have all the benefits and immunities (i) provided to the Administrative Agent in this Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by such Issuing Bank in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and the application and agreements for letters of credit pertaining to the Letters of Credit as fully as the term “Administrative Agent” as used in this Article IX included such Issuing Bank with respect to such acts or omissions and (ii) as additionally provided in this Agreement with respect to such Issuing Bank.
It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Document (or any similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law. Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.
Nature of Duties of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except those discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.2), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it or its sub-agents with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 10.2) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or any Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements, or other terms and conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article III or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
Lack of Reliance on the Administrative Agent. Each of the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Banks acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each of the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and the



Issuing Banks also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking of any action under or based on this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder. Each of the Lenders, the Swingline Lender and Issuing Banks represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender, the Swingline Lender or an Issuing Bank for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender, the Swingline Lender or an Issuing Bank, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender, the Swingline Lender or such Issuing Bank, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.
Certain Rights of the Administrative Agent. If the Administrative Agent shall request instructions from the Required Lenders with respect to any action or actions (including the failure to act) in connection with this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such act, unless and until it shall have received instructions from such Lenders; and the Administrative Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Administrative Agent as a result of the Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the Required Lenders where required by the terms of this Agreement.
Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent may also rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.
The Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity. The bank serving as the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and any other Loan Document in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent; and the terms “Lenders”, “Required Lenders”, “holders of Notes”, or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity. The bank acting as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with Holdings or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Holdings as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
Successor Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, subject to the approval by the Borrower if no Default or Event of Default shall exist at such time. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed, and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or a bank which maintains an office in the United States, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. Any resignation by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.7 shall also constitute its resignation as an Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder: (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the



rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender; (ii) the retiring Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the successor Issuing Bank shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangement satisfactory to the retiring Issuing Bank to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring Issuing Bank with respect to such Letters of Credit.
If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (v) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.
Upon the acceptance of its appointment as the Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. If within forty-five (45) days after written notice is given of the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation under this Section 9.7 no successor Administrative Agent shall have been appointed and shall have accepted such appointment, then on such 45th day (i) the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation shall become effective, (ii) the retiring Administrative Agent shall thereupon be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents and (iii) the Required Lenders shall thereafter perform all duties of the retiring Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above. After any retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder, the provisions of this Article IX shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent and its representatives and agents in respect of any actions taken or not taken by any of them while it was serving as the Administrative Agent.
In addition to the foregoing, if a Lender becomes, and during the period it remains, a Defaulting Lender, and if any Default has arisen from a failure of the Borrower to comply with Section 2.26(a)(ii), then the Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender may, upon prior written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, resign as Issuing Bank or as Swingline Lender, as the case may be, effective at the close of business Charlotte, North Carolina time on a date specified in such notice (which date may not be less than five (5) Business Days after the date of such notice).
Authorization to Execute other Loan Documents. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute on behalf of all Lenders all Loan Documents other than this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Intercreditor Agreement on the Security Agreement Effective Date.
Withholding Tax. To the extent required by any applicable law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any interest payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding tax. If the Internal Revenue Service or any authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstances that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax ineffective, or for any other reason), such Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so) fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as tax or otherwise, including penalties and interest, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses, allocated staff costs and any out of pocket expenses.
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.



In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any Revolving Credit Exposure shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans or Revolving Credit Exposure and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent under Section 10.3) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same.
Any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each Issuing Bank to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Section 10.3.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or any Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
Collateral and Guaranty Matters. The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion:
to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon the termination of all Revolving Commitments, the Cash Collateralization of all reimbursement obligations with respect to Letters of Credit in an amount equal to 105% of the aggregate LC Exposure of all Lenders, and the payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations and such Cash Collateralized reimbursement obligations), (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document or the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.14, or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 10.2; and
to release any Loan Party from its obligations under the applicable Collateral Documents if such Person ceases to be a Loan Party as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Loan Party from its obligations under the applicable Collateral Documents pursuant to this Section 9.11. In each case as specified in this Section, the Administrative Agent is authorized, at the Borrower’s expense, to execute and deliver to the applicable Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the Liens granted under the applicable Collateral Documents, or to release such Loan Party from its obligations under the applicable Collateral Documents, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.11.



Right to Realize on Collateral and Enforce Guarantee. Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, Holdings, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby agree that (i) no Lender shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce the Collateral Documents, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent, and (ii) in the event of a foreclosure by the Administrative Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Administrative Agent, as agent for and representative of the Lenders (but not any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing), shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Administrative Agent at such sale or other disposition.
Erroneous Payments.
If the Administrative Agent notifies a Lender, the Issuing Bank or other holder of Obligations, or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender, the Issuing Bank or a holder of Obligations such Lender or Issuing Bank (any such Lender, Issuing Bank, holder of Obligations or other recipient, a “Payment Recipient”) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (whether or not after receipt of any notice under Section 9.13(b)) that any funds received by such Payment Recipient from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Lender, Issuing Bank, holder of Obligations or other Payment Recipient on its behalf) (any such funds, whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise, individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”) and demands the return of such Erroneous Payment (or a portion thereof), such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent and shall be segregated by the Payment Recipient and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and such Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations shall (or, with respect to any Payment Recipient who received such funds on its behalf, shall cause such Payment Recipient to) promptly, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made, in same day funds (in the currency so received), together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in same day funds at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Payment Recipient under this Section 9.13(a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
Without limiting Section 9.13(a), each Lender, the Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations, or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations, such Lender or Issuing Bank, hereby further agrees that if it receives a payment, prepayment or repayment (whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise) from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates), or (z) that such Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations, or other such recipient, otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) in each case:
(A) in the case of immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y), an error shall be presumed to have been made (absent written confirmation from the Administrative Agent to the contrary) or (B) an error has been made (in the case of immediately preceding clause (z)), in each case, with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment; and



such Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations shall (and shall cause any other recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf to) promptly (and, in all events, within one Business Day of its knowledge of such error) notify the Administrative Agent of its receipt of such payment, prepayment or repayment, the details thereof (in reasonable detail) and that it is so notifying the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.13(b).
Each Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations under any Loan Document with respect to any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under immediately preceding paragraph (a) or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement.
In the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 9.13(a), from any Lender or Issuing Bank that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) (and/or from any Payment Recipient who received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) on its respective behalf) (such unrecovered amount, an “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency”), upon the Administrative Agent’s notice to such Lender or Issuing Bank at any time, (i) such Lender or Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have assigned its Loans (but not its Commitments) of the relevant Class with respect to which such Erroneous Payment was made (the “Erroneous Payment Impacted Class”) in an amount equal to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (or such lesser amount as the Administrative Agent may specify) (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments) of the Erroneous Payment Impacted Class, the “Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment”) at par plus any accrued and unpaid interest (with the assignment fee to be waived by the Administrative Agent in such instance), and is hereby (together with the Borrower) deemed to execute and deliver an Assignment and Acceptance (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Acceptance by reference pursuant to a Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants) with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and such Lender or Issuing Bank shall deliver any promissory notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (ii) the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall be deemed to acquire the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, (iii) upon such deemed acquisition, the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall become a Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and the assigning Lender or assigning Issuing Bank shall cease to be a Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, its obligations under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement and its applicable Commitments which shall survive as to such assigning Lender or assigning Issuing Bank, and (iv) the Administrative Agent may reflect in the Register its ownership interest in the Loans subject to the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment. The Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, sell any Loans acquired pursuant to an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and upon receipt of the proceeds of such sale, the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency owing by the applicable Lender or Issuing Bank shall be reduced by the net proceeds of the sale of such Loan (or portion thereof), and the Administrative Agent shall retain all other rights, remedies and claims against such Lender or Issuing Bank (and/or against any recipient that receives funds on its respective behalf). For the avoidance of doubt, no Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment will reduce the Commitments of any Lender or Issuing Bank and such Commitments shall remain available in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In addition, each party hereto agrees that, except to the extent that the Administrative Agent has sold a Loan (or portion thereof) acquired pursuant to an Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent may be equitably subrogated, the Administrative Agent shall be contractually subrogated to all the rights and interests of the applicable Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of Obligations under the Loan Documents with respect to each Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (the “Erroneous Payment Subrogation Rights”).
The parties hereto agree that an Erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, except, in each case, to the extent such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous



Payment that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or any other Loan Party for the purpose of making such Erroneous Payment.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Payment Recipient shall assert any right or claim to an Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives, and is deemed to waive, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payment received, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.
Each party’s obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 9.13 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender or Issuing Bank, the termination of the Commitments and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.


MISCELLANEOUS
Notices.
Written Notices.
Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications to any party herein to be effective shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:
To the Borrower:    Aaron’s, LLC
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30339
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy Number: (855) 778-8565
with a copy to:
Aaron’s, LLC
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30339
Attn: General Counsel
Telecopy Number: (855) 778-8565
To the Administrative Agent:    Truist Bank
3333 Peachtree Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30326
Attention: Lisa Garling
Telecopy Number: (312) 356-3295
With a copy to:    Truist Bank
Agency Services
303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 25
th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Attention: Agency Services
Telecopy Number: (404) 495-2170
To an Issuing Bank:    Truist Bank
303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 3
rd Floor
    Mail Code: 803-05-25-60



    Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Attention: Standby Letter of Credit Dept.
Telephone: (800) 951-7847

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
10 S. Dearborn Street, Floor L2S
Chicago, IL 60603-2300
Attention: CLS Non Agented Servicing
Team (Rajesh Gadige)
Telephone: 806-790-5009
Telecopy Number: 214-307-6874
Bank of America, N.A.
401 N. Tryon St; NC1-021-06-01
Charlotte, NC 28255
Citizens Bank, N.A.
Attn: International Department
20 Cabot Rd Mailstop: MMF470
Medford, MA  02155
Telephone: 888-868-0212

To the Swingline Lender:    Truist Bank
Agency Services
303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 25th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Attention: Agency Services
Telecopy Number: (404) 495-2170
To any other Lender:    the address set forth on the Administrative
Questionnaire or in the Assignment and
Acceptance that such Lender executes
Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and other communications shall, when transmitted by overnight delivery, or faxed, be effective when delivered for overnight (next-day) delivery, or transmitted in legible form by facsimile machine, respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date deposited into the mails or if delivered by hand, upon delivery; provided, that notices delivered to the Administrative Agent, an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender shall not be effective until actually received by such Person at its address specified in this Section 10.1.
Any agreement of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders herein to receive certain notices by telephone or facsimile is solely for the convenience and at the request of the Borrower. The Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any Person purporting to be a Person authorized by the Borrower to give such notice and the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and Lenders shall not have any liability to the Borrower or other Person on account of any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or the Lenders in reliance upon such telephonic or facsimile notice. The obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans and all other Obligations hereunder shall not be affected in any way or to any extent by any failure of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or facsimile notice or the receipt by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders of a confirmation which is at variance with the terms understood by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders to be contained in any such telephonic or facsimile notice.



Electronic Communications.
Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II unless such Lender, such Issuing Bank, as applicable, and Administrative Agent have agreed to receive notices under such Article II by electronic communication and have agreed to the procedures governing such communications. Administrative Agent or 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 Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (A) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (B) 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 Section 10.1(b)(ii)(A) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor
The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make Communications (as defined below) available to the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar electronic system (each, an “Electronic System”).
Any Electronic System used by the Administrative Agent is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Loan Party, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including, without limitation, direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Communications through an Electronic System. “Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section 10.1, including through an Electronic System.
Waiver; Amendments.
No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or any other Loan Document, and no course of dealing between any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent, or any Lender, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event



be effective unless the same shall be permitted by Section 10.2(b), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or the issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default or Event of Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default or Event of Default at the time.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, including, without limitation, as provided in Section 2.17 with respect to the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement or Conforming Changes (as set forth therein), no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Borrower, Holdings and the Required Lenders or the Borrower, Holdings and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, that no amendment or waiver shall: (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Loan or LC Disbursement or interest thereon or any fees hereunder or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date for the termination or reduction of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 8.2 or Sections 2.22(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section 10.2 or the definition of “Required Lenders”, “Required Revolving Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders which are required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; (vi) release any guarantor or limit the liability of any such guarantor under any guaranty agreement (other than the release of a Guarantor in connection with its designation as a Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of Section 5.14), without the written consent of each Lender; (vii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Obligations or agree to subordinate any Lien in all or substantially all of the collateral securing the Obligations to any other creditor of Holdings, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, without the written consent of each Lender; (viii) prior to the Revolving Commitments Termination Date, unless also signed by Required Revolving Lenders, no such amendment or waiver shall, (A) waive any Default or Event of Default for purposes of Section 3.2, (B) amend, change, waive, discharge or terminate Sections 3.2 or 8.1 in a manner adverse to such Lenders or (C) amend, change, waive, discharge or terminate this Section 10.2(b)(viii); (ix) change Section 2.9(b) in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction or termination of Commitments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender; or (x) subordinate the payment priority of the Obligations or subordinate the Liens granted to the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the holders of the Obligations) in the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender; provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights, duties or obligations of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or any Issuing Bank without the prior written consent of such Person. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated), the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated (but such Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.19, 2.20, 2.21 and 10.3), such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement; provided, further, that (v) a Refinancing Facility Amendment shall be effective if signed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, each Person that agrees to provide a portion of the applicable Refinancing Facility and, if such Refinancing Facility is a Refinancing Revolving Facility, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender, (w) this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) to change, modify or alter Section 2.22 or Article VIII or any other provision hereof relating to the pro rata sharing of payments among the Lenders to the extent necessary to implement any Refinancing Facility in accordance with Section 2.27 with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, the other Loan Parties, the Lenders providing such Refinancing Facility and, if such Refinancing Facility is a Refinancing Revolving Facility, each Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender thereunder, (x) any Permitted Amendments



allowing for extensions of the maturity date(s) of any Loans and/or Commitment shall be effective if signed by the Administrative Agent, the Loan Parties and those Lenders willing to extend the maturity date(s) of such Loans and/or Commitments hereunder (it being understood that each Lender with a Loan or Commitment being extended shall have the opportunity to participate in such extension on the same terms and conditions as each other Lender with the same Type of Loan or Commitment), (y) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend any provision of the Loan Documents (and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document) if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error or omission of a technical or immaterial nature in any such provision and (z) this Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Additional Lenders, as applicable, and the Borrower (A) to add one or more Incremental Revolving Commitments or Incremental Term Loans to this Agreement, in each case subject to the limitations in Section 2.25, and to permit the extensions of credit and all related obligations and liabilities arising in connection therewith from time to time outstanding to share ratably (or on a basis subordinated to the existing facilities hereunder) in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the obligations and liabilities from time to time outstanding in respect of the existing facilities hereunder (including, in the case of any Incremental Term Loan, customary mandatory prepayment provisions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent if the Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loan so require) and (B) in connection with the foregoing, to permit, as deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent and approved by the Required Lenders, the Lenders providing such additional credit facilities to obtain comparable tranche voting rights with respect to each such Incremental Revolving Commitment or Incremental Term Loan and to participate in any required vote or action required to be approved by the Required Lenders or by any other number, percentage or class of Lenders hereunder.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended, and amounts payable to such Lender hereunder may not be permanently reduced, without the consent of such Lender (other than reductions in fees and interest in which such reduction does not disproportionately affect such Lender).
Expenses; Indemnification.
The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents and any amendments, modifications or waivers thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be consummated), including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates, (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Bank 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 costs and expenses (but limited, in the case of legal fees and expenses, to the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders taken a whole, and, if necessary, of one local counsel in any relevant material jurisdiction and, if necessary, of one regulatory counsel in any material specialty and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel to the affected indemnified persons taken as a whole) incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 10.3, or in connection with the Loans made or any Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), the Arrangers, each Lender and each Issuing Bank, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and



disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by an Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) the use by any Person of any information or materials obtained through Syndtrak or any other Internet Web Sites, (iv) any actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or (v) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, in each case so long as the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. This Section 10.3(b) shall not apply to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, liabilities, etc. arising from a non-Tax claim.
The Borrower shall pay, and hold the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, each Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders harmless from and against, any and all present and future stamp, documentary, and other similar taxes with respect to this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, any collateral described therein, or any payments due thereunder, and save the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, each Issuing Bank and each Lender harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay or omission to pay such taxes.
To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, any Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under Sections 10.3(a), (b) or (c) hereof, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided, that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified payment, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, such Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to actual or direct damages) arising out of, in connection with or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated therein, any Loan or any Letter of Credit or the use of proceeds thereof.
All amounts due under this Section 10.3 shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.
Successors and Assigns.
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 the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of



Section 10.4(b), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.4(d) or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.4(f) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.4(d) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments, Loans, and other Revolving Credit Exposure at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
Minimum Amounts.
in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments, Loans and other Revolving Credit Exposure at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
in any case not described in Section 10.4(b)(i)(A), the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Acceptance, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents.
Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans, other Revolving Credit Exposure or the Commitments assigned.
Required Consents. The following consents (and no others) shall be required for any assignment:
the prior written consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;
the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;
the prior written consent of each Issuing Bank (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Commitments, and the prior written consent of the Swingline Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Commitments; and
any consent required pursuant to Section 10.4(b)(i)(B).
Assignment and Acceptance. The parties to each assignment shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (A) a duly executed Assignment and Acceptance, (B) a processing and



recordation fee of $3,500, (C) an Administrative Questionnaire unless the assignee is already a Lender and (D) the documents required under Section 2.21(e) if such assignee is a Foreign Lender.
No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) Holdings or any of Holdings’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing persons described in this Section 10.4(b)(v)(B).
No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural persons).
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.4(c), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.19, 2.20, 2.21 and 10.3 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not fully comply with this Section 10.4(b) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.4(d). If the consent of the Borrower to an assignment is required hereunder (including a consent to an assignment which does not meet the minimum assignment thresholds specified above), the Borrower shall be deemed to have given its consent ten Business Days after the date notice thereof has actually been delivered by the assigning Lender (through the Administrative Agent) to the Borrower, unless such consent is expressly refused by the Borrower prior to such tenth Business Day.
The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in Atlanta, Georgia a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans and Revolving Credit Exposure owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). Information contained in the Register with respect to any Lender shall be available for inspection by such Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice; information contained in the Register shall also be available for inspection by the Borrower at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In establishing and maintaining the Register, Administrative Agent shall serve as Borrower’s agent solely for tax purposes and solely with respect to the actions described in this Section 10.4(c), and the Borrower hereby agrees that, to the extent Truist Bank serves in such capacity, Truist Bank and its officers, directors, employees, agents, sub-agents and affiliates shall constitute “Indemnitees”.
Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender or the Issuing Banks sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, Holdings or any of Holdings’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries or a Defaulting Lender) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Swingline Lender shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.



Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to the following to the extent affecting such Participant: (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment of any principal of, or interest on, any Loan or LC Disbursement or interest thereon or any fees hereunder or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date for the termination or reduction of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.22(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section 10.4 or the definitions of “Required Lenders” or “Required Revolving Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders which are required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the consent of each Lender; (vi) release any Guarantor or limit the liability of any such Guarantor under the Guarantee Agreement or the Borrower Guarantee Agreement without the written consent of each Lender except to the extent such release is expressly provided under the terms of such agreement; or (vii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Obligations. Subject to this Section 10.4, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.19, 2.20, and 2.21 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.4(b). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.7 as though it were a Lender; provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.22 as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.19 and Section 2.21 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.21 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.21(e) as though it were a Lender.
Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the law (without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof) of the State of New York; provided that the laws of the State of Delaware shall govern in determining (i) the interpretation



of “Material Adverse Effect” (as defined in the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement) (solely for purposes of determining a “Target Material Adverse Effect”), (ii) whether the Project Everglade Acquisition has been consummated as contemplated by the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement and (iii) whether any Specified Acquisition Agreement Representation is accurate and whether as a result of any inaccuracy thereof the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates have the right (without regard to any notice requirement) to terminate its obligations under the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement or otherwise decline to consummate the Project Everglade Acquisition (in each case, without regard to conflict of laws principles that would result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction).
Each of Holdings and the Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County, Borough of Manhattan and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such District Court or New York state court or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, such appellate court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
Each of Holdings and the Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding described in Section 10.5(b) and brought in any court referred to in Section 10.5(b). Each of the parties hereto 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.
Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to the service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1. Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO 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 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 PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.6.
Right of Setoff. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each of their respective Affiliates shall have the right, at any time or from time to time upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply against all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) of the Borrower at any time held or other obligations at any time owing by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all Obligations held by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, as the case may be, irrespective of whether such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate shall have made demand hereunder and although such Obligations may be unmatured; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for



further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.27 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks, and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. Each Lender, each Issuing Bank and each such Affiliate agree promptly to notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower after any such set-off and any application made by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or any such Affiliate, as the case may be; provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.
Counterparts; Integration. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreement(s) relating to any fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto regarding the subject matters hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, regarding such subject matters.
Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by any Loan Party herein, in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.19, 2.20, 2.21 and 10.3 and Article IX shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof. All representations and warranties made herein, in the Loan Documents, in the certificates, reports, notices, and other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the making of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit.
Severability. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability without affecting the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof or thereof; and the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Lender agrees to take normal and reasonable precautions to maintain the confidentiality of any information designated in writing as confidential and provided to it by Holdings or any Subsidiary, except that such information may be disclosed (a) to any Related Party of the Administrative Agent, any such Issuing Bank or any such Lender, including without limitation accountants, legal counsel and other advisors, (b) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (c) to the extent requested by any regulatory agency or authority, (d) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.11, or which becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank, any Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to provisions substantially similar to this Section 10.11, to any actual or prospective assignee or Participant and (g) with the consent of the Borrower. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of any information as provided for in this Section 10.11 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 its own confidential information.
Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which may be treated as interest



on such Loan under applicable law (collectively, the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate of interest (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by a Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section 10.12 shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby notifies the Loan Parties that, pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of Holdings and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding that: (i) (A) the services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and each other Loan Party, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower and each other Loan Party 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; (ii) (A) each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower, any other Loan Party, or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their Affiliates with respect to the transaction contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower, the other Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and each of the Administrative Agent and Lenders has no obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower, any other Loan Party of any of their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hereby waive and release any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and each Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
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:
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
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.



Certain ERISA Matters.
Each Lender (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments or this Agreement;
the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement;
(A) such Lender is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Lender to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Lender, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement; or
such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.
In addition, unless either (1) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (2) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto)
Acknowledgement Regarding Any Support QFCs.
To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Hedging Obligations or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in



fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States)
In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
As used in this Section 10.17, 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” shall mean any of the following:
a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R.  §252.82(b);
a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R.  §47.3(b); or
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 omitted)



ANNEX B
SCHEDULE 1.1(b)

LENDER COMMITMENTS

Revolving Credit Facility
Lender
Revolving
Commitment (as of the Closing Date)
Revolving
Commitment (as of the First Amendment Effective Date)
Pro Rata Share of Revolving Commitments (as of the First Amendment Effective Date)
Truist Bank$75,000,000.00$55,000,000.0020.000000000%
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.$55,000,000.00$40,333,333.3414.666666668%
Bank of America, N.A.$55,000,000.00$40,333,333.3414.666666668%
Citizens Bank, N.A.$55,000,000.00$40,333,333.3414.666666668%
Fifth Third Bank, National Association$42,500,000.00$31,166,666.6611.333333332%
Regions Bank$42,500,000.00$31,166,666.6611.333333332%
Synovus Bank$25,000,000.00$18,333,333.336.666666666%
First Horizon Bank$25,000,000.00$18,333,333.336.666666666%
Total:$375,000,000.00$275,000,000.00100.000000000%

Term Loan A Facility
Lender
Term Loan A
Commitment (as of the Closing Date)
Pro Rata Share of Term Loan A Commitments (as of the Closing Date)
Truist Bank$35,000,000.0020.000000000%
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.$25,666,666.6714.666666667%
Bank of America, N.A.$25,666,666.6714.666666667%
Citizens Bank, N.A.$25,666,666.6714.666666667%
Fifth Third Bank, National Association$19,833,333.3311.333333333%
Regions Bank$19,833,333.3311.333333333%
Synovus Bank$11,666,666.676.666666667%
First Horizon Bank$11,666,666.666.666666667%
Total:175,000,000.00100.000000000%


ANNEX C
Exhibit to Credit Agreement
See attached.



EXHIBIT 5.12

FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT

THIS SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, this “Agreement”) is entered into as of [_____ __], 2024 among the parties identified as “Obligors” on the signature pages hereto and such other parties that may become Obligors hereunder after the date hereof (each individually an “Obligor” and collectively the “Obligors”), and TRUIST BANK, in its capacity as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) for the holders of the Secured Obligations (defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended by that certain First Amendment to Credit Agreement , dated as of February 23, 2024, and as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Aaron’s, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the “Borrower”), The Aaron’s Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“Holdings”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, the Issuing Banks from time to time party thereto, and Truist Bank, in its capacities as Administrative Agent and as Swingline Lender, the Lenders have agreed to make Loans to the Borrower and each Issuing Bank has agreed to issue Letters of Credit to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.    Definitions.
(a)    Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement, and the following terms which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code in effect from time to time in the State of New York except as such terms may be used in connection with the perfection of the Collateral and then the applicable jurisdiction with respect to such affected Collateral shall apply (the “UCC”): Accession, Account, Adverse Claim, As-Extracted Collateral, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claim, Consumer Goods, Deposit Account, Document, Electronic Chattel Paper, Equipment, Farm Products, Financial Asset, Fixtures, General Intangible, Goods, Instrument, Inventory, Investment Company Security, Investment Property, Letter-of-Credit Right, Manufactured Home, Money, Proceeds, Securities Account, Securities Intermediary, Security, Security Entitlement, Software, Supporting Obligation and Tangible Chattel Paper.
(b)    In addition, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Administrative Agent” has the meaning provided in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Agreement” has the meaning provided in the introductory paragraph hereof.        
Borrower” has the meaning provided in the recitals hereof.
Collateral” has the meaning provided in Section 2 hereof.
Copyright License” shall mean any written agreement, naming any Obligor as licensor, granting any right under any Copyright.
Copyrights” shall mean (a) all registered United States copyrights in all Works, now existing or hereafter created or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all



applications in connection therewith, including, without limitation, registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Copyright Office, and (b) all renewals thereof.
        “Credit Agreement” has the meaning provided in the recitals hereof.

Excluded Accounts” shall mean (a) deposit and/or securities accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of (i) withheld income taxes and federal, state or local employment taxes in such amounts as are required in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower to be paid to the IRS or state or local government agencies within the following two (2) months with respect to employees of any of the Loan Parties or (ii) amounts required to be paid over to an employee benefit plan pursuant to DOL Reg. Sec. 2510.3-102 on behalf of or for the benefit of employees of one or more Loan Parties, (b) all tax accounts (including, without limitation, sales tax accounts), accounts used solely for payroll, accounts maintained solely in trust for the benefit of third parties and fiduciary purposes, escrow accounts, zero balance or swept accounts and employee benefit accounts (including 401(k) accounts and pension fund accounts), in each case, so long as such account is used solely for such purpose, (c) any deposit and/or securities account maintained in a jurisdiction outside of the United States and (d) accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of amounts to be paid to employees in the ordinary course of business.
Excluded Property” shall mean, with respect to any Obligor, (a) any owned real property, (b) [reserved], (c) any leased real property, (d) any copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, trademarks or trademark licenses for which a perfected Lien thereon is not effected either by filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or by appropriate evidence of such Lien being filed in either the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, (e) any personal property for which the attachment or perfection of a Lien thereon is not governed by the Uniform Commercial Code (including motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title), (f) the Capital Stock in any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (g) the Capital Stock in any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not required to be pledged to secure the Obligations pursuant to Section 5.10(b) of the Credit Agreement, (h) any property which, subject to the terms of Section 7.8 of the Credit Agreement, is subject to a Lien of the type described in Section 7.2(c) of the Credit Agreement pursuant to documents which prohibit such Loan Party from granting any other Liens in such property, (i) Excluded Accounts, (j) those assets over which the granting of a Lien in such assets in favor of the Administrative Agent would be prohibited by applicable law, regulation or contract (including any requirement under or in accordance with such law, rule or regulation to obtain consent from a third party, including any governmental or regulatory authority), so long as (i) any contractual restriction is not incurred in contemplation of the owning entity’s becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or the entry of such owning entity into the Loan Documents and (ii) such contract is permitted under this Agreement, in each case, after giving effect to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 and 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law or principle of equity, other than any receivables and proceeds thereof (the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code notwithstanding such prohibition), (k) any intent-to-use trademark application prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which the grant or enforcement of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark application under applicable federal law, (l) assets to the extent a security interest in such assets would result in material adverse tax consequences (including, without limitation, as a result of the operation of Section 956 of the United States Code or any similar law or regulation in any applicable jurisdiction), as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith, and (m) other assets to the extent the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing that the cost of obtaining or perfecting a security interest in such assets is excessive in relation to the value of the security afforded thereby; provided, however, that the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall attach immediately to any asset of any Loan Party at such time as such asset ceases to meet any of the criteria for “Excluded Property” described in any of the foregoing clauses (a) through (m) above.



Material Agreements” shall mean (a) all agreements, indentures or notes governing the terms of any Material Indebtedness and (b) all other agreements, documents, contracts, indentures and instruments pursuant to which a default, breach or termination thereof would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Obligor” and “Obligors” have the meanings provided in the introductory paragraph hereof.
Patent License” shall mean any agreement, whether written or oral, providing for the grant by or to an Obligor of any right to manufacture, use or sell any invention covered by a Patent.
Patents” shall mean (a) all letters patent of the United States or any other country and all reissues and extensions thereof, and (b) all applications for letters patent of the United States or any other country and all divisions, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof.
    
Pledged Equity” shall mean, with respect to each Obligor, (a) one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of each Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) sixty-six percent (66%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) in each Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, directly owned by any Obligor, including without limitation the Capital Stock of the Subsidiaries owned by such Obligor as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, in each case together with the certificates (or other agreements or instruments), if any, representing such Capital Stock, and all options and other rights, contractual or otherwise, with respect thereto, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1)    all Capital Stock representing a dividend thereon, or representing a distribution or return of capital upon or in respect thereof, or resulting from a stock split, revision, reclassification or other exchange therefor, and any subscriptions, warrants, rights or options issued to the holder thereof, or otherwise in respect thereof; and
(2)    in the event of any consolidation or merger involving the issuer thereof and in which such issuer is not the surviving Person, all shares of each class of the Capital Stock of the successor Person formed by or resulting from such consolidation or merger, to the extent that such successor Person is a direct Subsidiary of an Obligor; provided that if such successor Person is a Foreign Subsidiary or a Domestic Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary, such Capital Stock shall be limited to the amount described in clause (b) hereof.
Secured Obligations” shall mean, without duplication, (a) all Obligations and (b) subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.3 of the Credit Agreement, all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one outside counsel) incurred in connection with enforcement and collection of the Obligations.
Trademark License” shall mean any agreement, written or oral, providing for the grant by or to an Obligor of any right to use any Trademark.
Trademarks” shall mean (a) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, service marks, logos and other source or business identifiers, and the goodwill associated therewith, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, whether in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any state thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, or otherwise and (b) all renewals thereof.



UCC” has the meaning provided in Section 1(a) hereof.    
Work” shall mean any work that is subject to copyright protection pursuant to Title 17 of the United States Code.
2.    Grant of Security Interest in the Collateral. To secure the prompt payment and performance in full when due, whether by lapse of time, acceleration, mandatory prepayment or otherwise, of the Secured Obligations, each Obligor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations, a continuing security interest in, and a right to set off against, any and all right, title and interest of such Obligor in and to all of the following, whether now owned or existing or owned, acquired, or arising hereafter (collectively, the “Collateral”): (a) all Accounts; (b) all Money; (c) all Chattel Paper; (d) those certain Commercial Tort Claims set forth on Schedule 2 hereto; (e) all Copyrights; (f) all Copyright Licenses; (g) all Deposit Accounts; (h) all Documents; (i) all Equipment; (j) all Fixtures; (k) all General Intangibles; (l) all Goods; (m) all Instruments; (n) all Inventory; (o) all Investment Property; (p) all Letter-of-Credit Rights; (q) all Patents; (r) all Patent Licenses; (s) all Pledged Equity; (t) all Software; (u) all Supporting Obligations; (v) all Trademarks; (w) all Trademark Licenses; (x) all books and records related to the Collateral; and (y) all Accessions and all Proceeds of any and all of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (x) the security interests granted under this Agreement shall not extend to any Excluded Property and (y) the term “Collateral” shall be deemed not to include any Excluded Property; provided that upon the occurrence of an event that renders property to no longer constitute Excluded Property, a security interest in such property shall be automatically and simultaneously granted hereunder and shall be included as Collateral hereunder.
The Obligors and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest created hereby in the Collateral (i) constitutes continuing collateral security for all of the Secured Obligations, whether now existing or hereafter arising and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any Copyrights, Copyright Licenses, Patents, Patent Licenses, Trademarks or Trademark Licenses.
3.    Representations and Warranties. Each of the Obligors hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations, that:
(a)    Ownership. Such Obligor is the legal and beneficial owner of its Collateral and has the right to pledge, sell, assign or transfer the same. There exists no Adverse Claim with respect to the Pledged Equity of such Obligor other than non-consensual Liens permitted by Section 7.2 of the Credit Agreement.
(b)    Security Interest/Priority. This Agreement creates a valid security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations, in the Collateral of such Obligor and, when properly perfected by filing a UCC-1 financing statement in the appropriate jurisdiction, shall constitute a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral (including all uncertificated Pledged Equity consisting of partnership or limited liability company interests that do not constitute Securities), to the extent such security interest can be perfected by filing under the UCC, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 7.2 of the Credit Agreement. The taking of possession by the Administrative Agent of the certificated securities (if any) evidencing the Pledged Equity and all other Instruments constituting Collateral (and any necessary endorsements) will perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest in all the Pledged Equity evidenced by such certificated securities and such Instruments (subject to Permitted Liens). With respect to any Collateral consisting of a Deposit Account, Security Entitlement or assets held in a Securities Account (in each case, other than Excluded Accounts), upon execution and delivery by the applicable Obligor, the bank or Securities Intermediary, as applicable, and the Administrative Agent of an agreement granting control to the Administrative Agent over such Collateral, the Administrative Agent shall have a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral, subject to Permitted Liens. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the Obligors and the Administrative Agent acknowledge and agree that no account control agreement shall be required with respect to



any Deposit Account or Securities Account that has a balance (or which holds assets with a fair market value) less than $10,000,000.
(c)    Types of Collateral. None of the Collateral consists of, or is the Proceeds of, As-Extracted Collateral, Consumer Goods, Farm Products, Manufactured Homes or standing timber.
(d)    Equipment and Inventory. With respect to any Equipment and/or Inventory of such Obligor, such Obligor has exclusive possession and control of such Equipment and Inventory of such Obligor except for (i) Equipment leased by such Obligor as a lessee, (ii) Equipment or Inventory in transit with common carriers, (iii) mobile goods, (iv) Equipment or Inventory out for repair or refurbishment, (vi) Equipment or Inventory kept with third parties in the ordinary course of business, and/or (vii) Equipment or Inventory in possession of employees in the ordinary course of business. Subject to the foregoing, no Inventory of such Obligor is held by a Person other than such Obligor pursuant to consignment, sale or return, sale on approval or similar agreement.
(e)    Authorization of Pledged Equity. All Pledged Equity is duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and, to the extent applicable, non-assessable and is not subject to the preemptive rights, warrants, options or other rights to purchase of any Person, or equityholder, voting trust or similar agreements outstanding with respect to, or property that is convertible, into, or that requires the issuance and sale of, any of the Pledged Equity, except to the extent expressly permitted under the Loan Documents.
(f)    No Other Capital Stock, Instruments, Etc. As of the First Amendment Effective Date, such Obligor owns all certificated Capital Stock in any Subsidiary that is required to be pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent hereunder, other than as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, and all such certificated Capital Stock has been delivered to the Administrative Agent.
(g)    Partnership and Limited Liability Company Interests. Except as previously disclosed to the Administrative Agent in writing, none of the Collateral consisting of an interest in a partnership or a limited liability company (i) is dealt in or traded on a securities exchange or in a securities market, (ii) by its terms expressly provides that it is a Security governed by Article 8 of the UCC, (iii) is an Investment Company Security, (iv) is held in a Securities Account or (v) constitutes a Security or a Financial Asset.
(h)    [reserved].
(i)    Consents; Etc. There are no restrictions in any articles of incorporation, articles of formation, articles of organization, bylaws, operating agreement or other applicable agreement of formation or organization governing any Pledged Equity or any other document related thereto which would limit or restrict (i) the grant of a Lien pursuant to this Agreement on such Pledged Equity, (ii) the perfection of such Lien or (iii) the exercise of remedies in respect of such perfected Lien in the Pledged Equity as contemplated by this Agreement. Except for (i) the filing or recording of UCC financing statements, (ii) the filing of appropriate notices with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, (iii) obtaining control to perfect the Liens created by this Agreement (to the extent required under Section 4(a) hereof), (iv) such actions as may be required by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities, (v) such actions as may be required by applicable foreign laws affecting the pledge of the Pledged Equity of Foreign Subsidiaries, (vi) any approvals that may be required to be obtained from any bailee or landlord to collect the Collateral, and (vii) consents, authorizations, filings or other actions which have been obtained or made, no material consent or material authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person (including, without limitation, any stockholder, member or creditor of such Obligor), is required for (A) the grant by such Obligor of the security interest in the Collateral granted hereby or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by such Obligor, (B) the perfection of such security interest (to the extent such security interest can be perfected by filing under the UCC, the granting of control (to the extent required under Section 4(a) hereof) or by filing an appropriate notice with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United



States Copyright Office) or (C) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations of the rights and remedies provided for in this Agreement.
(j)    Commercial Tort Claims. As of the First Amendment Effective Date, such Obligor has no Commercial Tort Claims seeking damages in excess of $2,000,000 in any individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate when taken together with all Commercial Tort Claims of all of the other Obligors, other than as set forth on Schedule 2 hereto.
(k)    Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks.
(i)    Schedule 3 hereto includes all United States federal registrations or applications for Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks and all material Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses and Trademark Licenses (excluding “off-the-shelf” licenses pursuant to standard licensing terms which have not been modified or customized by a third party for the Obligor) owned by such Obligor in its own name, or to which any Obligor is a party, as of the date hereof.
(ii)    All United States federal registrations or applications pertaining to such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks as have been set forth on Schedule 3 hereto have been duly and properly filed, and to any Obligor’s knowledge, each Copyright, Patent and Trademark of such Obligor is valid, subsisting, unexpired, enforceable and has not been abandoned.
(iii)    Except as set forth on Schedule 3 hereto, none of such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks is the subject of any exclusive licensing or franchise agreement as of the date hereof.
(iv)    Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to such Obligor’s knowledge, no holding, decision or judgment has been rendered by any Governmental Authority that would limit, cancel or question the validity of any such Copyright, Patent or Trademark.
(v)    No action or proceeding is pending, seeking to limit, cancel or question the validity of any Copyright, Patent or Trademark of any Obligor or Subsidiary of any Obligor that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.    Covenants. Each Obligor covenants that until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or been terminated, such Obligor shall:
(a)    Instruments/Chattel Paper/Pledged Equity/Control.
            
(i)    If any amount in excess of $2,000,000 in any individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any Instrument or Tangible Chattel Paper, or if any property constituting Collateral shall be stored or shipped subject to a Document, ensure that such Instrument, Tangible Chattel Paper or Document is either in the possession of such Obligor at all times or, if requested by the Administrative Agent to perfect its security interest in such Collateral, is delivered to the Administrative Agent duly endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Such Obligor shall ensure that any Collateral consisting of Tangible Chattel Paper is marked with a legend reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent indicating the Administrative Agent’s security interest in such Tangible Chattel Paper.
(ii)    Deliver to the Administrative Agent promptly upon the receipt thereof by or on behalf of such Obligor, all certificates and instruments constituting Pledged Equity. Prior to delivery to the Administrative Agent, all such certificates constituting Pledged Equity shall be held in trust by such Obligor for the benefit of the Administrative Agent



pursuant hereto. All such certificates representing Pledged Equity shall be delivered in suitable form for transfer by delivery or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, substantially in the form provided in Exhibit 4(a) hereto (or other form acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).
(iii)    Execute and deliver all agreements, assignments, instruments or other documents as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining control with respect to any Collateral consisting of (A) Deposit Accounts, (B) Investment Property, (C) Letter-of-Credit Rights and (D) Electronic Chattel Paper.
(b)    Filing of Financing Statements, Notices, Etc. Such Obligor shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such agreements, assignments or instruments (including affidavits, notices, reaffirmations and amendments and restatements of existing documents, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request) and do all such other things as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate (i) to assure to the Administrative Agent its security interests hereunder, including (A) such instruments as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request in order to perfect and maintain the security interests granted hereunder in accordance with the UCC, (B) with regard to Copyrights, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Copyrights in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(i) hereto, (C) with regard to Patents, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Patents for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(ii) hereto and (D) with regard to Trademarks, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Trademarks for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(iii) hereto, (ii) to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) to otherwise protect and assure the Administrative Agent of its rights and interests hereunder. Furthermore, such Obligor also hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Administrative Agent, its nominee or any other person whom the Administrative Agent may designate, as such Obligor’s attorney in fact with full power and for the limited purpose to prepare and file (and, to the extent applicable, sign) in the name of such Obligor any financing statements, or amendments and supplements to financing statements, renewal financing statements, notices or any similar documents which in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion would be necessary or appropriate in order to perfect and maintain perfection of the security interests granted hereunder, such power, being coupled with an interest, being and remaining irrevocable until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or been terminated. Such Obligor hereby agrees that a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any such financing statement is sufficient for filing as a financing statement by the Administrative Agent without notice thereof to such Obligor wherever the Administrative Agent may in its sole discretion desire to file the same.
(c)    Collateral Held by Warehouseman, Bailee, Etc. If any Collateral with a book value in excess of $5,000,000 is at any time in the possession or control of a warehouseman, bailee or any agent or processor of such Obligor and the Administrative Agent so reasonably requests (i) notify such Person in writing of the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein and (ii) instruct such Person to hold all such Collateral for the Administrative Agent’s account and subject to the Administrative Agent’s instructions.
(d)    Commercial Tort Claims. (i) Promptly forward to the Administrative Agent an updated Schedule 2 listing any and all Commercial Tort Claims by or in favor of such Obligor seeking damages in excess of $2,000,000 in any individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate for all Commercial Tort Claims of the Obligors not subject to a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of itself and the other holders of the Secured Obligations and (ii) execute and deliver such statements, documents and notices and do and cause to be done all such things as may be reasonably required by the Administrative Agent, or required by law to create, preserve, perfect and maintain the Administrative Agent’s security interest in any Commercial Tort Claims initiated by or in favor of any Obligor.



(e)    Books and Records. Each Obligor shall mark its books and records (and shall cause the issuer of the Pledged Equity of such Obligor to mark its books and records) to reflect the security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement.
(f)    Nature of Collateral. At all times maintain the Collateral as personal property and not affix any of the Collateral to any real property in a manner which would change its nature from personal property to real property or a Fixture to real property, unless the Administrative Agent shall have a perfected Lien on such Fixture or real property.
(g)    Issuance or Acquisition of Capital Stock in Partnership or Limited Liability Company. Not without executing and delivering, or causing to be executed and delivered, to the Administrative Agent such agreements, documents and instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require, issue or acquire any Pledged Equity consisting of an interest in a partnership or a limited liability company that (i) is dealt in or traded on a securities exchange or in a securities market, (ii) by its terms expressly provides that it is a Security governed by Article 8 of the UCC, (iii) is an Investment Company Security, (iv) is held in a Securities Account or (v) constitutes a Security or a Financial Asset.
5.    Authorization to File Financing Statements. Each Obligor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to prepare and file such financing statements (including continuation statements) or amendments thereof or supplements thereto or other instruments as the Administrative Agent may from time to time deem necessary or appropriate in order to perfect and maintain the security interests granted hereunder in accordance with the UCC (including authorization to describe the Collateral as “all personal property”, “all assets” or words of similar meaning).
6.    Advances.
(a)    Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuation thereof, or (b) upon the failure of any Obligor to perform any of the covenants and agreements contained herein or in any other Loan Document if, with respect to this clause (b), the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that the taking of a particular action is required prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period(s) in order to prevent an impairment of its rights in and to any Collateral, then in either case, the Administrative Agent may, at its sole option and in its sole discretion upon notice to the applicable Obligors, perform the same and in so doing may expend such sums as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem advisable in the performance thereof, including, without limitation, the payment of any insurance premiums, the payment of any taxes, a payment to obtain a release of a Lien or potential Lien, expenditures made in defending against any adverse claim and all other expenditures which the Administrative Agent may make for the protection of the security hereof or may be compelled to make by operation of law. All such sums and amounts so expended shall be repayable by the Obligors on a joint and several basis promptly upon timely notice thereof and demand therefor, shall constitute additional Secured Obligations and shall bear interest from the date said amounts are expended as Default Interest. No such performance of any covenant or agreement by the Administrative Agent on behalf of any Obligor, and no such advance or expenditure therefor, shall relieve the Obligors of any Default or Event of Default. The Administrative Agent may make any payment hereby authorized in accordance with any bill, statement or estimate procured from the appropriate public office or holder of the claim to be discharged without inquiry into the accuracy of such bill, statement or estimate or into the validity of any tax assessment, sale, forfeiture, tax lien, title or claim except to the extent such payment is being contested in good faith by an Obligor in appropriate proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP.
7.    Remedies.
(a)    General Remedies. During the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall have, in addition to the rights and remedies provided herein, in the Loan Documents, in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, or by law (including, but not limited to, levy of attachment, garnishment and the rights and remedies set forth in the UCC of the jurisdiction applicable to the affected Collateral), the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC (regardless of whether the UCC is the law of the jurisdiction where the rights and remedies are asserted and regardless of



whether the UCC applies to the affected Collateral), and further, the Administrative Agent may, with or without judicial process or the aid and assistance of others, (i) enter on any premises on which any of the Collateral may be located and, without resistance or interference by the Obligors, take possession of the Collateral, (ii) dispose of any Collateral on any such premises, (iii) require the Obligors to assemble and make available to the Administrative Agent at the expense of the Obligors any Collateral at any place and time designated by the Administrative Agent which is reasonably convenient to both parties, (iv) remove any Collateral from any such premises for the purpose of effecting sale or other disposition thereof, and/or (v) without demand and without advertisement, notice, hearing or process of law, all of which each of the Obligors hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by law, at any place and time or times, sell and deliver any or all of the Collateral held by or for it at a public or private sale (which in the case of a private sale of Pledged Equity, may be to a restricted group of purchasers who will be obligated to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof), at any exchange or broker’s board or elsewhere, by one or more contracts, in one or more parcels, for cash, upon credit or otherwise, at such prices and upon such terms as the Administrative Agent deems advisable, in its sole discretion (subject to any and all mandatory legal requirements). Each Obligor acknowledges that any such private sale may be at prices and on terms less favorable to the seller than the prices and other terms which might have been obtained at a public sale and, notwithstanding the foregoing, agrees that such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner and, in the case of a sale of Pledged Equity, that the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to delay sale of any such securities for the period of time necessary to permit the issuer of such securities to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933. Neither the Administrative Agent’s compliance with applicable law nor its disclaimer of warranties relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale. To the extent the rights of notice cannot be legally waived hereunder, each Obligor agrees that any requirement of reasonable notice shall be met if such notice, specifying the place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made, is personally served on or mailed, postage prepaid, to the Obligors in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement at least ten (10) days before the time of sale or other event giving rise to the requirement of such notice. The Administrative Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. Each Obligor further acknowledges and agrees that any offer to sell any Pledged Equity which has been (i) publicly advertised on a bona fide basis in a newspaper or other publication of general circulation in the financial community of New York, New York (to the extent that such offer may be advertised without prior registration under the Securities Act of 1933), or (ii) made privately in the manner described above shall be deemed to involve a “public sale” under the UCC, notwithstanding that such sale may not constitute a “public offering” under the Securities Act of 1933, and the Administrative Agent may, in such event, bid for the purchase of such securities. The Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale or other disposition of the Collateral regardless of notice having been given. To the extent permitted by applicable law, any holder of Secured Obligations may be a purchaser at any such sale. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Obligors hereby waives all of its rights of redemption with respect to any such sale. Subject to the provisions of applicable law, the Administrative Agent may postpone or cause the postponement of the sale of all or any portion of the Collateral by announcement at the time and place of such sale, and such sale may, without further notice, to the extent permitted by law, be made at the time and place to which the sale was postponed, or the Administrative Agent may further postpone such sale by announcement made at such time and place.
(b)    Remedies Relating to Accounts. During the continuance of an Event of Default, whether or not the Administrative Agent has exercised any or all of its rights and remedies hereunder, (i) each Obligor will promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent instruct all of its account debtors to remit all payments in respect of Accounts to a mailing location selected by the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have the right to enforce any Obligor’s rights against its customers and account debtors, and the Administrative Agent or its designee may notify any Obligor’s customers and account debtors that the Accounts of such Obligor have been assigned to the Administrative Agent or of the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein, and may (either in its own name or in the name of an Obligor or both) demand, collect (including without limitation by way of a lockbox arrangement), receive, take receipt for, sell, sue for, compound, settle, compromise and give acquittance for any and all amounts due or to become due on any Account, and, in the Administrative Agent’s discretion, file any



claim or take any other action or proceeding to protect and realize upon the security interest of the holders of the Secured Obligations in the Accounts. Each Obligor acknowledges and agrees that the Proceeds of its Accounts remitted to or on behalf of the Administrative Agent in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be solely for the Administrative Agent’s own convenience and that such Obligor shall not have any right, title or interest in such Accounts or in any such other amounts except as expressly provided herein. Neither the Administrative Agent nor the holders of the Secured Obligations shall have any liability or responsibility to any Obligor for acceptance of a check, draft or other order for payment of money bearing the legend “payment in full” or words of similar import or any other restrictive legend or endorsement or be responsible for determining the correctness of any remittance. Furthermore, during the continuance of an Event of Default, (i) the Administrative Agent shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make test verifications of the Accounts in any manner and through any medium that it reasonably considers advisable, and the Obligors shall furnish all such assistance and information as the Administrative Agent may require in connection with such test verifications, (ii) upon the Administrative Agent’s request and at the expense of the Obligors, the Obligors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause independent public accountants or others satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to furnish to the Administrative Agent reports showing reconciliations, aging and test verifications of, and trial balances for, the Accounts and (iii) upon three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Obligors, the Administrative Agent in its own name or in the name of others may communicate with account debtors on the Accounts to verify with them to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any Accounts.
(c)    Deposit Accounts. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuation thereof, the Administrative Agent may (i) prevent withdrawals or other dispositions of funds in Deposit Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) maintained with the Administrative Agent and (ii) exercise control pursuant to any control agreement governing a Deposit Account (other than Excluded Accounts) not maintained with the Administrative Agent.
(d)    Access. In addition to the rights and remedies hereunder, during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to peaceably enter and remain upon the various premises of the Obligors without cost or charge to the Administrative Agent, and use the same, together with materials, supplies, books and records of the Obligors for the purpose of collecting and liquidating the Collateral, or for preparing for sale and conducting the sale of the Collateral, whether by foreclosure, auction or otherwise. In addition, the Administrative Agent may remove Collateral, or any part thereof, from such premises and/or any records with respect thereto, in order to effectively collect or liquidate such Collateral.
(e)    Nonexclusive Nature of Remedies. Failure by the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations to exercise any right, remedy or option under this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any other document relating to the Secured Obligations, or as provided by law, or any delay by the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations in exercising the same, shall not operate as a waiver of any such right, remedy or option. No waiver hereunder shall be effective unless it is in writing, signed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced and then only to the extent specifically stated, which in the case of the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations shall only be granted as provided herein. To the extent permitted by law, neither the Administrative Agent, the holders of the Secured Obligations, nor any party acting as attorney for the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations, shall be liable hereunder for any acts or omissions or for any error of judgment or mistake of fact or law other than their bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or a material breach of the Administrative Agent’s or such holder’s obligations hereunder. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the holders of the Secured Obligations under this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other right or remedy which the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations may have.
(f)    Retention of Collateral. In addition to the rights and remedies hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in compliance with Sections 9-620 and 9-621 of the UCC or otherwise complying with the requirements of applicable law of the relevant jurisdiction, accept or retain the Collateral in satisfaction of the Secured Obligations.  Unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have provided such notices, however, the Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have retained any Collateral in satisfaction of any Secured Obligations for any reason.



(g)    Deficiency. In the event that the proceeds of any sale, collection or realization are insufficient to pay all amounts to which the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations are legally entitled, the Obligors shall be jointly and severally liable for the deficiency, together with interest thereon at the rate provided for Default Interest in the Credit Agreement, together with, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.3 of the Credit Agreement, the costs of collection and the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel. Any surplus remaining after the full payment and satisfaction of the Secured Obligations shall be returned to the Obligors or to whomsoever a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine to be entitled thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, in any of the other Loan Documents or in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, the obligations of each Obligor under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or any other applicable Debtor Relief Law (including any comparable provisions of any applicable state law).
8.    Rights of the Administrative Agent.
(a)    Power of Attorney. In addition to other powers of attorney contained herein, each Obligor hereby designates and appoints the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, and each of its designees or agents, as attorney-in-fact of such Obligor, irrevocably and with power of substitution, with authority to take any or all of the following actions during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i)    to demand, collect, settle, compromise, adjust, give discharges and releases, all as the Administrative Agent may reasonably determine;
(ii)    to commence and prosecute any actions at any court for the purposes of collecting any Collateral and enforcing any other right in respect thereof;
(iii)    to defend, settle or compromise any action brought and, in connection therewith, give such discharge or release as the Administrative Agent may deem reasonably appropriate;
(iv)    to receive, open and dispose of mail addressed to an Obligor and endorse checks, notes, drafts, acceptances, money orders, bills of lading, warehouse receipts or other instruments or documents evidencing payment, shipment or storage of the Goods giving rise to the Collateral of such Obligor on behalf of and in the name of such Obligor, or securing, or relating to such Collateral;
(v)    to sell, assign, transfer, make any agreement in respect of, or otherwise deal with or exercise rights in respect of, any Collateral or the Goods or services which have given rise thereto, as fully and completely as though the Administrative Agent were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes;
(vi)    to adjust and settle claims under any insurance policy relating thereto;
(vii)    to execute and deliver all assignments, conveyances, statements, financing statements, renewal financing statements, security agreements, affidavits, notices and other agreements, instruments and documents that the Administrative Agent may reasonably determine necessary in order to perfect and maintain the security interests and liens granted in this Agreement and in order to fully consummate all of the transactions contemplated herein;
(viii)    to institute any foreclosure proceedings that the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate;
(ix)    to sign and endorse any drafts, assignments, proxies, stock powers, verifications, notices and other documents relating to the Collateral;



(x)    to exchange any of the Pledged Equity or other property upon any merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other readjustment of the issuer thereof and, in connection therewith, deposit any of the Pledged Equity with any committee, depository, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem appropriate;
(xi)    upon prior written notice to the Obligors, to vote for a shareholder resolution, or to sign an instrument in writing, sanctioning the transfer of any or all of the Pledged Equity into the name of the Administrative Agent or one or more of the holders of the Secured Obligations or into the name of any transferee to whom the Pledged Equity or any part thereof may be sold pursuant and subject to Section 7 hereof;
(xii)    to pay or discharge taxes, liens, security interests or other encumbrances levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral;
(xiii)    to direct any parties liable for any payment in connection with any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all monies due and to become due thereunder directly to the Administrative Agent or as the Administrative Agent shall direct;
(xiv)    to receive payment of and receipt for any and all monies, claims, and other amounts due and to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral; and
(xv)    to do and perform all such other acts and things as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem to be necessary, proper or convenient to accomplish the purposes of the Loan Documents.
This power of attorney is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or been terminated. The Administrative Agent shall be under no duty to exercise or withhold the exercise of any of the rights, powers, privileges and options expressly or implicitly granted to the Administrative Agent in this Agreement, and shall not be liable for any failure to do so or any delay in doing so. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any act or omission or for any error of judgment or any mistake of fact or law in its individual capacity or its capacity as attorney-in-fact except acts or omissions resulting from its bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or a material breach of its obligations hereunder. This power of attorney is conferred on the Administrative Agent solely to protect, preserve and realize upon its security interest in the Collateral.
(b)    Assignment by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may from time to time assign the Secured Obligations to a successor Administrative Agent appointed in accordance with the Credit Agreement, and such successor shall be entitled to all of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement in relation thereto.
(c)    The Administrative Agent’s Duty of Care. Other than the exercise of reasonable care to assure the safe custody of the Collateral while being held by the Administrative Agent hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall have no duty or liability to preserve rights pertaining thereto, it being understood and agreed that the Obligors shall be responsible for preservation of all rights in the Collateral, and the Administrative Agent shall be relieved of all responsibility for the Collateral upon surrendering it or tendering the surrender of it to the Obligors. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Administrative Agent accords its own property, which shall be no less than the treatment employed by a reasonable and prudent agent in the industry, it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall not have responsibility for taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties with respect to any of the Collateral. In the event of a public or private sale of Collateral pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility for (i) ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relating to any Collateral, whether or not the Administrative Agent has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or (ii) taking any steps to clean, repair or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale.



(d)    Liability with Respect to Accounts. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each of the Obligors shall remain liable under each of the Accounts to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise to each such Account. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any holder of Secured Obligations shall have any obligation or liability under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Administrative Agent or any holder of Secured Obligations of any payment relating to such Account pursuant hereto, nor shall the Administrative Agent or any holder of Secured Obligations be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of an Obligor under or pursuant to any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.
    
(e)    Voting and Payment Rights in Respect of the Pledged Equity.
(i)    So long as no Event of Default shall exist, each Obligor may (A) exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the Pledged Equity of such Obligor or any part thereof for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or the Credit Agreement and (B) receive and retain any and all dividends (other than stock dividends and other dividends constituting Collateral which are addressed hereinabove), principal or interest paid in respect of the Pledged Equity to the extent they are allowed under the Credit Agreement; and
(ii)    During the continuance of an Event of Default and upon one (1) Business Day’s prior written notice to the Obligors, (A) all rights of an Obligor to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which it would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to clause (i)(A) above shall cease and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent which shall then have the sole right to exercise such voting and other consensual rights, (B) all rights of an Obligor to receive the dividends, principal and interest payments which it would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to clause (i)(B) above shall cease and all such rights shall thereupon be vested in the Administrative Agent which shall then have the sole right to receive and hold as Collateral such dividends, principal and interest payments, and (C) all dividends, principal and interest payments which are received by an Obligor contrary to the provisions of clause (ii)(B) above shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Obligor, and shall be forthwith paid over to the Administrative Agent as Collateral in the exact form received, to be held by the Administrative Agent as Collateral and as further collateral security for the Secured Obligations. Upon the cure or waiver of such Event of Default in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall as soon reasonably practicable repay to each Obligor all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this clause (ii) that such Obligor would otherwise have been permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of clause (i) above that (x) were not applied to repay the Obligations in accordance with the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents and (y) that the Administrative Agent is not otherwise required to hold for the repayment of the Obligations in accordance with the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents.
(f)    Releases of Collateral. (i) If any Collateral shall (x) be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by any Obligor in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement or (y) become Excluded Property, the Administrative Agent, at the request and sole expense of such Obligor, shall promptly execute and deliver to such Obligor all releases and other documents, and take such other action, reasonably necessary to evidence such release of the Liens created hereby or by any other Collateral Document on such Collateral. (ii) The Administrative Agent may release any of the Pledged Equity from this Agreement or may substitute any of the Pledged Equity for other Pledged Equity without altering, varying or diminishing in any way the force, effect, lien, pledge or security interest of this Agreement as to any Pledged Equity not expressly released or substituted, and this Agreement shall continue as a lien on all Pledged Equity not expressly released or substituted. (iii) At the request and sole expense of the Borrower, an Obligor shall be released from its obligations hereunder in the event that such Obligor shall



(x) be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in a transaction permitted by and subject to all the applicable provisions of the applicable Loan Document (and subject to such applicable provision providing that such Obligor would be released or deemed released under the terms of the Loan Documents under such conditions) or (y) be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 5.14 of the Credit Agreement, and, in each case, the Administrative Agent shall promptly execute and deliver to the Borrower all terminations or other documents reasonably necessary or desirable to evidence such termination, all at the sole expense of such Obligor.
9.    Application of Proceeds. Upon the acceleration of the Obligations under the Loan Documents pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Credit Agreement, any payments in respect of the Secured Obligations and any proceeds of the Collateral, when received by the Administrative Agent or any holder of the Secured Obligations in Money or its equivalent, will be applied in reduction of the Secured Obligations in the order set forth in Section 8.2 of the Credit Agreement.
    
10.    Continuing Agreement.
(a)    This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Loan Documents have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or been terminated, at which time this Agreement and the liens and security interests of the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be automatically terminated and the Administrative Agent shall, upon the request and at the expense of the Obligors, forthwith execute and deliver all UCC termination statements and/or other documents reasonably requested by the Obligors evidencing such termination and/or release.
(b)    This Agreement shall continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any holder of the Secured Obligations as a preference, fraudulent conveyance or otherwise under any Debtor Relief Law, all as though such payment had not been made; provided that in the event payment of all or any part of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must be restored or returned, but subject to the limitations of Section 10.3 of the Credit Agreement, all reasonable costs and expenses (including without limitation any reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred by the Administrative Agent or any holder of the Secured Obligations in defending and enforcing such reinstatement shall be deemed to be included as a part of the Secured Obligations.
11.    Amendments; Waivers; Modifications, Etc. This Agreement and the provisions hereof may not be amended, waived, modified, changed, discharged or terminated except as set forth in Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement; provided that any update or revision to Schedule 2 hereof delivered by any Obligor shall not constitute an amendment for purposes of this Section 11 or Section 10.2 of the Credit Agreement.
12.    Successors in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon each Obligor, its successors and assigns and shall inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the holders of the Secured Obligations hereunder, to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the holders of the Secured Obligations and their successors and permitted assigns.
13.    Notices. All notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in conformance with Section 10.1 of the Credit Agreement.
14.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or by any other electronic imaging means (including .pdf), shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.



15.    Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are provided for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.
16.    Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. The terms of Sections 10.5 and 10.6 of the Credit Agreement with respect to governing law, submission to jurisdiction, venue, consent to service of process and waiver of jury trial are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis, and the parties hereto agree to such terms.
17.    Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
18.    Entirety. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, 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.
19.    Other Security. To the extent that any of the Secured Obligations are now or hereafter secured by property other than the Collateral (including, without limitation, real property and securities owned by an Obligor), or by a guarantee, endorsement or property of any other Person, then the Administrative Agent shall have the right to proceed against such other property, guarantee or endorsement during the continuance of any Event of Default, and the Administrative Agent shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to determine which rights, security, liens, security interests or remedies the Administrative Agent shall at any time pursue, relinquish, subordinate, modify or take with respect thereto, without in any way modifying or affecting any of them or the Secured Obligations or any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or the holders of the Secured Obligations under this Agreement, under any other of the Loan Documents or under any other document relating to the Secured Obligations.
20.    Joinder. At any time after the date of this Agreement, one or more additional Persons may become party hereto by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a Guarantor Joinder Agreement. Immediately upon such execution and delivery of such Guarantor Joinder Agreement (and without any further action), each such additional Person will become a party to this Agreement as an “Obligor” and have all of the rights and obligations of an Obligor hereunder and this Agreement and the schedules hereto shall be deemed amended by such Guarantor Joinder Agreement.
21.    Joint and Several Obligations of Obligors.

    (a)    Subject to Section 21(c), each of the Obligors is accepting joint and several liability hereunder, in consideration of the financial accommodation to be provided by the holders of the Obligations, of each of the Obligors and in consideration of the undertakings of each of the Obligors to accept joint and several liability for the obligations of each of them.

    (b)    Subject to Section 21(c), each of the Obligors jointly and severally hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with the other Obligors with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Secured Obligations arising under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, it being the intention of the parties hereto that all the Secured Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of each of the Obligors without preferences or distinction among them.

(c)    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, in any other of the Loan Documents or in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, the obligations of each Guarantor under the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the other documents relating to the Secured Obligations shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not



render such obligations subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any other Debtor Relief Law.
22.    Consent of Issuers of Pledged Equity. Each issuer of Pledged Equity party to this Agreement hereby acknowledges, consents and agrees to the grant of the security interests in such Pledged Equity by the applicable Obligors pursuant to this Agreement, together with all rights accompanying such security interests as provided by this Agreement and applicable law, notwithstanding any anti-assignment provisions in any operating agreement, limited partnership agreement or similar organizational or governance documents of such issuer.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]



Each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
OBLIGORS:                    AARON’S, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:
Title:

THE AARON’S COMPANY, INC.,
a Georgia corporation

By:                        
Name:
Title:

AARON INVESTMENT COMPANY, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

AARON’S BUSINESS REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

AARON’S LOGISTICS, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

AARON’S US HOLDCO, INC.,
a Georgia corporation

By:                        
Name:    
Title:




ENVIZZO, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

WOODHAVEN FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:     

INTERBOND RETAIL SOLUTIONS, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

RETAIL RTO SOLUTIONS, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

INTERBOND OF AMERICA, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

BRANDSMART USA OF SOUTH DADE, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:



BRANDSMART U.S.A. OF GEORGIA, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

BRANDS MART SERVICE, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:__________________________________
Name:    
Title:

BRANDSMART USA DADELAND, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

BRANDSMART USA OF CLAYTON COUNTY, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:





Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above.


TRUIST BANK, as Administrative Agent
By:                    
Name:
Title:



SCHEDULE 1
PLEDGED EQUITY

ObligorName of Subsidiary
Number of
Shares/ Units
Certificate NumberPercentage Ownership




SCHEDULE 2
COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS





SCHEDULE 3
COPYRIGHTS, PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
Patents:
Copyrights:
Trademarks:





EXHIBIT 4(a)
IRREVOCABLE [STOCK][UNIT] POWER
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to:
_____________________________________
the following equity interests of ____________________, a _________ [corporation][limited liability company]:
No. of Shares ____________    Certificate No. ______________
and irrevocably appoints ______________ its agent and attorney-in-fact to transfer all or any part of such equity interests and to take all necessary and appropriate action to effect any such transfer. The agent and attorney-in-fact may substitute and appoint one or more persons to act for him.
Dated: ____________, 20___
_______________________________
By:                                                
Name:                                    
Title:                                            




EXHIBIT 4(b)(i)
NOTICE
OF
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
IN
COPYRIGHTS
[_____ __], 202[_]
United States Copyright Office
Please be advised that pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of [_____ __], 2024 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Agreement”; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement), by and among the Obligors party thereto (each an “Obligor” and collectively, the “Obligors”) and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the undersigned Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the copyrights and copyright applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations.
The undersigned Obligor and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing copyrights and copyright applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any copyright or copyright application.
This Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Copyrights may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute a single contract. The undersigned Obligor authorizes the Register of Copyrights in the United States Copyright Office and any other government officials to record and register this Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Copyrights upon request by the Administrative Agent.




Very truly yours,
__________________________________
[Obligor]
By:                    
Name:
Title:

[Address]
Acknowledged and Accepted:
TRUIST BANK, as Administrative Agent
By:                    
Name:
Title:
[Address]






EXHIBIT 4(b)(ii)
NOTICE
OF
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
IN
PATENTS
[_____ __], 202[_]
United States Patent and Trademark Office

Please be advised that pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of [_____ __], 2024 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Agreement”; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement), by and among the Obligors party thereto (each an “Obligor” and collectively, the “Obligors”) and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the undersigned Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the patents and patent applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations.
The undersigned Obligor and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing patents and patent applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any patent or patent application.
This Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Patents may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute a single contract. The undersigned Obligor authorizes the Commissioner for Patents in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and any other government officials to record and register this Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Patents upon request by the Administrative Agent.




Very truly yours,
__________________________________
[Obligor]
By:                    
Name:
Title:

[Address]
Acknowledged and Accepted:
TRUIST BANK, as Administrative Agent
By:                    
Name:
Title:
[Address]



EXHIBIT 4(b)(iii)
NOTICE
OF
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
IN
TRADEMARKS
[_____ __], 202[_]
United States Patent and Trademark Office

Please be advised that pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of [_____ __], 2024 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Agreement”; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement), by and among the Obligors party thereto (each an “Obligor” and collectively, the “Obligors”) and Truist Bank, as Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the undersigned Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the trademarks and trademark applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto (together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized thereby, and all extensions and renewals thereof) to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations.
The undersigned Obligor and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing trademarks and trademark applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any trademark or trademark application.
This Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Trademarks may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute a single contract. The undersigned Obligor authorizes the Commissioner for Trademarks in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and any other government officials to record and register this Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Trademarks upon request by the Administrative Agent.




Very truly yours,
__________________________________
[Obligor]
By:                    
Name:
Title:

[Address]
Acknowledged and Accepted:
TRUIST BANK, as Administrative Agent
By:                    
Name:
Title:
[Address]



EXHIBIT 10.2

EXECUTION VERSION
SECOND AMENDMENT TO LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY

THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY, dated as of February 23, 2024 (this “Amendment”), is entered into among Aaron’s, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), The Aaron’s Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“Holdings”), the Guarantors party hereto, the Participants party hereto and Truist Bank, as Servicer. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Amended Loan Facility Agreement (as defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Sponsor, Holdings, the Participants and the Servicer, entered into that certain Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Loan Facility Agreement” and, the Loan Facility Agreement as amended by this Amendment, the “Amended Loan Facility Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Sponsor has requested certain amendments be made to the Loan Facility Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Participants (by act of the Required Participants) have agreed to such amendments, subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.    Introductory Paragraph and Recitals. The above introductory paragraph and recitals of this Amendment are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

2.    Amendments to Loan Facility Agreement. In accordance with Section 15.2 of the Loan Facility Agreement, the Loan Facility Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
(a)    the terms of the Loan Facility Agreement (but not the Exhibits and/or Schedules thereto, except as set forth in Section 2(b) below) are amended and replaced in their entirety to read as set forth in the copy of the entire body of the Loan Facility Agreement attached hereto as Annex A;
(b)    Exhibit G (Form of Security Agreement) to the Loan Facility Agreement is amended and replaced in its entirety with the Exhibit attached hereto as Annex B.
3.    Conditions Precedent. This Amendment shall be effective upon satisfaction (or waiver) of the following conditions precedent in each case in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer and the Required Participants (such date, the “Second Amendment Effective Date”):
(a)    Amendment. Receipt of a counterpart of this Amendment duly executed by each of the Credit Parties, the Required Participants and the Servicer.

(b)    Fees and Attorney Costs. Receipt by the Servicer of all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Second Amendment Effective Date, including reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Servicer) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Sponsor hereunder, under any other Operative Document and under any agreement with the Servicer, to the extent invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Second Amendment Effective Date.




4.    Post-Effectiveness Covenant. By no later than the date that is ninety (90) consecutive calendar days after the Second Amendment Effective Date (or by such later date as the Servicer may agree in its sole discretion), the Servicer shall have received:
(a)    Security Agreement. A counterpart of the Security Agreement duly executed by each of the Credit Parties and the Servicer.

(b)    Organization Documents; Resolutions and Certificates. A duly executed certificate of the chief financial officer, manager, secretary or assistant secretary (or other Responsible Officer of substantially equivalent title and authority) of each Credit Party:

(i)    attaching a copy of the organizational documents that is certified, as of a recent date, by the applicable Governmental Authority of such Credit Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation or formation (as the case may be));
(ii)    attaching and certifying a copy of resolutions (or unanimous written consents) of the board of directors or managers (or equivalent governing body) of such Credit Party, authorizing the timely execution and delivery of the Security Agreement and the performance by such Credit Party of its obligations under the Security Agreement;
(iii)    an executed, original incumbency certificate (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer) with respect to each Responsible Officer of a Credit Party signing the Security Agreement and/or any other document, agreement, letter, certificate and/or instrument executed, or required to be executed, in connection therewith; and
(iv)    copies of certificates of good standing, existence, or the like for each Credit Party, certified, as of a recent date, by the applicable Governmental Authority of such Credit Party’s jurisdiction of incorporation or formation (as the case may be).
(c)    Opinions of Counsel. Written opinions of counsel to the Credit Parties, addressed to the Servicer and each of the Participants, and covering such matters relating to the Credit Parties, the Security Agreement, the transactions contemplated thereby as are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer (which opinions of counsel shall (i) include, without limitation, customary legal opinions relating to (A) existence, good standing and corporate authority of the Credit Parties, and (B) governing law and enforceability of the Security Agreement, and (ii) in any event, expressly permit reliance by the successors and permitted assigns of the Servicer and the Participants).
(d)    Personal Property.
(i)    copies of UCC, tax and judgment lien search results (in each case, as required by the Servicer in its reasonable discretion) in the jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, as the case may be, of each Credit Party, together with any such search results in any other necessary or appropriate jurisdiction(s) as reasonably requested by the Servicer, indicating that there are no prior Liens on any of the Collateral, other than Liens permitted to continue in existence after the Second Amendment Effective Date pursuant to Section 8.2 of the Amended Loan Facility Agreement;
(ii)    UCC financing statements (including any amendments thereto), duly authorized by the Credit Parties for filing by the Servicer, with respect to each appropriate jurisdiction as is necessary or advisable, in the Servicer’s reasonable discretion, to perfect the Servicer’s security interest in the Collateral (to the extent that such security interest is not, for any reason, perfected with respect to any of the Collateral immediately prior to the Second Amendment Effective Date);



(iii)    searches of ownership of, and Liens on, United States registered intellectual property owned by any Credit Party in the appropriate governmental offices (as required by the Servicer in its reasonable discretion); and
(iv)    duly executed notices of grant of security interest, in the form required by the Security Agreement, as are necessary, in the Servicer’s reasonable discretion, to perfect the Servicer’s security interest in the United States registered intellectual property owned by the Credit Parties (if, and to the extent that, perfection may be achieved by the filing thereof in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in the United States Copyright Office).
(e)    Insurance. Certificates of insurance issued on behalf of insurers of the Credit Parties, describing in reasonable detail the types and amounts of insurance (property and liability) maintained by the Credit Parties, and endorsements with respect to the applicable insurance policies as required by Section 6.8 of the Amended Loan Facility Agreement.
(f)    Intercreditor Agreement. A counterpart of the Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Sponsor, the Administrative Agent (as defined in the Credit Agreement), the Required Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement), the Required Participants and the Servicer, duly executed by the Administrative Agent (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and the Servicer.
(g)    Fees and Attorney Costs. Receipt by the Servicer of all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Security Agreement Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Security Agreement Effective Date, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Servicer) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Sponsor hereunder, under any other Operative Document and under any agreement with the Servicer.
5.    Miscellaneous.
(a)    This Amendment shall be deemed to be, and is, an Operative Document.
(b)    Each Credit Party (i) acknowledges and consents to all of the terms and conditions of this Amendment, (ii) agrees that this Amendment and all documents executed in connection herewith do not operate to reduce or discharge its obligations under the Loan Facility Agreement or the other Operative Documents or any certificates, documents, agreements and instruments executed in connection therewith and (iii) affirms all of its obligations under the Amended Loan Facility Agreement and the other Operative Documents.
(c)    Effective as of the Second Amendment Effective Date, all references to the Loan Facility Agreement in each of the Operative Documents shall hereafter mean the Amended Loan Facility Agreement.
(d)    Each of the Credit Parties hereby represents and warrants to the Servicer and the Credit Parties that as of the Second Amendment Effective Date after giving effect to this Amendment:
(i)    such Credit Party has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment;
(ii)    this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by such Credit Party and constitutes such Credit Party’s legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be subject to (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (B) general principles of equity



(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity);
(iii)    no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or Governmental Authority or third party is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by any Credit Party of this Amendment, other than such consents, approvals or authorizations that have been obtained; and
(iv)    such Credit Party is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.
(e)    This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Amendment by telecopy, pdf or other similar electronic transmission shall be effective as an original and shall constitute a representation that an executed original shall be delivered.
(f)    This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and be governed by the law (without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof) of the State of New York.
[Signature pages follow]





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

SPONSOR:                    AARON’S, LLC

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall    
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer        

GUARANTORS:                THE AARON’S COMPANY, INC.,
                        as a Guarantor

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

AARON INVESTMENT COMPANY, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor

By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer

AARON’S BUSINESS REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ Steve Olsen                
Name: Steve Olsen    
Title: Vice President
            
AARON’S LOGISTICS, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Vice President

AARON’S US HOLDCO, INC.,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and
Treasurer

SECOND AMENDMENT TO
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY


ENVIZZO, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
    

WOODHAVEN FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall
Title:     Chief Financial Officer
    

INTERBOND RETAIL SOLUTIONS, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

RETAIL RTO SOLUTIONS, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

INTERBOND OF AMERICA, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer

BRANDSMART USA OF SOUTH DADE, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer



SECOND AMENDMENT TO
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY


BRANDSMART U.S.A. OF GEORGIA, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer

BRANDS MART SERVICE, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer

BRANDSMART USA DADELAND, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall    
Title: Chief Financial Officer

BRANDSMART USA OF CLAYTON COUNTY, LLC,
                        as a Guarantor


By: /s/ C. Kelly Wall                
Name: C. Kelly Wall
Title: Chief Financial Officer
SECOND AMENDMENT TO
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY


SERVICER:     TRUIST BANK, as Servicer


By /s/ Lisa Garling    
Name: Lisa Garling
Title: Director

AARON’S, LLC
SECOND AMENDMENT TO
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY



PARTICIPANTS:     TRUIST BANK, as a Participant


By /s/ Lisa Garling    
Name: Lisa Garling
Title: Director
AARON’S, LLC
SECOND AMENDMENT TO
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY

ANNEX A
Body of Loan Facility Agreement
See attached.



ANNEX A
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT
AND GUARANTY
by and among
AARON’S, LLC,
THE AARON’S COMPANY, INC.,

TRUIST BANK, as Servicer
and
EACH OF THE PARTICIPANTS PARTY HERETO

Dated as of April 1, 2022


TRUIST SECURITIES, INC.,
as Lead Arranger and Bookrunner





Table of Contents
i















EXHIBITS
Exhibit A        -    Form of Assignment and Acceptance Agreement
Exhibit B        -    Form of Canadian Loan Agreement
Exhibit C         -    Form of US Loan Agreement
Exhibit D         -    Form of Guaranty Agreement
Exhibit E         -    Form of Participation Certificate
Exhibit F         -    Form of Monthly Servicing Report
Exhibit G        -    Form of Security Agreement
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.1(a)         -    Pricing Grid
Schedule 1.1(b)        -    Participant Commitments
Schedule 1.1(c)        -    Inactive Subsidiaries
Schedule 5.14        -    Subsidiaries
Schedule 8.1        -    Outstanding Indebtedness
Schedule 8.2        -    Existing Liens
Schedule 8.4        -    Existing Investments





LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY
THIS LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY (the “Agreement”) made as of this 1st day of April, 2022, by and among AARON’S, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company having its principal place of business and chief executive office at 400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30339 (“Sponsor”), THE AARON’S COMPANY, INC., a Georgia corporation having its principal place of business and chief executive office at 400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30339 (“Holdings”), TRUIST BANK (“Truist”) and each of the other lending institutions listed on the signature pages hereto (Truist, such lenders, together with any assignees thereof becoming “Participants” pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the “Participants”) and TRUIST BANK, a banking corporation organized and existing under the laws of North Carolina having its principal office in Charlotte, North Carolina, as Servicer (in such capacity, the “Servicer”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, Sponsor is willing, subject to the limitations set forth herein, to repurchase loans upon the occurrence of certain events, all as more fully set forth below;
NOW, THEREFORE, upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, and in consideration of the mutual premises set forth above and other adequate consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree:

DEFINITIONS
Definitions. In addition to the other terms defined herein, the following terms used herein shall have the meanings herein specified (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
ARTICLE I.Aaron’s” shall mean the Sponsor.
ARTICLE II.Aaron’s Proprietary System” shall mean the Sponsor’s proprietary point of sale software system, as modified from time to time, used by the Sponsor and its franchisees.
ARTICLE III.ACH Authorization” shall mean an authorization from a Borrower to automatically debit Loan payments from a deposit account of such Borrower, substantially in the form attached to the Servicing Agreement as Exhibit A or such other form as the Servicer may require from time to time.
ARTICLE IV.Acquired Business” shall mean the Target and its subsidiaries.
ARTICLE V.Acquisition” shall mean any transaction in which Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries directly or indirectly (i) acquires any ongoing business, (ii) acquires all or substantially all of the assets of any Person or division thereof, whether through a purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, (iii) acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) control of at least a majority of the voting stock of a corporation, other than the acquisition of voting stock of a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary solely in connection with the organization and capitalization of that Restricted Subsidiary by the Sponsor, Holdings or another Guarantor, or (iv) acquires control of more than fifty percent (50%) ownership interest in any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company.
ARTICLE VI.Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate” shall mean, with respect to each Payment Period, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) determined pursuant to the following formula:
“Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate” = Canadian LIBOR        
1.00 - LIBOR Reserve Percentage
As used herein, “LIBOR Reserve Percentage” shall mean, for any Payment Period for any Funded Participation outstanding hereunder, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal) equal to the then stated maximum rate of all reserve requirements (including, without limitation, any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other
v



reserves) applicable to any member bank of the Federal Reserve System in respect of Eurocurrency liabilities as defined in Regulation D (or against any successor category of liabilities as defined in Regulation D).
ARTICLE VII.Advance” shall mean a funding of a loan to a Borrower by the Servicer pursuant to such Borrower’s Loan Commitment.
ARTICLE VIII.Affected Financial Institution” shall mean (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
ARTICLE IX.Affiliate” shall mean, as to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition “Control” shall mean the power, directly or indirectly, either to (i) vote ten percent (10%) or more of securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of a Person or (ii) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. The terms “Controlled by”, and “under common Control with” have meanings correlative thereto.
ARTICLE X.Agent Parties” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 15.1(b)(iv).
ARTICLE XI.Agreement” shall have the meaning given to such term in the introductory paragraph hereof.
ARTICLE XII.Amortization Period” shall mean (i) with respect to a US Borrower, 18 or 24 months, as determined from time to time by Aaron’s; provided, however, in the event any US Line of Credit Commitment is terminated upon 90 days’ notice from the Servicer, all amounts outstanding under such US Line of Credit Commitment shall be due and payable in full no later than the 24-month anniversary of such termination, and (ii) with respect to a Canadian Borrower, 24 months; provided, however, in the event any Canadian Line of Credit Commitment is terminated upon 90 days’ notice from the Servicer, all amounts outstanding under such Canadian Line of Credit Commitment shall be due and payable in full no later than the 24-month anniversary of such termination.
ARTICLE XIII.Anti-Corruption Laws” shall mean all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to Holdings, the Sponsor and its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
ARTICLE XIV.Applicable Margin” shall mean, with respect to all Funded Participations, as of any date, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio in effect on such date for Loans as set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto; provided, that a change in the Applicable Margin resulting from a change in the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall be effective on the second day after which the Sponsor has delivered the financial statements required by Section 6.1(a) or (b) and the compliance certificate required by Section 6.1(c); provided, further, that if at any time the Sponsor shall have failed to deliver such financial statement and such certificate when due hereunder, the Applicable Margin shall be at Level IV until such time as such financial statements and certificates are delivered, at which time the Applicable Margin shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Margin from the Effective Date until the financial statements and certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Sponsor delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(c) for the Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2022 are delivered shall be at Level II.
ARTICLE XV.Applicable Percentage” shall mean, with respect to the Participant Commitment Fee, as of any date, the percentage per annum determined by reference to the applicable Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio in effect on such date as set forth on Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto; provided, that a change in the Applicable Percentage resulting from a change in the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio shall be effective on the second day after which the Sponsor has delivered the financial statements required by Section 6.1(a) or (b) and the compliance certificate required by Section 6.1(c); provided, further, that if at any time the Sponsor shall have failed to deliver such financial statement and such certificate when due hereunder, the Applicable Percentage shall be at Level IV until such time as such financial statements and certificates are delivered, at which time the Applicable Percentage shall be determined as provided above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicable Percentage from the Effective Date until the financial statements and certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Sponsor delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(c) for the Fiscal Quarter ending on September 30, 2022 are delivered shall be at Level II.



ARTICLE XVI.Arranger” shall mean Truist Securities, Inc., in its capacity as lead arranger and bookrunner.
ARTICLE XVII.Asset Disposition” shall mean (i) all sales of Merchandise; (ii) all Merchandise which is determined to have been stolen; (iii) all Merchandise that is destroyed, lost or otherwise removed from the premises of a Borrower other than pursuant to a Lease Contract or by outright sale or for repair work; and (iv) all “skipped” Merchandise which is Merchandise subject to a Lease Contract.
ARTICLE XVIII.Assignment and Acceptance” shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Participant and an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and substantially in the form of Exhibit A.
ARTICLE XIX.Authorized Signatory” shall mean each officer of the Sponsor specified from time to time in an appropriate certificate to the Servicer as authorized to execute Funding Approval Notices and other such documents relating to the Loan Documents.
ARTICLE XX.Available Tenor” shall mean, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) 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 (y) 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 “Payment Period” pursuant to Section 2.5(d).
ARTICLE XXI.Bail-In Action” shall mean the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an Affected Financial Institution.
ARTICLE XXII.Bail-In Legislation” shall mean (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 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).
ARTICLE XXIII.Bankruptcy Code” shall mean The Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended and in effect from time to time (11 U.S.C. §101 et seq.).
ARTICLE XXIV.Benchmark” shall mean, initially, (i) with respect to Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, Canadian LIBOR, and (ii) with respect to Loan denominated in US Dollars, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided, however, that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to (i) Canadian LIBOR or the then current Benchmark for Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, or (ii) the Term SOFR Reference Rate or the then current Benchmark for Loans denominated in US Dollars, then, in either case, “Benchmark” with respect to such currency shall mean the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 2.5(d).
Benchmark Replacement” shall mean, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Servicer for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date; provided, that, with respect to any Benchmark for Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars, “Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the alternative set forth in clause (b) below:
Section 24.1    Daily Simple SOFR; or
Section 24.2    the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Servicer and the Sponsor giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (B) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities



denominated in the currency applicable to such Benchmark at such time and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Operative Documents.
ARTICLE XXV.Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” shall mean, with respect to any replacement of any then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Servicer and the Sponsor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the currency applicable to such Benchmark at such time.
ARTICLE XXVI.Benchmark Replacement Date” shall mean the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to any then-current Benchmark:
Section 26.1    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
Section 26.2    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 or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative or non-compliant with or non-aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks; provided that such non-representativeness, non-compliance or non-alignment 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) above 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).
ARTICLE XXVII.Benchmark Transition Event” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to then-current Benchmark for any applicable currency:
Section 27.1    a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);
Section 27.2    a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the 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
Section 27.3    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) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component 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 or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.
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).
ARTICLE XXVIII.Benchmark Unavailability Period” shall mean, with respect to any then-current Benchmark, 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 such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Operative Document in accordance with Section 2.5(d)(iii)-(vi) and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Operative Document in accordance with Section 2.5(d)(iii)-(vi).
ARTICLE XXIX.Beneficial Ownership Certification” shall mean a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
ARTICLE XXX.Beneficial Ownership Regulation” shall mean 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
ARTICLE XXXI.Benefit Plan” shall mean 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”.
ARTICLE XXXII.Borrower” shall mean a US Borrower or a Canadian Borrower, as the case may be.
ARTICLE XXXIII.Borrower Payment Date” shall mean, with respect to any Loans, the last day of each calendar month; provided, however, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.
ARTICLE XXXIV.Borrower Rate” shall mean, (a) with respect to each US Loan, the Prime Rate per annum plus any additional margin per annum specified for such US Loan by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, such margin not to exceed ten percent (10.0%) per annum calculated based upon the actual number of days elapsed in a 360 day year; provided that, at no time may there be more than five different Borrower Rates for US Line of Credit Loans, and no more than five different Borrower Rates for US Revolving Loans and US Term Loans and (b) with respect to each Canadian Loan, the Canadian Prime Rate per annum plus any additional margin per annum specified for such Canadian Loan by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, such margin not to exceed ten percent (10.0%) per annum calculated based upon the actual number of days elapsed in a 360-day year; provided that, at no time may there be more than five different Borrower Rates for Canadian Line of Credit Loans, and no more than five different Borrower Rates for Canadian Revolving Loans and Canadian Term Loans.
ARTICLE XXXV.Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Charlotte, North Carolina or New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.
ARTICLE XXXVI.Canadian Borrower” shall mean any Franchisee domiciled in Canada (other than in the Province of Quebec) that is primarily liable for repayment of a Canadian Loan as a result of having executed Canadian Loan Documents as maker, or its permitted assignee.



ARTICLE XXXVII.Canadian Borrower Payment Date” shall mean, with respect to any Canadian Loans, the last day of each calendar month; provided, however, if such day is not a Canadian Business Day, the next succeeding Canadian Business Day which is also a Business Day.
ARTICLE XXXVIII.Canadian Business Day” shall mean (i) any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Toronto, Ontario are authorized or required by law to close and (ii) if such day relates to Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate, any day on which dealings in Canadian Dollars are carried on in the London interbank market.
ARTICLE XXXIX.Canadian Dollar Equivalent” shall mean, on any date, (i) with respect to any amount denominated in Canadian Dollars, such amount and (ii) with respect to any amount denominated in US Dollars, the amount of Canadian Dollars that would be required to purchase the amount of such US Dollars on such date based upon the Exchange Rate as of the applicable date of determination.
ARTICLE XL.Canadian Dollars” or “Cdn$” shall mean the lawful currency of Canada.
ARTICLE XLI.Canadian Franchisee” shall mean those certain store operators located in Canada (other than in the Province of Quebec) that own and operate stores under the Aaron’s franchise.
ARTICLE XLII.Canadian Funded Participation” shall mean, for any Participant, the portion of such Participant’s Funded Participation in Canadian Dollars.
ARTICLE XLIII.Canadian LIBOR” shall mean the rate per annum equal to the Canadian Dealer Offered Rate, or a comparable or successor rate which is approved by the Servicer, appearing on the applicable Reuters screen or the Bloomberg screen page, as selected by the Servicer, as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Canadian Dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such one-month interest period for a one-month period. If for any reason such rate is not available, Canadian LIBOR shall be, for any such interest period, the rate per annum reasonably determined by the Servicer as the rate of interest at which Canadian Dollar deposits in an amount comparable to the aggregate outstanding Funded Participations in US Dollars are offered to the Servicer by prime banks in the Canadian Dollar market reasonably selected by the Servicer determined as of 10:00 a.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such interest period for a term comparable to such interest period; provided, that, if Canadian LIBOR would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XLIV.Canadian Line of Credit Commitment” shall mean a commitment to make Canadian Line of Credit Loans to a Canadian Borrower in Canadian Dollars pursuant to a Canadian Loan Agreement.
ARTICLE XLV.Canadian Line of Credit Loans” shall mean Advances made to a Canadian Borrower pursuant to a Canadian Line of Credit Commitment.
ARTICLE XLVI.Canadian Line of Credit Note” shall mean a Canadian Line of Credit Note, executed by a Canadian Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such Canadian Borrower’s obligation to repay all Canadian Line of Credit Loans made to it pursuant to a Canadian Line of Credit Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the Canadian Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
ARTICLE XLVII.Canadian Loan” shall mean either a Canadian Term Loan, a Canadian Revolving Loan or a Canadian Line of Credit Loan, as the case may be.
ARTICLE XLVIII.Canadian Loan Agreement” shall mean a Loan Agreement setting forth the terms and conditions, as between a Canadian Borrower and the Servicer, under which the Servicer has established a Canadian Loan Commitment to make Advances to such Canadian Borrower pursuant to the Canadian Loan Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, with such changes as may be mutually agreed by the Sponsor and the Servicer (it being understood that the Servicer will not unreasonably withhold or delay its agreement to any such changes requested by the Sponsor).



ARTICLE XLIX.Canadian Loan Commitment” shall mean the commitment by the Servicer to make Advances to any Canadian Borrower in Canadian Dollars in the amount not exceeding, and upon the terms described in, the applicable Funding Approval Notice and the applicable Canadian Loan Documents, which Canadian Loan Commitment may be a Canadian Line of Credit Commitment, a Canadian Revolving Commitment or a Canadian Term Loan Commitment.
ARTICLE L.Canadian Loan Documents” shall mean, with respect to any Canadian Loan, the Canadian Loan Agreement, the Canadian Master Note, any Personal Guaranty, any Canadian Security Agreement, any Spousal Consent, the Collateral Agreements, in each case relating to such Loan, any other documents relating to such Loan delivered by any Borrower or any guarantor or surety thereof to the Servicer and any amendments thereto (provided that such amendments are made with the consent of the Sponsor, where such consent is required under this Agreement).
ARTICLE LI.Canadian Master Note” shall mean a Canadian Line of Credit Note, a Canadian Revolving Note or a Canadian Term Note, as the case may be.
ARTICLE LII.Canadian Prime Rate shall mean, on any date of determination, the higher of (a) the reference rate of interest, expressed as an annual rate, publicly announced or posted from time to time by Bloomberg on page BTMM for Canadian Money Market rates or (b) the average one month Bankers’ Acceptance rate quoted on Reuters Service, page CDOR, as at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Toronto, Ontario time) on such day plus 1% per annum.
ARTICLE LIII.Canadian Revolving Commitment” shall mean a commitment to make Canadian Revolving Loans to a Canadian Borrower pursuant to a Loan Agreement.
ARTICLE LIV.Canadian Revolving Loans” shall mean Advances made to a Canadian Borrower pursuant to a Canadian Revolving Commitment.
ARTICLE LV.Canadian Revolving Note” shall mean that certain Revolving Note, executed by a Canadian Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such Canadian Borrower’s obligation to repay all Canadian Revolving Loans made to it pursuant to a Canadian Revolving Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3 to the Canadian Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
ARTICLE LVI.Canadian Security Agreement” shall mean any security agreement executed by a Canadian Borrower substantially in the form required by the Servicing Agreement.
ARTICLE LVII.Canadian Subfacility Amount” shall mean Cdn$12,500,000, as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.7, Section 2.9 or Article IX.
ARTICLE LVIII.Canadian Term Loan Commitment” shall mean a commitment to make Canadian Term Loans to a Canadian Borrower pursuant to a Canadian Loan Agreement.
ARTICLE LIX.Canadian Term Loans” shall mean Advances made to a Canadian Borrower pursuant to a Canadian Term Loan Commitment.
ARTICLE LX.Canadian Term Note” shall mean that certain Term Note, executed by a Canadian Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such Canadian Borrower’s obligation to repay all Canadian Term Loans made to it pursuant to a Canadian Term Loan Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the Canadian Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
ARTICLE LXI.Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person shall mean all obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases 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.



ARTICLE LXII.Capital Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
ARTICLE LXIII.Cash Collateralize” shall mean, in respect of any obligations, to provide and pledge (as a first priority perfected security interest) cash collateral for such obligations in US Dollars or Canadian Dollars, as applicable, with the Servicer pursuant to documentation in form and substance, reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer (and “Cash Collateralization” has a corresponding meaning).
ARTICLE LXIV.Cash Equivalents” shall mean, as at any date, (i) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (ii) Dollar denominated time deposits and certificates of deposit of (A) any Participant, (B) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (C) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof or from Moody’s is at least P-1 or the equivalent thereof (any such bank being an “Approved Bank”), in each case with maturities of not more than two hundred seventy (270) days from the date of acquisition, (iii) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Bank (or by the parent company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by, any domestic corporation rated A-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or P-1 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s and maturing within six months of the date of acquisition, (iv) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with a bank or trust company (including any Participant) or recognized securities dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 for direct obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States in which such Person shall have a perfected first priority security interest (subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair market value of at least one hundred percent (100)% of the amount of the repurchase obligations and (v) investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as current assets, in money market investment programs registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 which are administered by reputable financial institutions having capital of at least $500,000,000 and the portfolios of which are limited to Investments of the character described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv).
ARTICLE LXV.Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of Holdings to any Person or “group” (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder in effect on the Effective Date), (ii) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or “group” (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the Effective Date) of thirty-three and one third percent (33⅓%) or more of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors of Holdings; (iii) during any period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of Holdings cease to be composed of individuals (A) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (B) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (A) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (C) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (A) and (B) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or (iv) Holdings shall cease to own and control, of record and beneficially, directly one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding Capital Stock of the Sponsor.
ARTICLE LXVI.Closing Date” shall mean, for any Loan, the date upon which all Loan Documents have been executed and delivered and the conditions precedent to funding such Loan have been satisfied.
ARTICLE LXVII.Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.



ARTICLE LXVIII.Collateral” shall mean, with respect to any Loan, all property of the Borrower and all guarantors obligated with respect to such Loan that secures such Loan, which property shall be designated by the Sponsor and may include all accounts receivable, inventory, Lease Contracts and other business assets of such Borrower and guarantors.
Collateral Agreement” shall mean an agreement executed by a Borrower and any other Persons primarily or secondarily liable for all or part of the Loan or granting a security interest or other Lien to the Servicer in specified Collateral as security for such Loan, including without limitation, any Loan Agreements, any Canadian Security Agreement and any Personal Guaranties.
ARTICLE LXIX.Communications” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 15.1(b)(iv).
ARTICLE LXX.Conforming Changes” shall mean, with respect to either the use or administration of any Benchmark or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Business Day”, the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day”, the definition of “Payment 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 breakage or other early termination fees and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Servicer decides may be appropriate (in consultation with the Sponsor) to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Servicer in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Servicer decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Servicer determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Servicer decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Operative Documents).
ARTICLE LXXI.Consolidated Companies” shall mean, collectively, Holdings and all of its Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE LXXII.Consolidated EBITDA” shall mean for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (ii) to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, but without duplication, (A) Consolidated Interest Expense, (B) income tax expense, (C) depreciation (excluding depreciation of rental merchandise) and amortization, (D) all other non-cash charges (including, without limitation, any non-cash charges, expenses or losses incurred in connection with any stock option plan, cash incentive plan or any other employee benefit plan or agreement, but excluding any such non-cash charges or losses (1) representing an accrual or reserve for future cash charges or losses, (2) to the extent that there were cash charges or losses with respect thereto in past accounting periods, and (3) representing a write-down of current assets; provided that in the case of (1) and (2), if any such non-cash charges or losses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid), (E) any fees, expenses or charges related to any issuance of Capital Stock, Investment, Acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Agreement (in each case including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including such fees, expenses or charges related to the Project Everglade Acquisition, (F) business optimization, restructuring and transition expenses, costs, charges, accruals or reserves, all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, which for the avoidance of doubt shall include severance payments and costs, legal defense and settlement costs (including any costs paid in satisfaction of judgments), relocation costs, costs related to the closure, opening, curtailment and/or consolidation of facilities (including retail stores), retention charges, systems establishment costs, spin-off costs, integration costs, signing costs, retention and completion bonuses, amortization of signing bonuses, inventory optimization expenses, contract termination costs, transaction costs, costs related to entry into new markets, consulting fees, recruiter fees; (G) loss of on-lease and off-lease inventory, physical damage to stores, infrastructure, capital assets and other assets of the business and loss of revenue, in each case, (1) to the extent reasonably identifiable by the Sponsor as having resulted from significant weather events or other natural disasters in areas that have been declared a federal disaster or otherwise qualify for federal emergency assistance, (2) to the extent occurring within twelve (12) months after the occurrence of such significant weather event or natural disaster, and (3) net of all related insurance proceeds received related thereto (including, without limitation, all business interruption insurance and casualty insurance), all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; and (H)



expenses, cost, charges, accruals or reserves relating to the repositioning, relocating, remodeling, consolidation and closure of retail locations, offices or operating centers, all as determined on a consolidated basis for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, plus (iii) the amount of cost savings and synergies projected by the Sponsor in good faith to be reasonably anticipated to be realized from actions taken or committed to be taken during such period in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or any permitted disposition of assets (in each case calculated on a Pro Forma Basis as though such cost savings and synergies had been realized on the first day of such period, net of the amount of actual benefits realized prior to or during such period from such actions); provided that such actions have been taken or have been committed to be taken, and the benefits resulting therefrom are anticipated by the Sponsor in good faith to be realized within twenty-four (24) months after the completion of the related Permitted Acquisition or permitted disposition of assets (provided that, with respect to the Project Everglade Acquisition only, any such actions have been taken or have been committed to be taken, and the benefits resulting therefrom are anticipated by the Sponsor in good faith to be realized on or before the end of the second full fiscal year following the consummation of the Project Everglade Acquisition); and provided, further, that the aggregate amount for all such items under this clause (iii) shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the sum of (x) the amounts added back to Consolidated Net Income in reliance on clauses (ii)(F), (ii)(G), (ii)(H) and (iii) above and (y) the amounts excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income in reliance on clause (iv) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income” shall not exceed, in the aggregate during any four fiscal quarter period, the greater of (i) $40,000,000 and (ii) 20% of Consolidated EBITDA for such period (calculated prior to adding back any such amounts).
ARTICLE LXXIII.Consolidated EBITDAR” shall mean, for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Consolidated EBITDA plus (b) Consolidated Lease Expense.
ARTICLE LXXIV.Consolidated Fixed Charges” shall mean, for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense paid or payable for such period plus (b) Consolidated Lease Expense.
ARTICLE LXXV.Consolidated Interest Expense” shall mean, for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, total cash interest expense, including without limitation the interest component of any payments in respect of Capital Leases Obligations capitalized or expensed during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period).
ARTICLE LXXVI.Consolidated Lease Expense” shall mean, for any period, the aggregate amount of fixed and contingent rentals payable by Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to leases of real and personal property (excluding Capital Lease Obligations) determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period.
ARTICLE LXXVII.Consolidated Net Income” shall mean, for any period, the net income (or loss) of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but excluding therefrom (to the extent otherwise included therein) (i) any extraordinary gains or losses, (ii) any gains attributable to write ups of assets, (iii) any equity interest of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings in the unremitted earnings of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary, (iv) any loss attributable to any retail store opened during the fifteen (15) months immediately preceding the end of such period and (v) any income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary on the date that such Person’s assets are acquired by Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary, except to the extent provided for in the definition of Pro Forma Basis in connection with a Permitted Acquisition. For the avoidance of doubt, Consolidated Net Income (i) shall exclude any income (or loss) for such period of Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (ii) shall include any amounts actually distributed in cash by Unrestricted Subsidiaries to Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary.
ARTICLE LXXVIII.Consolidated Total Debt” shall mean, at any time, all then currently outstanding obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis of the types described in the definition of “Indebtedness”.
ARTICLE LXXIX.Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and among Sponsor, the lenders from time to time parties thereto and Truist Bank, as



administrative agent, as amended, restated, replaced, refinanced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
ARTICLE LXXX.Credit Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Credit Agreement and any and all other instruments, agreements, documents and writings executed in connection with the foregoing.
ARTICLE LXXXI.Credit Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Article IX of this Agreement.
ARTICLE LXXXII.Credit Parties” shall mean, collectively, each of the Sponsor, Holdings and the Guarantors.
ARTICLE LXXXIII.Credit Party Collateral” shall mean all tangible and intangible property, real and personal, of any Credit Party that is or purports to be the subject of a Lien to the Servicer to secure the whole or any part of the obligations of the Credit Parties under the Operative Documents (including any Guarantee thereof), and shall include, without limitation, all casualty insurance proceeds and condemnation awards with respect to any of the foregoing.
ARTICLE LXXXIV.Credit Party Collateral Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Security Agreement, all assignments of key man life insurance policies and all other instruments and agreements now or hereafter securing or perfecting the Liens securing the whole or any part of the obligations of the Credit Parties under the Operative Documents (including any Guarantee thereof), all UCC financing statements, fixture filings and stock powers, and all other documents, instruments, agreements and certificates executed and delivered by any Credit Party to the Servicer and the Participants in connection with the foregoing.
Daily Simple SOFR” shall mean, for any day, SOFR, with the conventions for this rate (which will include a lookback) being established by the Servicer in accordance with the conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining “Daily Simple SOFR” for syndicated business loans; provided, that if the Servicer decides that any such convention is not administratively feasible for the Servicer, then the Servicer may establish another convention in its reasonable discretion.
ARTICLE LXXXV.Default Waiver Letter” shall mean a waiver letter sent by Sponsor to the Servicer which such waiver letter shall (i) waive and cure a Loan Payment Default or (ii) waive a covenant default with respect to a Loan that does not constitute a Loan Default, such waiver letter to be substantially in the form required in the Servicing Agreement.
ARTICLE LXXXVI.Defaulted Borrower” shall mean a Borrower under a Defaulted Loan.
ARTICLE LXXXVII.Defaulted Loan” shall mean a Loan evidenced by Loan Documents under the terms of which exist one or more Loan Defaults that have not been cured or waived as permitted herein.
ARTICLE LXXXVIII.Defaulting Participant” shall mean, at any time, subject to Section 2.17(b), (i) any Participant that has failed for two (2) or more Business Days to comply with its obligations under this Agreement to fund any Participant Funding (each a “funding obligation”), unless such Participant has notified the Servicer and the Sponsor in writing that such failure is the result of such Participant’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding has not been satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Credit Event, will be specifically identified in such writing), (ii) any Participant that has notified the Servicer in writing, or has stated publicly, that it does not intend to comply with any such funding obligation hereunder, unless such writing or public statement states that such position is based on such Participant’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding cannot be satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Credit Event will be specifically identified in such writing or public statement), (iii) any Participant that has defaulted on its obligation to fund generally under any other loan agreement, credit agreement or other financing agreement, (iv) any Participant that has, for three (3) or more Business Days after written request of the Servicer or the Sponsor, failed to confirm in writing to the Servicer and the Sponsor that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Participant will cease to be a Defaulting Participant pursuant to this clause (iv) upon the Servicer’s and the Sponsor’s receipt of such written confirmation), (v) any Participant with respect to which a Participant Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing or (vi) any Participant that has become the subject of a Bail-In Action. Any determination by the Servicer that a Participant is a Defaulting Participant will be conclusive and binding, absent manifest error, and such Participant shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Participant (subject to Section 2.17(b)) upon notification of such determination by the Servicer to the Sponsor and the Participants.



ARTICLE LXXXIX.Delaware Divided LLC” shall mean any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon the consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.
ARTICLE XC.Delaware LLC” shall mean any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE XCI.Delaware LLC Division” shall mean the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
ARTICLE XCII.Domestic Controlled Affiliate” shall mean each Affiliate of the Sponsor that is (a) Controlled by the Sponsor, and (b) incorporated or organized under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
ARTICLE XCIII.Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Sponsor that is incorporated or organized under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
ARTICLE XCIV.EEA Financial Institution” shall mean (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 clause (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
ARTICLE XCV.EEA Member Country” shall mean any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
ARTICLE XCVI.EEA Resolution Authority” shall mean any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.
ARTICLE XCVII.Effective Date” shall mean the date upon which all conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement have been satisfied.
ARTICLE XCVIII.Eligible Assignee” shall mean (i) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof having total assets in excess of $1,000,000,000.00 or any commercial finance or asset-based lending Affiliate of any such commercial bank and (ii) any Participant.
ARTICLE XCIX.Environmental Laws” shall mean all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
ARTICLE C.Environmental Liability” shall mean any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental investigation and remediation, costs of administrative oversight, fines, natural resource damages, penalties or indemnities), of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (i) any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law, (ii) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (iii) any actual or alleged exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (iv) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials or (v) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
ARTICLE CI.ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
ARTICLE CII.ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated), which, together with the Sponsor, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for the purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.



ARTICLE CIII.ERISA Event shall mean (i) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (ii) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (iii) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (iv) the incurrence by the Sponsor or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (v) the receipt by the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator appointed by the PBGC of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (vi) the incurrence by the Sponsor or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (vii) the receipt by the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
ARTICLE CIV.EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” shall mean the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor Person), as in effect from time to time.
ARTICLE CV.Exchange Rate” shall mean the offered rate at which Canadian Dollars may be exchanged into US Dollars or US Dollars may be exchanged into Canadian Dollars, as the case may be, as set forth at approximately 11:00 a.m. on such day on the Reuters NFX Page (or if such page is not available, or the rate does not appear on such page, the comparable page on the Telerate or Bloomberg Service). In the event that such rate does not appear on the applicable page of any such services, the “Exchange Rate” shall be determined by reference to such other publicly available services for displaying exchange rates as may be agreed upon by the Servicer and the Sponsor, or, in the absence of such agreement, such Exchange Rate shall instead be the offered spot rate of exchange of the Servicer or, if the Servicer shall so determine, one of its affiliates in the market where its foreign currency exchange operations in respect of Canadian Dollars are then being conducted, at or about 10:00 a.m., local time, on such date for the purchase or sale of US Dollars for delivery two Business Days later; provided that if at the time of any such determination, for any reason, no such spot rate is being quoted, the Servicer, after consultation with the Sponsor, may use any reasonable method it deems appropriate to determine such rate, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Exchange Rate shall be initially the Exchange Rate as of the Effective Date and shall be reset periodically on each Reset Date pursuant to Section 2.14(c).
ARTICLE CVI.Existing Loan” shall mean any of the loans made by the Servicer pursuant to the Existing Loan Facility Agreement as in effect from time to time.
ARTICLE CVII.Existing Loan Commitments” shall mean any of the commitments to make loans made by the Servicer pursuant to the Existing Loan Facility Agreement as in effect from time to time.
ARTICLE CVIII.Existing Loan Facility Agreement” shall mean that certain Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of November 17, 2020 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time) by and among the Sponsor, the participants party thereto and the Servicer.
ARTICLE CIX.Existing Note” shall mean any of the promissory notes from the Borrowers to the Servicer substantially in the form attached to the Existing Loan Facility Agreement as in effect from time to time.
ARTICLE CX.Facility Commitment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
ARTICLE CXI.Facility Commitment Termination Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
ARTICLE CXII.Federal Funds Rate” shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with member banks of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, (i) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day and (ii) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding



Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate charged to Truist Bank or any other Participant selected by the Servicer on such day on such transactions as determined by the Servicer.
ARTICLE CXIII.Federal Reserve Board” shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
ARTICLE CXIV.Fee Letter shall mean that certain letter agreement dated as of the Effective Date, by and among the Sponsor and the Servicer, setting forth certain fees applicable to the loan facility described herein, either as originally executed or as hereafter amended or modified.
ARTICLE CXV.Final Termination Date” shall mean the date that is ninety (90) days after the last Maturity Date of the Loans.
ARTICLE CXVI.Financing Statement” shall mean, (a) with respect to a US Loan, a document that among other things, describes the Collateral, the proper filing of which perfects a security interest in the Collateral described therein under the laws of the state in which such document is filed and (b) with respect to a Canadian Loan, a document that among other things, describes the Collateral, the proper filing of which perfects a security interest in the Collateral described therein under the laws of the province or territory in which such document is filed.
ARTICLE CXVII.Fiscal Quarter” shall mean any fiscal quarter of Holdings.
ARTICLE CXVIII.Fiscal Year shall mean a fiscal year of Holdings; references to a Fiscal Year with a number corresponding to any calendar year (e.g., the “Fiscal Year 2020”) refers to the Fiscal Year ending during such calendar year.
ARTICLE CXIX.Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” shall mean, at any date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDAR for the four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date to (ii) Consolidated Fixed Charges for the four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date.
ARTICLE CXX.Floor” shall mean a rate of interest equal to 0.00%.
ARTICLE CXXI.Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Sponsor that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
ARTICLE CXXII.Franchise Agreement” shall mean the written agreement between Sponsor and a Franchisee whereby the Franchisee is authorized to establish an Aaron’s franchise.
ARTICLE CXXIII.Franchisee” shall mean a Canadian Franchisee or a US Franchisee, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CXXIV.Franchisee Borrowing Base” shall mean, on any date of determination, an amount equal to a multiple of Rental Revenue for the most recently ended three calendar months, as determined for each Borrower by Aaron’s and specified in the Funding Approval Notice for such Borrower.
ARTICLE CXXV.Franchisee Loan shall mean either a Canadian Loan or a US Loan, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CXXVI.Franchisee Loan Program” shall mean the transaction evidenced by (i) this Agreement wherein the Sponsor has guaranteed, to the extent set forth herein, certain obligations of Franchisees of the Sponsor, and (ii) the other Operative Documents executed in connection herewith and therewith.
ARTICLE CXXVII.Funded Participation” shall mean (x) with respect to any Participant other than Truist Bank, the portion of such Participant’s Participating Commitment that has been funded in US Dollars or Canadian Dollars, and (y) with respect to Truist Bank, the portion of the Facility Commitment (including Swing Line Advances) that has been funded in US Dollars or Canadian Dollars, less the aggregate Funded Participations of all other Participants.



ARTICLE CXXVIII.Funding Approval Notice” shall mean a written notice to the Servicer from Sponsor setting forth the conditions of a proposed Loan Commitment, consistent with the requirements therefor as set forth in this Agreement, and containing such information and in substantially such form as shall be agreed to by Servicer and Sponsor pursuant to the Servicing Agreement.
ARTICLE CXXIX.GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis and subject to the terms of Section 1.2.
ARTICLE CXXX.Governmental Authority” shall mean the government of the United States of America, Canada, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
ARTICLE CXXXI.Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) shall mean 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, direct or indirect, of the guarantor (i) 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, (ii) 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, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (iv) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued in support of such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term “Guarantee” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposits in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which Guarantee is made or, if not so stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
ARTICLE CXXXII.Guaranteed Obligations” shall mean the aggregate amount of all Loan Indebtedness of all Borrowers outstanding under all Loan Documents to include, without limitation (i) all principal, interest and commitment fees due with respect to all Loans, including post-petition interest in any proceeding under federal bankruptcy laws, (ii) all fees, expenses, and amounts payable by all Borrowers for reimbursement or indemnification under the terms of all Loan Agreements and all other Loan Documents executed in connection with the Loan to such Borrower, (iii) all amounts advanced by Servicer to protect or preserve the value of any security for the Loans, and (iv) all renewals, extensions, modifications, and refinancings (in whole or in part) of any of the amounts referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above).
Guarantors” shall mean, collectively, Holdings, Aaron Investment Company and certain other Restricted Subsidiaries of the Sponsor that from time to time become parties to the Guaranty Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
ARTICLE CXXXIII.Guaranty Agreement” shall mean that certain Guaranty Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, executed by Holdings, the Sponsor and certain Restricted Subsidiaries of the Sponsor in favor of the Servicer and the Participants, substantially in the form of Exhibit D, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
ARTICLE CXXXIV.Hazardous Materials” shall mean all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
ARTICLE CXXXV.Hedging Transaction” of any Person shall mean (i) any transaction (including an agreement with respect to any such transaction) now existing or hereafter entered into by such Person that is a rate swap transaction, swap option, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap or option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option, spot transaction, credit protection transaction, credit swap, credit default swap, credit default option, total return swap, credit spread transaction, repurchase transaction, reverse repurchase



transaction, buy/sell-back transaction, securities lending transaction, or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement and (ii) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
ARTICLE CXXXVI.Holdings” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereto.
ARTICLE CXXXVII.Inactive Subsidiaries” shall mean the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on Schedule 1.1(c).
ARTICLE CXXXVIII.Indebtedness” of any Person shall mean, without duplication (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business; provided, that for purposes of Section 9.6, trade payables overdue by more than one hundred twenty (120) days shall be included in this definition except to the extent that any of such trade payables are being disputed in good faith and by appropriate measures), (iv) all obligations of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement(s) relating to property acquired by such Person, (v) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (vi) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of letters of credit, acceptances or similar extensions of credit, (vii) all Guarantees of such Person of the type of Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, (viii) all Indebtedness of a third party secured by any Lien on property owned by such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person, provided, that, if such Indebtedness shall not have been assumed by such Person and is otherwise limited in recourse only to the property of such Person securing such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the fair market value of the property of such Person securing such obligation as determined by such Person in good faith and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness so secured, (ix) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Capital Stock of such Person, and (x) Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, except to the extent that the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
ARTICLE CXXXIX.Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean an intercreditor agreement to be entered into upon the Security Agreement Effective Date by the Servicer, on behalf of the Participants, and Truist Bank, as administrative agent under the Credit Agreement, on behalf of the holders of the Obligations (as defined in the Credit Agreement), which intercreditor agreement shall provide for the sharing of collateral and the proceeds thereof as provided more specifically therein.
ARTICLE CXL.Inventory Financing Agreement” shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Inventory Financing Agreement dated as of June 28, 2013 by and among Wells Fargo Commercial Distribution Finance, LLC (formerly known as Capital Solutions for the Home Product Industry) and the other parties thereto, as amended, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time.
ARTICLE CXLI.Lease Contract” shall mean a contract between a Borrower and a customer to lease Merchandise in the form approved by the Sponsor (and which may include purchase options).
ARTICLE CXLII.Leverage Increase Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.1.
ARTICLE CXLIII.Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, encumbrance, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, or other arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having the same economic effect as any of the foregoing). A covenant not to grant a Lien or a “Negative Pledge” shall not be determined a Lien for purposes of this Agreement.



ARTICLE CXLIV.Line of Credit Commitment” shall mean either a US Line of Credit Commitment or Canadian Line of Credit Commitment, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CXLV.Line of Credit Loans” shall mean either a US Line of Credit Loan or Canadian Line of Credit Loan, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CXLVI.Line of Credit Note” shall mean either a US Line of Credit Note or Canadian Line of Credit Note, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CXLVII.Loan Agreement” shall mean either a US Loan Agreement or a Canadian Loan Agreement, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CXLVIII.Loan Commitment” shall mean either a US Loan Commitment or a Canadian Loan Commitment, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CXLIX.Loan Default” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to any Loan: (i) a Loan Payment Default, (ii) the bankruptcy or insolvency of the Borrower or any Guarantor of such Loan, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or similar fiduciary for such Borrower or Guarantor, or the assignment for the benefit of creditors by such Borrower or Guarantor, or the offering of settlement or composition to the unsecured creditors of such Borrower or Guarantor generally or (iii) the termination of (or failure to renew) the Franchise Agreement to which the Borrower of such Loan is a party.
ARTICLE CL.Loan Documents” shall mean, the US Loan Documents and the Canadian Loan Documents.
ARTICLE CLI.Loan Indebtedness” shall mean all amounts due and payable by a Borrower under the terms of the Loan Documents governing the Loan to such Borrower, including, without limitation, outstanding principal, accrued interest, any commitment fees, and all reasonable costs and expenses of any legal proceeding brought by the Servicer to collect any of the foregoing (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees actually incurred).
ARTICLE CLII.Loan Payment Default” shall mean the failure of a Borrower to make a payment of principal, accrued interest thereon or any other amounts, within the cure period following the due date therefor, as provided under the applicable Loan Documents.
ARTICLE CLIII.Loan Term” shall mean, with respect to any Loan, the prescribed term of the Loan Commitment relating to such Loan, as documented in the applicable Loan Documents, and any term-out period thereafter; provided, however, that the Loan Term shall not exceed (x) in the case of a Line of Credit Commitment, 364 days subject to extension in accordance with the terms of the applicable Loan Agreement, plus, in the event that the Line of Credit Commitment is terminated upon ninety (90) days’ prior notice from the Servicer, the Amortization Period and (y) in the case of a US Revolving Commitment and a US Term Loan Commitment, four (4) years and (z) in the case of a Canadian Revolving Commitment and a Canadian Term Loan Commitment, two (2) years.
ARTICLE CLIV.Loans” shall mean either a US Loan or Canadian Loan, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CLV.Margin Regulations” shall mean Regulation T, Regulation U and Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as the same may be in effect from time to time.
ARTICLE CLVI.Master Note” shall mean either a US Master Note or a Canadian Master Note, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CLVII.Material Adverse Effect” shall mean, with respect to any event, act, condition or occurrence of whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any litigation, arbitration, or governmental investigation or proceeding), whether singularly or in conjunction with any other event or events, act or acts, condition or conditions, occurrence or occurrences whether or not related, resulting in a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on, (i) the business, results of operations, financial condition, assets or liabilities of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Sponsor or the Credit Parties taken as a whole to perform any of their respective obligations under the



Operative Documents, (iii) the rights and remedies of the Servicer and the Participants under any of the Operative Documents or (iv) the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Operative Documents.
ARTICLE CLVIII.Material Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean any Domestic Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Sponsor) that is a Restricted Subsidiary that has not already become a Guarantor that (i) at any time (A) accounted for five percent (5.0%) or more of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters ended or (B) holds assets in an amount equal to or greater than five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Sponsor) of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter, or (ii) when taken together with other Domestic Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries that are not already Guarantors, (x) accounted for ten percent (10.0%) of Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters ended or (y) holds assets in an amount equal to or greater than ten percent (10.0%) of the aggregate fair market value (as reasonably determined by the Sponsor) of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter. Upon the acquisition of a new Domestic Subsidiary or the merger or consolidation of any Person with or into an existing Domestic Subsidiary (or the acquisition of other assets by an existing Domestic Subsidiary), in each case, that is a Restricted Subsidiary, the qualification of the affected Domestic Subsidiary as a “Material Domestic Subsidiary” pursuant to the foregoing requirements of this definition shall be determined on a Pro Forma Basis as if such Domestic Subsidiary had been acquired or such merger, consolidation or other acquisition had occurred, as applicable, at the beginning of the relevant period of four (4) consecutive Fiscal Quarters.
ARTICLE CLIX.Material Indebtedness” shall mean, as of any date of determination, Indebtedness of any one or more of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount greater than an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered.
ARTICLE CLX.Material Subsidiary” shall mean at any time any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings having: (a) assets in an amount equal to at least five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter at such time; or (b) revenues or net income in an amount equal to at least five percent (5.0%) of the total revenues or net income of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the 12-month period ending on the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter at such time.
ARTICLE CLXI.Maturity Date” shall mean, with respect to any Loan, the date set forth under the applicable Loan Documents when the related Loan Commitment has terminated and all principal and interest with respect to such Loan shall become due and payable in full; provided that, each Maturity Date shall be a Borrower Payment Date or Canadian Borrower Payment Date, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CLXII.Maximum Commitment Amount” shall mean Ten Million and No/100 Dollars ($10,000,000), as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.7, Section 2.9 or Article IX.
ARTICLE CLXIII.Merchandise” shall mean goods distributed or sold to Franchisees through Sponsor.
ARTICLE CLXIV.Monthly Servicing Report” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.
ARTICLE CLXV.Moody’s” shall mean Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
ARTICLE CLXVI.Multiemployer Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
ARTICLE CLXVII.Non-Defaulting Participant” shall mean, at any time, a Participant that is not a Defaulting Participant.
ARTICLE CLXVIII.Notes” shall mean, collectively, the Canadian Line of Credit Notes, the Canadian Master Notes, the Canadian Revolving Notes, the Canadian Term Notes, the US Line of Credit Notes, the US Master Notes, the US Revolving Notes and the US Term Notes.



OFAC” shall mean the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
ARTICLE CLXIX.Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities” of any Person shall mean (i) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, other than indemnity obligations for any breach of any representation or warranty which are customary in non-recourse sales of such assets, (ii) any liability of such Person under any sale and leaseback transactions which do not create a liability on the balance sheet of such Person, (iii) any liability of such Person under any so-called “synthetic” lease transaction or (iv) any obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person.
ARTICLE CLXX.Opening Date” shall mean, with respect to each store location, the date determined by the Sponsor to be the opening date of such location in accordance with its standard practice, as notified to the Servicer in accordance with the terms hereof.
ARTICLE CLXXI.Operative Documents” shall mean this Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Fee Letter, the Intercreditor Agreement, if any, the Credit Party Collateral Documents, if any, and any other documents delivered by Sponsor or any Guarantor to the Servicer or the Participants in connection herewith or therewith.
ARTICLE CLXXII.PAD Authorization” shall mean a pre-authorized debit authorization executed by a Borrower authorizing the Servicer to cause a specified account of such Borrower to be debited to pay amounts payable, such authorization to be in the form attached to the Servicing Agreement as Exhibit K or such other form as the Servicer may require from time to time.
ARTICLE CLXXIII.Parent Company” shall mean, with respect to a Participant, the bank holding company (as defined in Regulation Y), if any, of such Participant, and/or any Person owning, beneficially or of record, directly or indirectly, a majority of the shares of such Participant.
ARTICLE CLXXIV.Participant” shall mean Truist, the other lending institutions listed on the signature pages hereof and each assignee thereof, if any, pursuant to the terms hereof.
ARTICLE CLXXV.Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date” shall mean the last day of each calendar month; provided, however, if such day is not a Canadian Business Day, the next succeeding Canadian Business Day which is also a Business Day.
ARTICLE CLXXVI.Participant Canadian Quarterly Payment Date” shall mean the last day of each calendar quarter; provided, however, if such day is not a Canadian Business Day, the next succeeding Canadian Business Day which is also a Business Day.
ARTICLE CLXXVII.Participant Commitment Fee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.
ARTICLE CLXXVIII.Participant Funding” shall mean a funding by the Participants of their respective Participant’s Interest in Advances or Loans in US Dollars or Canadian Dollars.
ARTICLE CLXXIX.Participant Insolvency Event” shall mean that (i) a Participant or its Parent Company is insolvent, or is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, (ii) a Participant or its Parent Company is the subject of a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation or similar proceeding, or a receiver, trustee, conservator, custodian or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such capacity, has been appointed for such Participant or its Parent Company, or Participant or its Parent Company has taken any action in furtherance of or indicating its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or (iii) a Participant or its Parent Company has been adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Person or its assets to be, insolvent; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a Participant Insolvency Event shall not be deemed to have occurred  solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in or control of a Participant or its Parent Company thereof by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof so long as such ownership or acquisition does not result in or provide such Participant with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or



permit such Participant (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Participant.
ARTICLE CLXXX.Participant’s Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
ARTICLE CLXXXI.Participant Monthly Payment Date” shall mean the last day of each calendar month; provided, however, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.
ARTICLE CLXXXII.Participant Quarterly Payment Date” shall mean the last day of each calendar quarter; provided, however, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.
ARTICLE CLXXXIII.Participant’s Unused Commitment” shall mean, with respect to any Participant, the difference between such Participant’s Participating Commitment Amount and the US Dollar Equivalent of such Participant’s Funded Participation.
ARTICLE CLXXXIV.Participating Commitment” shall mean the commitment of each Participant to fund its Participant’s Interest in outstanding US Loans in US Dollars and in outstanding Canadian Loans in Canadian Dollars, in an aggregate amount (on a US Dollar Equivalent basis) not to exceed such Participant’s Participating Commitment Amount.
ARTICLE CLXXXV.Participating Commitment Amount” shall mean the amount set forth opposite each Participant’s name on Schedule 1.1(b) attached hereto, as such amount may be modified by assignment pursuant to the terms hereof; provided, that, following the termination of the Facility Commitment, each Participant’s Participating Commitment Amount shall be deemed to be its Pro Rata Share of the aggregate principal amount of all Loan Commitments.
ARTICLE CLXXXVI.Participation Certificate” shall mean a certificate issued by the Servicer to a Participant, substantially in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto, evidencing such Participant’s ownership interest conveyed hereunder.
ARTICLE CLXXXVII.Payment Period” shall mean a period of one (1) month; provided that (i) the first day of a Payment Period must be a Business Day, (ii) any Payment Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, (iii) the first Payment Period hereunder shall commence on the Effective Date and shall end on the last day of the next succeeding calendar month and (iv) the first day of any succeeding Payment Period shall be the last day of the preceding Payment Period and shall end on the last day of the next succeeding calendar month.
ARTICLE CLXXXVIII.PBGC shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, and any successor entity performing similar functions.
ARTICLE CLXXXIX.Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Term SOFR”.
ARTICLE CXC.Permitted Acquisition” shall mean any Acquisition (whether foreign or domestic) so long as (a) immediately before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, no Credit Event or Unmatured Credit Event is in existence, (b) such Acquisition has been approved by the board of directors of the Person being acquired prior to any public announcement thereof, (c) to the extent such Acquisition is of a Person or Persons that are not organized in the United States and/or of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person located outside the United States and the aggregate EBITDA attributable to all Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries for the most recently ended twelve month period (giving pro forma effect to such Acquisition) exceeds twenty percent (20%) of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended twelve month period, the Sponsor complies with Section 6.12 hereof and (d) immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition, Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries will not be engaged in any business other than (A) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease



purchase programs), (B) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Sponsor and (C) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Sponsor and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $50,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding. As used herein, Acquisitions will be considered related Acquisitions if the sellers under such Acquisitions are the same Person or any Affiliate thereof.
ARTICLE CXCI.Permitted Encumbrances” shall mean
(a)    Liens imposed by law for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(b)    statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other Liens imposed by law created in the ordinary course of business for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(c)    pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(d)    deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e)    judgment and attachment liens not giving rise to a Credit Event or Liens created by or existing from any litigation or legal proceeding that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(f)    easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(g)    other Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or the ownership of its property and assets which were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit, and which do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business; and
(h)    Liens on insurance policies owned by the Sponsor on the lives of its officers securing policy loans obtained from the insurers under such policies; provided that (A) the aggregate amount borrowed on each policy shall not exceed the loan value thereof, and (B) the Sponsor shall not incur any liability to repay any such loan;
provided, that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
ARTICLE CXCII.Permitted Investments” shall mean:
(a)    direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States (or by 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 year from the date of acquisition thereof;



(b)    commercial paper having an A or better rating, at the time of acquisition thereof, of S&P or Moody’s and in either case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(c)    certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year of 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 or any state thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;
(d)    fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (i) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (iii) above; and
(e)    mutual funds investing solely in any one or more of the Permitted Investments described in clauses (i) through (iv) above.
ARTICLE CXCIII.Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or other entity, or any Governmental Authority.
ARTICLE CXCIV.Personal Guaranty” shall mean any guaranty from a principal of a Borrower substantially in the form required by the Servicing Agreement.
ARTICLE CXCV.Plan” shall mean any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3 of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) maintained or contributed to by the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate has or may have an obligation to contribute, and each such plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA for the five-year period immediately following the latest date on which the Sponsor or any ERISA Affiliate maintained, contributed to or had an obligation to contribute to (or is deemed under Section 4069 of ERISA to have maintained or contributed to or to have had an obligation to contribute to, or otherwise to have liability with respect to) such plan.
ARTICLE CXCVI.Platform” shall mean Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system.
ARTICLE CXCVII.Prime Rate” shall mean the per annum rate of interest designated from time to time by Truist to be its prime rate. The Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate of interest that is being offered by Truist to its borrowers.
ARTICLE CXCVIII.Pro Forma Basis” shall mean, for purposes of calculating compliance with respect to any asset sale (including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), casualty event, Permitted Acquisition, Restricted Payment or incurrence of Indebtedness, or any other transaction subject to calculation on a “Pro Forma Basis” as indicated herein (including without limitation, for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII, and determining the Applicable Margin and Applicable Percentage) that such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the period of four Fiscal Quarters most recently ended (the “Reference Period”) for which the Sponsor has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or (b). For purposes of any such calculation in respect of any Permitted Acquisition, (a) income statement and cash flow statement items attributable to the Person or property subject to such Permitted Acquisition shall be included in Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Permitted Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period; (b) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary (including the Person or property acquired) in connection with such transaction and any Indebtedness of the Person or property acquired which is not retired in connection with such transaction (i) shall be deemed to have been incurred as of the first day of the applicable period and (ii) if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; (c) capital expenditures attributable to the Person or property acquired shall be included beginning as of the first day of the applicable period; and (d) except as permitted pursuant to clauses (ii)(G) and (iii) of the definition of Consolidated EBITDA, no adjustments for unrealized synergies shall be included. For purposes of any such calculation in respect of (a) the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (i) income statement and cash flow statement items



(whether positive or negative) attributable to such Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent relating to any period occurring prior to the date of such designation and (ii) Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall be excluded and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of the Reference Period and (b) the designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as an Restricted Subsidiary, (i) income statement and cash flow statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to such Subsidiary shall be included to the extent relating to any period prior to the date of such designation to the extent such items are not otherwise included in such income statement and cash flow statement items for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with any defined terms set forth in this Section 1.1.
ARTICLE CXCIX.Pro Forma Compliance Certificate” shall mean a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Sponsor containing (x) reasonably detailed calculations of the financial covenants set forth in Article VII recomputed as of the end of the period of the four Fiscal Quarters most recently ended for which the Sponsor has delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 6.1(a) or (b) after giving effect to the applicable transaction on a Pro Forma Basis and (y) if delivered in connection with any Permitted Acquisition, certifications that clauses (i) through (iv) of the definition of “Permitted Acquisition” have been satisfied (or will be satisfied in the time permitted under this Agreement).
ARTICLE CC.Pro Rata Share” shall mean, with respect to each of the Participants at any time, the percentage determined by dividing such Participant’s Participating Commitment at such time by the total principal amount of all Participating Commitments at such time.
ARTICLE CCI.Project Everglade Acquisition” shall mean the acquisition by the Sponsor, directly or indirectly of all of the outstanding equity interests of the Acquired Business from the Seller pursuant to the terms of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement.
ARTICLE CCII.Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement” shall mean that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of February 23, 2022 by and among Aaron’s Retail Solutions, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, Interbond Enterprises, Inc., a Florida corporation, Michael Perlman, an individual resident of the State of Florida and the other sellers (collectively, the “Seller”).
ARTICLE CCIII.Project Everglade Refinancing” shall mean the refinancing of certain outstanding indebtedness of the Acquired Business.
ARTICLE CCIV.PTE” shall mean a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
ARTICLE CCV.Qualified Acquisition” shall mean (a) the Project Everglade Acquisition and (b) a Permitted Acquisition with aggregate consideration of at least $150,000,000, or any series of related Permitted Acquisitions in any twelve (12) month period with aggregate consideration for all such Permitted Acquisitions of at least $150,000,000; provided that for any such Permitted Acquisition or series of related Permitted Acquisitions, a Responsible Officer of the Sponsor shall have delivered to the Servicer, prior to (i) the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (or the last in such series of related Permitted Acquisitions, as applicable) or (ii) the date of required delivery of a certificate of a Responsible Officer pursuant to Section 6.1(c) for the Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, ended immediately following the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition (or the last in such series of related Permitted Acquisitions, as applicable), a certificate (any such certificate, a “Qualified Acquisition Notice”) (x) certifying that such Permitted Acquisition or series of Permitted Acquisitions qualifies as a Qualified Acquisition and (y) notifying the Servicer that the Sponsor has elected to treat such Permitted Acquisition or series of related Acquisitions as a Qualified Acquisition.
ARTICLE CCVI.Qualified Acquisition Notice” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Qualified Acquisition”.
ARTICLE CCVII.Qualified Acquisition Pro Forma Determination” shall mean, to the extent required in connection with determining the permissibility of any Permitted Acquisition or series of related Permitted Acquisitions that the Credit Parties elect to treat as a Qualified Acquisition, the determination of whether the Credit Parties are in compliance with Section 7.1 on a Pro Forma Basis.
ARTICLE CCVIII.Regulation D” shall mean Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.



ARTICLE CCIX.Regulation T” shall mean Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
ARTICLE CCX.Regulation U” shall mean Regulation U of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
ARTICLE CCXI.Regulation X” shall mean Regulation X of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
ARTICLE CCXII.Regulation Y” shall mean Regulation Y of the Federal Reserve Board, as the same may be in effect from time to time, and any successor regulations.
ARTICLE CCXIII.Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.
ARTICLE CCXIV.Release” shall mean any release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.
ARTICLE CCXV.Relevant Governmental Body” shall mean the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.
ARTICLE CCXVI.Rental Revenue” shall mean, with respect to any Borrower for any period, the gross revenues of such Borrower from leases to the public of such Borrower’s furniture inventory and lease equipment, including without limitation, all customer deposits, advance lease payments, waiver fees, late fees, delivery fees, nonsufficient funds fees, reinstatement fees, but excluding all retail sales proceeds and sales taxes.
ARTICLE CCXVII.Reportable Event” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in ERISA.
ARTICLE CCXVIII.Required Participants” shall mean (x) at any time prior to termination of the Facility Commitment, Participants holding at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the sum of (A) the aggregate Funded Participations, plus (B) the Participant’s Unused Commitments, and (y) at any time on and after the termination of the Facility Commitment, Participants holding at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the aggregate outstanding Funded Participations at such time; provided however, that to the extent that any Participant is a Defaulting Participant, such Defaulting Participant and all of its Participating Commitments, Funded Participations and Participant’s Unused Commitments shall be excluded for purposes of determining Required Participants.
ARTICLE CCXIX.Requirement of Law” for any person shall mean the articles or certificate of incorporation and by-laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other governmental authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.
ARTICLE CCXX.Reset Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(c).
ARTICLE CCXXI.Resolution Authority” shall mean an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
ARTICLE CCXXII.Response Period” shall mean with respect to any Loan, a period of thirty (30) days commencing on the day next succeeding the day on which the Sponsor receives a notice from the Servicer that a Loan Payment Default has occurred and is continuing; provided, however, that no Response Period for any Loan shall extend beyond the Final Termination Date.
ARTICLE CCXXIII.Responsible Officer” shall mean any of the president, the chief executive officer, the chief operating officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer, the controller or a vice president of



the Sponsor or such other representative of the Sponsor as may be designated in writing by any one of the foregoing with the consent of the Servicer; and, with respect to the financial covenants only, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or the controller of the Sponsor.
ARTICLE CCXXIV.Restricted Payment” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 8.5.
ARTICLE CCXXV.Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “Restricted Subsidiary” hereunder shall mean a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings. For the avoidance of doubt, the Sponsor shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings for all purposes under the Operative Documents.
ARTICLE CCXXVI.Revolving Commitment” shall mean either a US Revolving Commitment or Canadian Revolving Commitment, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CCXXVII.Revolving Loans” shall mean either a US Revolving Loan or Canadian Revolving Loan, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CCXXVIII.S&P” shall mean Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC, a subsidiary of S&P Global Inc. and any successor thereto.
ARTICLE CCXXIX.Sanctioned Country” shall mean, at any time, a country, region or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject or target of any Sanctions.
ARTICLE CCXXX.Sanctioned Person” shall mean, at any time, (i) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, (ii) any Person located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (iii) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or (iv) any Person otherwise the subject of any Sanctions.
ARTICLE CCXXXI.Sanctions” shall mean economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes administered or enforced from time to time by (i) the U.S. government, including those administered by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State or (ii) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any EU Member State or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.
ARTICLE CCXXXII.Second Amendment Effective Date” shall mean February 23, 2024.
ARTICLE CCXXXIII.Security Agreement” shall mean the security and pledge agreement in the form of Exhibit G, dated as of the Security Agreement Effective Date, by and among the Obligors (as defined therein) party thereto and the Servicer.
ARTICLE CCXXXIV.Security Agreement Effective Date” shall mean the date the Security Agreement becomes effective, which in any case shall be within ninety (90) days following the Second Amendment Effective Date (or such later date as the Servicer may agree in its sole discretion).
ARTICLE CCXXXV.Servicer” shall have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereto.
ARTICLE CCXXXVI.Servicing Agreement” shall mean that certain Servicing Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and between the Sponsor and the Servicer, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
ARTICLE CCXXXVII.Servicing Fee” shall mean the fee payable to the Servicer pursuant to the terms of the Servicing Agreement.
ARTICLE CCXXXVIII.SOFR” shall mean a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.
ARTICLE CCXXXIX.SOFR Administrator” shall mean the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).



ARTICLE CCXL.Solvent” shall mean, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) the fair value of the property of such Person is greater than the total amount of liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities, of such Person; (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts and liabilities, including subordinated and contingent liabilities 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 as such debts and liabilities mature; and (d) such Person is not engaged in a business or transaction, and is not about to engage in a business or transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities (such as litigation, guaranties and pension plan liabilities) at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
ARTICLE CCXLI.Sponsor” shall have the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph hereof.
ARTICLE CCXLII.Sponsor’s Fee” shall have the meaning set forth in the Servicing Agreement.
ARTICLE CCXLIII.Spousal Consent” shall mean any agreement provided by the spouse of any Person executing a guaranty to the extent such spouse has not personally executed a guaranty, to be substantially in the form provided by the Servicer.
ARTICLE CCXLIV.Store Opening Information Sheet” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Servicing Agreement.
ARTICLE CCXLV.Subordinated Debt” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.6.
ARTICLE CCXLVI.Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person (the “parent”), any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the equity or more than fifty percent (50%) of the ordinary voting power, or in the case of a partnership, more than fifty percent (50%) of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “Subsidiary” hereunder shall mean a Subsidiary of Holdings.
ARTICLE CCXLVII.SWIFT” shall mean Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication.
ARTICLE CCXLVIII.Swing Line Advances” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).
ARTICLE CCXLIX.Target” shall mean Interbond Corporation of America, a Florida corporation.
ARTICLE CCL.Taxes” shall mean any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.
ARTICLE CCLI.Term Loans” shall mean either a US Term Loan or Canadian Term Loan, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CCLII.Term SOFR” shall mean the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Payment 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 Payment Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, that if as of 5:00 p.m. 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; provided, that if Term SOFR determined as provided above shall ever be less than the Floor, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.
ARTICLE CCLIII.Term SOFR Administrator” shall mean the CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Servicer in its reasonable discretion).
ARTICLE CCLIV.Term SOFR Reference Rate” shall mean the rate per annum determined by the Servicer as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.
ARTICLE CCLV.Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio” shall mean, at any date of determination, the ratio of (a) the sum of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as of such date minus (ii) Unrestricted Cash in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time the aggregate amount of Unrestricted Cash of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on deposit with, or otherwise held by, any Participant or Affiliate thereof (including, for the avoidance of doubt, cash in accounts that are subject to an account control agreement in favor of the Servicer) to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on such date.
ARTICLE CCLVI.Transaction Documents” shall mean, collectively, the Operative Documents and the Credit Documents.
ARTICLE CCLVII.Transactions” shall mean the closing of this Agreement, the Project Everglade Acquisition, the Project Everglade Refinancing and the closing of the Credit Documents.
ARTICLE CCLVIII.UK Financial Institution” shall mean 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.
ARTICLE CCLIX.UK Resolution Authority” shall mean the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
ARTICLE CCLX.Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” shall mean the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
ARTICLE CCLXI.Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.
ARTICLE CCLXII.Unmatured Credit Event” shall mean any condition or event which, with notice or the passage of time or both, would constitute a Credit Event.
ARTICLE CCLXIII.Unrestricted Cash” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the aggregate amount (without duplication) of cash and Cash Equivalents of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent the same would be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries if the same were prepared as of such date; provided, that, “Unrestricted Cash” of Foreign Subsidiaries shall be net of repatriation costs.
ARTICLE CCLXIV.Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean, collectively, each Subsidiary designated by the Sponsor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14.
ARTICLE CCLXV.U.S. Government Securities Business Day” shall mean any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
ARTICLE CCLXVI.US Borrower” shall mean any Franchisee domiciled in the United States of America that is primarily liable for repayment of a US Loan as a result of having executed US Loan Documents as maker, or its permitted assignee.



ARTICLE CCLXVII.US Dollar” and the sign “$” shall mean lawful money of the United States of America.
ARTICLE CCLXVIII.US Dollar Equivalent” shall mean, on any date, (i) with respect to any amount denominated in US Dollars, such amount and (ii) with respect to any amount denominated in Canadian Dollars, the amount of US Dollars that would be required to purchase the amount of such Canadian Dollars on such date based upon the Exchange Rate as of the applicable date of determination.
ARTICLE CCLXIX.US Franchisee” shall mean those certain store operators located in the United States of America that own and operate stores under the Aaron’s franchise.
ARTICLE CCLXX.US Funded Participation” shall mean, for any Participant, the portion of such Participant’s Funded Participation in US Dollars.
ARTICLE CCLXXI.US Line of Credit Commitment” shall mean a commitment to make Line of Credit Loans to a US Borrower in US Dollars pursuant to a US Loan Agreement.
ARTICLE CCLXXII.US Line of Credit Loans” shall mean Advances made to a US Borrower pursuant to a US Line of Credit Commitment.
ARTICLE CCLXXIII.US Line of Credit Note” shall mean a US Line of Credit Note, executed by a US Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such US Borrower’s obligation to repay all US Line of Credit Loans made to it pursuant to a US Line of Credit Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the US Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
ARTICLE CCLXXIV.US Loan shall mean either a US Term Loan, a US Revolving Loan, a US Line of Credit Loan or an Existing Loan, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CCLXXV.US Loan Agreement” shall mean a Loan and Security Agreement setting forth the terms and conditions, as between a US Borrower and the Servicer, under which the Servicer has established a US Loan Commitment to make Advances to such Borrower pursuant to the US Loan Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, with such changes as may be mutually agreed by the Sponsor and the Servicer (it being understood that the Servicer will not unreasonably withhold or delay its agreement to any such changes requested by the Sponsor); provided, however, that any loan agreement or line of credit agreement executed by any Borrower and the Servicer prior to the Effective Date shall be substantially in the form required under the Existing Loan Facility Agreement (with such changes as may be mutually agreed by the Sponsor and the Servicer, it being understood that the Servicer will not unreasonably withhold or delay its agreement to any such changes requested by the Sponsor).
ARTICLE CCLXXVI.US Loan Commitment” shall mean the commitment by the Servicer to make Advances to a US Borrower in US Dollars in the amount not exceeding, and upon the terms described in, the applicable Funding Approval Notice and the applicable Loan Documents, which US Loan Commitment may be a US Line of Credit Commitment, US Revolving Commitment or a US Term Loan Commitment.
ARTICLE CCLXXVII.US Loan Documents” shall mean, with respect to any US Loan, the US Loan Agreement, the US Master Note, any Personal Guaranty, any Spousal Consent, the Collateral Agreements, in each case relating to such Loan, any other documents relating to such Loan delivered by any Borrower or any guarantor or surety thereof to the Servicer and any amendments thereto (provided that such amendments are made with the consent of the Sponsor, where such consent is required under this Agreement).
ARTICLE CCLXXVIII.US Master Note” shall mean a US Line of Credit Note, US Revolving Note, or US Term Note, as the case may be.
ARTICLE CCLXXIX.US Revolving Commitment” shall mean a commitment to make US Revolving Loans to a US Borrower pursuant to a Loan Agreement.
ARTICLE CCLXXX.US Revolving Loans” shall mean Advances made to a US Borrower pursuant to a US Revolving Commitment.



ARTICLE CCLXXXI.US Revolving Note” shall mean that certain Revolving Note, executed by a US Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such US Borrower’s obligation to repay all US Revolving Loans made to it pursuant to a US Revolving Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the US Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
ARTICLE CCLXXXII.US Term Loan Commitment” shall mean a commitment to make US Term Loans to a US Borrower pursuant to a Loan Agreement.
ARTICLE CCLXXXIII.US Term Loans” shall mean Advances made to a US Borrower pursuant to a US Term Loan Commitment.
ARTICLE CCLXXXIV.US Term Note” shall mean that certain Term Note, executed by a US Borrower in favor of the Servicer, evidencing such US Borrower’s obligation to repay all US Term Loans made to it pursuant to a US Term Loan Commitment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3 to the Loan Agreement, with such changes as the Sponsor and the Servicer shall agree to from time to time.
ARTICLE CCLXXXV.Wind-Down Event” shall mean the event that the Facility Commitment is not extended for any reason and the Facility Commitment Termination Date occurs.
ARTICLE CCLXXXVI.Withdrawal Liability” shall mean liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
ARTICLE CCLXXXVII.Write-Down and Conversion Powers” “ shall mean (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.
Accounting Terms and Determination.
Unless otherwise defined or specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited consolidated financial statement of Holdings delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) (or, if no such financial statements have been delivered, on a basis consistent with the audited consolidated financial statements of Holdings last delivered to the Servicer in connection with this Agreement); provided, that if the Sponsor notifies the Servicer that the Sponsor wishes to amend any covenant in Article VII to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Servicer notifies the Sponsor that the Required Participants wish to amend Article VII for such purpose), then the Sponsor’s compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Sponsor and the Required Participants.
Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, (i) all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under Accounting Standards Codification Section 825-10 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of any Credit Party or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Credit Party at “fair value”, as defined therein and (ii) all liability amounts shall be determined excluding any liability relating to any operating lease, all asset amounts shall be determined excluding any right-of-use assets relating to any operating lease, all amortization amounts shall be determined excluding any amortization of a right-of-use asset relating to any operating lease, and all interest amounts shall be determined excluding any deemed interest comprising a portion of fixed rent payable under any operating lease, in each case to the extent that such liability, asset, amortization or interest



pertains to an operating lease under which the covenantor or a member of its consolidated group is the lessee and would not have been accounted for as such under GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2015.
Notwithstanding the above, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that all calculations of the financial covenants in Article VII (including for purposes of determining the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage and any transaction that by the terms of this Agreement requires that any financial covenant contained in Article VII be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis ) shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis with respect to (a) sales, leases, transfers and/or involuntary dispositions of property in any period of twelve months with an aggregate fair market value in excess of $15,000,000, (b) any Acquisition, (c) any incurrence of any Incremental Term Loan (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and/or Incremental Revolving Commitment (as defined in the Credit Agreement), (d) any determination of whether a Domestic Subsidiary qualifies as a “Material Domestic Subsidiary” pursuant to the definition of “Material Domestic Subsidiary” or (e) any payment of a Restricted Payment occurring during such period.
Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
Other Definitional Terms.
The words “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Article, Section, Schedule, Exhibit and like references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
Any “Franchisee Loan”, “Loan”, “Loan Commitment” or “Master Note” existing on the Effective Date shall be deemed to be a Franchisee Loan, US Loan, US Loan Commitment, or US Master Note, as applicable.
Any “Revolving Loan”, “Revolving Commitment” or “Revolving Note” existing on the Effective Date shall be deemed to be a US Revolving Loan, US Revolving Commitment or US Revolving Note, as applicable.
Any “Term Loan”, “Term Loan Commitment” or “Term Note” existing on the Effective Date shall be deemed to be a US Term Loan, US Term Loan Commitment or US Term Note, as applicable.
Any “Line of Credit Loan”, “Line of Credit Commitment” or “Line of Credit Note” existing on the Effective Date shall be deemed to be a US Line of Credit Loan, US Line of Credit Commitment or US Line of Credit Note, as applicable.
Exhibits and Schedules. All Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto are by reference made a part hereof.
Divisions. For all purposes under the Operative 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.
Rates. The Servicer does not warrant or accept 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 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) will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, the Term SOFR 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 Servicer 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, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Sponsor. The Servicer may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Sponsor, any Participant 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.

LOAN FACILITY
Establishment of Facility Commitment; Terms of Loans.
Facility Commitment. Subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the other Operative Documents, and in reliance upon the guaranty and other obligations of the Sponsor set forth herein, the Servicer hereby establishes a commitment to the Sponsor to establish Loan Commitments and to make Advances thereunder in US Dollars and Canadian Dollars to such Borrowers as may be designated by the Sponsor in its Funding Approval Notices during a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on March 31, 2023 (as such period may be extended for one or more subsequent 364-day periods pursuant to Section 2.8, the “Facility Commitment Termination Date”) in an aggregate committed amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Maximum Commitment Amount (the “Facility Commitment”); provided that, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (x) at no time shall the Servicer establish any Loan Commitment for a Borrower if after giving effect to such Loan Commitment, the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate committed amounts of all Loan Commitments outstanding pursuant to the Facility Commitment would exceed the Maximum Commitment Amount and (y) at no time shall the Servicer establish any Canadian Loan Commitment for a Canadian Borrower if after giving effect to such Canadian Loan Commitment, the aggregate committed amounts of all Canadian Loan Commitments outstanding pursuant to the Facility Commitment would exceed the Canadian Subfacility Amount.
Authorization of US Line of Credit Commitment; Loan Terms. Within the limits of the Facility Commitment and in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, the Sponsor may authorize the Servicer to establish a US Line of Credit Commitment in favor of a US Franchisee who meets the credit criteria established by the Sponsor. The amount of each US Line of Credit Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor but shall not be less than $100,000. Pursuant to the US Line of Credit Commitment the Servicer shall agree to make Advances to the US Borrower thereunder. Each US Line of Credit Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such US Line of Credit Loan when all principal and interest shall be due and payable in full. Each US Line of Credit Loan may be prepaid in full or in part on any Business Day, without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each US Line of Credit Commitment shall be, initially, one year, but shall automatically renew unless terminated by ninety (90) days’ prior written notice by Servicer to the US Borrower prior to the first anniversary date and may thereafter be terminated at any time by Servicer upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice by Servicer to the US Borrower; provided that the amounts outstanding thereunder shall be allowed to term out over the Amortization Period as provided below. The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the US Line of Credit Commitments shall be used solely to purchase inventory, and to the extent permitted by Sponsor, to pay state sales and use taxes and freight charges. At the end of each month, the aggregate Advances made to each US Borrower during such month (net of any prepayments during such month) shall be amortized (in accordance with a straight-line amortization schedule) over the Amortization Period. In the event that the US Line of Credit Commitment of any US Borrower is terminated by the Servicer as provided above, such US Borrower shall, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 2.1(b), amortize all outstanding Advances over the Amortization Period (in accordance with a straight-line amortization schedule), with all Advances due and payable in full no later than 24 months after termination. In the event that a US Borrower terminates its US Line of Credit Commitment, all amounts advanced to such US Borrower shall be due and payable in full on the termination date, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Each US Borrower shall agree to pay a commitment fee on its unused US Line of Credit Commitment in an amount to be determined by the Sponsor but in any event not to exceed 1.00% per annum, such commitment fee to be paid quarterly, in arrears.
Authorization of Canadian Line of Credit Commitment; Loan Terms. Within the limits of the Facility Commitment and the Canadian Subfacility Amount, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, the Sponsor may authorize the Servicer to establish a Canadian



Line of Credit Commitment in favor of a Canadian Franchisee who meets the credit criteria established by the Sponsor. The amount of each Canadian Line of Credit Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor but shall not be less than Cdn$100,000. Pursuant to the Canadian Line of Credit Commitment the Servicer shall agree to make Advances to the Canadian Borrower thereunder. Each Canadian Line of Credit Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Canadian Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such Canadian Line of Credit Loan when all principal and interest shall be due and payable in full. Each Canadian Line of Credit Loan may be prepaid in full or in part only on a Canadian Borrower Payment Date for such Canadian Line of Credit Loan (and not on other days), without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each Canadian Line of Credit Commitment shall be, initially, 364 days, but shall automatically renew unless terminated by ninety (90) days’ prior written notice by Servicer to the Canadian Borrower prior to the first anniversary date and may thereafter be terminated at any time by Servicer upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice by Servicer to the Canadian Borrower; provided that the amounts outstanding thereunder shall be allowed to term out over the Amortization Period as provided below. The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the Canadian Line of Credit Commitments shall be used solely to purchase inventory, and to the extent permitted by Sponsor, to pay sales and use taxes and freight charges. At the end of each month, the aggregate Advances made to each Canadian Borrower during such month (net of any prepayments during such month) shall be amortized (in accordance with a straight-line amortization schedule) over the Amortization Period. In the event that the Canadian Line of Credit Commitment of any Canadian Borrower is terminated by the Servicer as provided above, such Canadian Borrower shall, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 2.1(c), amortize all outstanding Advances over the Amortization Period (in accordance with a straight-line amortization schedule), with all Advances due and payable in full no later than 24 months after termination. In the event that a Canadian Borrower terminates its Canadian Line of Credit Commitment, all amounts advanced to such Canadian Borrower shall be due and payable in full on the termination date, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon. Each Canadian Borrower shall agree to pay a commitment fee on its unused Canadian Line of Credit Commitment in an amount to be determined by the Sponsor but in any event not to exceed 1.00% per annum, such commitment fee to be paid quarterly, in arrears
Authorization of US Revolving Commitment and US Term Loan Commitment; Loan Terms.
Within the limits of the Facility Commitment and in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, the Sponsor may authorize the Servicer to establish a US Revolving Commitment and/or a US Term Loan Commitment in favor of a US Franchisee who meets the credit criteria established by the Sponsor.
The amount of each US Revolving Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor, but shall not be less than $100,000. Pursuant to the US Revolving Commitment, the Servicer shall agree to make Advances in US Dollars to the US Borrower thereunder. Each US Revolving Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such US Revolving Loan when all principal and interest shall be due and payable in full. Each US Revolving Loan may be prepaid in full or in part on any Business Day, without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each US Revolving Loan shall not exceed four years. The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the US Revolving Commitment shall be used for general corporate purposes. Each US Borrower with a US Revolving Commitment shall agree to pay a commitment fee on the unused US Revolving Commitment in an amount to be determined by the Sponsor but in any event not to exceed 1.00% per annum, such commitment fee to be paid quarterly, in arrears. At no time, except as otherwise provided in the form of Loan Agreement, shall the aggregate outstanding principal amount of any and all US Revolving Loans and US Term Loans made to any US Borrower exceed the Franchisee Borrowing Base of such US Borrower as in effect at such time.
The amount of each US Term Loan Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor, but shall not be less than $100,000. Pursuant to the US Term Loan Commitment, the Servicer shall agree to make US Term Loans to the US Borrower thereunder. Each US Term Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such US Term Loan. Principal on each US Term Loan shall be payable on each Borrower Payment Date and shall be amortized over a period of no more than 7 years with the balance of all outstanding principal due and payable in full on the Maturity Date with respect to such US Term Loan; provided that the Sponsor shall have the option of allowing an interest-only payment schedule for up to the first six (6) months of such Loan’s term.



Each US Term Loan may be prepaid in full or in part on any Business Day, without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each US Term Loan shall not exceed four years. The proceeds of each US Term Loan shall be used for general corporate purposes.
Authorization of Canadian Revolving Commitment and Canadian Term Loan Commitment; Loan Terms.
Within the limits of the Facility Commitment and the Canadian Subfacility Amount and in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Agreement and the Servicing Agreement, the Sponsor may authorize the Servicer to establish a Canadian Revolving Commitment and/or a Canadian Term Loan Commitment in favor of a Canadian Franchisee who meets the credit criteria established by the Sponsor.
The amount of each Canadian Term Loan Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor, but shall not be less than Cdn$100,000. Pursuant to the Canadian Term Loan Commitment, the Servicer shall agree to make Canadian Term Loans to the Canadian Borrower thereunder. Each Canadian Term Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Canadian Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such Canadian Term Loan. Principal on each Canadian Term Loan shall be payable on each Canadian Borrower Payment Date and shall be amortized over a period of no more than 7 years with the balance of all outstanding principal due and payable in full on the Maturity Date with respect to such Canadian Term Loan; provided that the Sponsor shall have the option of allowing an interest-only payment schedule for up to the first six (6) months of such Loan’s term. Each Canadian Term Loan may be prepaid in full or in part only on a Canadian Borrower Payment Date for such Canadian Term Loan (and not on other days), without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each Canadian Term Loan shall not exceed two years.
The amount of each Canadian Revolving Commitment shall be determined by the Sponsor, but shall not be less than Cdn$100,000. Pursuant to the Canadian Revolving Commitment, the Servicer shall agree to make Advances in Canadian Dollars to the Canadian Borrower thereunder. Each Canadian Revolving Loan shall bear interest at the Borrower Rate designated by Sponsor in the applicable Funding Approval Notice, and interest shall be payable on each Borrower Payment Date and on the Maturity Date of such Canadian Revolving Loan when all principal and interest shall be due and payable in full. Each Canadian Revolving Loan may be prepaid in full or in part only on a Canadian Borrower Payment Date for such Canadian Revolving Loan (and not on other days), without premium or penalty. The Loan Term of each Canadian Revolving Loan shall not exceed two years. The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the Canadian Revolving Commitment shall be used for general corporate purposes. Each Canadian Borrower with a Canadian Revolving Commitment shall agree to pay a commitment fee on the unused Canadian Revolving Commitment in an amount to be determined by the Sponsor but in any event not to exceed 1.00% per annum, such commitment fee to be paid quarterly, in arrears. At no time, except as otherwise provided in the form of Loan Agreement, shall the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Canadian Revolving Loans and Canadian Term Loans made to any Canadian Borrower exceed the Franchisee Borrowing Base of such Canadian Borrower as in effect at such time.
Conditions to Obligation of Servicer to Establish Loan Commitments. Servicer’s obligation to establish each Loan Commitment under the Operative Documents is subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions as of the Closing Date of such Loan:
this Agreement and each of the other Operative Documents shall be in full force and effect;
the representations and warranties of the Sponsor contained in Article V shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on the Closing Date of such Loan;
the Servicer shall have received from the Sponsor a Funding Approval Notice authorizing such Loan Commitment and a Store Opening Information Sheet;
all conditions precedent to the Loan Commitment specified in the Servicing Agreement, together with such additional conditions precedent as may, at Sponsor’s election, be included in the



applicable Funding Approval Notice, shall have been completed to the Servicer’s reasonable satisfaction;
no Credit Event, Unmatured Credit Event, Change in Control or Wind-Down Event shall have occurred and be continuing; and
each Participant shall have confirmed in writing to the Servicer that it has (A) received all documentation and other information with respect to the applicable Borrower that any Participant reasonably believes is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act and (B) completed all applicable internal “know-your-customer” procedures.
In addition to other conditions precedent herein set forth, if any Participant is a Defaulting Participant, the Servicer will not be required to establish any new Loan Commitment or increase any existing Loan Commitments, unless it is satisfied that 100% of the Participant’s Interest of such Defaulting Participant has been fully Cash Collateralized or the risk of such Defaulting Participant is otherwise fully eliminated by any combination satisfactory to the Servicer of the actions required in Section 2.17.
Conveyance of Participant’s Interest.
The Servicer hereby sells, assigns, transfers and conveys to each of the Participants, without recourse or warranty, and each Participant hereby purchases from the Servicer, an undivided percentage ownership interest (which percentage shall be equal to each Participant’s Pro Rata Share) in (i) the Facility Commitment, (ii) the Loan Commitments, including, without limitation, the Existing Loan Commitments, (iii) the Loans, including, without limitation, the Existing Loans, (iv) the Collateral, (v) all rights against any guarantor of any Loan, including the Sponsor, (vi) the Loan Documents, (vii) all rights pursuant to the Guaranty Agreement and (viii) all right, title and interest to any payment or right to receive payment with respect to the foregoing (collectively, the “Participant’s Interest”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Participant’s right to receive payments of interest, commitments fees or other fees with respect to the Facility Commitment, the Loan Commitments and the Loans shall not exceed the amounts which such Participant is entitled to receive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
In consideration of the entry by each Participant into this Agreement and the obligation of each Participant hereunder, the Servicer shall issue to each Participant on the Effective Date, a Participation Certificate. Each Participation Certificate shall be in an amount equal to the relevant Participant’s Participating Commitment Amount, and the Funded Participation outstanding thereunder shall bear interest as hereinafter set forth and shall be payable as hereinafter set forth.
In accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and in consideration of the sale of the Participant’s Interest to such Participant, each Participant severally agrees from time to time, during the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the Final Termination Date, to fund in US Dollars its Participant’s Interest in outstanding US Loans made by the Servicer to the US Borrowers in accordance with the terms hereof and to fund in Canadian Dollars its Participant’s Interest in outstanding Canadian Loans made by the Servicer to the Canadian Borrowers in accordance with the terms hereof, so long as (x) the US Dollar Equivalent of its Funded Participation does not exceed its Participating Commitment and (y) its Funded Participation with respect to Canadian Loans does not exceed its Pro Rata Share of the Canadian Subfacility Amount.
Funding of Advances; Swing Line; Funding of Participant’s Interest in Loans.
Funding of Advances. The Servicer shall fund Advances requested by the Borrowers in accordance with the terms of the applicable Loan Documents and the Servicing Agreement. All advances to Canadian Borrowers shall be made in Canadian Dollars and all Advances to US Borrowers shall be made in US Dollars. On the date of any such funding, the Servicer shall elect whether or not to require the Participants to fund their respective Pro Rata Share of the Advances to be made on such date. All fundings by the Participants with respect to Canadian Loans shall be made in Canadian Dollars, and all fundings by the Participants with respect to US Loans shall be made in US Dollars. In the event that the Servicer elects not to require the Participants to fund their Pro Rata Share of the Advances to be made on such date, the Servicer shall make such Advances (each, a “Swing Line Advance”) to the Borrowers for the account of the Servicer; provided that the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate amount of Swing Line Advances outstanding on any date shall not



exceed $12,500,000. If (i) any Credit Event, Change in Control or Wind-Down Event shall have occurred, (ii) after giving effect to any requested Advance, the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate Swing Line Advances outstanding hereunder would exceed $12,500,000, or (iii) the Servicer otherwise determines in its sole discretion to request a Participant Funding hereunder, then the Servicer shall notify the Participants pursuant to Section 2.3(b) requesting a Participant Funding.
Notification of Participant Funding. In the event that the Servicer desires that the Participants fund their respective Pro Rata Shares of Advances or Loans made or outstanding pursuant to the Loan Documents, the Servicer shall deliver written or telecopy notice to the Participants (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing or by telecopy) (a “Participant Funding Request”) by no later than 10:00 a.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) on the date which is the requested date of the Participant Funding which shall specify (x) the date of the Participant Funding, which shall be a Business Day, (y) each Participant’s Pro Rata Share of the Advances or Loans outstanding to be funded in connection with such Participant Funding and (z) the portion of such funding to be made in US Dollars and the portion of such funding to be made in Canadian Dollars.
Each Participant shall make available its Pro Rata Share of the requested Participant Funding in the applicable currency on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Servicer in Atlanta, Georgia by not later than 2:00 P.M. (Atlanta, Georgia time). Unless the Servicer shall have received notice from a Participant prior to the date of any Participant Funding that such Participant will not make available to the Servicer such Participant’s Pro Rata Share of such Participant Funding, the Servicer may assume that the Participant has made such portion available to the Servicer on the date of such Participant Funding in accordance with this Section 2.3(c) and the Servicer may, in reliance on such assumption, make available to the Borrowers a corresponding amount or credit the same to Swing Line Advances. If and to the extent that such Participant shall not have made such portion available to the Servicer, such Participant and the Sponsor shall severally agree to repay the Servicer forthwith (on demand in the case of the Participant and within three (3) days of such demand in the case of the Sponsor), without duplication, such amount with interest at the Federal Funds Rate plus 2% per annum and, until such time as such Participant has repaid to the Servicer such amount. If such Participant shall repay to the Servicer such amount, then such amount shall constitute part of such Participant’s Funded Participation.
Each Participant’s obligations to fund its Pro Rata Share of any requested Participant Funding shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including, without limitation, (i) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other right which such Participant may have against the Servicer, the Sponsor, any Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence of any Credit Event, Unmatured Credit Event, Change in Control or Wind-Down Event, (iii) the occurrence of any Loan Default or any other “event of default” under any Loan Documents, (iv) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Sponsor, any other Credit Party or any Borrower, (v) the acceleration or maturity of any Loan or the Sponsor’s obligations hereunder or the termination of the Facility Commitment, Loan Commitments or the Participating Commitments after the making of any Swing Line Advance, (vi) any breach of this Agreement by the Sponsor or any other Participant, or (vii) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3, no Participant shall be required to fund its Pro Rata Share of any requested Participant Funding for purposes of refunding a Swing Line Advance pursuant to Section 2.3(d) above if a Loan Default with respect to the relevant Loan has occurred and is continuing and, prior to the making by the Servicer of such Swing Line Advance, the Servicer had received written notice from Sponsor, the relevant Borrower or any Participant specifying that such Loan Default had occurred and was continuing (and identifying the same as a Loan Default, as the case may be) which has not been cured or waived; provided that, in the case of a Loan Default arising from an Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event where the Participants are not pursuing remedies, the Participants will be obligated to fund their respective Pro Rata Shares of Swing Line Advances.
Participant Commitment Fees.
Each Participant will receive, from amounts paid by the Borrowers under the Loan Documents and the Sponsor under the Operative Documents, a commitment fee (the “Participant Commitment Fee”) equal to the average daily amount of its Participant’s Unused Commitment for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the Final Termination Date, or such earlier date as the Participating Commitment shall expire or terminate, multiplied by the Applicable Percentage per annum, such Participant Commitment Fee



to be payable in arrears on each Participant Quarterly Payment Date, commencing on June 30, 2022, for the preceding Payment Period, calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed.
All Participant Commitment Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Participants by the Servicer from amounts received from the Borrowers and Sponsor. All Participant Commitment Fees shall be paid in US Dollars.
In the event that the US Dollar Equivalent of the commitment fees received by the Servicer from the Borrowers and the Sponsor is not sufficient on any Participant Quarterly Payment Date to pay the Participant Commitment Fees to the Participants required pursuant hereto, the Sponsor shall, upon demand of the Servicer, immediately fund such difference in US Dollars to the Servicer (with such payment allocated to specific Loan Payment Defaults as agreed by Sponsor and Servicer, if applicable) and either, at the election of the Sponsor, (x) the Sponsor shall be reimbursed by the Servicer upon receipt of such amount from a Borrower, (y) the Loan Indebtedness shall be deemed to be reduced by such amount for purposes of a repayment or purchase of such Defaulted Loan by Sponsor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or (z) if elected by Sponsor and if such amount is sufficient to cure any Loan Payment Default such amount shall be deemed to have satisfied Sponsor’s obligation to cure such Loan Payment Default hereunder.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, during such period as a Participant is a Defaulting Participant, such Defaulting Participant will not be entitled to Participant Commitment Fees accruing with respect to its Participating Commitment during such period pursuant to Section 2.4(a) (without prejudice to the rights of the Participants other than Defaulting Participants in respect of such fees).
Interest on Funded Participations.
Interest Rate. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.6, each Participant’s US Funded Participation shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR for the Payment Period in which such US Funded Participation is outstanding (with Term SOFR applicable to all amounts outstanding during any Payment Period being automatically reset on the first day of each Payment Period regardless of the date of any Participant Funding hereunder) plus the Applicable Margin then in effect. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.6, each Participant’s Canadian Funded Participation shall bear interest (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate for the Payment Period in which Canadian Funded Participation is outstanding (with the Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate applicable to all amounts outstanding during any Payment Period being automatically reset on the first day of each Payment Period regardless of the date of any Participant Funding hereunder) plus the Applicable Margin then in effect.
Payment of Interest. Interest on each Participant’s US Funded Participation shall be payable by the Servicer to the Participants in US Dollars on each Participant Monthly Payment Date from interest payments received on the US Loans on such Participant Monthly Payment Date for the preceding Payment Period and from other amounts received from the Sponsor. Interest on each Participant’s Canadian Funded Participation shall be payable by the Servicer to the Participants in Canadian Dollars on each Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date from interest payments received on the Canadian Loans on such Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date for the preceding Payment Period and from other amounts received from the Sponsor.
Sponsor’s Obligation. In the event that the interest received by the Servicer from the US Borrowers since the immediately prior Participant Monthly Payment Date is not sufficient to pay the interest to the Participants on the next Participant Monthly Payment Date as required pursuant hereto in the applicable currency or in the event that the interest received by the Servicer from the Canadian Borrowers since the immediately prior Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date is not sufficient to pay the interest to the Participants on the next Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date as required pursuant hereto in the applicable currency, the Sponsor shall, upon demand of the Servicer, immediately fund such difference to the Servicer in the applicable currency (with such payment allocated to specific Loan Payment Defaults as agreed by Sponsor and Servicer) and if such shortfall results from Loan Payment Defaults rather than interest rate variances, either, at the election of the Sponsor, (x) the Sponsor shall be reimbursed by the Servicer upon receipt of such amount from the applicable Borrower, (y) the Loan Indebtedness of such Borrower shall be deemed to be reduced by such amount for purposes of a repayment or purchase of such Defaulted Loan by Sponsor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or (z) if elected by Sponsor and if such amount is



sufficient to cure any Loan Payment Default, such amount shall be deemed to have satisfied Sponsor’s obligation to cure such Loan Payment Default hereunder.
Benchmark Not Determinable or Illegal.
In the event that Term SOFR is not determinable by the Servicer or it becomes impossible or illegal for the Servicer to calculate interest on the US Funded Participations based upon Term SOFR, the parties agree that in such event that interest on the US Funded Participations shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus a mutually agreed upon spread based upon current market conditions.
In the event that Canadian LIBOR is not determinable by the Servicer or it becomes impossible or illegal for the Servicer to calculate interest on the Canadian Funded Participations based upon Canadian LIBOR, the parties agree that in such event that interest on the Canadian Funded Participations shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Canadian Prime Rate plus a mutually agreed upon spread based upon current market conditions.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Operative Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to any setting of any applicable then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Operative Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Operative Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Participants without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Operative Document so long as the Servicer has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Participants comprising the Required Participants.
In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Servicer will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Operative Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes (and no other changes) will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Operative Document.
The Servicer will promptly notify the Sponsor and the Participants of (i) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (ii) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Servicer will promptly notify the Sponsor of the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 2.5(d)(vi). Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Servicer or, if applicable, any Participant (or group of Participants) pursuant to this Section 2.5(d)(iii)-(vi), 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 Operative Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.5(d)(iii)-(vi).
Upon the Sponsor’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, any Funded Participations shall bear interest as set forth in Section 2.5(d)(i) or 2.5(d)(ii), as applicable.
Default Interest. If a Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, at the option of the Required Participants, or automatically in the case of a Credit Event under Sections 9.1, 9.7 or 9.8, the Sponsor shall pay interest (to the extent permitted by law) at a rate per annum (computed on the basis of the actual



number of days elapsed over a year of 360 days) equal to the rate set forth in Section 2.5 plus an additional two percent (2.0%) per annum.
Voluntary Reduction of the Unutilized Commitment. Upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior telephonic notice (promptly confirmed in writing) to the Servicer, Sponsor shall have the right, without premium or penalty, to terminate the Facility Commitment, in part or in whole; provided that (i) any such termination shall apply to permanently reduce the Facility Commitment, (ii) any such termination shall apply to proportionately and permanently reduce the Participating Commitments of each of the Participants, (iii) any partial termination pursuant to this Section 2.7 shall be in an amount of at least $2,500,000 and integral multiples of $500,000, (iv) the Facility Commitment may not be reduced if, as a result thereof, the amount of the Facility Commitment would be less than the US Dollar Equivalent of all outstanding Loan Commitments, and (v) to the extent that Facility Commitment is reduced to a level that is less than the US Dollar Equivalent of the Canadian Subfacility Amount, the Canadian Subfacility Amount shall be reduced to the Canadian Dollar Equivalent of the Facility Commitment.
Extension of Commitments.
The Sponsor may, by written notice to the Servicer (which shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Participants), given not more than sixty (60) days prior to any anniversary of the Effective Date while the Facility Commitment is effect, request that the Participants extend the then scheduled Facility Commitment Termination Date (the “Existing Date”) for an additional 364-day period. Each Participant shall, by notice to the Sponsor and the Servicer given within fifteen (15) Business Days after receipt of such request, advise the Sponsor and the Servicer whether or not such Participant consents to the extension request (and any Participant which does not respond during such 15-day period shall be deemed to have advised the Sponsor and the Servicer that it will not agree to such extension).
In the event that, on the 15th Business Day after receipt of the notice delivered pursuant to clause (a) above, all of the Participants shall have agreed to extend their respective Participating Commitments, the Facility Commitment Termination Date shall be deemed to have been extended, effective as of the Existing Date, to the date which is 364 days thereafter.
In the event that, on the 15th Business Day after receipt of the notice delivered pursuant to clause (a) above, all of the Participants shall not have agreed to extend their respective Participating Commitments, the Sponsor and the Servicer shall notify the consenting Participants (“Consenting Participants”) of the aggregate Participating Commitment Amounts of the non-extending Participants (“Non-Consenting Participants”) and such Consenting Participants shall, by notice to the Sponsor and the Servicer given within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such notice, advise the Servicer and Sponsor whether or not such Participant wishes to purchase all or a portion of the Participating Commitments of the Non-Consenting Participants (and any Participant which does not respond during such 10-Business Day period shall be deemed to have rejected such offer). In the event that more than one Consenting Participant agrees to purchase all or a portion of such Participating Commitments, the Sponsor and the Servicer shall allocate such Participating Commitments among such Consenting Participants so as to preserve, to the extent possible, the relative Pro Rata Shares of the Consenting Participants of the Participating Commitments prior to such extension request. If Consenting Participants do not elect to assume all of the Participating Commitments of the Non-Consenting Participants, the Sponsor shall have the right, subject to the terms and conditions of Section 15.6, to arrange for one or more financial institutions (any such financial institution being called a “New Participant”) to purchase the Participating Commitment of any Non-Consenting Participant. Each Non-Consenting Participant shall assign its Participating Commitment and its Participant’s Interest outstanding hereunder to the Consenting Participant or New Participant purchasing such Participating Commitment in accordance with Section 15.6, in return for payment in full of all principal, interest and other amounts owing to such Non-Consenting Participant hereunder, on or before the Existing Date and, as of the effective date of such assignment, shall no longer be a party hereto; provided that each New Participant shall be subject to the approval of the Servicer (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). If (and only if) Participants (including New Participants) holding Participating Commitments representing at least an amount equal to the greater of (x) the sum of the US Dollar Equivalent of all outstanding Loan Commitments and (y) 66 2/3 % of the aggregate Participating Commitments on the date of such extension request shall have agreed to such extension by the Existing Date (the “Continuing Participants”), then (i) the Facility Commitment Termination Date shall be extended for an additional 364-day period and (ii) the Participating Commitment of any Non-Consenting Participant which has not been assigned to a Consenting Participant or a New Participant shall terminate (with the result that the amount of the Facility Commitment shall be decreased proportionately by the amount of such Participating Commitment), and all



amounts owing to such Non-Consenting Participant, together with all interest accrued thereon and all other amounts owed to such Non-Consenting Participant hereunder, shall be due and payable to such Non-Consenting Participant on the Existing Date applicable to such Participant without giving effect to any extension of the Facility Commitment Termination Date.
Wind-Down Events. In the event a Wind-Down Event occurs, then (x) the Sponsor shall not have the right to request that any further Loan Commitments be established, and (y) the Servicer shall, within a reasonable period of time and in any event no later than thirty (30) days after the Facility Commitment Termination Date, give notice to each of the applicable Borrowers terminating the Line of Credit Commitments as of the date which is ninety (90) days after delivery of such notice, subject, in each case, to the right of the Borrowers to term out the amounts outstanding under their Line of Credit Commitments as set forth in Section 2.1(b) and Section 2.1(c), as applicable; provided, however, that the occurrence of such Wind-Down Event shall not affect the obligation of (i) the Servicer to make Advances pursuant to existing Line of Credit Commitments, except to the extent that the Line of Credit Commitments are terminated pursuant to clause (y) above, (ii) the Servicer to make Advances pursuant to existing Revolving Commitments, (iii) the Participants to fund their Participant’s Interest as provided herein, except to the extent that the Line of Credit Commitments are terminated pursuant to clause (y) above or (iv) the Credit Parties under the Operative Documents.
Reserve Requirements; Change in Circumstances; Change in Lending Offices.
Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if, by reason of (i) after the Effective Date, the introduction of or any change (including any change by way of imposition or increase of reserve requirements) in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued) or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority or quasi-governmental authority exercising control over banks or financial institutions generally (whether or not having the force of law), any reserve (including any imposed by the Federal Reserve Board), special deposit or similar requirement (including a reserve, special deposit or similar requirement that takes the form of a tax) against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Participant’s office through which it funds its obligations hereunder shall be imposed or deemed applicable or any other condition affecting its obligation to make or maintain its Funded Participation at a rate based upon Term SOFR or the Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate shall be imposed on any Participant or its office through which it funds its obligations hereunder or the interbank Eurocurrency market; and as a result thereof there shall be any increase in the cost to such Participant of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining funds its obligations hereunder (except to the extent already included in the determination of the applicable Term SOFR or Adjusted Canadian LIBO Rate), or there shall be a reduction in the amount received or receivable by that Participant or its office through which it funds its obligations hereunder, then the Sponsor shall from time to time, upon written notice from and demand by the Participant (with a copy of such notice and demand to the Servicer), pay to the Servicer for the account of that Participant within five Business Days after the date specified in such notice and demand, additional amounts sufficient to indemnify that Participant against such increased cost. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost submitted to the Sponsor and the Servicer by that Participant, shall, except for manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes.
If while the Facility Commitment or any Loan Commitments are outstanding, any Participant (including any the Servicer) determines that the adoption of any law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy or capital maintenance (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued), or any change in any of the foregoing or 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 any Participant (or any lending office of such Participant) or any Participant’s holding company with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy or capital maintenance (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Participant’s capital or on the capital of such Participant’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Loan Documents or the purchases made by



such Participant pursuant hereto to a level below that which such Participant or such Participant’s holding company could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Participant’s policies and the policies of such Participant’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount reasonably deemed by such Participant to be material, then from time to time, within 15 days after written demand by such Participant, the Sponsor pay to such Participant such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Participant or such Participant’s holding company for such reduction. A certificate as to the amount of any such additional amount or amounts, submitted to the Sponsor and the Servicer by such Participant, shall, except for manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, Participants may only make claims for compensation pursuant to this Section 2.10, to the extent such claims are a consequence of this Agreement, the Loan Documents or the purchases made by such Participant pursuant hereto.
Each Participant agrees that, if requested by the Sponsor, it will use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Participant) to designate an alternate lending office with respect to any of its Funded Participation affected by the matters or circumstances described above to reduce the liability of the Sponsor or avoid the results provided thereunder, so long as such designation is not disadvantageous to such Participant as determined by such Participant, which determination if made in good faith, shall be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto. Nothing in this Section 2.10(c) shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Sponsor or any right of any Participant provided hereunder.
Pro Rata Treatment. Subject to the application of payments pursuant to Article III and except as specifically provided therein, each payment of principal of any Funded Participation, each payment of interest with respect to the Funded Participation, each payment of the Participant Commitment Fees and each reduction of the Participating Commitments shall be allocated pro rata among the Participants in accordance with their respective applicable Pro Rata Shares. Each Participant agrees that in computing its Pro Rata Share of any Participant Funding hereunder, the Servicer may, in its discretion, round each Participant’s percentage of such Participant Funding Request to the next higher or lower whole dollar amount.
Payments.
The Sponsor shall make each payment required to be made by Sponsor hereunder and under any other Operative Document to any Participant or the Servicer not later than 1:00 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time), on the date when due in the Contractual Currency (as defined below) to the Servicer at its offices in Atlanta, Georgia in immediately available funds, free and clear of any defenses, rights of set-off, counterclaim, or withholding or deduction of taxes.
Whenever any payment hereunder or under any other Operative Document shall become due, or otherwise would occur, on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or Participant Commitment Fees, if applicable.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any amount paid by any Borrower or the Sponsor for the account of a Defaulting Participant under this Agreement (whether on account of principal, interest, fees, indemnity payments or other amounts) will be retained by the Servicer in a segregated non-interest bearing account until the Facility Commitment Termination Date at which time the funds in such account will be applied by the Servicer, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in the following order of priority: first to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Participant to the Servicer under this Agreement, including, without limitation, amounts owing to the Servicer in its capacity as lender with respect to Swing Line Advances hereunder, second, to the payment of interest due and payable to the Participants hereunder other than Defaulting Participants, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such interest then due and payable to them, third to the payment of fees then due and payable to the Participants hereunder other than Defaulting Participants hereunder, ratably among them in accordance with the amounts of such fees then due and payable to them, fourth to the ratable payment of other amounts then due and payable to the Participants hereunder other than Defaulting Participants, and fifth to pay amounts owing under this Agreement to the Defaulting Participants or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct.
Sharing of Setoffs. Each Participant agrees that if it shall, in accordance with applicable law, through the exercise of a right of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim against the Sponsor or any Borrower, or pursuant to a secured claim under Section 506 or Title 11 of the United States Code or other security or interest arising from, or in lieu of, such secured claim, received by the Participant under any applicable bankruptcy,



insolvency or other similar law or otherwise, or by any other means, obtain payment (voluntary or involuntary) in respect of any Funded Participation under this Agreement (other than pursuant to Section 2.12(c)) as a result of which the unpaid principal portion of its Funded Participation shall be proportionately less than the unpaid principal portion of the Funded Participation of any other Participant, it shall be deemed simultaneously to have purchased from such other Participant at face value, and shall promptly pay to such other Participant the purchase price for, a participation in the Funded Participation of such other Participant, so that the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Funded Participation and participations in Funded Participations held by each Participant shall be in the same proportion to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Funded Participations then outstanding as the principal amount of its purchases prior to such exercise of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event was to the principal amount of all Funded Participations outstanding prior to such exercise of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim or other event; provided, however, that, if any such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 2.13 and the payment giving rise thereto shall thereafter be recovered, such purchase or purchases or adjustments shall be rescinded to the extent of such recovery and the purchase price or prices or adjustment restored without interest. The Servicer and each Participant hereby further agrees that any set-off amount received with respect to any Borrower, the Sponsor or any Guarantor shall first be applied to amounts outstanding under the Franchisee Loan Program prior to application to any other obligations of any such Person to the Servicer or such Participant. The Sponsor expressly consents to the foregoing arrangements and agrees, to the extent permitted by applicable law, that any Participant holding a Funded Participation or a participation in a Funded Participation deemed to have been so purchased may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien, setoff or counterclaim with respect to any and all moneys owing by the Sponsor to such Participant by reason thereof.
Canadian Dollar Provisions.
If any payment due hereunder or under any other Operative Document is not made in the currency due under this Agreement (the “Contractual Currency”) or if any court or tribunal shall render a judgment or order for the payment of amounts due hereunder or under the Operative Documents and such judgment is expressed in a currency other than the Contractual Currency, the Sponsor shall indemnify and hold the Servicer and each Participant harmless against any deficiency incurred by the Servicer or such Participant with respect to the amount received by the Servicer or such Participant to the extent the rate of exchange at which the Contractual Currency is convertible into the currency actually received or the currency in which the judgment is expressed (the “Received Currency”) is not the reciprocal of the rate of exchange at which the Servicer would be able to purchase the Contractual Currency with the Received Currency, in each case on the Business Day following receipt of the Received Currency in accordance with normal banking procedures. If the court or tribunal has fixed the date on which the rate of exchange is determined for the conversion of the judgment currency into the Contractual Currency (the “Conversion Date”) and if there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the Conversion Date and the date of receipt by the Servicer and the relevant Participant, then the Sponsor will, notwithstanding such judgment or order, pay such additional amount (if any) as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Received Currency when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of receipt will produce the amount then due to the Servicer and the relevant Participant from the Sponsor hereunder in the Contractual Currency.
If a Credit Event of the type described in Sections 9.7, 9.8 or 9.9 occurs: (i) any amounts owing to the Servicer and the Participants under the Operative Documents, (ii) any damages owing to the Servicer or the Participants, as the case may be, in respect of a breach of any of the terms of the Operative Documents, or (iii) any judgment or order rendered in respect of such amounts or damages, the Sponsor shall indemnify and hold the Servicer and the Participants harmless against any deficiency with respect to the Contractual Currency in the amounts received by the Servicer and the Participants with respect to any of the amounts described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above arising or resulting from any variation as between: (i) the rate of exchange at which the Contractual Currency is converted into another currency (the “Liquidation Currency”) for purposes of such winding-up, liquidation, dissolution or bankruptcy with regard to the amount in the Contractual Currency due or contingently due under the Operative Documents or under any judgment or order to which the relevant obligations under the Operative Documents shall have been merged and (ii) the rate of exchange at which the Servicer would, in accordance with normal banking procedures, be able to purchase the Contractual Currency with the Liquidation Currency at the earlier of (A) the date of payment of such amounts or damages and (B) the final date or dates for the filing of proofs of a claim in a winding-up, liquidation, dissolution or bankruptcy. As used in the preceding sentence, the “final date” or dates for the filing of proofs of a claim in a winding-up, liquidation, dissolution or bankruptcy shall be the date fixed by the liquidator under the applicable law as being the last practicable date as of which the liabilities of the Borrowers or the Sponsor, as the case may be, may be



ascertained for such winding-up, liquidation, dissolution or bankruptcy before payment by the liquidator or other appropriate Person in respect thereof.
Exchange Rates. Not later than 2:00 p.m. (Atlanta, Georgia time) on each date of determination (which date of determination shall be at least quarterly and frequently as the Servicer shall require if a Credit Event has occurred and is continuing and after a Wind-Down Event), the Servicer shall (A) determine the Exchange Rate as of such date of determination with respect to Canadian Dollars, and (B) give notice thereof to the Sponsor and Participants. The Exchange Rate as so determined shall become effective on the first Business Day immediately following the relevant date of determination (a “Reset Date”), shall remain effective until the next succeeding Reset Date, and shall for all purposes of this Agreement, be the Exchange Rate employed in determining the US Dollar Equivalent of any amounts in Canadian Dollars.
Excess Loan Commitments Resulting From Exchange Rate Changes. If on any Reset Date, after giving effect to any changes in Exchange Rate implemented pursuant to Section 2.14, the US Dollar Equivalent of all Loan Commitments exceeds the Maximum Commitment Amount, the Sponsor shall promptly and, in any case, within ten (l0) days thereafter, either (i) purchase Loans and related Loan Commitments from the Servicer in an amount sufficient to cause the US Dollar Equivalent of all outstanding Loan Commitments not to exceed the Maximum Commitment Amount, or (ii) to the extent that the US Dollar Equivalent of all Loan Commitments does not exceed the Maximum Commitment Amount by more than $1,000,000, cause to be issued to the Servicer a letter of credit (from an issuer and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer) in an amount equal to or greater than the amount by which the US Dollar Equivalent of all Loan Commitments exceeds the Maximum Commitment Amount.
Interest Act. For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), any amount of interest or fees calculated on the Facility Commitment or the Canadian Funded Participations using 360, 365 or 366 days per year and expressed as an annual rate is equal to the said rate of interest or fees multiplied by the actual number of days comprised within the calendar year, divided by 360, 365 or 366, as the case may be. The parties agree that all interest with respect to the Facility Commitment or the Canadian Funded Participations accruing under this Agreement will be calculated using the nominal rate method and not the effective rate method, and that the deemed re-investment principle shall not apply to such calculations. In addition, the parties acknowledge that there is a material distinction between the nominal and effective rates of interest and that they are capable of making the calculations necessary to compare such rates.
Reallocation and Cash Collateralization of Defaulting Participant Exposure.
If a Participant becomes, and during the period it remains, a Defaulting Participant, the following provisions shall apply, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement; provided that neither any such reallocation nor any payment by a Non-Defaulting Participant pursuant thereto nor any such Cash Collateralization or reduction will constitute a waiver or release of any claim the Servicer, the Sponsor or any other Participant may have against such Defaulting Participant or cause such Defaulting Participant to be a Non-Defaulting Participant:
(1)    the Participant’s Interest of such Defaulting Participant in the unfunded portion of outstanding Loan Commitments will, subject to the limitation in the proviso below, automatically be reallocated (effective no later than one (1) Business Day after the Servicer has actual knowledge that such Participant has become a Defaulting Participant) among the Non-Defaulting Participants pro rata in accordance with their respective Participant’s Interest (calculated as if the Defaulting Participant’s Participant’s Interest was reduced to zero and each Non-Defaulting Participant’s Participant’s Interest had been increased proportionately); provided that each Non-Defaulting Participant’s total Participant’s Interest may not in any event exceed the Participating Commitment of such Non-Defaulting Participant as in effect at the time of such reallocation; and
(2)    to the extent that any portion (the “unreallocated portion”) of the Participant’s Interest of such Defaulting Participant in the unfunded portion of outstanding Loan Commitments cannot be reallocated pursuant to clause (1) for any reason, the Sponsor will, not later than two (2) Business Days after demand by the Servicer, (a) Cash Collateralize the obligations of Defaulting Participant to the Servicer in respect of such unfunded portion of outstanding Loan Commitments in full or (b) make other arrangements satisfactory to the Servicer to protect them against the risk of non-payment by such Defaulting Participant.



If the Sponsor and the Servicer agree in writing in their discretion that any Defaulting Participant has ceased to be a Defaulting Participant, the Servicer will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, the Participant’s Interest of the other Participants shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Participant’s Participating Commitment, and such Participant will purchase at par such portion of the Participant’s Interest of such other Participants in Loans outstanding under Loan Commitments and/or make such other adjustments as the Servicer may determine to be necessary to cause all Funded Participations in all outstanding Loans of the Participants to be on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective Participant’s Interests, whereupon such Participant will cease to be a Defaulting Participant and will be a Non-Defaulting Participant (and such Funded Participation of each Participant will automatically be adjusted on a prospective basis to reflect the foregoing). If any cash collateral has been posted, the Servicer will promptly return such cash collateral to the Sponsor; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Sponsor while such Participant was a Defaulting Participant; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Participant to Non-Defaulting Participant will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Participant’s having been a Defaulting Participant

SERVICER’S SERVICING OBLIGATIONS; DISTRIBUTION OF PAYMENTS
Servicer’s Obligations with Respect to Loans; Collateral; Non-Recourse.
The Servicer shall, for itself and the benefit of all of the Participants and the Sponsor, (i) document, close, manage, administer and collect the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Servicing Agreement and exercise all discretionary powers involved in such management, administration and collection and (ii) shall distribute the funds received with respect to the Loans and from the Sponsor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Servicer agrees that it will exercise the same care in administering the Loans as it exercises with respect to loans of similar size and type and in accordance with the terms of the Servicing Agreement and Section 10.12 hereto.
The forms of Loan Agreements, Canadian Security Agreement and Notes used by the Servicer as documentation for each Loan on and after the Effective Date shall be substantially in the forms attached hereto with such changes as may be mutually agreed by the Sponsor and the Servicer (it being understood that the Servicer will not unreasonably withhold or delay its agreement to any such changes requested by the Sponsor).
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each of the Participants acknowledges and agrees that the Servicer shall have no obligation to the Participants with respect to the obtaining or retention of any guaranties required by the Sponsor (other than to distribute any proceeds therefrom in accordance with the terms of this Article III). The Participants acknowledge and agree that the Sponsor has the right to release or modify the terms of, or not require, any Personal Guaranty or any Spousal Consent.
In addition, each of the Participants acknowledges and agrees that the obligations of the Servicer with respect to the Collateral shall be expressly limited to the filing of Financing Statements (but not fixture filings) in the locations indicated in the applicable Funding Approval Notice for each Borrower and filing continuation statements with respect thereto and taking enforcement action in accordance with Section 10.12 hereto.
Each of the Participants acknowledges and agrees that the Servicer shall be relying solely upon the Sponsor for purposes of calculating and ensuring compliance by Borrowers with the Franchisee Borrowing Base for each US Revolving Loan, US Term Loan, Canadian Revolving Loan and Canadian Term Loan.
Each of the Participants acknowledges and agrees that any payments of delinquent payment fees received from the Borrowers pursuant to the Loan Agreements shall be for the sole account of the Sponsor and that the Participants shall have no right to receive such payments unless a Credit Event has occurred and is continuing; provided that, with respect to any payments received from a Borrower, such payments shall be first applied to pay all accrued but unpaid interest and principal and other fees due and owing from such Borrower before application of such payment to any delinquent payment fees.



Each Participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Servicer has no ability to halt an ACH transfer upon the inputting of such transfer request by Sponsor from the Aaron’s Proprietary System into the ACH system (other than the ability to retrieve ACH transfers which are sent to the wrong party or otherwise manifestly erroneous as provided in the ACH agreement with Sponsor), and Sponsor hereby accepts full responsibility for any overadvance created by such inputting of information and shall indemnify the Servicer and the Participants therefor as provided herein.
Application of Payments.
The Servicer and the Sponsor shall instruct each Borrower to make payments with respect to Loans and the Loan Commitments directly to the Servicer, either by wire transfer, SWIFT transfer or debit pursuant to an ACH Authorization or a PAD Authorization.
On each Participant Quarterly Payment Date and each Participant Canadian Quarterly Payment Date, all payments of commitment fees received by the Servicer from the Borrowers since the immediately prior Participant Quarterly Payment Date or each Participant Canadian Quarterly Payment Date (as applicable) and from the Sponsor pursuant to the Operative Documents and not previously distributed by the Servicer, shall be applied to pay all accrued but unpaid Participant Commitment Fees in the applicable currency pursuant to this Agreement, such payment to be distributed by the Servicer to the Participants pro rata in accordance with Section 2.4, with any remainder to be applied as set forth in the Servicing Agreement.
On each Participant Monthly Payment Date and each Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date, all payments of interest received by the Servicer from the Borrowers since the immediately prior Participant Monthly Payment Date or Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date (as applicable) and from the Sponsor pursuant to its guaranty contained herein with respect to the Loans and not previously distributed by the Servicer, shall be applied to pay all accrued but unpaid interest on the Funded Participation in the applicable currencies pursuant to this Agreement, then to pay all accrued but unpaid Servicing Fees and then to pay the Sponsor’s Fee, in accordance with the terms of the Servicing Agreement and Fee Letter and in the applicable currencies.
On any Business Day on which the Servicer shall receive any payment in respect of the principal amount of any Loan, whether from a Borrower, the Sponsor pursuant to its guaranty contained herein, or any other obligor with respect thereto, the Servicer may elect, in its sole discretion to (i) apply such principal payment to fund any requested Advances, (ii) apply such amount to repay any outstanding Swing Line Advances, or (iii) to either (x) distribute such amount to the Participants to reduce each Participant’s Funded Participation or (y) apply such amount to Truist’s Funded Participation only (with the understanding that the Funded Participation of each Participant shall not be deemed to have been repaid until such amount is actually received by such Participant); provided that, in the event that the Servicer elects to apply any repayment to reduce Truist’s Funded Participation without a corresponding reduction of the other Participant’s Funded Participation, Truist shall be obligated to make a payment to each Participant equal to such Participant’s Pro Rata Share of such payment in the applicable currency upon the earlier of (i) the next Participant Monthly Payment Date or Participant Canadian Monthly Payment Date (as applicable) and (ii) the occurrence of a Credit Event hereunder.
If during any period when no Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, amounts received by Servicer are not capable of being allocated to any specific Loan or, in the case of amounts allocable to a specific Loan, are not sufficient to repay all obligations then due and owing with respect thereto, such amounts shall be applied by the Servicer as follows: (i) first, to the payment of Participant Commitment Fees owing to the Participants hereunder, (ii) second, to the payment of accrued interest on the Funded Participation hereunder, (iii) third, to the payment of the Servicing Fees owing under the Servicing Agreement, (iv) fourth, to the repayment of the Funded Participations outstanding hereunder, (v) fifth, to the payment of all other amounts owing to the Servicer or any Participant hereunder, and (vi) sixth, if all obligations of the Sponsor pursuant to the Operative Documents have been satisfied in full, to the Sponsor; provided, however, that (i) to the extent such amounts received by the Servicer are in Canadian Dollars, such amounts shall be applied only to the foregoing obligations that are payable in Canadian Dollars, and (ii) to the extent such amounts received by the Servicer are in US Dollars, such amounts shall be applied only to the foregoing obligations that are payable in US Dollars.
During any period when a Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, any amounts received by Servicer with respect to the Loans shall be applied, after deduction of any expenses incurred in the collection



of any such amounts and after conversion to the applicable currency as necessary, as follows (i) first, to the payment of any accrued and unpaid Servicing Fee, (ii) second, to each Participant in accordance with Pro Rata Share, and (iii) thereafter, to such Persons as may be legally entitled thereto.
If not sooner repaid, all amounts due and payable to the Servicer and the Participants under the Operative Documents shall be due and payable in full on the Final Termination Date.
Monthly Servicing Report. Within three (3) Business Days after the end of each calendar month, the Servicer shall telecopy (or email) to the Sponsor a servicing report in a form substantially similar to Exhibit F or such other form as may be mutually agreed between the Servicer and Sponsor (the “Monthly Servicing Report”) setting forth the following information with respect the Loans:
the aggregate principal balance of the US Loans and the aggregate principal balance of the Canadian Loans as of the close of business on the last day of the preceding Payment Period and on such day;
the aggregate amount of the US Loans and the aggregate principal balance of the Canadian Loans repurchased by the Sponsor, and all amounts collected with respect to the Collateral for the US Loans and the Canadian Loans since the date of the last Monthly Servicing Report;
the aggregate US Loan Commitments and the aggregate Canadian Loan Commitments as of the close of business on the last Business Day of the preceding calendar month and on such day; and
each US Loan and each Canadian Loan which is past due (including the past due amount and the number of days past due).

LOAN DEFAULT; RIGHT TO MAKE GUARANTY DEMAND
Notice Of Loan Defaults. Within ten (10) days after the occurrence of any Loan Payment Default, the Servicer shall send written notice of such Loan Payment Default to the applicable Borrower and Sponsor. Within ten (10) days after the Servicer obtains actual knowledge of the occurrence of any Loan Default other than a Loan Payment Default, the Servicer shall send written notice of such Loan Default to the applicable Borrower and Sponsor.
Waiver or Cure By The Sponsor of Covenant Defaults and Loan Payment Defaults.
Unless a Credit Event or an Unmatured Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, the Sponsor shall be entitled (but not obligated) to request that the Servicer waive any default by the Borrower or any Guarantor under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, other than a Loan Default or a default arising based upon the action or inaction of the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, by sending to the Servicer for execution a Default Waiver Letter, which Servicer agrees to execute and mail to the appropriate Borrower if such Default Waiver Letter is in form and substance satisfactory to the Servicer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (a), unless a Credit Event or an Unmatured Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, the Sponsor shall be entitled (but not obligated) to request that the Servicer waive any Loan Payment Default (including a Loan Payment Default resulting from the failure of a Borrower to remain in compliance with the borrowing base requirements of the applicable Loan Agreement) by sending to the Servicer for execution a Default Waiver Letter, which Servicer agrees to execute and mail to the appropriate Borrower if such Default Waiver Letter is in form and substance satisfactory to the Servicer, curing such Loan Payment Default in full; provided, however, that (i) Sponsor shall not waive and cure more than two (2) consecutive Loan Payment Defaults for any Loan nor more than a total of four (4) Loan Payment Defaults in any four year period for any Loan and (ii) such Loan Payment Default must be cured by Sponsor, and the Default Waiver Letter for such Loan Payment Default received by Servicer, during the Response Period for such Loan.
[Reserved].



Rights during Response Period. Unless a Credit Event or an Unmatured Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, the Servicer shall refrain during any Response Period from taking any legal action against the Defaulted Borrower under the Defaulted Loan which is the subject of such Response Period, and from accelerating payment of the Loan Indebtedness under such Defaulted Loan but the Servicer shall cease funding any further Advances pursuant to the Loan Commitment to such Defaulted Borrower. If the Sponsor waives and cures (or causes the applicable Borrower to cure) any Loan Payment Default prior to the expiration of a Response Period, then as to each Loan Payment Default so waived and cured, the Defaulted Borrower’s and the Servicer’s respective rights and obligations under the Loan Documents shall be restored to the same status as if such waived Loan Payment Default never occurred.
Rights after Response Period and for Loan Defaults other than Loan Payment Defaults. In the event that (a) any Loan Default (other than a Loan Payment Default) occurs and is continuing or (b) any Loan Payment Default is not cured during the applicable Response Period, (i) the Servicer shall have the right to (A) demand that Sponsor comply with its obligations with respect to such Defaulted Loan set forth in Article X and (B) administer and enforce such Loan as it deems appropriate, without regard to any limitations or restrictions set forth herein (but subject to Article III in all events) or in any other Operative Document, and (ii) notwithstanding anything contained in this Article IV to the contrary, the Sponsor shall, within five (5) Business Days of its receipt of a written demand from the Servicer instructing it to do so, purchase the Loan Indebtedness of the Defaulted Loan and assume the Loan Commitment related thereto.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each of Holdings and the Sponsor represents and warrants to the Servicer and each Participant as follows:
Existence; Power. Holdings, the Sponsor and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted, and (c) is duly qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where a failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Organizational Power; Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party are within such Credit Party’s organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational, and if required, partner, member or stockholder, action. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Sponsor, and constitutes, and each other Transaction Document to which any Credit Party is a party, when executed and delivered by such Credit Party, will constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Sponsor or such Credit Party (as the case may be), enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.
Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings and the Sponsor of this Agreement, and by each Credit Party of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any action by, any Governmental Authority, except those as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect or where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any judgment or order of any Governmental Authority binding on Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding on Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of its assets or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except Liens (if any) created under the Operative Documents and the other Liens permitted hereunder.



Financial Statements. The Sponsor has furnished to each Participant the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended prepared by Ernst & Young. Such financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial condition of the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such dates and the consolidated results of operations for such periods in conformity with GAAP consistently applied. Since December 31, 2021, there have been no changes with respect to Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries which have had or could reasonably be expected to have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Litigation and Environmental Matters.
No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrators or Governmental Authorities is pending against or, to the knowledge of the Sponsor, threatened against or affecting Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination that could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) which in any manner draws into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
Except as could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, none of Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply in any material respect with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law or (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability. None of Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (x) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (y) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability that, in each case, could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Holdings, the Sponsor and each Restricted Subsidiary is in compliance with (a) all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority, and (b) all indentures, agreements or other instruments binding upon it or its properties, except in the cases of both clauses (a) and (b) where non-compliance, either singly or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Investment Company Act, Etc. None of Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is (a) an “investment company”, or is “controlled” by an “investment company”, as such terms are defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended or (b) otherwise subject to any other regulatory scheme limiting its ability to incur debt.
Taxes. Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries and each other Person for whose taxes Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary could become liable have timely filed or caused to be filed all Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns that are required to be filed by them, and have paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns or on any assessments made against it or its property and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority, except (i) to the extent the failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) where the same are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Holdings, the Sponsor or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, has set aside on its books adequate reserves. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such taxes are adequate, and no tax liabilities that could be materially in excess of the amount so provided are anticipated.
Margin Regulations. None of the proceeds of any of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” (with the respective meanings of each of such terms under Regulation U) which would result in a violation of Regulation T, U or X or for any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulation T, U or X. None of Holdings, the Sponsor or its Restricted Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying “margin stock.”
ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably



be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $20,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $20,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans. As of the Effective Date, no Credit Party nor any of its Subsidiaries are, and will not be, a Benefit Plan.
Ownership of Property.
Each of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all of its real and personal property material to the operation of its business.
Each of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries owns, or licenses, or otherwise has the right, to use, all patents, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, copyrights and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries does not infringe on the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Disclosure.
The Sponsor has disclosed to the Participants all agreements, instruments, and corporate or other restrictions to which Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to any of them, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the reports (including without limitation all reports that Holdings or the Sponsor is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission), financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of the Sponsor or Holdings to the Servicer or any Participant in connection with the negotiation or syndication of this Agreement or any other Operative Document or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by any other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that with respect to projected financial information, the Sponsor represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time, it being recognized by the Participants that such projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may materially differ from the projected results.
As of the Effective Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification (if any) is true and correct in all respects.
Labor Relations. There are no strikes, lockouts or other material labor disputes or grievances against Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or, to the Sponsor’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and no significant unfair labor practice, charges or grievances are pending against Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or to the Sponsor’s knowledge, threatened against any of them before any Governmental Authority. All payments due from Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of Holdings, the Sponsor or any such Restricted Subsidiary, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Subsidiaries. Schedule 5.14 sets forth the name of, the ownership interest of Holdings in, the jurisdiction of incorporation of, and the type of, each Subsidiary and identifies each Subsidiary that is a Guarantor, in each case as of the Effective Date.
Representations and Warranties with Respect to Specific Loans. The Sponsor represents and warrants to the Servicer and each Participant with respect to each Loan Commitment established and each Advance made pursuant to the Operative Documents that:



The Franchise Agreement, the Master Note, the Loan Agreement and each other Loan Document executed in connection with such Loan Commitment each constitutes a valid and binding agreement of each Borrower or guarantor party thereto and is enforceable against each such party in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.
The Master Note and accompanying Loan Documents executed in connection with such Loan and delivered to the Servicer are the only contracts evidencing the transaction described therein and constitute the entire agreement of the parties thereto with respect to such transaction and Sponsor has not made any other promises, agreements or representations and warranties with respect to the transactions evidenced by such Master Note.
The Master Note and each accompanying Loan Document executed in connection with such Loan is genuine and all signatures, names, amounts and other facts and statements therein and thereon are true and correct.
All disclosures required to be made under applicable federal and state law in connection with such Loan have been properly and completely made with respect to each Master Note, the other Loan Documents and the Loan and each such Master Note, other Loan Documents and Loan is in full compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, including without limitation, applicable state and federal usury laws and regulations.
The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the US Line of Credit Commitments shall be used solely to purchase inventory, and to the extent permitted by Sponsor, to pay state sales and use taxes and freight charges. The proceeds of each Advance made pursuant to the Canadian Line of Credit Commitments shall be used solely to purchase inventory, and to the extent permitted by Sponsor, to pay sales and use taxes and freight charges. The proceeds of each Revolving Loan or Term Loan will be solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition and expansion of stores franchised by the Sponsor and operated by the relevant Borrower and for Sponsor-approved working capital purposes, but excluding in all cases any non-business purposes.
Solvency. After giving effect to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Operative Documents, (a) the Sponsor is Solvent on the Effective Date and (b) Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are Solvent.
Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Sponsor and Holdings have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by Holdings, the Sponsor, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and Holdings, the Sponsor, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers (in such capacity), employees (in such capacity) and, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Sponsor, its directors and agents, are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions. None of (a) Holdings, the Sponsor, any Subsidiary or any of their respective officers (in such capacity) or employees (in such capacity), or (b) to the knowledge of Holdings or the Sponsor, any director or agent of Holdings or any Subsidiary is a Sanctioned Person. No use by Holdings, the Sponsor or any Subsidiary of the proceeds thereof or other transactions contemplated hereby will violate Anti-Corruption Laws or applicable Sanctions.
No Affected Financial Institutions. No Credit Party is an Affected Financial Institution.
Inactive Subsidiaries. The Inactive Subsidiaries do not (a) have assets with an aggregate book value in excess of $1,000,000, (b) have revenue in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate and (c) conduct any business activities.
Collateral Representations. After the execution and delivery of the Credit Party Collateral Documents on the Security Agreement Effective Date, the provisions of the Credit Party Collateral Documents are effective to create in favor of the Servicer, for the benefit of the Participants, a legal, valid and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Liens permitted by Section 8.2) on all right, title and interest of the respective Credit Parties in the Collateral described therein. Except for filings completed prior to the Security Agreement Effective Date and as contemplated hereby and by the Credit Party Collateral Documents, no filing or other action will be necessary to perfect such Liens that are required to be perfected under the terms of the Credit Party Collateral Documents.




AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Each of Holdings and the Sponsor covenant and agree that it will, as long as the Facility Commitment is in effect or the Servicer is committed to make Advances under any Loan Documents and thereafter so long as any Loans or Loan Commitments remain outstanding under this Agreement or Sponsor has any other unsatisfied obligations under the Operative Documents:
Financial Statements and Other Information. The Sponsor will deliver to the Servicer and each Participant:
as soon as available and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year of Holdings, a copy of the annual audited report for such Fiscal Year for Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries, containing a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows (together with all footnotes thereto) of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and reported on by Ernst & Young or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification, exception or explanation and without any qualification or exception as to scope of such audit) to the effect that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such consolidated financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. It is understood and agreed that the requirements of this Section 6.1(a) (x) shall be satisfied by the delivery of the applicable annual report on Form 10-K of Holdings to the Securities and Exchange Commission if delivered within the applicable time period noted herein and is available to the Participants on EDGAR and (y) are effective as of the Effective Date;
as soon as available and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year of Holdings (other than the last Fiscal Quarter), an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and the then elapsed portion of such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of Holdings’ previous Fiscal Year, all certified by the chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of Holdings as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. It is understood and agreed that the requirements of this Section 6.1(b) (x) shall be satisfied by the delivery of the applicable quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Holdings to the Securities and Exchange Commission if delivered within the applicable time period noted herein and is available to the Participants on EDGAR and (y) are effective as of the Effective Date;
concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.1(a) and (b) above, a certificate of a Responsible Officer, (i) certifying as to whether there exists a Credit Event or an Unmatured Credit Event on the date of such certificate, and if a Credit Event or an Unmatured Credit Event then exists, specifying the details thereof and the action which the Sponsor has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail calculations demonstrating compliance with Article VII and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or the application thereof has occurred since the date of Holdings’ audited financial statements referred to in Section 5.4 and, if any change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;
concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.1(a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained any knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial statements of any Credit Event or Unmatured Credit Event (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);
promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all functions of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or with any national



securities exchange, or distributed by Holdings to its shareholders generally, as the case may be, it being agreed that the requirements of this Section 6.1(e) may be satisfied by the delivery of the applicable reports, statements or other materials to the Securities and Exchange Commission to the extent that such reports, statements or other materials are available to the Participants on EDGAR;
promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the results of operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary as the Servicer or any Participant may reasonably request;
as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of Holdings, a forecasted income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows for the following Fiscal Year, in each case, on a quarter by quarter basis for such forecasted Fiscal Year information; and
concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.1(a) and (b), for any period in which there exist any Unrestricted Subsidiaries, unaudited consolidating financial statements reflecting adjustments necessary to eliminate the accounts of Unrestricted Subsidiaries (if any) from such financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.1(a) and (b), all in reasonable detail and certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Sponsor as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
Notices of Material Events. The Sponsor will furnish to the Servicer and each Participant prompt written notice of the following:
the occurrence of any Credit Event or Unmatured Credit Event;
the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or, to the knowledge of the Sponsor, affecting Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
the occurrence of any event or any other development by which Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (i) fails to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) becomes subject to any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000, (iii) receives notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000, or (iv) becomes aware of any basis for any Environmental Liability in excess of $10,000,000 and in each of the preceding clauses, which individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
the occurrence of any ERISA Event that alone, or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000,000;
any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in parts (c) or (d) of such certification; and
any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice delivered under this Section 6.2 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
Existence; Conduct of Business. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and its respective rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the conduct of its business and will continue to engage in (a) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related



thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease purchase programs), (b) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to the business, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Sponsor and (c) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Sponsor and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding; provided, that nothing in this Section 6.3 shall prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 8.3.
Compliance with Laws, Etc. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations and requirements of any Governmental Authority applicable to its business and properties, including without limitation, all Environmental Laws, ERISA and OSHA, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Payment of Obligations. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, pay and discharge all taxes (including without limitation all tax liabilities and claims that could result in a statutory Lien) and all other obligations which, if unpaid, might become a Lien or charge upon any of their properties, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and Holdings, the Sponsor or such Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP or (b) the failure to make payment could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Books and Records. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities to the extent necessary to prepare the consolidated financial statements of Holdings in conformity with GAAP.
Visitation, Inspection, Etc. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit any representative of the Servicer or any Participant, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine its books and records and to make copies and take extracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with any of its officers and with its independent certified public accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as the Servicer or any Participant may reasonably request after reasonable prior notice to the Sponsor; provided, however, if a Credit Event or Unmatured Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, no prior notice shall be required. All reasonable expenses incurred by the Servicer and, at any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Credit Event, any Participants in connection with any such visit, inspection, audit, examination and discussions shall be borne by the Sponsor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, representatives of the Servicer or any Participant shall only have the right to visit and inspect once in every twelve (12) consecutive months, unless Credit Event has occurred and is continuing.
Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to do so, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and (b) maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with respect to its properties and business, and the properties and business of its Restricted Subsidiaries, against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by companies in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations. In addition, and not in limitation of the foregoing, Holdings shall maintain and keep in force insurance coverage on its inventory, as is consistent with best industry practices. The Credit Parties shall at all times cause the Servicer to be named as additional insured on all of its casualty and liability policies. Promptly after the Security Agreement Effective Date, the Credit Parties shall cause each issuer of an insurance policy to provide the Servicer with an endorsement (i) showing the Servicer as lender’s loss payee with respect to each policy of property or casualty insurance and naming the Servicer and each Participant as an additional insured



with respect to each policy of liability insurance, (ii) providing that 30 days’ notice will be given to the Servicer prior to any cancellation of, material reduction or change in coverage provided by or other material modification to such policy and (iii) reasonably acceptable in all other respects to the Servicer.
Use of Proceeds. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that would violate any rule or regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, including Regulations T, U or X.
The Sponsor shall ensure that the Borrowers and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents shall not use the proceeds of any Loans (i) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
Additional Subsidiaries.
Within ten (10) Business Days (or such later date as the Servicer may agree in its sole discretion) after any Domestic Subsidiary is acquired or formed (including, without limitation, upon the formation of any Subsidiary that is a Delaware Divided LLC) or after any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Sponsor shall (i) notify the Servicer and the Participants thereof, (ii) if such Domestic Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, cause such Subsidiary to become a Guarantor by (x) executing agreements in the form of Annex 1 to the Guaranty Agreement and (y) a security agreement or a joinder agreement thereto granting to the Servicer for the benefit of the Participants a first priority security interest and lien in all of its assets pursuant to the Credit Party Collateral Documents (subject to Liens permitted hereunder), in form reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer and (iii) if such Subsidiary is a Material Domestic Subsidiary, cause such Domestic Subsidiary to deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 3.1 as reasonably requested by the Servicer.  In the event that any Domestic Subsidiary that is not already a Guarantor becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary at any time after its formation or acquisition, the Sponsor shall have up to ten (10) Business Days (or such later date as the Servicer may agree in its sole discretion) to cause it to (x) become a Guarantor by executing agreements in the form of Annex 1 to the Guaranty Agreement and (y) deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 13.1 as reasonably requested by the Servicer.
[Reserved].
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) none of the Inactive Subsidiaries shall be required to become a Guarantor or to execute the Guaranty Agreement, subject to compliance with Section 8.13 and (ii) the Sponsor shall cause each Inactive Subsidiary to be dissolved as soon practicable without incurring adverse tax consequences unless otherwise permitted by the Servicer with such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
Holdings will cause any Domestic Subsidiary or any other Domestic Controlled Affiliate that provides a Guarantee or otherwise becomes liable (including as a borrower or co-borrower) in respect of the obligations under any agreement providing for the incurrence of Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Indebtedness under this Agreement to become a Guarantor by executing agreements in the form of Annex 1 to the Guaranty Agreement and deliver simultaneously therewith similar documents applicable to such Domestic Subsidiary described in Section 13.1 as reasonably requested by the Servicer.
Further Assurances. Promptly upon request by the Servicer, or any Participant through the Servicer, (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Operative Document or in the execution or acknowledgment thereof, and (b) do, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such further acts, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Servicer, or any Participant through the Servicer, may reasonably require from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of the Operative Documents, to grant, preserve, protect or perfect the Liens created by the Credit Party Collateral Documents or the validity or priority of any such Lien, all at the expense of the Credit Parties.
Collateral.



Promptly upon, and in any event no later than the Security Agreement Effective Date (or such later date as the Servicer shall agree in its sole discretion), Holdings shall, and shall cause the Credit Parties, to (i) grant Liens in favor of the Servicer, for the benefit of the Participants, in substantially all of its personal property (with exceptions as provided in the Security Agreement) by executing and delivering to the Servicer a Security Agreement and such other Credit Party Collateral Documents in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, and authorizing and delivering, at the request of the Servicer, such UCC financing statements or similar instruments required by the Servicer to perfect the Liens in favor of the Servicer, for the benefit of the Servicer and the Participants, and granted under any of the Operative Documents and (ii) deliver such other documentation (including, without limitation, certified organizational documents, resolutions, lien searches and legal opinions) reasonably requested by the Servicer. In addition, Holdings shall, or shall cause the applicable Credit Party to (x) pledge all of the Capital Stock of the Sponsor and any such Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the Servicer as security for the Obligations by executing and delivering a Security Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, (y) pledge sixty-six percent (66%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) of the Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries directly owned by the Credit Parties and (z) deliver the original certificates evidencing such pledged Capital Stock to the Servicer, together with appropriate powers executed in blank. On and after the Security Agreement Effective Date, the requirements of this Section 6.12(a) shall govern the pledge of Capital Stock in Foreign Subsidiaries. Concurrently with the grant of Liens in the first sentence of this Section 6.12(a), the Servicer and the Administrative Agent (as defined in the Credit Agreement) shall enter into the Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, the Required Participants and the Administrative Agent (as defined in the Credit Agreement).
Holdings and the Sponsor agree that, following the delivery of any Credit Party Collateral Documents required to be executed and delivered by this Section 6.12, the Servicer shall have a valid and enforceable, perfected Lien on the property required to be pledged pursuant to Sections 6.12(a) and 6.12(b) (to the extent that such Lien can be perfected by execution, delivery and/or recording of the Credit Party Collateral Documents or UCC financing statements, or possession of such Collateral), free and clear of all Liens other than Liens expressly permitted by Section 8.2. All actions to be taken pursuant to this Section 6.12 shall be at the expense of the Sponsor or the applicable Credit Party, and shall be taken to the reasonable satisfaction of the Servicer.
[Reserved].
Designation of Subsidiaries
The Sponsor may at any time designate any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that (a) no Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event shall exist immediately prior or immediately after giving effect to such designation; (b) the Sponsor shall have delivered to the Servicer a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate demonstrating that after giving effect to such designation on a Pro Forma Basis, the Credit Parties would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder; (c) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary if such Restricted Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries (i) owns any equity interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Liens on, any property of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) Guarantees any Indebtedness of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (after giving effect to the release of the Guarantee of the Guaranteed Obligations by such Subsidiary in connection with the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary); (d) any Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary may not subsequently be re-designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and (e) no Restricted Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless concurrent with such designation such Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an “unrestricted subsidiary” (or otherwise not be subject to the covenants) under any Indebtedness.
The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall constitute an Investment (which must be an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 8.4) by its direct parent (whether the Sponsor or a Restricted Subsidiary) in such Subsidiary on the date of such designation in an amount equal to the outstanding amount of all Investments by Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Subsidiary on such date.



The designation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary shall constitute (i) the incurrence on the date of such designation of any Investment, Indebtedness or Liens of such Subsidiary existing on such date and (ii) for purposes of calculating the outstanding amount of Investments by Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in all Unrestricted Subsidiaries, a return on all Investments by Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Subsidiary in an amount equal to the outstanding amount of all such Investments in such Subsidiary on the date of such designation.
If at any time any Unrestricted Subsidiary (i) owns any equity interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Liens on, any property of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) Guarantees any Indebtedness of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) ceases to be an “unrestricted subsidiary” (or otherwise becomes subject to the covenants) under any Indebtedness, then the Servicer shall, concurrent therewith, re-designate such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary.
Notwithstanding any of the definitions or covenants contained in this Agreement to the contrary, Holdings and the Sponsor will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, consummate any transaction that results in the transfer (whether by way of any Restricted Payment, Investment, or any sale, conveyance, transfer, or other disposition, or a designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Subsidiary, and whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of material intellectual property rights (including patents, trademarks, service marks, tradenames, copyrights, proprietary leasing records and systems and other intellectual property) from Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary to any Unrestricted Subsidiary. Except as expressly set forth herein, Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to any of the covenants set forth in this Agreement.

FINANCIAL COVENANTS
Holdings and the Sponsor covenant and agree that so long as the Facility Commitment remains outstanding or any Loans or Loan Commitments remain outstanding or the Sponsor has any obligations under the Operative Documents, and until the full and final payment of all indebtedness of all Borrowers incurred pursuant to the Loan Documents and unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Required Participants:
Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio. Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall maintain, as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, a Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio of not greater than 2.75:1.00; provided, that, upon the occurrence of a Qualified Acquisition, for the four (4) Fiscal Quarters commencing with the Fiscal Quarter during which such Qualified Acquisition closes (each such period, a “Leverage Increase Period”), the required ratio set forth above may, upon receipt by the Servicer of a Qualified Acquisition Notice, be increased to 3.00:1.00; provided further, that (i) the maximum Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio permitted pursuant to this Section 7.1 shall revert to 2.75:1.00 following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, (ii) for at least two (2) full Fiscal Quarters ending immediately following the end of each Leverage Increase Period, the Total Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio as of the end of each such Fiscal Quarter shall not be permitted to be greater than 2.75:1.00 prior to giving effect to another Leverage Increase Period and (iii) the Leverage Increase Period shall apply for purposes of (w) determining compliance with this Section 7.1, (x) [reserved], (y) any Qualified Acquisition Pro Forma Determination and (z) determining compliance on a Pro Forma Basis in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness under Section 8.1.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall maintain, as of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than the ratio set forth below opposite such date:



Fiscal Quarter ending on:Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall not be less than:
March 31, 20241.30:1.00
June 30, 20241.30:1.00
September 30, 20241.30:1.00
December 31, 20241.35:1.00
March 31, 20251.35:1.00
June 30, 20251.40:1.00
September 30, 20251.40:1.00
December 31, 2025 to December 31, 20271.50:1.00


NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Holdings and the Sponsor covenant and agree that so long as the Facility Commitment remains outstanding or any Loans or Loan Commitments remain outstanding or the Sponsor has any obligations under the Operative Documents, and until the full and final payment of all indebtedness of all Borrowers incurred pursuant to the Loan Documents and unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Required Participants:
Indebtedness. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
Indebtedness created pursuant to the Operative Documents;
Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 8.1 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (immediately prior to giving effect to such extension, renewal or replacement) or shorten the maturity or the weighted average life thereof;
Indebtedness of the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred after the Effective Date to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof; provided, that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvements or extensions, renewals, and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (immediately prior to giving effect to such extension, renewal or replacement) or shorten the maturity or the weighted average life thereof; provided further, (x) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, as of any date of determination, does not at any time exceed three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, and (y) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred by Foreign Subsidiaries under this Section 8.1(c), together with the principal amount of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under Section 8.1(j) does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered (giving effect to any Acquisition financed with such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis);
Indebtedness of the Sponsor owing to any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party and of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party owing to the Sponsor or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party;
Guarantees by the Sponsor of Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor that is a Credit Party and by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor that is a Credit Party of Indebtedness of the Sponsor or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor that is a Credit Party;



Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement;
Guarantees by the Sponsor of Indebtedness of certain franchise operators of the Sponsor; provided such guarantees are given by the Sponsor in connection with (i) loans made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or (ii) loans made pursuant to terms of any other loan facility agreements and guaranteed on an unsecured basis with terms otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Servicer entered into after the Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed, as of any date of determination, three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered;
endorsed negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business;
Guarantees by Sponsor of permitted Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries;
unsecured Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries (whether such Indebtedness represents loans made by the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or by a third party) so long as (i) after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis, (as evidenced by a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate delivered to the Servicer), (A) Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (B) no Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom and (C) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the amount of and Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by such Foreign Subsidiaries under Section 8.1(c) does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as of the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered (giving effect to any Acquisition financed with such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis) and (ii) (A) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations (other than customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and the latest Maturity Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (B) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic terms of such Indebtedness are either (1) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Sponsor) or (2) reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, (C) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; and (D) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Credit Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Credit Party);
secured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $15,000,000 and (ii) ten percent (10%) of Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four (4) Fiscal Quarters most recently ended prior to the date of determination for which financial statements were delivered under Section 5.1(a) or (b); provided, that, (i) no unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (ii) after giving effect to the incurrence thereof on a Pro Forma Basis (as evidenced by delivery of a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate to the Servicer), Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (iii) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations (other than customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and the latest Maturity Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (iv) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic terms of such Indebtedness are either (A) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Sponsor) or (B) reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, (v) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; (vi) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Credit Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Credit



Party); and (viii) such Indebtedness shall not include any restriction on the ability of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries to grant Liens in favor of the Servicer in accordance with the terms hereof;
any other unsecured Indebtedness of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party so long as after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a Pro Forma Basis (as evidenced by delivery of a Pro Forma Compliance Certificate to the Servicer), (i) Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder, (ii) no Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event has occurred and is continuing, or would result therefrom, (iii) the terms of such Indebtedness do not provide for any scheduled repayment (including payment at maturity), mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligations (other than customary mandatory prepayments upon a change of control, asset sale, event of loss, unpermitted debt issuance and customary acceleration rights after an event of default) prior to the date that is 91 days after the Revolving Commitment Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and the latest Maturity Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement) in effect at the time of the incurrence or issuance of such Indebtedness; (iv) the covenants, events of default, guarantees and other non-economic terms of such Indebtedness are either (A) customary for similar Indebtedness in light of then-prevailing market conditions (as reasonably determined by the Sponsor) or (B) reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer, (v) any financial maintenance covenants with respect to such Indebtedness are not more restrictive to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement; and (vi) such Indebtedness shall not be Guaranteed by any Person that is not a Credit Party (or that does not simultaneously become a Credit Party);
Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary or assets were acquired from such Person in connection with an Investment permitted pursuant to Section 8.4, to the extent that (i) such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or the acquisition of such assets and (ii) neither the Sponsor nor any Restricted 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; and
Indebtedness created pursuant to the Inventory Financing Agreement, so long as the Inventory Financing Agreement is terminated and no Indebtedness thereunder remains outstanding on or after March 31, 2023.
Negative Pledge. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its assets or property now owned or hereafter acquired (other than any shares of stock of Holdings that are repurchased by the Sponsor and retired or held by Holdings) or, except:
Permitted Encumbrances;
any Liens on any property or asset of the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Effective Date set forth on Schedule 8.2; provided, that such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary;
purchase money Liens upon or in any fixed or capital assets to secure the purchase price or the cost of construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets or to secure Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets (including Liens securing any Capital Lease Obligations); provided, that (i) such Lien secures Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(c), (ii) such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently or within ninety (90) days after the acquisition, improvement or completion of the construction thereof; (iii) such Lien does not extend to any other asset; and (iv) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets together with all interest, fees and costs incurred in connection therewith;
any Lien (i) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor, (ii) existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person is merged with or into the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor or (iii) existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Sponsor; provided, that any such Lien was not created in the contemplation of any of the foregoing and any such Lien secures only those obligations which it secures on the date that such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or the date of such merger or the date of such acquisition;



extensions, renewals, or replacements of any Lien referred to in Sections 8.2(a) through 8.2(d); provided, that the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured thereby is not increased and that any such extension, renewal or replacement is limited to the assets originally encumbered thereby; and
(i) Liens securing the Obligations (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the Sponsor under the Credit Agreement and (ii) Liens securing Guaranteed Obligations;
Liens on shares of stock of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the Guaranteed Obligations are secured pari passu with any other Indebtedness or obligations secured thereby;
Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(k);
Liens securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than Indebtedness) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time $5,000,000; and
Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 8.1(n).
Fundamental Changes.
Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate into any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of (in a single transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired and including, in each case, pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division) or all or substantially all of the stock of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired) or liquidate or dissolve; provided, that (i) any Inactive Subsidiary may (A) liquidate into its immediate parent company or dissolve, (B) merge into any other Inactive Subsidiary or (C) merge into the Sponsor or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party; provided that the Sponsor or such Restricted Subsidiary that is a Credit Party is the survivor of such merger, and (ii) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Credit Event shall have occurred and be continuing (A) the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary may merge with a Person (other than Holdings); provided, that (x) if the Sponsor is a party to such merger, the Sponsor shall be the surviving Person and (y) if the Sponsor is not a party to such merger, such Restricted Subsidiary or, in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, such Person if upon such merger such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, is the surviving Person, (B) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge into another Restricted Subsidiary or the Sponsor; provided, however, that if the Sponsor is a party to such merger, the Sponsor shall be the surviving Person; provided, further, that if any Restricted Subsidiary to such merger is a Guarantor, the Guarantor shall be the surviving Person, (C) any Restricted Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to the Sponsor or to a Guarantor, and (D) any other Restricted Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if the Sponsor determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Sponsor, is not materially disadvantageous to the Participants, and such Restricted Subsidiary dissolves into another Guarantor or the Sponsor; provided, that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 8.4.
Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than (i) substantially the same business as presently conducted or such other businesses that are reasonably related thereto, including but not limited to the business of leasing and selling furniture, consumer electronics, computers, appliances and other household goods and accessories inside and outside of the United States of America, through both independently-owned and franchised stores, providing lease-purchase solutions, credit and other financing solutions to customers for the purchase and lease of such products, the manufacture and supply of furniture and bedding for lease and sale in such stores, and the provision of virtual rent-to-own programs inside and outside of the United States of America (including but not limited to point-of-sale lease purchase programs), (ii) any other businesses which are ancillary or complementary to, or reasonable extensions or expansions of, the business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Sponsor and (iii) any businesses that are materially different from the business of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted as of the Effective Date provided that any Investments made, funds expended or financial support provided by Holdings, the Sponsor and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such alternative lines of business shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding.



Investments, Loans, Etc. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary prior to such merger), any Capital Stock, evidence of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant, or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person (all of the foregoing being collectively called “Investments”), or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person that constitute a business unit, or create or form any Subsidiary, except:
Investments (other than Permitted Investments) in Restricted Subsidiaries in existence on the Effective Date and other Investments set forth on Schedule 8.4;
Permitted Investments;
Permitted Acquisitions;
Investments made by the Sponsor in or to any other Credit Party (other than Holdings) and by any other Credit Party (other than Holdings) to the Sponsor or in or to another Credit Party (other than Holdings);
loans or advances to employees, officers, directors or stockholders of the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such loans and advances does not exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;
loans to franchise operators and owners of franchises acquired or funded pursuant to this Agreement and the other credit facility agreements referenced in Section 8.1(g);
Guarantees permitted under Section 8.1(g);
the acquisition or ownership of stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts (created in the ordinary course of business) owing to any Guarantor or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries;
loans to and other investments in Foreign Subsidiaries that are Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that, the aggregate amount of such outstanding loans to and investments in such Foreign Subsidiaries do not exceed the amount permitted under Section 8.1(j).
Investments in investment grade corporate bonds and variable rate demand notes having a rating of BBB+ (or the equivalent) or higher, at the time of acquisition thereof, from S&P or Moody’s and in either case maturing within two years from the date of acquisition thereof in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000,000 at any time;
other Investments (other than Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries); provided, that, (i) no Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder;
other Investments (other than Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries) not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time; and
other Investments not to exceed, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered; provided, that, (i) no unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder.



Restricted Payments. Holdings will not, and will not permit its Restricted Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any dividend on any class of its Capital Stock, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance or other acquisition of, any shares of Capital Stock or Indebtedness subordinated to the Guaranteed Obligations of the Sponsor or any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase such Capital Stock or such subordinated Indebtedness, whether now or hereafter outstanding (each, a “Restricted Payment”), except for (a) dividends payable by Holdings solely in shares of any class of its common stock, (b) Restricted Payments made by any Restricted Subsidiary to Holdings or to another Credit Party and (c) other Restricted Payments made by Holdings in cash so long as, (x) no Credit Event or Unmatured Credit Event has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (y) after giving effect to the payment thereof on a Pro Forma Basis, Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be in compliance with the financial covenants in Article VII measured as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements are required to have been delivered hereunder.
Sale of Assets. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of (including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division), any of its assets, business or property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, issue or sell any shares of such Restricted Subsidiary’s Capital Stock to any Person other than the Sponsor or a Guarantor (or to qualify directors if required by applicable law), except (a) the sale or other disposition for fair market value of obsolete or worn out property or other property not necessary for operations disposed of in the ordinary course of business; (b) the sale of inventory and Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business, (c) sales and dispositions permitted under Section 8.3(a) and sale and leaseback transactions permitted under Section 8.9, (d) sales of assets in connection with the sale of a store owned by Sponsor to a franchisee of the Sponsor, (e) other sales of assets made on or after the Effective Date not to exceed, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to five percent (5.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered and (f) the sale or other disposition of assets in an amount at least equal to the fair market value of such asset (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Sponsor) and at least 75% of the cash consideration of which is paid to the Sponsor or the Restricted Subsidiary in cash or Cash Equivalents.
Transactions with Affiliates. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not materially less favorable to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Sponsor and its wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliates, (c) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 8.5 and (d) transactions permitted under Section 8.4(e).
Restrictive Agreements. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur or permit any Lien upon any of its assets or properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or (b) the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to its Capital Stock, to make or repay loans or advances to Holdings or any other Restricted Subsidiary, to Guarantee Indebtedness of Holdings or any other Restricted Subsidiary or to transfer any of its property or assets to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings; provided, that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other indenture, note purchase agreement or loan agreement in connection with any permitted refinancing of the debt evidenced by the Credit Documents, so long as the restrictions and conditions in such other indenture, note purchase agreement or loan agreement are no more burdensome in any material respect than those imposed by the Credit Documents), (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale; provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Restricted Subsidiary that is sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iii) Section 8.8(a) shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement (including the Inventory Financing Agreement) if such restrictions and conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (iv) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions contained in the Inventory



Financing Agreement as in effect on the Effective Date and (v) Section 8.8(a) shall not apply to customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment thereof.
Sale and Leaseback Transactions. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred; provided, however, the Sponsor may engage in such sale and leaseback transactions so long as the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold and leased back does not exceed $150,000,000 from and after the Effective Date.
Legal Name, State of Formation and Form of Entity. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, without providing ten (10) days prior written notice to the Servicer (or such lesser period as the Servicer may agree), change its name, state of formation or form of organization.
Accounting Changes. Holdings will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any significant change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, or change the Fiscal Year of Holdings or of any Restricted Subsidiary, except to change the Fiscal Year of a Restricted Subsidiary to conform its Fiscal Year to that of Holdings.
Hedging Transactions. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any Hedging Transaction, other than Hedging Transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities. Solely for the avoidance of doubt, the Sponsor acknowledges that a Hedging Transaction entered into for speculative purposes or of a speculative nature is not a Hedging Transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks.
Activities of Inactive Subsidiaries. Unless any Inactive Subsidiary has become a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of Section 6.10 of this Agreement, the Sponsor will not permit such Inactive Subsidiary to engage in any business activity other than (a) maintaining its existence and/or winding up its affairs and (b) activities related to the completion of any ongoing tax audits, and (x) no Credit Party shall make any additional Investment in any Inactive Subsidiary other than in connection with the business and activities set forth in Sections 8.13(a) and (b) above and (y) no Inactive Subsidiary shall incur Indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation, any guaranties).
Government Regulation. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) be or become subject at any time to any law, regulation, or list of any Governmental Authority of the United States (including, without limitation, the OFAC list) that prohibits or limits the Participants or the Servicer from making any advance or extension of credit to the Sponsor or from otherwise conducting business with Credit Parties, or (b) fail to provide documentary and other evidence of the identity of the Credit Parties as may be reasonably requested by the Participants or the Servicer at any time to enable the Participants or the Servicer to verify the identity of the Credit Parties or to comply with any applicable law or regulation, including, without limitation, Section 326 of the Patriot Act at 31 U.S.C. Section 5318.
Ownership of Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, Holdings will not, and will not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to (a) permit any Person (other than the Sponsor, any other Guarantor or any wholly owned Restricted Subsidiary thereof) to own any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, except to qualify directors if required by applicable Requirements of Law, and except for any dispositions of Restricted Subsidiaries otherwise permitted under this Agreement, or (b) permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue or have outstanding any shares of preferred Capital Stock.
Amendment of Organizational Documents. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, amend, modify or waive any of its rights in a manner materially adverse to the Participants or any Credit Party under its charter, by-laws or other organizational document, except in any manner that would not have an adverse effect on the Participants, the Servicer, Holdings, the Sponsor or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Activities of Holdings. Holdings will not engage in any operations, business or activity other than (a) owning the Capital Stock in its Subsidiaries, (b) maintaining its corporate existence including the



issuance of Capital Stock, holding director and shareholder meetings, and entering into those agreements and arrangements incidental thereto and incurring and paying fees, costs and expenses relating to thereto, (c) participating in tax, accounting, corporate and other administrative activities or other activities incidental thereto as a member of the consolidated group of companies including the Credit Parties, (d) executing, delivering and the performance of rights and obligations under the Operative Documents, (e) the consummation of the Transactions, (f) making any Restricted Payment permitted by this Agreement, (g) making capital contributions to the other Credit Parties, (h) executing, delivering and the performance of rights and obligations under any employment agreements and any documents related thereto, (i) making Investments permitted under this Agreement, (j) providing indemnification to its officers and directors in the ordinary course of business, (k) the performing of activities in preparation for and consummating any public offering of its Capital Stock or any other issuance or sale of its Capital Stock, (l) the holding of any cash and Cash Equivalents (but not owning or operating any property), (m) the entry into and performance of its obligations with respect to contracts and other arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business providing for indemnification to officers, managers, directors and employees, (n) any activities incidental to the foregoing or required to comply with applicable law, and (o) any action or transaction permitted hereunder.

CREDIT EVENTS AND REMEDIES
In the event that:
Section 1.1    the Sponsor shall fail to pay any amount due hereunder; or
Section 1.2    any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of Holdings, the Sponsor or any other Restricted Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Operative Document (including the Schedules attached thereto) and any amendments or modifications hereof or waivers hereunder, or in any certificate, report, financial statement or other document submitted to the Servicer or the Participants by any Credit Party or any representative of any Credit Party pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Operative Document shall prove to be incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made or submitted; or
Section 1.3    the Sponsor or Holdings shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 (solely with respect to the Sponsor’s or Holdings’ existence) or 6.11 or Article VII or VIII; or
Section 1.4    (i) the Sponsor or Holdings shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in Section 6.12, and such failure shall remain unremedied for ten (10) Business Days after the earlier of (A) any officer of the Sponsor becomes aware of such failure or (B) notice thereof shall have been given to the Sponsor by the Servicer or any Participant or (ii) any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those referred to in Sections 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4(i) above), and such failure shall remain unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earlier of (A) any officer of the Sponsor becomes aware of such failure or (B) notice thereof shall have been given to the Sponsor by the Servicer or any Participant; or
Section 1.5    any event of default (after giving effect to any grace period) shall have occurred and be continuing under the Credit Documents, or all or any part of the obligations due and owing under the Credit Agreement are accelerated, declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid or redeemed, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof;
Section 1.6    Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether as primary obligor or as guarantor or other surety) shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Material Indebtedness that is outstanding, when and as the same shall become due and payable (whether at scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Indebtedness; or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable; or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or any offer to prepay, redeem,



purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or
Section 1.7    Holdings, the Sponsor, any Material Subsidiary, or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary shall (i) commence a voluntary case or other proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in Section 9.7(i), (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for Holdings, the Sponsor or any such Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or
Section 1.8    an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of Holdings, the Sponsor, any Material Subsidiary, or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, or its debts, or any substantial part of its assets, under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a custodian, trustee, receiver, liquidator or other similar official for Holdings, the Sponsor, any Material Subsidiary, or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, or for a substantial part of its assets, and in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall remain undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered; or
Section 1.9    Holdings, the Sponsor, any Material Subsidiary, or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary shall become unable to pay, shall admit in writing its inability to pay, or shall fail to pay, its debts as they become due; or
Section 1.10    an ERISA Event shall have occurred that when taken together with other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability to Holdings, the Sponsor and the Restricted Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered or otherwise having a Material Adverse Effect; or
Section 1.11    judgments and orders for the payment of money in excess of in the aggregate, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the aggregate book value of the total assets of Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis as of the last day of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been delivered, to the extent not covered by insurance for which the insurance carrier has acknowledged coverage, shall be rendered against Holdings, the Sponsor, any Material Subsidiary or, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, any other Restricted Subsidiary, and to the extent such judgments or orders have not been discharged either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be a period of thirty (30) consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
Section 1.12    any non-monetary judgment or order shall be rendered against Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and there shall be a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
Section 1.13    a Change in Control shall occur or exist; or
Section 1.14    any provision of any Guaranty Agreement shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on, or enforceable against, any Guarantor, or any Guarantor shall so state in writing, or any Guarantor shall seek to terminate the Guaranty Agreement; or



Section 1.15    there shall exist or occur any default or event of default as provided under the terms of any other Operative Document (after giving effect to any notice and cure periods set forth in such Operative Document), or any Operative Document ceases to be in full force and effect or the validity or enforceability thereof is disaffirmed by or on behalf of the Sponsor or any other Credit Party, or at any time it is or becomes unlawful for Sponsor or any other Credit Party to perform or comply with its obligations under any Operative Document, or the obligations of the Sponsor or any other Credit Party under any Operative Document are not or cease to be legal, valid and binding on Sponsor or any such Credit Party; or
Section 1.16    the Servicer shall not have or shall cease to have a valid and perfected lien in any material portion of the Credit Party Collateral purported to be covered by the Credit Party Collateral Documents for any reason other than the failure of the Servicer to take any action within its control, or any Credit Party shall assert the invalidity of such liens;
then upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any such event (each, a “Credit Event”):
the Servicer may, with the consent of the Required Participants, and upon the written request of the Required Participants, shall, take any or all of the following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Servicer or any Participant to enforce its claims against Sponsor, any other Credit Party, any Borrower or other obligor with respect to any Loan: (i) declare the Facility Commitment terminated, whereupon the Facility Commitment shall terminate immediately and any unpaid Participant Commitment Fee shall forthwith become due and payable without any other notice of any kind (with the express understanding that such termination of the Facility Commitment shall not result in a termination of the Participating Commitments of each Participant or of the obligation of the Servicer to fund any Loan Commitment); (ii)  demand that the Sponsor purchase specified or all outstanding Loans and Loan Commitments by paying to the Servicer the Loan Indebtedness of each such Loan and assuming the Servicer’s obligations under each Loan Commitment, whereupon such amount shall become, forthwith due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Sponsor (with the express understanding the limitations on Sponsor’s guaranty obligations set forth in Article X shall not apply); and (iii) take any other action and exercise any other remedy available by contract or at law; provided, that, if a Credit Event specified in Sections 9.7, 9.8 or 9.9 shall occur, the result which would occur upon the giving of notice by the Servicer to any Credit Party, shall occur automatically without the giving of any such notice; and
in addition, the Servicer may, with the consent of the Required Participants and shall, upon the written request of the Required Participants, to the extent authorized to do so pursuant to the Loan Agreements (which authorization is limited to certain specified Credit Events), (x) cease funding further Advances pursuant to the Revolving Commitments and the Line of Credit Commitments and (y) declare all Loan Indebtedness outstanding pursuant to the US Revolving Commitments, the Canadian Revolving Commitments, the Line of Credit Commitments, the US Term Loan Commitments and the Canadian Term Loan Commitments to be immediately due and payable in accordance with the terms of the applicable Operative Documents and exercise all rights and remedies provided under the Operative Documents.

GUARANTY
In addition to its obligations upon the occurrence of a Credit Event or a Change in Control and its other obligations pursuant to the Operative Documents, the Sponsor hereby agrees as follows:
Unconditional Guaranty. The Sponsor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the Servicer, each Participant and any transferee of the Participants, the full and prompt payment of all of the Guaranteed Obligations relating to the Loans and all costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) actually incurred or sustained by the Servicer or any Participant in enforcing the obligations of the Sponsor hereunder or the obligations of the Borrowers under the applicable Operative Documents. If any portion of the Loan Indebtedness with respect to any Defaulted Loan is not paid by the date specified herein, Sponsor hereby agrees to and will immediately pay the same in the applicable currency, without resort by Servicer or any Participant to any other person or party. The obligation of the Sponsor to Servicer and the Participants hereunder is primary, absolute and unconditional, except as may be specifically set forth herein. This is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. The obligations of the Sponsor pursuant to this Article X constitute a guarantee that is continuing in nature.



The Servicer may, with the consent of the Required Participants and shall, upon the written request of the Required Participants, in the event that the obligations of the Sponsor with respect to a Defaulted Loan have arisen hereunder, request that the Sponsor purchase the Defaulted Loan and related Loan Commitment from the Servicer prior to the acceleration of the Defaulted Loan pursuant to the terms of the applicable Operative Documents for an amount equal to the Loan Indebtedness with respect to such Defaulted Loan, and Sponsor shall promptly upon receipt of such request, purchase such Defaulted Loan and assume the Loan Commitment related thereto, and such purchase by the Sponsor shall be deemed to be a payment hereunder in such amount.
Continuing Guaranty. The obligations of the Sponsor pursuant to this Article X constitute a guarantee which is continuing in nature and shall be effective with respect to the full amount outstanding under all Guaranteed Obligations, now existing or hereafter made or extended, regardless of the amount.
Waivers. The Sponsor hereby waives notice of Servicer’s and each Participant’s acceptance of this Agreement and the creation, extension or renewal of any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations. Sponsor hereby consents and agrees that, at any time or times, without notice to or further approval from Sponsor, and without in any way affecting the obligations of the Sponsor hereunder, Servicer and the Participants may, with or without consideration (i) release, compromise with, or agree not to sue, in whole or in part, any Borrower or any other obligor, guarantor, endorser or surety on any Loans or any other Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) renew, extend, accelerate, or increase or decrease the principal amount of any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, either in whole or in part, (iii) amend, waive, or otherwise modify any of the terms of any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations or of any mortgage, deed of trust, security agreement, or other undertaking of any of the Borrowers or any other obligor, endorser, guarantor or surety in connection with any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, and (iv) apply any payment received from Borrowers or from any other obligor, guarantor, endorser or surety on the Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations to any of the liabilities of Borrowers or of such other obligor, guarantor, endorser, or surety which Servicer may choose, subject, however, to the rights of the Sponsor to bring a separate action for any breach of the Operative Documents pursuant to Section 10.10.
Additional Actions. Subject to Section 10.10, Sponsor hereby consents and agrees that the Servicer may at any time or times, either with or without consideration, surrender, release or receive any property or other Collateral of any kind or nature whatsoever held by it or for its account securing any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, or substitute any Collateral so held by Servicer for other Collateral of like or different kind, without notice to or further consent from Sponsor, and such surrender, receipt, release or substitution shall not in any way affect the obligations of the Sponsor hereunder. Subject to Section 10.10, Servicer shall have full authority to adjust, compromise, and receive less than the amount due upon any such Collateral, and may enter into any accord and satisfaction agreement with respect to the same as Servicer may deem advisable without affecting the obligations of the Sponsor hereunder. Servicer shall be under no duty to undertake to collect upon such Collateral or any part thereof, and Sponsor’s obligations hereunder shall not be affected by Servicer’s alleged negligence or mistake in judgment in handling, disposing of, obtaining, or failing to collect upon or perfect a security interest in, any such Collateral.
Additional Waivers. Sponsor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest, and notice of dishonor of any of the liabilities guaranteed hereby. Neither Servicer nor any Participant shall have any duty or obligation (i) to proceed or exhaust any remedy against any Borrower, any other obligor, guarantor, endorser, or surety on any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, or any other security held by Servicer or any Participant for any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, or (ii) to give any notice whatsoever to Borrowers, Sponsor, or any other obligor, guarantor, endorser, or surety on any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, before bringing suit, exercising rights to any such security or instituting proceedings of any kind against Sponsor, any Borrower, or any of them, and Sponsor hereby waives any requirement for such actions by Servicer or any Participant. Upon default by any Borrower and Servicer’s demand to Sponsor hereunder, Sponsor shall be held and bound to Servicer and each Participant directly as principal debtor in respect of the payment of the amounts hereby guaranteed, such liability of the Sponsor being joint and several with each Borrower and all other obligors, guarantors, endorsers and sureties on the Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations, subject, however, to the rights of the Sponsor to bring a separate action for any breach of the Operative Documents pursuant to Section 10.10.
Postponement of Obligations. Until the Loan and other Guaranteed Obligations of any Borrower to the Servicer and the Participants have been paid in full (i) all present and future indebtedness of such Borrower to Sponsor (the “Subordinated Debt”) is hereby postponed to the present and future Loan Indebtedness of such Borrower to Servicer and each Participant, and all monies received from such Borrower or for its account by Sponsor with respect to such Subordinated Debt shall be received in trust for Servicer and the Participants, and promptly upon receipt, shall be paid over to Servicer for distribution to the Participants in



accordance herewith until such Borrower’s Loan Indebtedness to Servicer and the Participants is fully paid and satisfied, all without prejudice to and without in any way affecting the obligations of the Sponsor hereunder; provided that unless a Loan Default or Loan Payment Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such Borrower, the Sponsor may accept and retain any payments made by such Borrower to the Sponsor in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) Sponsor shall not have any rights of subrogation or otherwise to participate in any security held by the Servicer for any Loan to such Borrower or any other Guaranteed Obligations arising therefrom, and Sponsor hereby waives such rights until such time as such Loan and other Guaranteed Obligations have been paid in full to the Servicer and each Participant (whether by repurchase by the Sponsor, pursuant to this Article X or otherwise).
Effect on Additional Guaranties. The obligations of the Sponsor pursuant to this Article X are in addition to, and are not intended to supersede or be a substitute for any other guarantee, suretyship agreement, or instrument which Servicer may hold in connection with any Loans or other Guaranteed Obligations.
Reliance on Guaranty and Purchase Obligation; Disclaimer of Liability. Sponsor expressly acknowledges and agrees that each of the Servicer and the Participants, in making its credit decision with regard to the funding of the Loans, will rely solely upon the guaranty and purchase obligation of the Sponsor set forth above and that neither the Servicer nor any Participant is under any obligation or duty to perform any credit analysis or investigation with regard to the creditworthiness of any Borrower. In addition, the Servicer expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability for the authenticity of signatures on any of the Loan Documents (other than the Servicer’s), the authority of the Persons executing the Loan Documents (other than the Servicer) or the enforceability or compliance with laws of any of the Loan Documents.
SPONSOR EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT SPONSOR’S GUARANTY OBLIGATIONS TO PURCHASE LOANS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT ARE ABSOLUTE AND UNCONDITIONAL. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, SPONSOR’S OBLIGATION SHALL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE EXISTENCE OF ANY DEFAULT BY ANY BORROWER UNDER THE APPLICABLE LOAN DOCUMENTS, ANY EXCHANGE, RELEASE OR NONPERFECTION OF ANY LIEN WITH RESPECT TO ANY COLLATERAL SECURING PAYMENT OF ANY LOAN, THE SUBSTITUTION OR RELEASE OF ANY ENTITY PRIMARILY OR SECONDARILY LIABLE FOR ANY LOAN, ANY LACK OF ENFORCEABILITY OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, ANY LAW, REGULATION, OR ORDER OF ANY JURISDICTION AFFECTING ANY LOAN OR LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RIGHTS OF THE HOLDER THEREOF, ANY CHANGE IN THE CONDITION OR PROSPECTS OF THE SPONSOR, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, INSOLVENCY, BANKRUPTCY, REORGANIZATION OR SIMILAR PROCEEDING, OR ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE WHICH MIGHT, BUT FOR THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH, CONSTITUTE A LEGAL OR EQUITABLE DISCHARGE OF THE SPONSOR’S OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER. SPONSOR’S OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER SHALL NOT BE AFFECTED BY ANY SET-OFF OR CLAIM WHICH IT MIGHT HAVE AGAINST THE SERVICER OR ANY PARTICIPANT, WHETHER ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE, BUT SUBJECT TO SECTION 10.11 BELOW.
Reinstatement of Obligations. The obligations of the Sponsor pursuant to the Operative Documents shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment or any part thereof, of principal of, interest on or any other amount with respect to any Loan or any obligation of the Sponsor pursuant to the Operative Documents is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Servicer or any Participant upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Sponsor, any Borrower or any guarantor or otherwise.
Right to Bring Separate Action. Nothing contained in this Article X shall be construed to affect any other right that Sponsor may otherwise have under this Agreement, or any Operative Document or Loan Documents, at law or in equity to institute an action or assert a claim against the Servicer or any Participant based upon a breach of Servicer’s or such Participant’s obligations set forth in the Operative Documents or Loan Documents or to assert a compulsory counterclaim with respect thereto and any waiver of notice or other matter set forth in this Article X shall not affect Sponsor’s right to seek damages arising from the



failure of the Servicer to give such notice otherwise required by the terms of the Operative Documents or Loan Documents.
Subordination of Liens. The Sponsor hereby subordinates the lien and priority of the Sponsor’s existing and future liens and other interests, if any, in and to the Collateral to the Servicer’s existing and future interest in the Collateral under the Loan Documents notwithstanding the time of attachment of the interests of the Sponsor or the Servicer or the time the Loan Indebtedness or the Subordinated Debt is incurred. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, under applicable law or otherwise, in the event that the liens of the Servicer are at any time unperfected with respect to any or all of the Collateral, the lack of perfection by the Servicer as to any such Collateral shall not affect the validity, enforceability or priority of any lien on the Collateral in favor of the Sponsor. In any such event, the liens of the Sponsor shall have priority over any and all other Liens in favor of any third party with respect to the Collateral (including, but not limited to any trustee under the Bankruptcy Code) and the Sponsor shall be, and is hereby constituted, as the Servicer’s agent and bailee for purposes of perfection of the Liens of the Servicer in the Collateral such that the Lien in favor of the Sponsor shall be held by the Sponsor for the benefit of the Servicer and the proceeds of any disposition of the Collateral of any Borrower shall be and are in all respects subject to the priority of right to payment and satisfaction of first, the Loan Indebtedness of such Borrower and then, the Subordinated Debt with respect to such Borrower. The lien priorities provided in this Section 10.11 shall not be altered or otherwise affected by any amendment, modification, supplement, extension, renewal, restatement or refinancing of either the applicable Loan Indebtedness or the Subordinated Debt, nor by any action or inaction which either the Servicer or the Borrowers may take or fail to take in respect of the Collateral, except as otherwise provided above in this Section 10.11.
Exercise of Remedies With Respect to Collateral.
Until the Loan Indebtedness of any Borrower has been fully and indefeasibly paid in cash, the Sponsor shall not, without the prior written consent of the Servicer, ask, demand, assign, declare a default under, sue for, liquidate, sell, foreclose, set off, collect, accept a surrender, petition, commence or otherwise initiate any bankruptcy action (or join any other Person in so doing) against the Borrower or its assets or otherwise realize or seek to realize upon all or any part of the Collateral without the prior written consent of the Servicer or as expressly authorized hereunder. In the event that following the occurrence of a Loan Default, the Servicer may from time to time execute releases, partial releases, terminations, reconveyances, subordinations or other documents releasing or otherwise limiting the Servicer’s interests in the Collateral in connection with the exercise of the Servicer’s remedies or the refinancing of the Defaulted Loan, the Sponsor agrees to execute and deliver at such time such further documents as the Servicer may require to effect a corresponding change to the Sponsor’s position in the same Collateral.
In the event that the Loan Indebtedness of any Defaulted Loan is not repaid or repurchased by the Sponsor as set forth herein, the Servicer, on behalf of the Participants, shall have the exclusive right to exercise and enforce all privileges and rights with respect to the Collateral according to the Servicer’s discretion and the exercise of its business judgment, including, without limitation, the exclusive right to take or retake control or possession of such Collateral and to hold, prepare for sale, process, sell, lease, dispose of, or liquidate such Collateral.
Only the Servicer, acting on behalf of the Participants, shall have the right to restrict or permit, or approve or disapprove, the sale, transfer or other disposition of Collateral following the occurrence of a Loan Default where the Loan Indebtedness is not repaid or repurchased by the Sponsor in accordance with the terms hereof. In the event the Servicer releases its Liens on all or any part of the Collateral, the Sponsor will, immediately upon the request of the Servicer, release its Liens upon the same Collateral, but only to the extent such Collateral is sold or otherwise disposed of by the Borrower with the consent of the Servicer or in a commercially reasonable manner by the Servicer or its agents. The Sponsor will immediately deliver such releases, acknowledgments and other documents as the Servicer may require in connection therewith.
In exercising its rights pursuant to this Section 10.12, the Servicer agrees that it will not release Liens or Collateral or commence enforcement actions under the Loan Documents without the direction of the Required Participants. The Servicer agrees to administer the Loan Documents and the Collateral and to make such demands and give such notices thereunder as the Required Participants may request and to take such action to enforce the Loan Documents and to realize upon, collect and dispose of the Collateral as the Required Participants may direct. The Servicer shall not be required to take any action that is, in its opinion, contrary to law or the terms of the Loan Documents or the Operative Documents or that would, in the opinion of the



Servicer, subject it or any of its officers, employees, agents or directors to liability and the Servicer shall not be required to take any action unless and until it is indemnified to its satisfaction by the Participants for any loss, cost or liability resulting from any required action.
The Servicer may at any time request directions from the Required Participants as to any course of action or other matter relating hereto or relating to any of the Loan Documents. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, directions of the Required Participants shall be binding on all Participants hereunder.
Nothing set forth in this Section 10.12 shall modify the rights of the Servicer set forth in Section 3.1.
Rights Of Sponsor Upon Payment; Cooperation By Servicer. Upon receipt by the Servicer of payment in full of the Loan Indebtedness of a Defaulted Borrower by Sponsor, Sponsor shall be subrogated to the rights of the Servicer with respect to such Loan Indebtedness and the Servicer shall be deemed to have assigned to Sponsor, and Sponsor shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, automatically, immediately and without further action by any Person, be entitled to, all rights and remedies that the Servicer may have had against the Defaulted Borrower and any other Persons primarily or secondarily liable on such Loan Indebtedness, including without limitation the right to resort to any and all Collateral which secures such Loan Indebtedness, and the Sponsor shall, automatically, immediately and without further action, be deemed to have assumed all obligations of the Servicer under the Loan Commitment and the Operative Documents with respect to such Loan Indebtedness, and the Servicer shall be released from any further obligations with respect thereto. The Servicer agrees that, upon receipt of payment in full of such Loan Indebtedness, the Servicer shall:
execute on a timely basis, without recourse, representation or warranty of any kind (except as to its own title), all such instruments and documents as are reasonably requested in order to evidence Sponsor’s rights hereunder or permit Sponsor to exercise such rights;
permit Sponsor at reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably requested to discuss with appropriate Servicer employees and officers the Servicer’s experience, relationships, books, accounts and files and to review the Servicer’s loan files relating to the purchased Defaulted Loan (and Sponsor hereby agrees to keep all such information confidential); and
otherwise reasonably cooperate with Sponsor in the exercise of the Sponsor’s rights.
Sponsor shall reimburse the Servicer for its expenses reasonably and actually incurred in complying with this Section 10.13.

INDEMNIFICATION
Indemnification.
In addition to the other rights of the Servicer and the Participants hereunder, Sponsor hereby agrees to protect, indemnify and save harmless the Servicer, each Participant, and the officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and representatives thereof (each an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney fees and costs actually incurred), expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether direct, indirect, consequential or incidental, with respect to or in connection with or arising out of (i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any other Operative Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, including without limitation, the Loan Documents, the performance by the parties hereto or thereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) the making or administration of the Loan Commitments, the Loans or any of them, including any violation of federal or state usury or other laws; provided that with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), Sponsor shall have no obligation to indemnify the Servicer and all Participants with respect to legal fees and expenses for more than one (1) counsel’s reasonable fees and expenses, (iii) the enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement or the Loan Documents or any powers granted to the Servicer hereunder or under any Loan Documents, (iv) any misrepresentation of the Sponsor hereunder, (v) any matter arising pursuant to any Environmental Laws as a result of the Collateral or (vi) 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 or not the Indemnified Party is a named party thereto, except to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party or arise solely from the nonpayment of any Loan Indebtedness notwithstanding the performance by Sponsor of all of its obligations under the Operative Documents relating to such Loan Indebtedness.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and separate and apart from any obligation of the Sponsor pursuant to Article X, Sponsor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against, and on demand will pay or reimburse any Indemnified Party for, any and all (i) liabilities arising from a breach of any representation or warranty made by Sponsor hereunder (whether or not Sponsor’s obligations under Article X have been satisfied), (ii) any breach by Sponsor of its agreements with the Borrowers, (iii) any overadvance to any Borrower caused by the transfer of ACH transfer instructions from the Aaron’s Proprietary System to the Servicer by Sponsor resulting in aggregate advances to such Borrower in excess of the Loan Commitment to such Borrower, and (iv) any breach by Sponsor of the terms of its MicroACH Service Agreement with the Servicer or any failure by Sponsor to maintain such agreement in full force and effect.
This indemnity shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Notice Of Proceedings; Right To Defend
Any Person with an indemnification claim (or potential claim) pursuant to Section 11.1 (“Potential Indemnitee”) agrees to notify Sponsor (the “Potential Indemnitor”) in writing within a reasonable time after receipt by it of written notice of the commencement of any administrative, legal or other proceeding, suit or action by a Person (other than Indemnitee or an affiliate thereof), if a claim for indemnification may be made by the Potential Indemnitee against the Potential Indemnitor under this Article XI.
Following receipt by the Potential Indemnitor of any such notice from a Potential Indemnitee, (an “Indemnity Notice”), the Potential Indemnitor shall be entitled at its own cost and expense to investigate and participate in the proceeding, suit or action referred to in the Indemnity Notice. At such time as the Potential Indemnitor shall have acknowledged in writing to the Potential Indemnitee that it will pay any judgment, damages, or losses incurred by the Potential Indemnitee in the proceeding, suit or action referred to in the Indemnity Notice other than those for gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Potential Indemnitee (at which time the Potential Indemnitor shall be deemed to be the “Indemnitor” and the Potential Indemnitee shall be deemed to be the “Indemnitee”), the Indemnitor shall be entitled, to the extent that it shall desire, to assume the defense of such proceeding, suit or action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee. If the Indemnitor shall so assume the defense of such proceeding, suit or action, the Indemnitor shall conduct such defense with due diligence and at its own cost and expense.
In the event that the Indemnitor so assumes the defense of such proceeding, suit or action, the Indemnitor shall not be entitled to settle such proceeding, suit or action without the written consent of the Indemnitee; provided that in the event that the Indemnitee does not consent to such settlement (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) (i) the Indemnitor’s indemnification liability in connection with such proceeding, suit or action shall not exceed the amount of such proposed settlement and (ii) Indemnitee shall assume and pay all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by Indemnitor from the date that the Indemnitor presented the Indemnitee the terms of the proposed settlement. An Indemnitor shall not be liable to an Indemnitee for any settlement of a claim in any proceeding, suit or other action referred to in an Indemnity Notice, consented to by the Indemnitee without the consent of the Indemnitor.
A Potential Indemnitor shall be liable to a Potential Indemnitee for a settlement of a claim in any proceeding, suit or other action referred to in an Indemnity Notice consented to by such Potential Indemnitee only if (i) such Potential Indemnitor first had a reasonable opportunity to investigate such claim and participate in such proceeding, suit or action, (ii) the Potential Indemnitee gave the Potential Indemnitor at least ten (10) Business Days’ notice of the proposed terms of such settlement prior to entering into such settlement and (iii) the Potential Indemnitor did not acknowledge in writing to the Potential Indemnitee, by the expiration of such ten (10) Business Days period, or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Potential Indemnitee and Potential Indemnitor that it would pay any judgment, damages or losses incurred by the Potential Indemnitee in such proceeding suit or action.



Section 11.3    Third Party Beneficiaries. No Persons shall be deemed to be third party beneficiaries of this Agreement. Except as expressly otherwise provided in this Agreement, this Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Sponsor and the Servicer, the Participants and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and no other Person shall have any right, benefit, priority or interest under, or because of the existence of, this Agreement.

SURVIVAL OF LOAN FACILITY
The terms of this Agreement shall survive the termination of the Facility Commitment hereunder and the termination of any Loan Commitment established pursuant the terms hereof until the indefeasible payment in full of each of the Loans outstanding hereunder and Article XIII shall survive the termination of this Agreement upon such repayment.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS
Conditions to Effectiveness. This Agreement shall not become effective, the Sponsor shall have no rights under this Agreement and neither the Servicer nor the Participants shall be obligated to take, fulfill or perform any action hereunder, until the following conditions have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Servicer:
Receipt of Documents. The Servicer shall have received the following, each dated as of the Effective Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Servicer and (except in the case of the Fee Letter) the Participants:
Duly executed counterparts of this Agreement.
Duly executed Servicing Agreement.
Duly executed counterparts of the Guaranty Agreement and the Fee Letter.
A duly executed closing certificate of the Sponsor, dated as of the Effective Date and signed by a Responsible Officer certifying that (A) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to this Agreement and the other Operative Documents, no Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event shall exist, (B) at the time of and immediately after giving effect to this Agreement and the other Operative Documents, all representations and warranties of each Credit Party set forth in the Operative Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects); provided, that to the extent such representation or warranty relates to a specific prior date, such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than those representations and warranties that are expressly qualified by Material Adverse Effect or other materiality, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) only as of such specific prior date, and (C) since the date of the audited financial statements of the Sponsor described in Section 5.4, there shall have been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
A duly executed certificate of the Sponsor identifying the Authorized Signatories, in form and substance satisfactory to the Servicer and each Participant;
Copies of the organizational papers of the Sponsor and each Guarantor, certified as true and correct by the Secretaries of State of their respective states of incorporation, and certificates from the Secretaries of State of such states of incorporation certifying Sponsor’s and each Guarantor’s good standing as a corporation in such State.
A certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each of the Sponsor and each Guarantor certifying (i) the names and true signatures of the officers of the Sponsor and each Guarantor authorized to execute the Guaranty Agreement, this Agreement, the Servicing Agreement and the other Operative Documents to be delivered hereunder to which each is a party, (ii) the bylaws of the Sponsor and each



Guarantor, respectively, and (iii) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of each of the Sponsor and each Guarantor, respectively, approving the Operative Documents to which each is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby.
A favorable written opinion of Jones Day, counsel for Sponsor and Guarantors, in a form satisfactory to the Servicer and each Participant and covering such matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as the Servicer may reasonably request.
A copy of the duly executed Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Servicer.
All documentation and other information with respect to the Credit Parties that the Sponsor or any Participant reasonably believes is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act.
Each of the Participants shall have received a duly executed Participation Certificate from the Servicer.
(A) all obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no demand has been made) under the Existing Loan Facility Agreement shall have been repaid in full (or substantially concurrently with the Effective Date, will be repaid in full) and the Existing Loan Facility Agreement shall have been terminated and (B) the Project Everglade Refinancing shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the Effective Date;
copies of all governmental and third party consents and approvals to the Transactions (all of which shall be final, with no waiting period to expire or ongoing governmental inquiry or investigation);
(A) audited consolidated financial statements of Holdings for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2021, (B) the audited consolidated financial statements of the Acquired Business for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2021, (C) the reviewed financial statements of the Acquired Business for the fiscal quarter ended December 25, 2021 and (D) a five year projection model in form and substance to be mutually agreed upon by the Arrangers and the Sponsor;
a solvency certificate, dated as of the Effective Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Sponsor, confirming that the Sponsor is Solvent, and Holdings, the Sponsor and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, are Solvent before and after giving effect to any extensions of credit on the Effective Date and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated herein; and
The Project Everglade Acquisition shall be consummated substantially concurrently with the initial funding hereunder in accordance with all material respects with the terms of the Project Everglade Acquisition Agreement (as amended or otherwise modified, if applicable, in accordance with Section 3.1(c) of the Credit Agreement).

THE SERVICER
Appointment of Servicer as Agent. To the extent of its ownership interest in the Loans, each Participant hereby designates Servicer as its agent to administer all matters concerning the Loans and to act as herein specified. Each Participant hereby irrevocably authorizes the Servicer to take such actions on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement, the other Operative Documents, and all other instruments and agreements referred to herein or therein, and to exercise such powers and to perform such duties hereunder and thereunder as are specifically delegated to or required of the Servicer by the terms hereof and thereof and such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Servicer may perform any of its duties hereunder by or through its agents or employees.
Nature of Duties of Servicer. The Servicer shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Operative Documents. None of the Servicer nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable for any action taken or omitted by it as such hereunder or in connection herewith, unless caused by its or their gross negligence or willful misconduct. The



Servicer shall not have by reason of this Agreement a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Participant; and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon the Servicer any obligations in respect of this Agreement or the other Operative Documents except as expressly set forth herein.
Lack of Reliance on the Servicer.
Independently and without reliance upon the Servicer, each Participant, to the extent it deems appropriate, has made and shall continue to make (i) its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Credit Parties in connection with the taking or not taking of any action in connection herewith, and (ii) its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Credit Parties, and, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the Servicer shall have no duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to provide any Participant with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before the making of the Loans or at any time or times thereafter.
The Servicer shall not be responsible to any Participant for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties herein or in any document, certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith or for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability, priority or sufficiency of this Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement, and Loan Document or any other documents contemplated hereby or thereby, or the financial condition of the Credit Parties or any Borrower, or be required to make any inquiry concerning either the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of this Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement or the other documents contemplated hereby or thereby, or the financial condition of the Credit Parties or any Borrower, or the existence or possible existence of any Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event.
Certain Rights of the Servicer. If the Servicer shall request instructions from the Required Participants with respect to any action or actions (including the failure to act) in connection with this Agreement, the Servicer shall be entitled to refrain from such act or taking such act, unless and until the Servicer shall have received instructions from the Required Participants; and the Servicer shall not incur liability in any Person by reason of so refraining. Without limiting the foregoing, no Participant shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Servicer as a result of the Servicer acting or refraining from acting hereunder in accordance with the instructions of the Required Participants.
Reliance by Servicer. The Servicer shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any note, writing, resolution, notice, statement, certificate, telex, teletype or telecopier message, cable gram, radiogram, order or other documentary, teletransmission or telephone message believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person. The Servicer may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for any Credit Party), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.
Indemnification of Servicer. To the extent the Servicer is not reimbursed and indemnified by the Credit Parties, each Participant will reimburse and indemnify the Servicer, ratably according to the respective Pro Rata Shares, in either case, for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including counsel fees and disbursements) or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Servicer in performing its duties hereunder, in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the other Operative Documents; provided that no Participant shall be liable to the Servicer for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Servicer’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The Servicer in its Individual Capacity. With respect to its obligations under this Agreement and the amounts advanced by it, the Servicer shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Participant and may exercise the same as though it were not performing the duties specified herein; and the terms “Participants”, “Required Participants”, or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Servicer in its individual capacity. The Servicer may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory or other business with the Consolidated Companies or any affiliate of the Consolidated Companies as if it were not performing the duties specified



herein, and may accept fees and other consideration from the Consolidated Companies for services in connection with this Agreement and otherwise without having to account for the same to the Participants.
Holders of Participation Certificates. The Servicer may deem and treat the payee of any Participation Certificate as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Servicer. Any request, authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Participation Certificate shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, transferee or assignee of such Participation Certificate or of any Participation Certificate or Participation Certificates issued in exchange therefor.
Collateral and Guaranty Matters. The Participants irrevocably authorize the Servicer, at its option and in its discretion:
to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Servicer under any Operative Document (i) upon the termination of all Facility Commitments, and the payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations), (ii) that is sold or to be sold as part of or in connection with any sale permitted hereunder or under any other Operative Document or the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14, or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing in accordance with Section 15.2; and
to release any Credit Party from its obligations under the applicable Credit Party Collateral Documents if such Person ceases to be a Credit Party as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.
Upon request by the Servicer at any time, the Required Participants will confirm in writing the Servicer’s authority to release its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Credit Party from its obligations under the applicable Credit Party Collateral Documents pursuant to this Section 14.9. In each case as specified in this Section 14.9, the Servicer is authorized, at the Sponsor’s expense, to execute and deliver to the applicable Credit Party such documents as such Credit Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Credit Party Collateral from the Liens granted under the applicable Credit Party Collateral Documents, or to release such Credit Party from its obligations under the applicable Credit Party Collateral Documents, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Operative Documents and this Section 14.9.
Right to Realize on Credit Party Collateral and Enforce Guarantee. Anything contained in any of the Operative Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, Holdings, the Sponsor, the Servicer and each Participant hereby agree that (i) no Participant shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Credit Party Collateral or to enforce the Credit Party Collateral Documents, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the Credit Party Collateral Documents may be exercised solely by the Servicer, and (ii) in the event of a foreclosure by the Servicer on any of the Credit Party Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale or other disposition, the Servicer or any Participant may be the purchaser or licensor of any or all of such Credit Party Collateral at any such sale or other disposition and the Servicer, as agent for and representative of the Participants (but not any Participant or Participants in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Required Participants shall otherwise agree in writing), shall be entitled, for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Credit Party Collateral sold at any such public sale, to use and apply any of the Guaranteed Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any collateral payable by the Servicer at such sale or other disposition.

MISCELLANEOUS
Notices.
Written Notices.
Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications to any party herein to be effective shall be in writing



and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:
To the Sponsor:    Aaron’s, LLC
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30339
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy Number: (855) 778-8565
with a copy to:
Aaron’s, LLC
400 Galleria Parkway SE, Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30339
Attn: General Counsel
Telecopy Number: (855) 778-8565
To the Servicer:    Aaron’s Program Manager
Truist Bank
Program Lending
303 Peachtree Street, N.E., 25
th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308


With a copy to:    Truist Bank
Agency Services
303 Peachtree Street, N.E. / 25
th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Attention: Agency Services
Telecopy Number: (404) 495-2170
To any other Participant:    the address set forth on the on such Participant’s signature page hereof, or such other address or applicable teletransmission number as such party may hereafter specify by notice to the Servicer and Sponsor
Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and other communications shall, when transmitted by overnight delivery, or faxed, be effective when delivered for overnight (next-day) delivery, or transmitted in legible form by facsimile machine, respectively, or if mailed, upon the third Business Day after the date deposited into the mails or if delivered, upon delivery; provided, that notices delivered to the Servicer shall not be effective until actually received by such Person at its address specified in this Section 15.1.
Any agreement of the Servicer and the Participants herein to receive certain notices by telephone or facsimile is solely for the convenience and at the request of the Sponsor. The Servicer and the Participants shall be entitled to rely on the authority of any Person purporting to be a Person authorized by the Sponsor to give such notice and the Servicer and the Participants shall not have any liability to the Sponsor or other Person on account of any action taken or not taken by the Servicer or the Participants in reliance upon such telephonic or facsimile notice. The obligation of the Sponsor to repurchase the Loans and Loan Commitments and all other obligations and Guarantees hereunder shall not be affected in any way or to any extent by any failure of the Servicer and the Participants to receive written confirmation of any telephonic or facsimile notice or the receipt by the Servicer and the Participants of a confirmation which is at variance with the terms understood by the Servicer and the Participants to be contained in any such telephonic or facsimile notice.
Electronic Communications.



Notices and other communications to the Participants hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Servicer; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Participant pursuant to Article II unless such Participant and Servicer have agreed to receive notices under such Article by electronic communication and have agreed to the procedures governing such communications. Servicer or Sponsor 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 Servicer otherwise prescribes, (A) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (B) 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 Section 15.1(b)(ii)(A) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
The Sponsor agrees that the Servicer may, but shall not be obligated to, make Communications (as defined below) available to the Participants by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar electronic system (each, an “Electronic System”).
Any Electronic System used by the Servicer is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of such Electronic Systems and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or any Electronic System. In no event shall the Servicer or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Credit Party, any Participant or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including, without limitation, direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Credit Party’s or the Servicer’s transmission of Communications through an Electronic System. “Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Credit Party pursuant to any Operative Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Servicer or any Participant by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section 15.1, including through an Electronic System.
Amendments, Etc. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 2.5 with respect to the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement or Conforming Changes (as set forth therein), no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Operative Documents, nor consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Participants (and in the case of any amendment, the applicable Credit Party), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Participants do any of the following: (i) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 2.1 or 13.1, (ii) increase the Participating Commitment Amounts or contractual obligations of the Participants to Servicer or Sponsor under this Agreement, (iii) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Participation Certificates or any fees hereunder, (iv) postpone any date fixed for the payment in respect of principal of, or interest on, the Participation Certificates or any fees hereunder, (v) agree to release any Guarantor from its obligations under any Guaranty Agreement (other than the release of a Guarantor in connection with its designation as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of Section 6.14) or the Sponsor from its obligations pursuant to this Agreement, (vi) modify the definition of “Required Participants,” (vii) modify Section 2.9, Section 2.11, Article IV, Article X or this Section 15.2, (viii) release all or substantially all collateral (if any) securing any of the Guaranteed Obligations or agree to subordinate any Lien in all or substantially all of the collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations to any other creditor of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Restricted Subsidiary, without the written consent of each Participant, (ix) change Section 2.7 in a manner that would alter the ratable reduction or termination of the Facility Commitments required thereby,



without the written consent of each Participant, or (x) subordinate the payment priority of the Guaranteed Obligations or subordinate the Liens granted to the Servicer (for the benefit of the holders of the Guaranteed Obligations) in the Collateral, without the written consent of each Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Servicer in addition to the Participants required hereinabove to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Servicer under this Agreement or under any other Operative Document or Loan Document. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the Servicer and the Sponsor may, without the consent of or notice to the Participants, enter into amendments, modifications or waivers with respect to the Servicing Agreement and the Fee Letter as long as such amendments or modifications do not conflict with the terms of this Agreement and (y) the Servicer and the Sponsor shall be permitted to amend any provision of the Operative Documents (and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Operative Document) if the Servicer and the Sponsor shall have jointly identified an obvious error or any error or omission of a technical or immaterial nature in any such provision. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Participant shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Participating Commitment of such Defaulting Participant may not be increased or extended, and amounts payable to such Defaulting Participant hereunder may not be permanently reduced without the consent of such Defaulting Participant (other than reductions in fees and interest in which such reduction does not disproportionately affect such Defaulting Participant).
No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay on the part of the Servicer or any Participant in exercising any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Operative Document, and no course of dealing between any Credit Party and the Servicer or any Participant shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under any other Operative Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies herein expressly provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies which the Servicer or any Participant would otherwise have. No notice to or demand on any Credit Party not required hereunder or under any other Operative Document in any case shall entitle any Credit Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the Servicer or the Participants to any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand.
Payment of Expenses, Etc. Sponsor shall:
whether or not the transactions hereby contemplated are consummated, pay all reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Servicer in the administration (both before and after the execution hereof and including reasonable expenses actually incurred relating to advice of counsel as to the rights and duties of the Servicer and the Participants with respect thereto) of, and in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of, preservation of rights under, enforcement of, and, after a Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event, refinancing, renegotiation or restructuring of, this Agreement and the other Operative Documents and the documents and instruments referred to therein, and any amendment, waiver or consent relating thereto (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees actually incurred and disbursements of counsel for the Servicer), and in the case of enforcement of this Agreement or any Operative Document after a Credit Event, all such reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees actually incurred and reasonable disbursements and changes of counsel), for any of the Participants; and
pay and hold the Servicer and each of the Participants harmless from and against any and all present and future stamp, documentary, and other similar Taxes with respect to this Agreement, the Participation Certificates, the Loan Documents and any other Operative Documents, any collateral described therein, or any payments due thereunder, and save the Servicer and each Participant harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay or omission to pay such Taxes.
Right of Setoff. In addition to and not in limitation of all rights of offset that any Participant may have under applicable law, each Participant shall, upon the occurrence of any Credit Event and whether or not such Participant has made any demand or any Credit Party’s obligations have matured, have the right to appropriate and apply to the payment of any Credit Party’s obligations hereunder and under the other Operative Documents, all deposits of any Credit Party (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) then or thereafter held by and other indebtedness or property then or thereafter owing by such Participant or other holder to any Credit Party, whether or not related to this Agreement or any transaction hereunder.
Benefit of Agreement; Assignments; Participations.



This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto; provided that Sponsor may not assign or transfer any of its interest hereunder without the prior written consent of the Participants.
Any Participant may make, carry or transfer Loans at, to or for the account of, any of its branch offices or the office of an Affiliate of such Participant.
Each Participant may assign all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all of its Participating Commitments and the Funded Participation at the time owing to it and the Participation Certificates held by it) to any Eligible Assignee; provided, however, that (i) the Sponsor and the Servicer shall each have given its prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) unless such assignment is to an Affiliate of the assigning Participant or, in the case of the Sponsor, unless a Credit Event has occurred and is continuing hereunder, (ii) unless the Participant is assigning its entire Participating Commitment, the Participating Commitment Amount of the assigning Participant subject to each assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Servicer) shall not be less than the lesser of (x) 50% of the amount of its original Participating Commitment or (y) $1,000,000, and (iii) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Servicer an Assignment and Acceptance, together with the Participation Certificate subject to such assignment and, unless such assignment is to an Affiliate of such Participant, a processing and recordation fee of $1,000. Within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of the notice and the Assignment and Acceptance, Servicer shall execute and deliver, in exchange for the surrendered Participation Certificate, a new Participation Certificate to the order of the assignor and such assignee in a principal amount equal to the applicable Participating Commitment Amount retained and assumed by it, respectively, pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance. Such new Participation Certificate shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such surrendered Participation Certificate, shall be dated the date of the surrendered Participation Certificate which it replaces, and shall otherwise be in substantially the form attached hereto.
Each Participant may, without the consent of the Sponsor or the Servicer, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Participating Commitment and the Funded Participation owing to it); provided, however, that (i) no Participant may sell a participation in its Participating Commitment (after giving effect to any permitted assignment hereof) unless it retains an aggregate exposure of 25% of its original Participating Commitment Amount; provided, however, sales of participations to an Affiliate of such Participant shall not be included in such calculation; provided, however, no such maximum amount shall be applicable to any such participation sold at any time there exists an Credit Event hereunder, (ii) such Participant’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (iii) such Participant shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, and (iv) the participating bank or other entity shall not be entitled to the benefit (except through its selling Participant) of the cost protection provisions contained in Article II of this Agreement, and (v) Sponsor, Servicer and the other Participants shall continue to deal solely and directly with each Participant in connection with such Participant’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Operative Documents, and such Participant shall retain the sole right to enforce the obligations of the Sponsor relating to the Loans and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provisions of this Agreement (other than an amendment requiring approval of 100% of the Participants). Each Participant shall promptly notify in writing the Servicer and the Sponsor of any sale of a participation hereunder and shall certify to Sponsor and Servicer its compliance with the terms hereof.
Any Participant or participant may, in connection with the assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation, pursuant to this Section 15.6, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant any information relating to Sponsor or the other Consolidated Companies furnished to such Participant by or on behalf of the Sponsor or any other Consolidated Company. With respect to any disclosure of confidential, non-public, proprietary information, such proposed assignee or participant shall agree to use the information only for the purpose of making any necessary credit judgments with respect to this credit facility and not to use the information in any manner prohibited by any law, including without limitation, the securities laws of the United States. The proposed participant or assignee shall agree not to disclose any of such information except (i) to directors, employees, auditors or counsel to whom it is necessary to show such information, each of whom shall be informed of and shall acknowledge the confidential nature of the information, (ii) in any statement or testimony pursuant to a subpoena or order by any court, governmental body or other agency asserting jurisdiction over such entity, or as otherwise required by law (provided prior notice is given to Sponsor and the Servicer unless otherwise prohibited by the subpoena, order or law), and (iii)



upon the request or demand of any regulatory agency or authority with proper jurisdiction. The proposed participant or assignee shall further agree to return all documents or other written material and copies thereof received from any Participant, the Servicer or Sponsor relating to such confidential information unless otherwise properly disposed of by such entity.
Any Participant may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights in this Agreement to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such assignment shall release the Participant from any of its obligations hereunder.
Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.
THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF) OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER OPERATIVE DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITING IN NEW YORK COUNTY, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, OR ANY OTHER COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, SPONSOR HEREBY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY, AND SPONSOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH RESPECTIVE JURISDICTIONS.
Nothing herein shall affect the right of the Servicer, any Participant, or any Credit Party to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against Sponsor in any other jurisdiction.
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
Severability. In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement or the other Operative Documents shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Independence of Covenants. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or be otherwise within the limitation of, another covenant, shall not avoid the occurrence of a Unmatured Credit Event or an Credit Event if such action is taken or condition exists.
No Joint Venture. Nothing in this Agreement, the Servicing Agreement or any of the Loan Documents shall be construed as constituting Sponsor and the Servicer or any Participant as partners or joint venturers or as creating the relationship of employer and employee, master and servant, principle and agent, or franchisor or franchisee between Sponsor and the Servicer or any Participant. Neither Sponsor nor Servicer or any Participant shall have any right or authority to bind the other party or to assume or create any obligation or responsibility, express or implied, on behalf of the other party or in the other party’s name. All rights, duties and obligations under this Agreement and the Operative Documents are exclusively for the benefit of the Sponsor and the Servicer and Participants, as the case may be, and shall not be deemed to affect any agreement between either of such parties and any third party (including, without limitation, any Borrower).
Repurchase Right. Sponsor may at any time (upon thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to Servicer) purchase from Servicer all Loans and Loan Commitments and all rights, titles and interests of the Servicer and the Participants in and to the Loan Documents and the Collateral relating thereto for a purchase



price (payable in immediately available funds) equal to the aggregate Loan Indebtedness, plus all amounts otherwise owing by the Sponsor pursuant to the Operative Documents, and the Servicer shall assign, without recourse, representation or warranty (except as to its own title), its right, title and interest therein to Sponsor upon the Servicer’s receipt of such purchase price. Thereafter, Servicers shall have no responsibility with respect to any Loans or Loan Commitments.
Confidentiality. Each Participant agrees that it will maintain in confidence and will not disclose, publish or disseminate, to any Person, any confidential information which it has or shall acquire during the term of this Agreement relating to the business, operations and condition, financial or otherwise of Holdings, the Sponsor or any Borrower, except that such information may be disclosed by such Participant if and to the extent that:
such information is in the public domain at the time of disclosure;
such information is required to be disclosed by subpoena or similar process of applicable law or regulations;
such information is required to be disclosed to any regulatory or administrative body or commission to whose jurisdiction such Participant or any of its Affiliates may be subject;
such information is disclosed to counsel, auditors or other professional advisors to such Participant or to affiliates of such Participant provided that such affiliates agree to keep such information confidential as set forth herein;
such information is disclosed with the prior written consent of Holdings, the Sponsor or the relevant Borrower, as the case may be, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed;
such information is disclosed in connection with any litigation or dispute between such Participant and Holdings, the Sponsor or any Borrower concerning the Operative Documents or the Loan Documents of such Borrower;
such information is disclosed in connection with a prospective assignment, grant of a participation interest in or other transfer by such Participant of any of its interest in the Operative Documents; provided that the Person to whom such information shall be disclosed shall have agreed to keep such information confidential as set forth herein;
such information was in the possession of such Person or such Person’s affiliates without obligation of confidentiality prior to such Participant furnishing it to such Person; or
such information is received by such Participant, without restriction as to its disclosure or use, from a Person, who, to such Participant’s knowledge or reasonable belief, was not prohibited from disclosing it by any duty of confidentiality.
Each Participant agrees to use its best efforts to give the Sponsor prompt notice of any subpoena or similar process referred to in clause (b) above; provided that such Participant shall have no liability in event such notice is not given.
Headings Descriptive; Entire Agreement. The headings of the several sections and subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement, the other Operative Documents, and the agreements and documents required to be delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto regarding the subject matters hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements, representations and understandings related to such subject matters.
Patriot Act. The Servicer and each Participant hereby notifies the Sponsor and each of its Subsidiaries that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each of the Sponsor and its Subsidiaries, which information includes the name and address of the



Sponsor or such Subsidiary and other information that will allow such Participant or the Servicer, as applicable, to identify the Sponsor or such Subsidiary in accordance with the Patriot Act.
Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Operative 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 Operative 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 Operative 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.
Certain ERISA Matters.
Each Participant (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Participant party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Participant party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Participant party hereto, for the benefit of, the Servicer, the Arranger, and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Sponsor or any other Credit Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
such Participant is not 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 Loans or the Loan Commitments;
the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Participant’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement;
(A) such Participant is an investment fund managed by a “Qualified Professional Asset Manager” (within the meaning of Part VI of PTE 84-14), (B) such Qualified Professional Asset Manager made the investment decision on behalf of such Participant to enter into, participate in, administer and perform the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) of Part I of PTE 84-14 and (D) to the best knowledge of such Participant, the requirements of subsection (a) of Part I of PTE 84-14 are satisfied with respect to such Participant’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement; or
such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Servicer, in its sole discretion, and such Participant.
In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Participant or such Participant has not provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Participant further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Participant party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Participant party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Participant party hereto, for the benefit of, the Servicer, the Arranger, and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Sponsor or any other Credit Party, that:



none of the Servicer, the Arranger, or any of their respective Affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Participant (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Servicer under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related to hereto or thereto);
the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Participant with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement is independent (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-21) and is a bank, an insurance carrier, an investment adviser, a broker-dealer or other person that holds, or has under management or control, total assets of at least $50,000,000, in each case as described in 29 CFR § 2510.3-21(c)(1)(i)(A)-(E);
the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Participant with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to particular transactions and investment strategies (including in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations);
the Person making the investment decision on behalf of such Participant with respect to the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement is a fiduciary under ERISA or the Code, or both, with respect to the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement and is responsible for exercising independent judgment in evaluating the transactions hereunder; and
no fee or other compensation is being paid directly to the Servicer, the Arranger or any their respective Affiliates for investment advice (as opposed to other services) in connection with the Loans, the Loan Commitments or this Agreement.
The representations set forth in this Section 15.17(b)(ii)-(v) are intended to comply with the Department of Labor’s regulation Sections 29 C.F.R. 2510.3-21(a) and (c)(1) as promulgated on April 8, 2016 (81 Fed. Reg. 20,997), and if such regulations are no longer in effect, these representations shall be deemed to be no longer in effect.
The Servicer and the Arranger hereby inform the Participants that each such Person is not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice, or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Loan Commitments and this Agreement, (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans or the Loan Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans or the Loan Commitments by such Participant or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.
Acknowledgement Regarding any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Operative Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Hedging Transaction or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Operative Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit



Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Operative 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 Operative Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Participant shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
As used in this Section 15.18, 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” shall mean 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).

[Signatures Omitted]


ANNEX B
Exhibit to Loan Facility Agreement
See attached.



EXHIBIT G
TO
LOAN FACILITY AGREEMENT AND GUARANTY
FORM OF SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT
THIS SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, this “Agreement”) is entered into as of [    ], 2024 among the parties identified as “Obligors” on the signature pages hereto and such other parties that may become Obligors hereunder after the date hereof (each individually an “Obligor” and collectively the “Obligors”), and TRUIST BANK, in its capacity as Servicer (in such capacity, the “Servicer”) for the holders of the Secured Obligations (defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, reference is made to that certain Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty, dated as of April 1, 2022 (as amended by that certain First Amendment to Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of February 23, 2023, that certain Second Amendment to Loan Facility Agreement and Guaranty dated as of February 23, 2024, and as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Loan Facility Agreement”), among Aaron’s, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), The Aaron’s Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“Holdings”), the Participants from time to time party thereto, and Truist Bank, in its capacity as Servicer; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement is required by the terms of the Loan Facility Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1.    Definitions.
(a)    Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Loan Facility Agreement, and the following terms which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code in effect from time to time in the State of New York except as such terms may be used in connection with the perfection of the Collateral and then the applicable jurisdiction with respect to such affected Collateral shall apply (the “UCC”): Accession, Account, Adverse Claim, As-Extracted Collateral, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claim, Consumer Goods, Deposit Account, Document, Electronic Chattel Paper, Equipment, Farm Products, Financial Asset, Fixtures, General Intangible, Goods, Instrument, Inventory, Investment Company Security, Investment Property, Letter-of-Credit Right, Manufactured Home, Money, Proceeds, Securities Account, Securities Intermediary, Security, Security Entitlement, Software, Supporting Obligation and Tangible Chattel Paper.
(b)    In addition, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Agreement” has the meaning provided in the introductory paragraph hereof.        
Collateral” has the meaning provided in Section 2 hereof.
Copyright License” shall mean any written agreement, naming any Obligor as licensor, granting any right under any Copyright.
Copyrights” shall mean (a) all registered United States copyrights in all Works, now existing or hereafter created or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, including, without limitation, registrations, recordings and applications in the United States Copyright Office, and (b) all renewals thereof.



Excluded Accounts” shall mean (a) deposit and/or securities accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of (i) withheld income taxes and federal, state or local employment taxes in such amounts as are required in the reasonable judgment of the Sponsor to be paid to the IRS or state or local government agencies within the following two (2) months with respect to employees of any of the Credit Parties or (ii) amounts required to be paid over to an employee benefit plan pursuant to DOL Reg. Sec. 2510.3-102 on behalf of or for the benefit of employees of one or more Credit Parties, (b) all tax accounts (including, without limitation, sales tax accounts), accounts used solely for payroll, accounts maintained solely in trust for the benefit of third parties and fiduciary purposes, escrow accounts, zero balance or swept accounts and employee benefit accounts (including 401(k) accounts and pension fund accounts), in each case, so long as such account is used solely for such purpose, (c) any deposit and/or securities account maintained in a jurisdiction outside of the United States and (d) accounts the balance of which consists exclusively of amounts to be paid to employees in the ordinary course of business.
Excluded Property” shall mean, with respect to any Obligor, (a) any owned real property, (b) [reserved], (c) any leased real property, (d) any copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, trademarks or trademark licenses for which a perfected Lien thereon is not effected either by filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or by appropriate evidence of such Lien being filed in either the United States Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, (e) any personal property for which the attachment or perfection of a Lien thereon is not governed by the Uniform Commercial Code (including motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title), (f) the Capital Stock in any Unrestricted Subsidiary, (g) the Capital Stock in any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent not required to be pledged to secure the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to Section 6.10(b) of the Loan Facility Agreement, (h) any property which, subject to the terms of Section 8.8 of the Loan Facility Agreement, is subject to a Lien of the type described in Section 8.2(c) of the Loan Facility Agreement pursuant to documents which prohibit such Credit Party from granting any other Liens in such property, (i) Excluded Accounts, (j) those assets over which the granting of a Lien in such assets in favor of the Servicer would be prohibited by applicable law, regulation or contract (including any requirement under or in accordance with such law, rule or regulation to obtain consent from a third party, including any governmental or regulatory authority), so long as (i) any contractual restriction is not incurred in contemplation of the owning entity’s becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or the entry of such owning entity into the Credit Documents and (ii) such contract is permitted under this Agreement, in each case, after giving effect to Sections 9-406, 9-407, 9-408 and 9-409 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law or principle of equity, other than any receivables and proceeds thereof (the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code notwithstanding such prohibition), (k) any intent-to-use trademark application prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which the grant or enforcement of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark application under applicable federal law, (l) assets to the extent a security interest in such assets would result in material adverse tax consequences (including, without limitation, as a result of the operation of Section 956 of the United States Code or any similar law or regulation in any applicable jurisdiction), as reasonably determined by the Sponsor in good faith and (m) other assets to the extent the Sponsor and the Servicer agree in writing that the cost of obtaining or perfecting a security interest in such assets is excessive in relation to the value of the security afforded thereby; provided, however, that the security interest granted to the Servicer under this Agreement or any other Credit Document shall attach immediately to any asset of any Credit Party at such time as such asset ceases to meet any of the criteria for “Excluded Property” described in any of the foregoing clauses (a) through (m) above.
        “Loan Facility Agreement” has the meaning provided in the recitals hereof.

Obligor” and “Obligors” have the meanings provided in the introductory paragraph hereof.



Patent License” shall mean any agreement, whether written or oral, providing for the grant by or to an Obligor of any right to manufacture, use or sell any invention covered by a Patent.
Patents” shall mean (a) all letters patent of the United States or any other country and all reissues and extensions thereof, and (b) all applications for letters patent of the United States or any other country and all divisions, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof.
    
Pledged Equity” shall mean, with respect to each Obligor, (a) one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of each Domestic Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) sixty-six percent (66%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) and one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock not entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.956-2(c)(2)) in each Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, directly owned by any Obligor, including without limitation the Capital Stock of the Subsidiaries owned by such Obligor as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, in each case together with the certificates (or other agreements or instruments), if any, representing such Capital Stock, and all options and other rights, contractual or otherwise, with respect thereto, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1)    all Capital Stock representing a dividend thereon, or representing a distribution or return of capital upon or in respect thereof, or resulting from a stock split, revision, reclassification or other exchange therefor, and any subscriptions, warrants, rights or options issued to the holder thereof, or otherwise in respect thereof; and
(2)    in the event of any consolidation or merger involving the issuer thereof and in which such issuer is not the surviving Person, all shares of each class of the Capital Stock of the successor Person formed by or resulting from such consolidation or merger, to the extent that such successor Person is a direct Subsidiary of an Obligor; provided that if such successor Person is a Foreign Subsidiary or a Domestic Subsidiary that is an Excluded Subsidiary, such Capital Stock shall be limited to the amount described in clause (b) hereof.
Secured Obligations” shall mean, without duplication, (a) all Guaranteed Obligations and (b) subject to the limitations set forth in Section 15.4 of the Loan Facility Agreement, all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges of one outside counsel) incurred in connection with enforcement and collection of the Guaranteed Obligations.
Sponsor” has the meaning provided in the recitals hereof.
Trademark License” shall mean any agreement, written or oral, providing for the grant by or to an Obligor of any right to use any Trademark.
Trademarks” shall mean (a) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, service marks, logos and other source or business identifiers, and the goodwill associated therewith, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith, whether in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or in any similar office or agency of the United States, any state thereof or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, or otherwise and (b) all renewals thereof.
UCC” has the meaning provided in Section 1(a) hereof.    
Work” shall mean any work that is subject to copyright protection pursuant to Title 17 of the United States Code.



2.    Grant of Security Interest in the Collateral. To secure the prompt payment and performance in full when due, whether by lapse of time, acceleration, mandatory prepayment or otherwise, of the Secured Obligations, each Obligor hereby grants to the Servicer, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations, a continuing security interest in, and a right to set off against, any and all right, title and interest of such Obligor in and to all of the following, whether now owned or existing or owned, acquired, or arising hereafter (collectively, the “Collateral”): (a) all Accounts; (b) all Money; (c) all Chattel Paper; (d) those certain Commercial Tort Claims set forth on Schedule 2 hereto; (e) all Copyrights; (f) all Copyright Licenses; (g) all Deposit Accounts; (h) all Documents; (i) all Equipment; (j) all Fixtures; (k) all General Intangibles; (l) all Goods; (m) all Instruments; (n) all Inventory; (o) all Investment Property; (p) all Letter-of-Credit Rights; (q) all Patents; (r) all Patent Licenses; (s) all Pledged Equity; (t) all Software; (u) all Supporting Obligations; (v) all Trademarks; (w) all Trademark Licenses; (x) all books and records related to the Collateral; and (y) all Accessions and all Proceeds of any and all of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (x) the security interests granted under this Agreement shall not extend to any Excluded Property and (y) the term “Collateral” shall be deemed not to include any Excluded Property; provided that upon the occurrence of an event that renders property to no longer constitute Excluded Property, a security interest in such property shall be automatically and simultaneously granted hereunder and shall be included as Collateral hereunder.
The Obligors and the Servicer, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest created hereby in the Collateral (i) constitutes continuing collateral security for all of the Secured Obligations, whether now existing or hereafter arising and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any Copyrights, Copyright Licenses, Patents, Patent Licenses, Trademarks or Trademark Licenses.
3.    Representations and Warranties. Each of the Obligors hereby represents and warrants to the Servicer, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations, that:
(a)    Ownership. Such Obligor is the legal and beneficial owner of its Collateral and has the right to pledge, sell, assign or transfer the same. There exists no Adverse Claim with respect to the Pledged Equity of such Obligor other than non-consensual Liens permitted by Section 8.2 of the Loan Facility Agreement.
(b)    Security Interest/Priority. This Agreement creates a valid security interest in favor of the Servicer, for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations, in the Collateral of such Obligor and, when properly perfected by filing a UCC-1 financing statement in the appropriate jurisdiction, shall constitute a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral (including all uncertificated Pledged Equity consisting of partnership or limited liability company interests that do not constitute Securities), to the extent such security interest can be perfected by filing under the UCC, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted by Section 8.2 of the Loan Facility Agreement. The taking of possession by the Servicer of the certificated securities (if any) evidencing the Pledged Equity and all other Instruments constituting Collateral (and any necessary endorsements) will perfect the Servicer’s security interest in all the Pledged Equity evidenced by such certificated securities and such Instruments (subject to Permitted Liens). With respect to any Collateral consisting of a Deposit Account, Security Entitlement or assets held in a Securities Account (in each case, other than Excluded Accounts), upon execution and delivery by the applicable Obligor, the bank or Securities Intermediary, as applicable, and the Servicer of an agreement granting control to the Servicer over such Collateral, the Servicer shall have a valid and perfected security interest in such Collateral, subject to Permitted Liens. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, the Obligors and the Servicer acknowledge and agree that no account control agreement shall be required with respect to any Deposit Account or Securities Account that has a balance (or which holds assets with a fair market value) less than $10,000,000.
(c)    Types of Collateral. None of the Collateral consists of, or is the Proceeds of, As-Extracted Collateral, Consumer Goods, Farm Products, Manufactured Homes or standing timber.



(d)    Equipment and Inventory. With respect to any Equipment and/or Inventory of such Obligor, such Obligor has exclusive possession and control of such Equipment and Inventory of such Obligor except for (i) Equipment leased by such Obligor as a lessee, (ii) Equipment or Inventory in transit with common carriers, (iii) mobile goods, (iv) Equipment or Inventory out for repair or refurbishment, (v) Equipment or Inventory kept with third parties in the ordinary course of business, and/or (vi) Equipment or Inventory in possession of employees in the ordinary course of business. Subject to the foregoing, no Inventory of such Obligor is held by a Person other than such Obligor pursuant to consignment, sale or return, sale on approval or similar agreement.
(e)    Authorization of Pledged Equity. All Pledged Equity is duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and, to the extent applicable, non-assessable and is not subject to the preemptive rights, warrants, options or other rights to purchase of any Person, or equityholder, voting trust or similar agreements outstanding with respect to, or property that is convertible, into, or that requires the issuance and sale of, any of the Pledged Equity, except to the extent expressly permitted under the Credit Documents.
(f)    No Other Capital Stock, Instruments, Etc. As of the Second Amendment Effective Date, such Obligor owns all certificated Capital Stock in any Subsidiary that is required to be pledged and delivered to the Servicer hereunder, other than as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, and all such certificated Capital Stock has been delivered to the Servicer.
(g)    Partnership and Limited Liability Company Interests. Except as previously disclosed to the Servicer in writing, none of the Collateral consisting of an interest in a partnership or a limited liability company (i) is dealt in or traded on a securities exchange or in a securities market, (ii) by its terms expressly provides that it is a Security governed by Article 8 of the UCC, (iii) is an Investment Company Security, (iv) is held in a Securities Account or (v) constitutes a Security or a Financial Asset.
(h)    [Reserved].
(i)    Consents; Etc. There are no restrictions in any articles of incorporation, articles of formation, articles of organization, bylaws, operating agreement or other applicable agreement of formation or organization governing any Pledged Equity or any other document related thereto which would limit or restrict (i) the grant of a Lien pursuant to this Agreement on such Pledged Equity, (ii) the perfection of such Lien or (iii) the exercise of remedies in respect of such perfected Lien in the Pledged Equity as contemplated by this Agreement. Except for (i) the filing or recording of UCC financing statements, (ii) the filing of appropriate notices with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, (iii) obtaining control to perfect the Liens created by this Agreement (to the extent required under Section 4(a) hereof), (iv) such actions as may be required by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities, (v) such actions as may be required by applicable foreign laws affecting the pledge of the Pledged Equity of Foreign Subsidiaries, (vi) any approvals that may be required to be obtained from any bailee or landlord to collect the Collateral, and (vii) consents, authorizations, filings or other actions which have been obtained or made, no material consent or material authorization of, filing with, or other act by or in respect of, any arbitrator or Governmental Authority and no consent of any other Person (including, without limitation, any stockholder, member or creditor of such Obligor), is required for (A) the grant by such Obligor of the security interest in the Collateral granted hereby or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by such Obligor, (B) the perfection of such security interest (to the extent such security interest can be perfected by filing under the UCC, the granting of control (to the extent required under Section 4(a) hereof) or by filing an appropriate notice with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office) or (C) the exercise by the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations of the rights and remedies provided for in this Agreement.
(j)    Commercial Tort Claims. As of the Second Amendment Effective Date, such Obligor has no Commercial Tort Claims seeking damages in excess of $2,000,000 in any



individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate when taken together with all Commercial Tort Claims of all of the other Obligors, other than as set forth on Schedule 2 hereto.
(k)    Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks.
(i)    Schedule 3 hereto includes all United States federal registrations or applications for Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks and all material Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses and Trademark Licenses (excluding “off-the-shelf” licenses pursuant to standard licensing terms which have not been modified or customized by a third party for the Obligor) owned by such Obligor in its own name, or to which any Obligor is a party, as of the date hereof.
(ii)    All United States federal registrations or applications pertaining to such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks as have been set forth on Schedule 3 hereto have been duly and properly filed, and to any Obligor’s knowledge, each Copyright, Patent and Trademark of such Obligor is valid, subsisting, unexpired, enforceable and has not been abandoned.
(iii)    Except as set forth on Schedule 3 hereto, none of such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks is the subject of any exclusive licensing or franchise agreement as of the date hereof.
(iv)    Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to such Obligor’s knowledge, no holding, decision or judgment has been rendered by any Governmental Authority that would limit, cancel or question the validity of any such Copyright, Patent or Trademark.
(v)    No action or proceeding is pending, seeking to limit, cancel or question the validity of any Copyright, Patent or Trademark of any Obligor or Subsidiary of any Obligor that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.    Covenants. Each Obligor covenants that until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Credit Documents have been paid in full and the Participating Commitments have expired or been terminated, such Obligor shall:
(a)    Instruments/Chattel Paper/Pledged Equity/Control.
            
(i)    If any amount in excess of $2,000,000 in any individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any Instrument or Tangible Chattel Paper, or if any property constituting Collateral shall be stored or shipped subject to a Document, ensure that such Instrument, Tangible Chattel Paper or Document is either in the possession of such Obligor at all times or, if requested by the Servicer to perfect its security interest in such Collateral, is delivered to the Servicer duly endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Servicer. Such Obligor shall ensure that any Collateral consisting of Tangible Chattel Paper is marked with a legend reasonably acceptable to the Servicer indicating the Servicer’s security interest in such Tangible Chattel Paper.
(ii)    Deliver to the Servicer promptly upon the receipt thereof by or on behalf of such Obligor, all certificates and instruments constituting Pledged Equity. Prior to delivery to the Servicer, all such certificates constituting Pledged Equity shall be held in trust by such Obligor for the benefit of the Servicer pursuant hereto. All such certificates representing Pledged Equity shall be delivered in suitable form for transfer by delivery or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, substantially in the form provided in Exhibit 4(a) hereto (or other form acceptable to the Servicer in its reasonable discretion).



(iii)    Execute and deliver all agreements, assignments, instruments or other documents as reasonably requested by the Servicer for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining control with respect to any Collateral consisting of (A) Deposit Accounts, (B) Investment Property, (C) Letter-of-Credit Rights and (D) Electronic Chattel Paper.
(b)    Filing of Financing Statements, Notices, Etc. Such Obligor shall execute and deliver to the Servicer such agreements, assignments or instruments (including affidavits, notices, reaffirmations and amendments and restatements of existing documents, as the Servicer may reasonably request) and do all such other things as the Servicer may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate (i) to assure to the Servicer its security interests hereunder, including (A) such instruments as the Servicer may from time to time reasonably request in order to perfect and maintain the security interests granted hereunder in accordance with the UCC, (B) with regard to Copyrights, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Copyrights in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(i) hereto, (C) with regard to Patents, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Patents for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(ii) hereto and (D) with regard to Trademarks, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Trademarks for filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the form of Exhibit 4(b)(iii) hereto, (ii) to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) to otherwise protect and assure the Servicer of its rights and interests hereunder. Furthermore, such Obligor also hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Servicer, its nominee or any other person whom the Servicer may designate, as such Obligor’s attorney in fact with full power and for the limited purpose to prepare and file (and, to the extent applicable, sign) in the name of such Obligor any financing statements, or amendments and supplements to financing statements, renewal financing statements, notices or any similar documents which in the Servicer’s reasonable discretion would be necessary or appropriate in order to perfect and maintain perfection of the security interests granted hereunder, such power, being coupled with an interest, being and remaining irrevocable until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Credit Documents have been paid in full and the Participating Commitments have expired or been terminated. Such Obligor hereby agrees that a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any such financing statement is sufficient for filing as a financing statement by the Servicer without notice thereof to such Obligor wherever the Servicer may in its sole discretion desire to file the same.
(c)    Collateral Held by Warehouseman, Bailee, Etc. If any Collateral with a book value in excess of $5,000,000 is at any time in the possession or control of a warehouseman, bailee or any agent or processor of such Obligor and the Servicer so reasonably requests (i) notify such Person in writing of the Servicer’s security interest therein and (ii) instruct such Person to hold all such Collateral for the Servicer’s account and subject to the Servicer’s instructions.
(d)    Commercial Tort Claims. (i) Promptly forward to the Servicer an updated Schedule 2 listing any and all Commercial Tort Claims by or in favor of such Obligor seeking damages in excess of $2,000,000 in any individual instance or $5,000,000 in the aggregate for all Commercial Tort Claims of the Obligors not subject to a Lien in favor of the Servicer for the benefit of itself and the other holders of the Secured Obligations and (ii) execute and deliver such statements, documents and notices and do and cause to be done all such things as may be reasonably required by the Servicer, or required by law to create, preserve, perfect and maintain the Servicer’s security interest in any Commercial Tort Claims initiated by or in favor of any Obligor.
(e)    Books and Records. Each Obligor shall mark its books and records (and shall cause the issuer of the Pledged Equity of such Obligor to mark its books and records) to reflect the security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement.
(f)    Nature of Collateral. At all times maintain the Collateral as personal property and not affix any of the Collateral to any real property in a manner which would change its nature from personal property to real property or a Fixture to real property, unless the Servicer shall have a perfected Lien on such Fixture or real property.



(g)    Issuance or Acquisition of Capital Stock in Partnership or Limited Liability Company. Not without executing and delivering, or causing to be executed and delivered, to the Servicer such agreements, documents and instruments as the Servicer may reasonably require, issue or acquire any Pledged Equity consisting of an interest in a partnership or a limited liability company that (i) is dealt in or traded on a securities exchange or in a securities market, (ii) by its terms expressly provides that it is a Security governed by Article 8 of the UCC, (iii) is an Investment Company Security, (iv) is held in a Securities Account or (v) constitutes a Security or a Financial Asset.
5.    Authorization to File Financing Statements. Each Obligor hereby authorizes the Servicer to prepare and file such financing statements (including continuation statements) or amendments thereof or supplements thereto or other instruments as the Servicer may from time to time deem necessary or appropriate in order to perfect and maintain the security interests granted hereunder in accordance with the UCC (including authorization to describe the Collateral as “all personal property”, “all assets” or words of similar meaning).
6.    Advances.
(a)    Upon the occurrence of a Credit Event and during the continuation thereof, or (b) upon the failure of any Obligor to perform any of the covenants and agreements contained herein or in any other Credit Document if, with respect to this clause (b), the Servicer reasonably determines that the taking of a particular action is required prior to the expiration of any applicable cure period(s) in order to prevent an impairment of its rights in and to any Collateral, then in either case, the Servicer may, at its sole option and in its sole discretion upon notice to the applicable Obligors, perform the same and in so doing may expend such sums as the Servicer may reasonably deem advisable in the performance thereof, including, without limitation, the payment of any insurance premiums, the payment of any taxes, a payment to obtain a release of a Lien or potential Lien, expenditures made in defending against any adverse claim and all other expenditures which the Servicer may make for the protection of the security hereof or may be compelled to make by operation of law. All such sums and amounts so expended shall be repayable by the Obligors on a joint and several basis promptly upon timely notice thereof and demand therefor, shall constitute additional Secured Obligations and shall bear interest from the date said amounts are expended at 2% per annum. No such performance of any covenant or agreement by the Servicer on behalf of any Obligor, and no such advance or expenditure therefor, shall relieve the Obligors of any Unmatured Credit Event or Credit Event. The Servicer may make any payment hereby authorized in accordance with any bill, statement or estimate procured from the appropriate public office or holder of the claim to be discharged without inquiry into the accuracy of such bill, statement or estimate or into the validity of any tax assessment, sale, forfeiture, tax lien, title or claim except to the extent such payment is being contested in good faith by an Obligor in appropriate proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP.
7.    Remedies.
(a)    General Remedies. During the continuance of a Credit Event, the Servicer shall have, in addition to the rights and remedies provided herein, in the Credit Documents, in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, or by law (including, but not limited to, levy of attachment, garnishment and the rights and remedies set forth in the UCC of the jurisdiction applicable to the affected Collateral), the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC (regardless of whether the UCC is the law of the jurisdiction where the rights and remedies are asserted and regardless of whether the UCC applies to the affected Collateral), and further, the Servicer may, with or without judicial process or the aid and assistance of others, (i) enter on any premises on which any of the Collateral may be located and, without resistance or interference by the Obligors, take possession of the Collateral, (ii) dispose of any Collateral on any such premises, (iii) require the Obligors to assemble and make available to the Servicer at the expense of the Obligors any Collateral at any place and time designated by the Servicer which is reasonably convenient to both parties, (iv) remove any Collateral from any such premises for the purpose of effecting sale or other disposition thereof, and/or (v) without demand and without advertisement, notice, hearing or process of law, all of which each of the Obligors hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by law, at any place and time or times, sell and deliver any or all of the Collateral held by or for it at a public or private sale (which in the case of a private sale of Pledged Equity, may be to a restricted



group of purchasers who will be obligated to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof), at any exchange or broker’s board or elsewhere, by one or more contracts, in one or more parcels, for cash, upon credit or otherwise, at such prices and upon such terms as the Servicer deems advisable, in its sole discretion (subject to any and all mandatory legal requirements). Each Obligor acknowledges that any such private sale may be at prices and on terms less favorable to the seller than the prices and other terms which might have been obtained at a public sale and, notwithstanding the foregoing, agrees that such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner and, in the case of a sale of Pledged Equity, that the Servicer shall have no obligation to delay sale of any such securities for the period of time necessary to permit the issuer of such securities to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933. Neither the Servicer’s compliance with applicable law nor its disclaimer of warranties relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale. To the extent the rights of notice cannot be legally waived hereunder, each Obligor agrees that any requirement of reasonable notice shall be met if such notice, specifying the place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made, is personally served on or mailed, postage prepaid, to the Obligors in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 15.1 of the Loan Facility Agreement at least ten (10) days before the time of sale or other event giving rise to the requirement of such notice. The Servicer may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned. Each Obligor further acknowledges and agrees that any offer to sell any Pledged Equity which has been (i) publicly advertised on a bona fide basis in a newspaper or other publication of general circulation in the financial community of New York, New York (to the extent that such offer may be advertised without prior registration under the Securities Act of 1933), or (ii) made privately in the manner described above shall be deemed to involve a “public sale” under the UCC, notwithstanding that such sale may not constitute a “public offering” under the Securities Act of 1933, and the Servicer may, in such event, bid for the purchase of such securities. The Servicer shall not be obligated to make any sale or other disposition of the Collateral regardless of notice having been given. To the extent permitted by applicable law, any holder of Secured Obligations may be a purchaser at any such sale. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Obligors hereby waives all of its rights of redemption with respect to any such sale. Subject to the provisions of applicable law, the Servicer may postpone or cause the postponement of the sale of all or any portion of the Collateral by announcement at the time and place of such sale, and such sale may, without further notice, to the extent permitted by law, be made at the time and place to which the sale was postponed, or the Servicer may further postpone such sale by announcement made at such time and place.
(b)    Remedies Relating to Accounts. During the continuance of a Credit Event, whether or not the Servicer has exercised any or all of its rights and remedies hereunder, (i) each Obligor will promptly upon the request of the Servicer instruct all of its account debtors to remit all payments in respect of Accounts to a mailing location selected by the Servicer and (ii) the Servicer shall have the right to enforce any Obligor’s rights against its customers and account debtors, and the Servicer or its designee may notify any Obligor’s customers and account debtors that the Accounts of such Obligor have been assigned to the Servicer or of the Servicer’s security interest therein, and may (either in its own name or in the name of an Obligor or both) demand, collect (including without limitation by way of a lockbox arrangement), receive, take receipt for, sell, sue for, compound, settle, compromise and give acquittance for any and all amounts due or to become due on any Account, and, in the Servicer’s discretion, file any claim or take any other action or proceeding to protect and realize upon the security interest of the holders of the Secured Obligations in the Accounts. Each Obligor acknowledges and agrees that the Proceeds of its Accounts remitted to or on behalf of the Servicer in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be solely for the Servicer’s own convenience and that such Obligor shall not have any right, title or interest in such Accounts or in any such other amounts except as expressly provided herein. Neither the Servicer nor the holders of the Secured Obligations shall have any liability or responsibility to any Obligor for acceptance of a check, draft or other order for payment of money bearing the legend “payment in full” or words of similar import or any other restrictive legend or endorsement or be responsible for determining the correctness of any remittance. Furthermore, during the continuance of a Credit Event, (i) the Servicer shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make test verifications of the Accounts in any manner and through any medium that it reasonably considers advisable, and the Obligors shall furnish all such assistance and information as the Servicer may require in connection with such test verifications, (ii) upon the Servicer’s request and at the expense of the Obligors, the Obligors shall use commercially reasonable



efforts to cause independent public accountants or others satisfactory to the Servicer to furnish to the Servicer reports showing reconciliations, aging and test verifications of, and trial balances for, the Accounts and (iii) upon three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice to the Obligors, the Servicer in its own name or in the name of others may communicate with account debtors on the Accounts to verify with them to the Servicer’s satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any Accounts.
(c)    Deposit Accounts. Upon the occurrence of a Credit Event and during the continuation thereof, the Servicer may (i) prevent withdrawals or other dispositions of funds in Deposit Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) maintained with the Servicer and (ii) exercise control pursuant to any control agreement governing a Deposit Account (other than Excluded Accounts) not maintained with the Servicer.
(d)    Access. In addition to the rights and remedies hereunder, during the continuance of a Credit Event, the Servicer shall have the right to peaceably enter and remain upon the various premises of the Obligors without cost or charge to the Servicer, and use the same, together with materials, supplies, books and records of the Obligors for the purpose of collecting and liquidating the Collateral, or for preparing for sale and conducting the sale of the Collateral, whether by foreclosure, auction or otherwise. In addition, the Servicer may remove Collateral, or any part thereof, from such premises and/or any records with respect thereto, in order to effectively collect or liquidate such Collateral.
(e)    Nonexclusive Nature of Remedies. Failure by the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations to exercise any right, remedy or option under this Agreement, any other Credit Document, any other document relating to the Secured Obligations, or as provided by law, or any delay by the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations in exercising the same, shall not operate as a waiver of any such right, remedy or option. No waiver hereunder shall be effective unless it is in writing, signed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced and then only to the extent specifically stated, which in the case of the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations shall only be granted as provided herein. To the extent permitted by law, neither the Servicer, the holders of the Secured Obligations, nor any party acting as attorney for the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations, shall be liable hereunder for any acts or omissions or for any error of judgment or mistake of fact or law other than their bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or a material breach of the Servicer’s or such holder’s obligations hereunder. The rights and remedies of the Servicer and the holders of the Secured Obligations under this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other right or remedy which the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations may have.
(f)    Retention of Collateral. In addition to the rights and remedies hereunder, the Servicer may, in compliance with Sections 9-620 and 9-621 of the UCC or otherwise complying with the requirements of applicable law of the relevant jurisdiction, accept or retain the Collateral in satisfaction of the Secured Obligations.  Unless and until the Servicer shall have provided such notices, however, the Servicer shall not be deemed to have retained any Collateral in satisfaction of any Secured Obligations for any reason.
(g)    Deficiency. In the event that the proceeds of any sale, collection or realization are insufficient to pay all amounts to which the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations are legally entitled, the Obligors shall be jointly and severally liable for the deficiency, together with interest thereon at the rate provided for in Section 2.3(c) of the Loan Facility Agreement, together with, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 15.4 of the Loan Facility Agreement, the costs of collection and the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel. Any surplus remaining after the full payment and satisfaction of the Secured Obligations shall be returned to the Obligors or to whomsoever a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine to be entitled thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, in any of the other Credit Documents or in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, the obligations of each Obligor under the Loan Facility Agreement and the other Credit Documents shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or any other applicable Debtor Relief Law (including any comparable provisions of any applicable state law).
8.    Rights of the Servicer.



(a)    Power of Attorney. In addition to other powers of attorney contained herein, each Obligor hereby designates and appoints the Servicer, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, and each of its designees or agents, as attorney-in-fact of such Obligor, irrevocably and with power of substitution, with authority to take any or all of the following actions during the continuance of a Credit Event:
(i)    to demand, collect, settle, compromise, adjust, give discharges and releases, all as the Servicer may reasonably determine;
(ii)    to commence and prosecute any actions at any court for the purposes of collecting any Collateral and enforcing any other right in respect thereof;
(iii)    to defend, settle or compromise any action brought and, in connection therewith, give such discharge or release as the Servicer may deem reasonably appropriate;
(iv)    to receive, open and dispose of mail addressed to an Obligor and endorse checks, notes, drafts, acceptances, money orders, bills of lading, warehouse receipts or other instruments or documents evidencing payment, shipment or storage of the Goods giving rise to the Collateral of such Obligor on behalf of and in the name of such Obligor, or securing, or relating to such Collateral;
(v)    to sell, assign, transfer, make any agreement in respect of, or otherwise deal with or exercise rights in respect of, any Collateral or the Goods or services which have given rise thereto, as fully and completely as though the Servicer were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes;
(vi)    to adjust and settle claims under any insurance policy relating thereto;
(vii)    to execute and deliver all assignments, conveyances, statements, financing statements, renewal financing statements, security agreements, affidavits, notices and other agreements, instruments and documents that the Servicer may reasonably determine necessary in order to perfect and maintain the security interests and liens granted in this Agreement and in order to fully consummate all of the transactions contemplated herein;
(viii)    to institute any foreclosure proceedings that the Servicer may deem appropriate;
(ix)    to sign and endorse any drafts, assignments, proxies, stock powers, verifications, notices and other documents relating to the Collateral;
(x)    to exchange any of the Pledged Equity or other property upon any merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other readjustment of the issuer thereof and, in connection therewith, deposit any of the Pledged Equity with any committee, depository, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms as the Servicer may reasonably deem appropriate;
(xi)    upon prior written notice to the Obligors, to vote for a shareholder resolution, or to sign an instrument in writing, sanctioning the transfer of any or all of the Pledged Equity into the name of the Servicer or one or more of the holders of the Secured Obligations or into the name of any transferee to whom the Pledged Equity or any part thereof may be sold pursuant and subject to Section 7 hereof;
(xii)    to pay or discharge taxes, liens, security interests or other encumbrances levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral;
(xiii)    to direct any parties liable for any payment in connection with any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all monies due and to become due thereunder directly to the Servicer or as the Servicer shall direct;



(xiv)    to receive payment of and receipt for any and all monies, claims, and other amounts due and to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral; and
(xv)    to do and perform all such other acts and things as the Servicer may reasonably deem to be necessary, proper or convenient to accomplish the purposes of the Credit Documents.
This power of attorney is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Credit Documents have been paid in full and the Participating Commitments have expired or been terminated. The Servicer shall be under no duty to exercise or withhold the exercise of any of the rights, powers, privileges and options expressly or implicitly granted to the Servicer in this Agreement, and shall not be liable for any failure to do so or any delay in doing so. The Servicer shall not be liable for any act or omission or for any error of judgment or any mistake of fact or law in its individual capacity or its capacity as attorney-in-fact except acts or omissions resulting from its bad faith, gross negligence, willful misconduct or a material breach of its obligations hereunder. This power of attorney is conferred on the Servicer solely to protect, preserve and realize upon its security interest in the Collateral.
(b)    Assignment by the Servicer. The Servicer may from time to time assign the Secured Obligations to a successor Servicer appointed in accordance with the Loan Facility Agreement, and such successor shall be entitled to all of the rights and remedies of the Servicer under this Agreement in relation thereto.
(c)    The Servicer’s Duty of Care. Other than the exercise of reasonable care to assure the safe custody of the Collateral while being held by the Servicer hereunder, the Servicer shall have no duty or liability to preserve rights pertaining thereto, it being understood and agreed that the Obligors shall be responsible for preservation of all rights in the Collateral, and the Servicer shall be relieved of all responsibility for the Collateral upon surrendering it or tendering the surrender of it to the Obligors. The Servicer shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Servicer accords its own property, which shall be no less than the treatment employed by a reasonable and prudent agent in the industry, it being understood that the Servicer shall not have responsibility for taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties with respect to any of the Collateral. In the event of a public or private sale of Collateral pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the Servicer shall have no responsibility for (i) ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relating to any Collateral, whether or not the Servicer has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or (ii) taking any steps to clean, repair or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale.
(d)    Liability with Respect to Accounts. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each of the Obligors shall remain liable under each of the Accounts to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise to each such Account. Neither the Servicer nor any holder of Secured Obligations shall have any obligation or liability under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Servicer or any holder of Secured Obligations of any payment relating to such Account pursuant hereto, nor shall the Servicer or any holder of Secured Obligations be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of an Obligor under or pursuant to any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.
    
(e)    Voting and Payment Rights in Respect of the Pledged Equity.
(i)    So long as no Credit Event shall exist, each Obligor may (A) exercise any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the Pledged Equity of such Obligor or any part thereof for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or the Loan Facility Agreement and (B) receive and retain any and all dividends (other than stock dividends and other



dividends constituting Collateral which are addressed hereinabove), principal or interest paid in respect of the Pledged Equity to the extent they are allowed under the Loan Facility Agreement; and
(ii)    During the continuance of a Credit Event and upon one (1) Business Day’s prior written notice to the Obligors, (A) all rights of an Obligor to exercise the voting and other consensual rights which it would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to clause (i)(A) above shall cease and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Servicer which shall then have the sole right to exercise such voting and other consensual rights, (B) all rights of an Obligor to receive the dividends, principal and interest payments which it would otherwise be authorized to receive and retain pursuant to clause (i)(B) above shall cease and all such rights shall thereupon be vested in the Servicer which shall then have the sole right to receive and hold as Collateral such dividends, principal and interest payments, and (C) all dividends, principal and interest payments which are received by an Obligor contrary to the provisions of clause (ii)(B) above shall be received in trust for the benefit of the Servicer, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Obligor, and shall be forthwith paid over to the Servicer as Collateral in the exact form received, to be held by the Servicer as Collateral and as further collateral security for the Secured Obligations. Upon the cure or waiver of such Credit Event in accordance with the terms of the Loan Facility Agreement, the Servicer shall as soon reasonably practicable repay to each Obligor all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by the Servicer pursuant to this clause (ii) that such Obligor would otherwise have been permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of clause (i) above that (x) were not applied to repay the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with the Loan Facility Agreement and other Credit Documents and (y) that the Servicer is not otherwise required to hold for the repayment of the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with the Loan Facility Agreement and other Credit Documents.
(f)    Releases of Collateral. (i) If any Collateral shall (x) be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by any Obligor in a transaction permitted by the Loan Facility Agreement or (y) become Excluded Property, the Servicer, at the request and sole expense of such Obligor, shall promptly execute and deliver to such Obligor all releases and other documents, and take such other action, reasonably necessary to evidence such release of the Liens created hereby or by any other Collateral Agreement on such Collateral. (ii) The Servicer may release any of the Pledged Equity from this Agreement or may substitute any of the Pledged Equity for other Pledged Equity without altering, varying or diminishing in any way the force, effect, lien, pledge or security interest of this Agreement as to any Pledged Equity not expressly released or substituted, and this Agreement shall continue as a lien on all Pledged Equity not expressly released or substituted. (iii) At the request and sole expense of the Sponsor, an Obligor shall be released from its obligations hereunder in the event that such Obligor shall (x) be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in a transaction permitted by and subject to all the applicable provisions of the applicable Operative Document (and subject to such applicable provision providing that such Obligor would be released or deemed released under the terms of the Operative Documents under such conditions) or (y) be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.14 of the Loan Facility Agreement, and, in each case, the Servicer shall promptly execute and deliver to the Sponsor all terminations or other documents reasonably necessary or desirable to evidence such termination, all at the sole expense of such Obligor.
9.    Application of Proceeds. Upon the acceleration of the Guaranteed Obligations under the Credit Documents pursuant to Article IX of the Loan Facility Agreement, any payments in respect of the Secured Obligations and any proceeds of the Collateral, when received by the Servicer or any holder of the Secured Obligations in Money or its equivalent, will be applied in reduction of the Secured Obligations in the order set forth in Article IX of the Loan Facility Agreement.
    
10.    Continuing Agreement.
(a)    This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until such time as the Secured Obligations arising under the Credit Documents have been paid in full and the Participating Commitments have expired or been terminated, at which time this Agreement and the liens and security interests of the Servicer hereunder shall be automatically terminated and the Servicer shall, upon the request and at the



expense of the Obligors, forthwith execute and deliver all UCC termination statements and/or other documents reasonably requested by the Obligors evidencing such termination and/or release.
(b)    This Agreement shall continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Servicer or any holder of the Secured Obligations as a preference, fraudulent conveyance or otherwise under any Debtor Relief Law, all as though such payment had not been made; provided that in the event payment of all or any part of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must be restored or returned, but subject to the limitations of Section 15.4 of the Loan Facility Agreement, all reasonable costs and expenses (including without limitation any reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred by the Servicer or any holder of the Secured Obligations in defending and enforcing such reinstatement shall be deemed to be included as a part of the Secured Obligations.
11.    Amendments; Waivers; Modifications, Etc. This Agreement and the provisions hereof may not be amended, waived, modified, changed, discharged or terminated except as set forth in Section 15.2 of the Loan Facility Agreement; provided that any update or revision to Schedule 2 hereof delivered by any Obligor shall not constitute an amendment for purposes of this Section 11 or Section 15.2 of the Loan Facility Agreement.
12.    Successors in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon each Obligor, its successors and assigns and shall inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Servicer and the holders of the Secured Obligations hereunder, to the benefit of the Servicer and the holders of the Secured Obligations and their successors and permitted assigns.
13.    Notices. All notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in conformance with Section 15.1 of the Loan Facility Agreement.
14.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by telecopy), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or by any other electronic imaging means (including .pdf), shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
15.    Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are provided for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.
16.    Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. The terms of Section 15.7 of the Loan Facility Agreement with respect to governing law, submission to jurisdiction, venue, consent to service of process and waiver of jury trial are incorporated herein by reference, mutatis mutandis, and the parties hereto agree to such terms.
17.    Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
18.    Entirety. This Agreement, the other Credit Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Servicer, 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.
19.    Other Security. To the extent that any of the Secured Obligations are now or hereafter secured by property other than the Collateral (including, without limitation, real property and securities



owned by an Obligor), or by a guarantee, endorsement or property of any other Person, then the Servicer shall have the right to proceed against such other property, guarantee or endorsement during the continuance of any Credit Event, and the Servicer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to determine which rights, security, liens, security interests or remedies the Servicer shall at any time pursue, relinquish, subordinate, modify or take with respect thereto, without in any way modifying or affecting any of them or the Secured Obligations or any of the rights of the Servicer or the holders of the Secured Obligations under this Agreement, under any other of the Credit Documents or under any other document relating to the Secured Obligations.
20.    Joinder. At any time after the date of this Agreement, one or more additional Persons may become party hereto by executing and delivering to the Servicer a joinder agreement to this Agreement. Immediately upon such execution and delivery of such joinder agreement (and without any further action), each such additional Person will become a party to this Agreement as an “Obligor” and have all of the rights and obligations of an Obligor hereunder and this Agreement and the schedules hereto shall be deemed amended by such joinder agreement.
21.    Joint and Several Obligations of Obligors.

    (a)    Subject to Section 21(c), each of the Obligors is accepting joint and several liability hereunder, in consideration of the financial accommodation to be provided by the holders of the Guaranteed Obligations, of each of the Obligors and in consideration of the undertakings of each of the Obligors to accept joint and several liability for the obligations of each of them.

    (b)    Subject to Section 21(c), each of the Obligors jointly and severally hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with the other Obligors with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Secured Obligations arising under this Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, it being the intention of the parties hereto that all the Secured Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of each of the Obligors without preferences or distinction among them.

(c)    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, in any other of the Credit Documents or in any other documents relating to the Secured Obligations, the obligations of each Guarantor under the Loan Facility Agreement, the other Credit Documents and the other documents relating to the Secured Obligations shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any other Debtor Relief Law.
22.    Consent of Issuers of Pledged Equity. Each issuer of Pledged Equity party to this Agreement hereby acknowledges, consents and agrees to the grant of the security interests in such Pledged Equity by the applicable Obligors pursuant to this Agreement, together with all rights accompanying such security interests as provided by this Agreement and applicable law, notwithstanding any anti-assignment provisions in any operating agreement, limited partnership agreement or similar organizational or governance documents of such issuer.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]



Each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
OBLIGORS:                    AARON’S, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:
Title:

THE AARON’S COMPANY, INC.,
a Georgia corporation

By:                        
Name:
Title:

AARON INVESTMENT COMPANY, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

AARON’S BUSINESS REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

AARON’S LOGISTICS, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

AARON’S US HOLDCO, INC.,
a Georgia corporation

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

AARON’S, LLC
SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT (LFA)


ENVIZZO, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

WOODHAVEN FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:     

INTERBOND RETAIL SOLUTIONS, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

RETAIL RTO SOLUTIONS, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

INTERBOND OF AMERICA, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

BRANDSMART USA OF SOUTH DADE, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:
AARON’S, LLC
SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT (LFA)


BRANDSMART U.S.A. OF GEORGIA, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

BRANDS MART SERVICE, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:__________________________________
Name:    
Title:

BRANDSMART USA DADELAND, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:

BRANDSMART USA OF CLAYTON COUNTY, LLC,
a Georgia limited liability company

By:                        
Name:    
Title:



AARON’S, LLC
SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT (LFA)


Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above.


TRUIST BANK, as Servicer
By:                    
Name:
Title:
AARON’S, LLC
SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT (LFA)


SCHEDULE 1
PLEDGED EQUITY

ObligorName of Subsidiary
Number of
Shares/ Units
Certificate NumberPercentage Ownership




SCHEDULE 2
COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS





SCHEDULE 3
COPYRIGHTS, PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
Patents:.
Copyrights:.
Trademarks:





EXHIBIT 4(a)
IRREVOCABLE [STOCK][UNIT] POWER
    FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to:
    _____________________________________
    the following equity interests of ____________________, a _________ [corporation][limited liability company]:
    No. of Shares ____________    Certificate No. ______________
    and irrevocably appoints ______________ its agent and attorney-in-fact to transfer all or any part of such equity interests and to take all necessary and appropriate action to effect any such transfer. The agent and attorney-in-fact may substitute and appoint one or more persons to act for him.
    Dated: ____________, 20___
    _______________________________
    By:                                                
    Name:                                    
    Title:                                            




EXHIBIT 4(b)(i)
NOTICE
OF
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
IN
COPYRIGHTS
[_____ __], 202[_]
United States Copyright Office
Please be advised that pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of [_____ __], 2024 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Agreement”; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement), by and among the Obligors party thereto (each an “Obligor” and collectively, the “Obligors”) and Truist Bank, as Servicer (the “Servicer”) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the undersigned Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the copyrights and copyright applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto to the Servicer for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations.
The undersigned Obligor and the Servicer, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing copyrights and copyright applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any copyright or copyright application.
This Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Copyrights may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute a single contract. The undersigned Obligor authorizes the Register of Copyrights in the United States Copyright Office and any other government officials to record and register this Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Copyrights upon request by the Servicer.




Very truly yours,
__________________________________
[Obligor]
By:                    
Name:
Title:

[Address]
Acknowledged and Accepted:
TRUIST BANK, as Servicer
By:                    
Name:
Title:
[Address]






EXHIBIT 4(b)(ii)
NOTICE
OF
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
IN
PATENTS
[_____ __], 202[_]
United States Patent and Trademark Office

Please be advised that pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of [_____ __], 2024 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Agreement”; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement), by and among the Obligors party thereto (each an “Obligor” and collectively, the “Obligors”) and Truist Bank, as Servicer (the “Servicer”) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the undersigned Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the patents and patent applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto to the Servicer for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations.
The undersigned Obligor and the Servicer, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing patents and patent applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any patent or patent application.
This Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Patents may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute a single contract. The undersigned Obligor authorizes the Commissioner for Patents in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and any other government officials to record and register this Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Patents upon request by the Servicer.




Very truly yours,
__________________________________
[Obligor]
By:                    
Name:
Title:

[Address]
Acknowledged and Accepted:
TRUIST BANK, as Servicer
By:                    
Name:
Title:
[Address]





EXHIBIT 4(b)(iii)
NOTICE
OF
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
IN
TRADEMARKS
[_____ __], 202[_]
United States Patent and Trademark Office

Please be advised that pursuant to the Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of [_____ __], 2024 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the “Agreement”; capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement), by and among the Obligors party thereto (each an “Obligor” and collectively, the “Obligors”) and Truist Bank, as Servicer (the “Servicer”) for the holders of the Secured Obligations referenced therein, the undersigned Obligor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the trademarks and trademark applications set forth on Schedule 1 hereto (together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized thereby, and all extensions and renewals thereof) to the Servicer for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Secured Obligations.
The undersigned Obligor and the Servicer, on behalf of the holders of the Secured Obligations, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing trademarks and trademark applications (i) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (ii) is not to be construed as an assignment of any trademark or trademark application.
This Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Trademarks may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute a single contract. The undersigned Obligor authorizes the Commissioner for Trademarks in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and any other government officials to record and register this Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Trademarks upon request by the Servicer.




Very truly yours,
__________________________________
[Obligor]
By:                    
Name:
Title:

[Address]
Acknowledged and Accepted:
TRUIST BANK, as Servicer
By:                    
Name:
Title:
[Address]






Exhibit 99.1
image_0a.jpg
The Aaron’s Company, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter & Full Year 2023 Financial Results, and Announces 2024 Outlook

Atlanta, GA, February 26, 2024 — The Aaron’s Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) today released its fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial results. Highlights of those results and the 2024 outlook are included below, in the attached supplement, and at investor.aarons.com.
Fourth Quarter 2023 Consolidated Results1:
Revenues were $529.5 million, a decrease of 10.2%
Adjusted EBITDA2,3 was $22.4 million, a decrease of 25.2%
Loss per share was $0.41; Non-GAAP loss per share2 was $0.26
Write-offs were 6.5% in the Aaron's Business, an improvement of 60 basis points
Full Year 2023 Consolidated Results1:
Revenues were $2.14 billion, a decrease of 4.9%
Adjusted EBITDA2,3 was $136.0 million, a decrease of 23.2%
EPS was $0.09; Non-GAAP EPS2 was $0.81
Write-offs were 5.8% in the Aaron's Business, an improvement of 60 basis points
Adjusted free cash flow was $102.3 million, an increase of 10.5%
Net debt lowered by $79.8 million, a reduction of 37.2%
Key Business Highlights1:
Aaron's Business recurring revenue written decreased 4.2% in Q4 due to lower average ticket, partially offset by 1.4% growth in lease merchandise deliveries
Aaron's Business e-commerce recurring revenue written increased 60.0% in Q4 driven by new omnichannel customer acquisition program
Aaron's Business lease portfolio size decreased 7.0% in 2023 but is expected to grow mid single digits by year-end 2024
BrandsMart comparable sales decreased 14.0% in Q4, a sequential improvement of 300 basis points
2023 cost savings exceeded $40 million, with additional cost actions taken in Q1 2024
Full Year 2024 Consolidated Outlook:
Revenues of $2.055 billion to $2.155 billion
Adjusted EBITDA2 of $105.0 million to $125.0 million
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS2 of $(0.10) to $0.25

The Company will host an earnings conference call tomorrow, February 27, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Chief Executive Officer Douglas A. Lindsay will host the call along with President Steve Olsen and Chief Financial Officer C. Kelly Wall. A live audio webcast of the conference call and presentation slides may be accessed at investor.aarons.com and the hosting website at https://events.q4inc.com/
1.Comparisons are to the prior year period unless otherwise noted.
2.Item is a Non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" and supporting reconciliation tables in the attached supplement.
3.Starting in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. All prior period adjusted EBITDA metrics included herein have been adjusted to exclude stock compensation expense for comparability purposes.



Exhibit 99.1
attendee/751317386. A transcript of the webcast will also be available at investor.aarons.com. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 will be filed by the end of week of February 26, 2024.
About The Aaron's Company, Inc.
Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron’s Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods across its brands: Aaron’s, BrandsMart U.S.A., BrandsMart Leasing, and Woodhaven. Aaron’s offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,240 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart U.S.A. is one of the leading appliance retailers in the country with 11 retail stores in Florida and Georgia, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart Leasing offers lease-to-own solutions to customers of BrandsMart U.S.A. Woodhaven is the Company's furniture manufacturing division. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, aarons.com, and brandsmartusa.com.

Contact:
Investor Relations – Call: 678-402-3590, Email: InvestorRelations@aarons.com
Media Relations – Call: 678-402-3591, Email: MediaRelations@aarons.com

1.Comparisons are to the prior year period unless otherwise noted.
2.Item is a Non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" and supporting reconciliation tables in the attached supplement.
3.Starting in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. All prior period adjusted EBITDA metrics included herein have been adjusted to exclude stock compensation expense for comparability purposes.


imagea.jpg
The Aaron’s Company, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter & Full Year 2023 Financial Results,
and Announces 2024 Outlook

Atlanta, GA, February 26, 2024 — The Aaron's Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) today released its fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial results.

Fourth Quarter Consolidated Results1
Revenues were $529.5 million, a decrease of 10.2%
Adjusted EBITDA2,3 was $22.4 million, a decrease of 25.2%
Loss per share was $0.41; Non-GAAP loss per share2 was $0.26
Write-offs were 6.5% in the Aaron's Business, an improvement of 60 basis points
Full Year Consolidated Results1
Revenues were $2.14 billion, a decrease of 4.9%
Adjusted EBITDA2,3 was $136.0 million, a decrease of 23.2%
EPS was $0.09; Non-GAAP EPS2 was $0.81
Write-offs were 5.8% in the Aaron's Business, an improvement of 60 basis points
Adjusted free cash flow was $102.3 million, an increase of 10.5%
Net debt lowered by $79.8 million, a reduction of 37.2%
Key Business Highlights1
Aaron's Business recurring revenue written decreased 4.2% in Q4 due to lower average ticket, partially offset by 1.4% growth in lease merchandise deliveries
Aaron's Business e-commerce recurring revenue written increased 60.0% in Q4 driven by new omnichannel customer acquisition program
Aaron's Business lease portfolio size decreased 7.0% in 2023 but is expected to grow mid single digits by year-end 2024
BrandsMart comparable sales decreased 14.0% in Q4, a sequential improvement of 300 basis points
2023 cost savings exceeded $40 million, with additional cost actions taken in Q1 2024
CEO Commentary – “In response to ongoing pressure in our key product categories at Aaron's and BrandsMart during 2023, we took strong actions to drive demand and reduce costs. In Q4, we launched a new omnichannel lease decisioning and customer acquisition program, which led to robust e-commerce growth that has continued into 2024. Also, I'm pleased that we exceeded our cost savings target in 2023, and we remain focused on driving further efficiencies.
While the lower lease portfolio size to start the year will impact adjusted earnings in 2024, we expect our actions will generate lease portfolio growth. Given the investments we've made to innovate our business and the strength of our balance sheet, we are better positioned than ever to drive long-term profitable growth. Our management team and Board are highly engaged and committed to taking actions that will deliver additional value for our shareholders."
– Douglas Lindsay, The Aaron’s Company CEO

1.Comparisons are to the prior year period unless otherwise noted.
2.Item is a Non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" and supporting reconciliation tables below.
3.Starting in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. All prior period adjusted EBITDA metrics included herein have been adjusted to exclude stock compensation expense for comparability purposes.
1


Consolidated Results1
($ in Millions, except EPS)
Q4'23Q4'22Change20232022Change
Revenues$529.5 $589.6 (10.2)%$2,139.9 $2,249.4 (4.9)%
Net (Loss) Earnings
(12.4)(5.9)nmf2.8 (5.3)nmf
Adjusted EBITDA2,3
22.4 29.9 (25.2)%136.0 177.1 (23.2)%
Diluted (Loss) Earnings Per Share
$(0.41)$(0.19)nmf$0.09 $(0.17)nmf
Non-GAAP Diluted (Loss) Earnings Per Share2
$(0.26)$0.09 nmf$0.81 $2.07 (60.9)%
Adjusted Free Cash Flow2
Q4'23Q4'22 Change20232022Change
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
$31.3 $46.6 (32.8)%$180.4 $170.4 5.9 %
Adjustments4
10.1 2.4 nmf16.3 30.1 (45.9)%
Capital Expenditures(25.5)(24.3)5.0 %(94.4)(108.0)(12.6)%
Adjusted Free Cash Flow2
$15.9 $24.7 (35.6)%$102.3 $92.5 10.5 %
Returns to ShareholdersQ4'23Q4'22 Change20232022Change
Dividends Declared5
$3.8 $3.4 10.1 %$15.3 $13.9 10.7 %
Share Repurchases
nmf$2.3 nmf$6.5 $13.4 (51.4)%
Discussion of Consolidated Results - Q4'23 vs. Q4'22:
The 10.2% decrease in consolidated revenues was primarily due to lower lease revenues and fees at the Aaron's Business and lower retail sales at BrandsMart.
Net loss included restructuring charges of $2.8 million, intangible amortization expense of $2.5 million, stock compensation expense of $3.0 million, and BrandsMart acquisition-related costs of $0.6 million.
The increase in net loss was primarily due to lower gross profit and higher tax expense in Q4 2023, partially offset by lower operating expenses and restructuring charges.
The 25.2% decrease in adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to lower lease revenues and fees at the Aaron's Business and lower retail sales at BrandsMart, partially offset by lower personnel costs and lower write-offs at the Aaron's Business.
In Q4 2023, we completed a sale leaseback transaction that resulted in net proceeds of $9.1 million and a gain of $5.4 million.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $59.0 million and debt of $194.0 million, representing a 37.2% year-over-year reduction in net debt. The Company also ended the quarter with $331.0 million of availability under its $375.0 million revolving credit facility. On February 23, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to the revolving credit facility agreement, information for which can be found in the Form 8-K filed on February 26, 2024.



1.Year-over-year comparisons may vary due to rounding.
2.Item is a Non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" and supporting reconciliation tables below.
3.Starting in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. All prior period adjusted EBITDA metrics included herein have been adjusted to exclude stock compensation expense for comparability purposes.
4.Adjustments include cash provided by operating activities related to acquisition-related transaction costs paid and real estate transaction related proceeds received during the period.
5.Disclosure based upon dividends declared but not paid for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
2


Segment Results
Aaron's Business1
The Aaron’s Business segment includes Aaron's branded Company-operated and franchise-operated stores, the Aarons.com e-commerce platform, Woodhaven, and BrandsMart Leasing. The financial and operating results for the Aaron's Business segment do not include unallocated corporate expenses.
($ in Millions)Q4'23Q4'22Change20232022Change
Revenues$369.2 $404.3 (8.7)%$1,546.5 $1,703.5 (9.2)%
Lease Portfolio Size2
$117.7 $126.5 (7.0)%$117.7 $126.5 (7.0)%
Lease Renewal Rate2
85.2 %85.8 %(60) bps87.1 %87.5 %(40) bps
Gross Profit Margin62.8 %61.5 %130  bps63.1 %62.3 %80  bps
Earnings Before Income Taxes$14.8 $17.0 (13.0)%$99.0 $122.2 (19.0)%
Adjusted EBITDA3
$33.8 $36.2 (6.6)%$174.3 $196.6 (11.3)%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin3
9.1 %8.9 %20  bps11.3 %11.5 %(20) bps
Write-Offs %4
6.5 %7.1 %(60) bps5.8 %6.4 %(60) bps
Ending Store Count5
Q4'23Q4'22Change
Total Stores1,2431,266(23)
Company-Operated1,0191,034(15)
GenNext (included in Company-Operated)25421143
Franchised224232(8)
Discussion of Aaron's Business Results - Q4'23 vs. Q4'22:
The 8.7% decrease in revenues was primarily due to a smaller lease portfolio size and a lower lease renewal rate; the lower lease renewal rate primarily resulted from an increasing mix of e-commerce agreements written into the portfolio.
The lease portfolio size began the quarter down 7.5% compared to the beginning of Q4 2022 and ended the quarter down 7.0% compared to the end of Q4 2022.
The 6.6% decrease in adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to a smaller lease portfolio size and a lower lease renewal rate, partially offset by lower operating expenses, including lower write-offs.
The provision for lease merchandise write-offs as a percentage of lease revenues and fees was 6.5% for Q4 2023, a 60 basis point improvement as compared to Q4 2022, due to the lease decisioning enhancements implemented in prior quarters.
Opened nine GenNext stores, which included three stores in new markets, ending the quarter with 254 stores; GenNext stores accounted for 32.4% of lease revenues and fees and retail sales.
Lease originations in GenNext stores, open less than one year, continued growing at a rate of more than 20 percentage points higher than our legacy store average.
E-commerce revenues increased 10.4% and represented 20.6% of lease revenues; e-commerce recurring revenue written into the portfolio increased 60.0%.


1.Year-over-year comparisons may vary due to rounding.
2.Key operating metrics do not include BrandsMart Leasing.
3.Item is a Non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" and supporting reconciliation tables below.
4.Provision for Lease Merchandise Write-offs as a percentage of lease revenues and fees.
5.The typical layout for a Company-operated Aaron's store is a combination of showroom, customer service and warehouse space. Certain Company-operated Aaron's stores consist solely of a showroom.
3


BrandsMart1
The BrandsMart segment includes BrandsMart U.S.A. retail stores and the brandsmartusa.com e-commerce platform, but does not include BrandsMart Leasing. The financial and operating results for the BrandsMart segment also do not include unallocated corporate expenses.
($ in Millions)Q4'23
Q4'22
Change2023
20222
Change
Revenues$164.1 $187.7 (12.6)%$604.4 $552.5 9.4 %
Comparable Sales2,3
(14.0)%n/an/an/an/an/a
Gross Profit Margin23.2 %20.0 %320  bps23.8 %18.3 %550  bps
(Loss) Earnings Before Income Taxes
$(2.8)$1.8 nmf$(5.0)$(11.2)55.0 %
Adjusted EBITDA4
$1.0 $5.3 (81.8)%$9.2 $22.4 (58.9)%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin4
0.6 %2.8 %(220) bps1.5 %4.1 %(260) bps
Discussion of BrandsMart Results - Q4'23 vs. Q4'22:
The 12.6% decrease in revenues was primarily due to a 14.0% decrease in comparable sales, driven primarily by ongoing weaker customer traffic and customer trade down to lower priced products across major categories.
Revenues in Q4 2023 included sales from the new store that recently opened in Augusta, GA.
E-commerce product sales were 9.8% of product sales, down from 10.5% in the prior year quarter.
The 320 basis points increase in gross profit margin was primarily due to lower inventory loss reserves in Q4 2023 and accounting adjustments related to the acquisition in Q4 2022, offset by lower product margin in Q4 2023.
The decrease in adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin were primarily due to lower retail sales, partially offset by benefits of direct procurement savings, strategic pricing actions, and cost controls.
1.Year-over-year comparisons may vary due to rounding.
2.Comparable sales was calculated by comparing BrandsMart retail and other sales for the comparable period in 2022 for all BrandsMart stores open for the entire 15-month period ended December 31, 2023. Comparable sales includes retail sales generated at BrandsMart stores (including retail sales to BrandsMart Leasing), e-commerce sales initiated on the website or app, warranty revenue, gift card breakage, and sales of merchandise to wholesalers and dealers, as applicable. Comparable sales excludes service center related revenues.
3.Results prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition date are not provided; therefore, Comparable Sales results are not available for Q4 2022.
4.Item is a Non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information" and supporting reconciliation tables below.
4


Full Year 2024 Outlook
The Company is providing the following outlook of selected financial metrics for the full year 2024.
Current Outlook 1,2
ConsolidatedLowHigh
Revenues
$2,055.0 million
$2,155.0 million
Net (Loss) Earnings
$(12.0) million
$0.0 million
Adjusted EBITDA
$105.0 million
$125.0 million
Diluted EPS
$(0.30)
$(0.05)
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS
$(0.10)
$0.25
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
$100.0 million
$115.0 million
Capital Expenditures
$85.0 million
$95.0 million
Adjusted Free Cash Flow
$15.0 million
$30.0 million
Aaron’s Business
Revenues
$1,460.0 million
$1,520.0 million
Earnings Before Income Taxes
$64.5 million
$77.5 million
Adjusted EBITDA
$137.5 million
$152.5 million
BrandsMart
Revenues
$610.0 million
$650.0 million
Loss Before Income Taxes
$(9.5) million
$(5.5) million
Adjusted EBITDA
$7.0 million
$12.0 million
1.See the “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information” section included in this release. Consolidated totals include unallocated corporate costs and intersegment elimination amounts.
2.The current outlook assumes no significant deterioration in the current retail environment, state of the U.S. economy, or global supply chain, as compared to its current condition.
Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will host an earnings conference call tomorrow, February 27, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Chief Executive Officer Douglas A. Lindsay will host the call along with President Steve Olsen and Chief Financial Officer C. Kelly Wall. A live audio webcast of the conference call and presentation slides may be accessed at investor.aarons.com and the hosting website at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/751317386. A transcript of the webcast will also be available at investor.aarons.com.
About The Aaron's Company, Inc.
Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron’s Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods across its brands: Aaron’s, BrandsMart U.S.A., BrandsMart Leasing, and Woodhaven. Aaron’s offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,240 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart U.S.A. is one of the leading appliance retailers in the country with 11 retail stores in Florida and Georgia, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart Leasing offers lease-to-own solutions to customers of BrandsMart U.S.A. Woodhaven is the Company's furniture manufacturing division. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, aarons.com, and brandsmartusa.com.
5


Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release regarding our business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "believe," "expect," "expectation," "anticipate," "may," "could," "should," "intend," "seek," "estimate," "plan," "target," "project," "likely," "will," "forecast," "future," "outlook," or other similar words, phrases, or expressions. These risks and uncertainties include factors such as (i) changes in the enforcement of existing laws and regulations and the adoption of new laws and regulations that may unfavorably impact our business, and failures to comply with existing or new laws or regulations, including those related to consumer protection, as well as an increased focus on our industry by federal and state regulatory authorities; (ii) our ability to execute on our multi-year strategic plan and achieve the benefits and outcomes we expect, including improving our business, centralizing key processes such as customer lease decisioning and payments, real estate optimization, enhancing our e-commerce platform and digital acquisition channels, enhancing and growing BrandsMart, and optimizing our cost structure; (iii) our ability to attract and retain key personnel; (iv) our ability to manage cybersecurity risks, disruptions or failures in our information technology systems and to protect the security of personal information of our customers and employees; (v) weakening general market and economic conditions, especially as they may affect retail sales, increased interest rates, unemployment and consumer confidence; (vi) the concentration of our stores in certain regions or limited markets; (vii) the current inflationary environment could result in increased labor, raw materials or logistics costs that we are unable to offset or accelerating prices that result in lower lease volumes; (viii) any future potential pandemics, as well as related measures taken by governmental or regulatory authorities to combat the pandemic; (ix) business disruptions due to political and economic instability resulting from global conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and related economic sanctions and the conflict in Israel, Palestine and surrounding areas, as well as domestic civil unrest; (x) challenges faced by our business, including commoditization of consumer electronics, our high fixed-cost operating model and the ongoing labor shortage; (xi) increased competition from direct-to-consumer and virtual lease-to-own competitors, as well as from traditional and online retailers and other competitors; (xii) increases in lease merchandise write-offs; (xiii) any failure to realize the benefits expected from the acquisition of BrandsMart, including projected synergies; (xiv) the acquisition of BrandsMart may create risks and uncertainties which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations; (xv) our ability to successfully acquire and integrate businesses and to realize the projected results and expected benefits of acquisitions or strategic transactions; (xvi) our ability to maintain or improve market share in the categories in which we operate despite heightened competitive pressure; (xvii) our ability to improve operations and realize cost savings; and (xviii) the other risks and uncertainties discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and from time to time in documents that we file with the SEC. Statements in this news release that are "forward-looking" include without limitation statements about: (i) the execution of our key strategic priorities; (ii) the growth and other benefits we expect from executing those priorities; (iii) our financial performance outlook; and (iv) the Company’s goals, plans, expectations, and projections regarding the expected benefits of the BrandsMart acquisition. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date of this news release.
Contacts
Investor Relations:InvestorRelations@aarons.comMedia Relations:MediaRelations@aarons.com
Phone:678-402-3590Phone:678-402-3591
6


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS1

(Unaudited) 
 Three Months Ended

Year
Ended
(In Thousands, except per share amounts)December 31,December 31,
2023202220232022
REVENUES:
Lease Revenues and Fees$331,163 $361,167 $1,399,514 $1,529,125 
Retail Sales166,391 193,435 620,665 585,624 
Non-Retail Sales26,402 29,120 96,710 110,531 
Franchise Royalties and Other Revenues5,523 5,862 23,001 24,154 
529,479 589,584 2,139,890 2,249,434 
COSTS OF REVENUES:
Depreciation of Lease Merchandise and Other Lease Revenue Costs110,137 123,512 466,648 513,659 
Retail Cost of Sales127,401 154,244 471,946 474,879 
Non-Retail Cost of Sales22,496 25,896 81,977 99,123 
260,034 303,652 1,020,571 1,087,661 
GROSS PROFIT269,445 285,932 1,119,319 1,161,773 
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Personnel Costs125,522 129,776 507,819 515,144 
Other Operating Expenses, Net126,843 126,357 498,019 490,143 
Provision for Lease Merchandise Write-Offs21,604 25,472 81,495 97,564 
Restructuring Expenses, Net2,777 8,870 15,597 32,717 
Impairment of Goodwill— — — 12,933 
Separation Costs38 214 201 1,204 
Acquisition-Related Costs551 1,460 3,638 14,616 
277,335 292,149 1,106,769 1,164,321 
OPERATING (LOSS) PROFIT
(7,890)(6,217)12,550 (2,548)
Interest Expense(3,788)(3,911)(15,512)(9,875)
Other Non-Operating Income (Expense), Net983 507 1,904 (2,320)
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
(10,695)(9,621)(1,058)(14,743)
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)
1,660 (3,767)(3,881)(9,463)
NET (LOSS) EARNINGS
$(12,355)$(5,854)$2,823 $(5,280)
(LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE$(0.41)$(0.19)$0.09 $(0.17)
(LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE ASSUMING DILUTION$(0.41)$(0.19)$0.09 $(0.17)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING30,447 30,763 30,778 30,881 
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING ASSUMING DILUTION
30,447 30,763 31,105 30,881 
1.The Company's financial results do not include the results of BrandsMart U.S.A. prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition.

7


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands)December 31, 2023December 31, 2022
ASSETS:
Cash and Cash Equivalents$59,035 $27,716 
Accounts Receivable (net of allowances of $9,029 at December 31, 2023 and $8,895 at December 31, 2022) 39,782 38,191 
Lease Merchandise (net of accumulated depreciation and allowances of $411,641 at December 31, 2023 and $431,092 at December 31, 2022)622,262 693,795 
Merchandise Inventories, Net90,172 95,964 
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net269,833 267,457 
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets465,824 459,950 
Goodwill55,750 54,710 
Other Intangibles, Net108,158 118,528 
Income Tax Receivable10,363 5,716 
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets105,397 96,436 
Total Assets$1,826,576 $1,858,463 
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses$292,175 $264,043 
Deferred Tax Liabilities83,217 87,008 
Customer Deposits and Advance Payments68,391 73,196 
Operating Lease Liabilities502,692 496,401 
Debt193,963 242,413 
Total Liabilities 1,140,438 1,163,061 
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common Stock, Par Value $0.50 Per Share: Authorized: 112,500,000 Shares at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022; Shares Issued: 36,656,650 at December 31, 2023 and 36,100,011 at December 31, 202218,328 18,050 
Additional Paid-in Capital750,751 738,428 
Retained Earnings66,202 79,073 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(1,355)(1,396)
833,926 834,155 
Treasury Shares at Cost: 6,295,216 Shares at December 31, 2023 and 5,480,353 Shares at December 31, 2022(147,788)(138,753)
Total Shareholders’ Equity686,138 695,402 
Total Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity$1,826,576 $1,858,463 







8


CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS1
Year Ended December 31,
(In Thousands) Unaudited20232022
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Earnings (Loss)
$2,823 $(5,280)
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Earnings (Loss) to Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Depreciation of Lease Merchandise459,242 505,966 
Other Depreciation and Amortization90,341 86,083 
Provision for Lease Merchandise Write-Offs81,495 97,564 
Non-Cash Inventory Fair Value Adjustment— 23,074 
Accounts Receivable Provision39,889 41,460 
Stock-Based Compensation11,949 12,390 
Deferred Income Taxes(12,101)(13,581)
Impairment of Goodwill and Other Assets3,734 29,478 
Non-Cash Lease Expense119,610 112,613 
Other Changes, Net(8,326)(10,312)
Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities:
Lease Merchandise(472,155)(527,511)
Merchandise Inventories5,965 5,026 
Accounts Receivable(41,469)(45,881)
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets(2,422)6,284 
Income Tax Receivable(4,647)(2,129)
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets and Liabilities (122,313)(124,393)
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses35,427 (1,995)
Customer Deposits and Advance Payments(6,628)(18,424)
Cash Provided by Operating Activities180,414 170,432 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of Property, Plant, and Equipment(94,415)(107,980)
Proceeds from Dispositions of Property, Plant, and Equipment17,294 21,519 
Acquisition of BrandsMart U.S.A., Net of Cash Acquired— (265,630)
Acquisition of Businesses and Customer Agreements, Net of Cash Acquired— (1,062)
Proceeds from Other Investing-Related Activities245 1,776 
Cash Used in Investing Activities(76,876)(351,377)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments on Swing Line Loans, Net(19,250)9,250 
Proceeds from Revolver and Term Loan71,094 291,700 
Repayments on Revolver and Term Loan(100,469)(67,793)
Repayments on Inventory Loan Program, Net— (15,541)
Dividends Paid(14,994)(13,530)
Acquisition of Treasury Stock(6,499)(13,384)
Issuance of Stock Under Stock Option Plans405 1,501 
Shares Withheld for Tax Payments(2,536)(3,565)
Debt Issuance Costs— (2,758)
Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities(72,249)185,880 
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS30 (51)
Increase in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash
31,319 4,884 
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Year29,341 22,832 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year:
Cash and Cash Equivalents59,035 27,716 
Restricted Cash included in Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets1,625 1,625 
Total Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at End of Year$60,660 $29,341 
1.The Company's financial results do not include the results of BrandsMart U.S.A. prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition.
9


QUARTERLY REVENUES BY SEGMENT

(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
(In Thousands)December 31, 2023
Aaron’s BusinessBrandsMart
Elimination of Intersegment Revenues1
Total
Lease Revenues and Fees$331,163 $— $— $331,163 
Retail Sales6,107 164,087 (3,803)166,391 
Non-Retail Sales26,402 — — 26,402 
Franchise Royalties and Fees5,382 — — 5,382 
Other141 — — 141 
Total Revenues$369,195 $164,087 $(3,803)$529,479 


(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
(In Thousands)December 31, 2022
Aaron’s BusinessBrandsMart
Elimination of Intersegment Revenues1
Total
Lease Revenues and Fees$361,167 $— $— $361,167 
Retail Sales8,113 187,682 (2,360)193,435 
Non-Retail Sales29,120 — — 29,120 
Franchise Royalties and Fees5,663 — — 5,663 
Other199 — — 199 
Total Revenues$404,262 $187,682 $(2,360)$589,584 



1.Intersegment sales between BrandsMart and the Aaron's Business pertaining to BrandsMart Leasing, are recognized at retail prices. Since the intersegment profit affects sales, cost of goods sold, depreciation and inventory valuation, they are adjusted when intersegment profit is eliminated in consolidation.
10


TWELVE MONTHS REVENUES BY SEGMENT1
Year Ended
(In Thousands)December 31, 2023
Aaron’s BusinessBrandsMart
Elimination of Intersegment Revenues2
Total
Lease Revenues and Fees$1,399,514 $— $— $1,399,514 
Retail Sales27,248 604,413 (10,996)620,665 
Non-Retail Sales96,710 — — 96,710 
Franchise Royalties and Fees22,312 — — 22,312 
Other689 — — 689 
Total$1,546,473 $604,413 $(10,996)$2,139,890 

Year Ended
(In Thousands)December 31, 2022
Aaron’s BusinessBrandsMart
Elimination of Intersegment Revenues2
Total
Lease Revenues and Fees$1,529,125 $— $— $1,529,125 
Retail Sales39,693 552,465 (6,534)585,624 
Non-Retail Sales110,531 — — 110,531 
Franchise Royalties and Fees23,376 — — 23,376 
Other778 — — 778 
Total$1,703,503 $552,465 $(6,534)$2,249,434 


1.The Company's financial results do not include the results of BrandsMart U.S.A. prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition.
2.Intersegment sales between BrandsMart and the Aaron's Business pertaining to BrandsMart Leasing, are recognized at retail prices. Since the intersegment profit affects sales, cost of goods sold, depreciation and inventory valuation, they are adjusted when intersegment profit is eliminated in consolidation.
11


USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, adjusted free cash flow, net debt, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of our performance that are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for 2023 exclude certain charges including amortization expense resulting from acquisitions, restructuring charges, separation costs associated with the separation and distribution transaction that resulted in our spin-off into a separate publicly-traded company and acquisition-related costs. Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for 2022 exclude certain charges including amortization expense resulting from acquisitions, restructuring charges and separation costs associated with the separation and distribution transaction that resulted in our spin-off into a separate publicly-traded company, acquisition-related costs, a goodwill impairment charge recognized for the Aaron's Business reporting unit, and a one time non-cash charge for a fair value adjustment to merchandise inventories. The amounts for these pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments, which are tax-effected using estimated tax rates which are commensurate with non-GAAP pre-tax earnings, can be found in the Reconciliation of Net Earnings and Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution to non-GAAP Net Earnings and non-GAAP Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution table in this news release. Beginning in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. For comparability purposes, the prior period adjusted EBITDA results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 shown in the table below has been restated to also exclude stock-based compensation expense.
The EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA figures presented in this news release are calculated as the Company’s earnings before interest expense, depreciation on property, plant and equipment, amortization of intangible assets and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes the other adjustments described in the calculation of non-GAAP net earnings above. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue. The amounts for these pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments can be found in the Quarterly EBITDA table in this news release.
Management believes that non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA provide relevant and useful information, and are widely used by analysts, investors and competitors in our industry as well as by our management in assessing both consolidated and business unit performance.
Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share provide management and investors with an understanding of the results from the primary operations of our business by excluding the effects of certain items that generally arise from larger, one-time transactions that are not reflective of the ordinary earnings activity of our operations. This measure may be useful to an investor in evaluating the underlying operating performance of our business.
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA also provide management and investors with an understanding of one aspect of earnings before the impact of investing and financing charges and income taxes. These measures may be useful to an investor in evaluating our operating performance and liquidity because the measures:
Are widely used by investors to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items excluded from the calculation of such measure, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods, book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired, among other factors.
Are a financial measurement that is used by rating agencies, lenders and other parties to evaluate our creditworthiness.
Are used by our management for various purposes, including as a measure of performance of our operating entities and as a basis for strategic planning and forecasting.
12



The adjusted free cash flow figures presented in this news release are calculated as the Company’s cash flows provided by operating activities, adjusted for acquisition-related transaction costs and proceeds from real estate transactions, less capital expenditures. Management believes that adjusted free cash flow is an important measure of liquidity, provides relevant and useful information, and is widely used by analysts, investors and competitors in our industry as well as by our management team in assessing liquidity.
Net debt represents total debt less cash and cash equivalents. Management believes that net debt is an important measure of liquidity, provides relevant and useful information, and is widely used by analysts, investors and competitors in our industry as well as by our management team in assessing liquidity.
Non-GAAP financial measures, however, should not be used as a substitute for, or considered superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as the Company’s GAAP basis net earnings and diluted earnings per share, the Company’s GAAP revenues and earnings before income taxes and GAAP cash provided by operating activities, which are also presented in the news release. Further, we caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions of non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies, because not all companies and analysts calculate these measures in the same manner.
13



NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND RECONCILIATION
NON-GAAP NET EARNINGS AND NON-GAAP EARNINGS PER SHARE ASSUMING DILUTION1
(Unaudited) 
 Three Months Ended
(Unaudited) 
Year Ended
(In Thousands, except per share amounts)December 31,December 31,
2023202220232022
Net (Loss) Earnings
$(12,355)$(5,854)$2,823 $(5,280)
Income Taxes1,660 (3,767)(3,881)(9,463)
(Loss) Earnings Before Income Taxes
$(10,695)$(9,621)$(1,058)$(14,743)
Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expense2,519 2,652 10,348 8,953 
Restructuring Expenses, Net2,777 8,870 15,597 32,717 
Separation Costs38 214 201 1,204 
Non-Cash Inventory Fair Value Adjustment— — — 23,074 
Acquisition-Related Costs551 1,460 3,638 14,616 
Add: Impairment of Goodwill— — — 12,933 
Non-GAAP (Loss) Earnings Before Income Taxes
(4,810)3,575 28,726 78,754 
Income taxes, calculated using a non-GAAP Effective Tax Rate2,969 752 3,582 13,998 
Non-GAAP Net (Loss) Earnings
$(7,779)$2,823 $25,144 $64,756 
 (Loss) Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution$(0.41)$(0.19)$0.09 $(0.17)
Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expense0.08 0.09 0.33 0.29 
Restructuring Expenses, Net0.09 0.29 0.50 1.05 
Separation Costs— 0.01 0.01 0.04 
Non-Cash Inventory Fair Value Adjustment— — — 0.74 
Acquisition-Related Costs0.02 0.05 0.12 0.47 
Add: Impairment of Goodwill— — — 0.41 
Tax Effect of Non-GAAP adjustments(0.04)(0.15)(0.24)(0.75)
Non-GAAP (Loss) Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution2
$(0.26)$0.09 $0.81 $2.07 
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding Assuming Dilution3
30,447 31,096 31,105 31,303 




1.The Company's financial results do not include the results of BrandsMart U.S.A. prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition.
2.In some cases, the sum of individual EPS amounts may not equal total non-GAAP EPS calculations due to rounding.
3.For the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the GAAP Weighted Average Shares Outstanding were 30,447 and 30,763, which had no dilutive effect due to the net GAAP loss incurred in both periods; the Non-GAAP Weighted Average Shares Outstanding Assuming Dilution were 30,447 and 31,096 during those same periods.
14


NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND RECONCILIATION
QUARTERLY ADJUSTED EBITDA BY SEGMENT

(Unaudited)
(In Thousands)Three Months Ended December 31, 2023
Aaron’s BusinessBrandsMartUnallocated Corporate
Elimination1
Total
Net Loss
$(12,355)
Income Taxes1,660 
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes
$14,832 $(2,809)$(22,468)$(250)$(10,695)
Interest Expense — — 3,788 — 3,788 
Depreciation18,648 1,552 210 — 20,410 
Amortization293 2,226 — — 2,519 
EBITDA$33,773 $969 $(18,470)$(250)$16,022 
Separation Costs— — 38 — 38 
Restructuring Expenses, Net— — 2,777 — 2,777 
Acquisition-Related Costs— — 551 — 551 
Stock-Based Compensation2
— — 2,975 — 2,975 
Adjusted EBITDA$33,773 $969 $(12,129)$(250)$22,363 
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended December 31, 2022
Aaron’s BusinessBrandsMartUnallocated Corporate
Elimination1
Total
Net Loss
$(5,854)
Income Taxes(3,767)
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes
$17,046 $1,793 $(28,365)$(95)$(9,621)
Interest Expense — — 3,911 — 3,911 
Depreciation18,504 1,415 222 — 20,141 
Amortization601 2,130 — — 2,731 
EBITDA$36,151 $5,338 $(24,232)$(95)$17,162 
Separation Costs— — 214 — 214 
Restructuring Expenses, Net— — 8,870 — 8,870 
Acquisition-Related Costs— — 1,460 — 1,460 
Stock-Based Compensation2
— — 2,187 — 2,187 
Adjusted EBITDA$36,151 $5,338 $(11,501)$(95)$29,893 


1.Intersegment sales between BrandsMart and the Aaron's Business pertaining to BrandsMart Leasing are recognized at retail prices. Since the intersegment profit affects sales, cost of goods sold, depreciation and inventory valuation, they are adjusted when intersegment profit is eliminated in consolidation.
2.Beginning in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. For comparability purposes, the prior period results for the three months ended December 31, 2022 shown in the table above have been restated to also exclude stock-based compensation expense.
15


NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND RECONCILIATION
TWELVE MONTHS ADJUSTED EBITDA BY SEGMENT1
(Unaudited)
(In Thousands)Year Ended December 31, 2023
Aaron’s BusinessBrandsMartUnallocated Corporate
Elimination2
Total
Net Earnings$2,823 
Income Taxes(3,881)
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes
$99,041 $(5,029)$(94,416)$(654)$(1,058)
Interest Expense — — 15,512 — 15,512 
Depreciation73,778 5,339 876 — 79,993 
Amortization1,443 8,905 — — 10,348 
EBITDA$174,262 $9,215 $(78,028)$(654)$104,795 
Separation Costs— — 201 — 201 
Restructuring Expenses, Net— — 15,597 — 15,597 
Acquisition-Related Costs— — 3,638 — 3,638 
Stock Based Compensation3
— — 11,723 — 11,723 
Adjusted EBITDA$174,262 $9,215 $(46,869)$(654)$135,954 

(Unaudited)
(In Thousands)Year Ended December 31, 2022
Aaron’s BusinessBrandsMartUnallocated Corporate
Elimination2
Total
Net Loss
$(5,280)
Income Taxes(9,463)
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes
$122,220 $(11,171)$(125,021)$(771)$(14,743)
Interest Expense — — 9,875 — 9,875 
Depreciation71,682 3,841 1,230 — 76,753 
Amortization2,651 6,679 — — 9,330 
EBITDA$196,553 $(651)$(113,916)$(771)$81,215 
Separation Costs— — 1,204 — 1,204 
Restructuring Expenses, Net— — 32,717 — 32,717 
Impairment of Goodwill— 12,933 — 12,933 
Acquisition-Related Costs— — 14,616 — 14,616 
Non-Cash Inventory Fair Value Adjustment— 23,074 — — 23,074 
Stock Based Compensation3
— — 11,358 — 11,358 
Adjusted EBITDA$196,553 $22,423 $(41,088)$(771)$177,117 



1.The Company's financial results do not include the results of BrandsMart U.S.A. prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition.
2.Intersegment sales between BrandsMart and the Aaron's Business pertaining to BrandsMart Leasing, are recognized at retail prices. Since the intersegment profit affects sales, cost of goods sold, depreciation and inventory valuation, they are adjusted when intersegment profit is eliminated in consolidation.
3.Beginning in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. For comparability purposes, the prior period results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 shown in the table above have been restated to also exclude stock-based compensation expense.
16


NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND RECONCILIATION
ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW1
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
December 31,
(In Thousands)20232022
Cash Provided by Operating Activities$31,308 $46,561 
Proceeds from Real Estate Transactions9,429 1,600 
Acquisition-Related Transaction Costs 625 777 
Capital Expenditures(25,488)(24,285)
Adjusted Free Cash Flow$15,874 $24,653 

(Unaudited)
Year Ended
December 31,
(In Thousands)20232022
Cash Provided by Operating Activities$180,414 $170,432 
Proceeds from Real Estate Transactions11,092 16,519 
Acquisition-Related Transaction Costs 5,174 13,556 
Capital Expenditures(94,415)(107,980)
Adjusted Free Cash Flow$102,265 $92,527 


NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND RECONCILIATION
NET DEBT
(In Thousands)December 31, 2023December 31, 2022
Debt$193,963 $242,413 
Cash and Cash Equivalents(59,035)(27,716)
Net Debt$134,928 $214,697 
1.The Company's financial results do not include the results of BrandsMart U.S.A. prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition.
17


NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND RECONCILIATION
2024 CURRENT OUTLOOK FOR ADJUSTED EBITDA1

Fiscal Year 2024 Ranges
(In Thousands)
Aaron’s BusinessBrandsMartConsolidated Total
Projected Net (Loss) Earnings
$(12,000) - $0
Income Taxes
0 - 4,000
Projected Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes
64,500 - 77,500
(9,500) - (5,500)
(12,000) - 4,000
Interest Expense
15,000 - 16,000
Depreciation and Amortization
73,000 - 75,000
16,500 - 17,500
89,500 - 92,500
Projected EBITDA
137,500 - 152,500
7,000 - 12,000
92,500 - 112,500
Stock-Based Compensation12,500
Projected Adjusted EBITDA
$137,500 - $152,500
$7,000 - $12,000
$105,000 - $125,000


NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND RECONCILIATION
2024 CURRENT OUTLOOK FOR EARNINGS PER SHARE ASSUMING DILUTION
Fiscal Year 2024 Range
LowHigh
Projected (Loss) Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution
$(0.30)$(0.05)
Sum of Other Adjustments1
0.20 0.30 
Projected Non-GAAP (Loss) Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution
$(0.10)$0.25 


NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND RECONCILIATION
2024 CURRENT OUTLOOK FOR ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW

Fiscal Year 2024 Ranges
(In Thousands)
Consolidated Total
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
$100,000 - $115,000
Proceeds from Real Estate Transactions
0 - 10,000
Capital Expenditures
(85,000) - (95,000)
Adjusted Free Cash Flow
$15,000 - $30,000


1.Includes intangible amortization expense resulting from acquisitions.

18
0 Q4 and FY 2023 Earnings Results & 2024 Outlook February 26, 2024 Exhibit 99.2


 
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Statements in this presentation regarding our business that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "believe," "expect," "expectation," "anticipate," "may," "could," "should," "intend," "seek," "estimate," "plan," "target," "project," "likely," "will," "forecast," "future," "outlook," or other similar words, phrases, or expressions. These risks and uncertainties include factors such as (i) changes in the enforcement of existing laws and regulations and the adoption of new laws and regulations that may unfavorably impact our business, and failures to comply with existing or new laws or regulations, including those related to consumer protection, as well as an increased focus on our industry by federal and state regulatory authorities; (ii) our ability to execute on our multi-year strategic plan and achieve the benefits and outcomes we expect, including improving our business, centralizing key processes such as customer lease decisioning and payments, real estate optimization, enhancing our e-commerce platform and digital acquisition channels, enhancing and growing BrandsMart, and optimizing our cost structure; (iii) our ability to attract and retain key personnel; (iv) our ability to manage cybersecurity risks, disruptions or failures in our information technology systems and to protect the security of personal information of our customers and employees; (v) weakening general market and economic conditions, especially as they may affect retail sales, increased interest rates, unemployment and consumer confidence; (vi) the concentration of our stores in certain regions or limited markets; (vii) the current inflationary environment could result in increased labor, raw materials or logistics costs that we are unable to offset or accelerating prices that result in lower lease volumes; (viii) any future potential pandemics, as well as related measures taken by governmental or regulatory authorities to combat the pandemic; (ix) business disruptions due to political and economic instability resulting from global conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and related economic sanctions and the conflict in Israel, Palestine and surrounding areas, as well as domestic civil unrest; (x) challenges faced by our business, including commoditization of consumer electronics, our high fixed-cost operating model and the ongoing labor shortage; (xi) increased competition from direct-to-consumer and virtual lease-to-own competitors, as well as from traditional and online retailers and other competitors; (xii) increases in lease merchandise write-offs; (xiii) any failure to realize the benefits expected from the acquisition of BrandsMart, including projected synergies; (xiv) the acquisition of BrandsMart may create risks and uncertainties which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations; (xv) our ability to successfully acquire and integrate businesses and to realize the projected results and expected benefits of acquisitions or strategic transactions; (xvi) our ability to maintain or improve market share in the categories in which we operate despite heightened competitive pressure; (xvii) our ability to improve operations and realize cost savings; and (xviii) the other risks and uncertainties discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and from time to time in documents that we file with the SEC. Statements in this presentation that are “forward-looking” include without limitation statements about: (i) the execution of our key strategic priorities; (ii) the growth and other benefits we expect from executing those priorities; (iii) our financial performance outlook; and (iv) the Company’s goals, plans, expectations, and projections regarding the expected benefits of the BrandsMart acquisition. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this presentation. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date of this presentation. 1


 
“In response to ongoing pressure in our key product categories at Aaron's and BrandsMart during 2023, we took strong actions to drive demand and reduce costs. In Q4, we launched a new omnichannel lease decisioning and customer acquisition program, which led to robust e-commerce growth that has continued into 2024. Also, I'm pleased that we exceeded our cost savings target in 2023, and we remain focused on driving further efficiencies. While the lower lease portfolio size to start the year will impact adjusted earnings in 2024, we expect our actions will generate lease portfolio growth. Given the investments we've made to innovate our business and the strength of our balance sheet, we are better positioned than ever to drive long-term profitable growth. Our management team and Board are highly engaged and committed to taking actions that will deliver additional value for our shareholders." Douglas Lindsay CEO, The Aaron’s Company, Inc. CEO Comments 2


 
Key Themes 3 ▪ Delivered FY 2023 consolidated company revenues in line with the revised outlook we provided on October 23, 2023, and consolidated adjusted earnings below our outlook ▪ Aaron’s Business launched a new omnichannel lease decisioning and customer acquisition program in Q4, which led to 60% YoY growth in e-commerce recurring revenue written in Q4 and significant additional growth so far in Q1 2024 ▪ Aaron’s Business grew lease merchandise deliveries 1.4% YoY in Q4, with high single digit growth so far in Q1 2024 ▪ BrandsMart comparable sales decreased 14.0% in Q4, a sequential improvement of 300 basis points ▪ Delivered over $40 million in company-wide costs savings in 2023, exceeding the high end of our target, with additional cost actions taken in Q1 2024 ▪ Reduced net debt in 2023 by ~$80 million (~37%) and delivered adjusted free cash flow up ~11% YoY ▪ Provided full year 2024 outlook which reflects a lower lease portfolio size to begin the year followed by mid single digit growth to end the year in the Aaron’s Business, as well as expected improvements in demand in the second half of the year at BrandsMart


 
4 Q4 Highlights


 
Consolidated Q4 2023 Results of Operations1 5 Three Months Ended December 31, Variance ($ in Thousands, except per share) 2023 2022 $ % or bps Revenues Consolidated $ 529,479 $ 589,584 $ (60,105) (10.2) % Aaron's Business 369,195 404,262 (35,067) (8.7) % BrandsMart 164,087 187,682 (23,595) (12.6) % Gross Profit Consolidated $ 269,445 $ 285,932 $ (16,487) (5.8) % Aaron's Business 231,746 248,642 (16,896) (6.8) % BrandsMart 38,032 37,449 583 1.6 % Gross Profit Margin % Consolidated 50.9% 48.5% -- 240 bps Aaron's Business 62.8% 61.5% -- 130 bps BrandsMart 23.2% 20.0% -- 320 bps Net Loss Consolidated $ (12,355) $ (5,854) $ (6, 501) nmf Adjusted EBITDA2,3 Consolidated $ 22,363 $ 29,893 $ (7,530) (25.2) % Aaron's Business 33,773 36,151 (2,378) (6.6) % BrandsMart 969 5,338 (4,369) (81.8) % Adjusted EBITDA Margin % Consolidated 4.2% 5.1% -- (90) bps Aaron's Business 9.1% 8.9% -- 20 bps BrandsMart 0.6% 2.8% -- (220) bps (Loss) Earnings Per Share Diluted Loss Per Share4 $ (0.41) $ (0.19) $ (0.22) nmf Non-GAAP Diluted (Loss) Earnings Per Share2 $ (0.26) $ 0.09 $ (0.35) nmf Cash Flow Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ 31,308 $ 46,561 $ (15,253) (32.8) % Adjusted Free Cash Flow2 $ 15,874 $ 24,653 $ (8,779) (35.6) % 1. Consolidated totals include unallocated corporate costs and intersegment elimination amounts 2. Non-GAAP reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA, EPS, and adjusted free cash flow are included in the Appendix 3. Beginning in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. For comparability purposes, the prior period results for the three months ended December 31, 2022 shown in the table above have been restated to also exclude stock-based compensation expense 4.For the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the GAAP Weighted Average Shares Outstanding had no dilutive effect due to the net loss incurred in the periods


 
The Aaron’s Company – Consolidated Q4 Highlights1 6 Revenues Adjusted EBITDA Non-GAAP Diluted EPS Adjusted Free Cash Flow • Revenues decreased YoY primarily due to lower lease revenues and fees at the Aaron's Business and lower retail sales at BrandsMart • Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin decreased YoY primarily due to lower revenues at both business segments ‒ Partially offset by lower personnel costs and lower write-offs at the Aaron's Business • Non-GAAP diluted EPS decreased YoY as a result of lower earnings before taxes and higher tax expense • Adjusted free cash flow decreased YoY primarily due to higher inventory purchases to meet increased demand in Q4 2023, partially offset by additional proceeds from real estate transactions as compared to Q4 2022 Highlights $589.6M $529.5M Q4 2022 Q4 2023 -10.2% $29.9M $22.4M Q4 2022 Q4 2023 -25.2% $0.09 -$0.26 Q4 2022 Q4 2023 nmf $24.7M $15.9M Q4 2022 Q4 2023 -35.6% Margin % 5.1% 4.2% 1. Non-GAAP reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA, EPS, and adjusted free cash flow are included in the Appendix


 
Aaron’s Business Q4 Highlights 7 Revenues Adjusted EBITDA1 Lease Portfolio Size Lease Renewal Rate • Revenues decreased YoY primarily due to a smaller lease portfolio size and lower lease renewal rate; the lower lease renewal rate primarily resulted from an increasing mix of e-commerce agreements written into the portfolio ‒ E-commerce revenues increased 10.4% YoY, representing 20.6% of lease revenues • Provision for lease merchandise write- offs was 6.5% as compared to 7.1% in the prior year quarter, as a result of the lease decisioning enhancements implemented in prior quarters • Adjusted EBITDA decreased YoY, primarily due to a smaller lease portfolio size and a lower lease renewal rate, partially offset by lower operating expenses, including lower write-offs, and a gain on real estate transactions Highlights $404.3M $369.2M Q4 2022 Q4 2023 -8.7% $36.2M $33.8M Q4 2022 Q4 2023 -6.6% $126.5M $117.7M Q4 2022 Q4 2023 -7.0% 85.8% 85.2% Q4 2022 Q4 2023 -60 bps Margin % 8.9% 9.1% 1. Adjusted EBITDA does not include unallocated corporate expenses; non-GAAP reconciliations are included in the Appendix


 
Aaron’s Business Q4 Highlights – E-commerce & GenNext Store Strategy 8 % of Lease Revenues 16.7% 20.6% Q4 2022 Q4 2023 +10.4% 25.1% 32.4% Q4 2022 Q4 2023 Q4 2022 Q4 2023 +60.0% 195 245 16 Q4 2022 9 Q4 2023 211 254 Opened in the Quarter Q4’23 Initial Count Q4’22 Initial Count E-commerce Highlights GenNext Store Highlights Recurring Revenue Written1 Revenues % of Revenues2 GenNext Store Count 1. Monthly recurring revenue written into the portfolio resulting from new lease agreements 2. As a percent of lease and retail revenues; excludes GenNext stores open less than one month


 
Aaron’s Business Q4 Highlights – Non-Renewal Rates & Write-offs1 9 32+ Day Non-Renewal Rate2 Lease Merchandise Write-offs3 1. Based on open stores at the end of the respective period 2. Customers 32+ days non-renewed (i.e., customer did not make renewal payment or return product) at the end of the applicable quarter divided by the customer count at the beginning of the quarter-end month 3. Provision for lease merchandise write-offs as a percentage of lease revenues and fees, the largest component of which is charge-offs • 32+ day non-renewal rate flat YoY from Q4 2022 (2.7% vs. 2.7%) ‒ Sequential increase of 10 bps from Q3 2023 (2.7% vs. 2.6%) • Lease merchandise write-offs improved 60 bps YoY from Q4 2022 (6.5% vs. 7.1%) ‒ Sequential increase of 40 bps from Q3 2023 (6.5% vs. 6.1%) ‒ YoY improvement primarily due to lease decisioning enhancements made in prior quarters • Expect lower renewal rate and higher write-offs in 2024 as a result of increasing mix of e-commerce agreements Highlights 1.6% 2.4% 2.9% 2.7% 1.6% 2.5% 2.6% 2.7% 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 5.4% 5.7% 7.5% 7.1% 5.4% 5.4% 6.1% 6.5% 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2022 2023 2022 2023


 
BrandsMart Q4 Highlights 10 Revenues Gross Profit Adjusted EBITDA2 Product Mix3 • Revenues decreased YoY driven primarily by ongoing weaker customer traffic and customer trade down to lower priced products across major categories ‒ Average transaction value decreased 6.5% YoY ‒ E-commerce product sales were 9.8% of total product sales, down from 10.5% in the prior year quarter ‒ Revenues in Q4 2023 included sales from the new store in Augusta, GA • Gross profit margin % increased YoY primarily due to lower inventory loss reserves in Q4 2023 and accounting adjustments related to the acquisition in Q4 2022, offset by lower product margin in Q4 2023 • Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin % decreased YoY primarily due to lower retail sales, offset by benefits of direct procurement savings, strategic pricing actions, and cost controls Highlights $187.7M $164.1M Q4 2022 Q4 2023 -12.6% $5.3M $1.0M Q4 2022 Q4 2023 -81.8% Margin % 2.8% 0.6% $37.4M $38.0M Q4 2022 Q4 2023 +1.6% Margin % 20.0% 23.2% 1. Results prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition are not included; therefore, Comparable Sales results are not available 2. Adjusted EBITDA does not include unallocated corporate expenses; non-GAAP reconciliations are included in the Appendix 3. Based on merchandise product sales posted in Q4 2023; excludes warranty, installation, delivery, and other service revenues 47% 42% 8% Major Appliances Electronics 3% Furniture & Mattresses Other Comparable Sales YoY n/a1 (14.0%)


 
11 FY 2023 Highlights


 
Consolidated FY 2023 Results of Operations1,2 12 Year Ended December 31, Variance ($ in Thousands, except per share) 2023 2022 $ % or bps Revenues Consolidated $ 2,139,890 $ 2,249,434 $ (109,544) (4.9) % Aaron's Business 1,546,473 1,703,503 (157,030) (9.2) % BrandsMart 604,413 552,465 51,948 9.4 % Gross Profit Consolidated $ 1,119,319 $ 1,161,773 $ (42,454) (3.7) % Aaron's Business 976,547 1,061,266 (84,719) (8.0) % BrandsMart 143,660 101,364 42,296 41.7 % Gross Profit Margin % Consolidated 52.3% 51.6% -- 70 bps Aaron's Business 63.1% 62.3% -- 80 bps BrandsMart 23.8% 18.3% -- 550 bps Net Earnings (Loss) Consolidated $ 2,823 $ (5,280) $ 8,103 nmf Adjusted EBITDA3,4 Consolidated $ 135,954 $ 177,117 $ (41,163) (23.2) % Aaron's Business 174,262 196,553 (22,291) (11.3) % BrandsMart 9,215 22,423 (13,208) (58.9) % Adjusted EBITDA Margin % Consolidated 6.4% 7.9% -- (150) bps Aaron's Business 11.3% 11.5% -- (20) bps BrandsMart 1.5% 4.1% -- (260) bps Earnings (Loss) Per Share Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share $ 0.09 $ (0.17) $ 0.26 nmf Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share3 $ 0.81 $ 2.07 $ (1.26) (60.9) % Cash Flow Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ 180,414 $ 170,432 $ 9,982 5.9 % Adjusted Free Cash Flow3 $ 102,265 $ 92,527 $ 9,738 10.5 % 1. Consolidated totals include unallocated corporate costs and intersegment elimination amounts 2. BrandsMart results prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition are not included 3. Non-GAAP reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA, EPS, and adjusted free cash flow are included in the Appendix 4.Beginning in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. For comparability purposes, the prior period results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 shown in the table above have been restated to also exclude stock-based compensation expense


 
The Aaron’s Company – Consolidated FY 2023 Highlights1,2 13 Revenues Adjusted EBITDA Non-GAAP Diluted EPS Adjusted Free Cash Flow • Revenues decreased YoY primarily due to lower lease revenues and fees and lower retail and non-retail sales at the Aaron's Business, as well as lower retail sales at BrandsMart • Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin decreased YoY primarily due to lower revenues at both business segments ‒ Partially offset by lower personnel costs and lower write-offs at the Aaron's Business • Non-GAAP diluted EPS decreased YoY as a result of lower earnings before taxes, partially offset by lower tax expense • Adjusted free cash flow increased YoY primarily due to lower inventory purchases reflecting the demand environment in both business segments and improvements in working capital management Highlights 2022 2023 $2.25B $2.14B -4.9% $177.1M $136.0M 2022 2023 -23.2% $2.07 $0.81 2022 2023 -60.9% $92.5M $102.3M 2022 2023 +10.5% Margin % 7.9% 6.4% 1. Consolidated results for 2022 include the results of BrandsMart subsequent to the April 1, 2022 acquisition date; financial results for all periods prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition do not include BrandsMart 2. Non-GAAP reconciliations of adjusted EBITDA, EPS, and adjusted free cash flow are included in the Appendix


 
Aaron’s Business FY 2023 Highlights 14 Revenues Adjusted EBITDA1 Lease Portfolio Size Lease Renewal Rate • Revenues decreased YoY primarily due to a smaller lease portfolio size, lower lease renewal rate, fewer exercises of early purchase options, and lower retail sales ‒ E-commerce revenues increased 6.6% YoY, representing 18.7% of lease revenues • Provision for lease merchandise write- offs was 5.8% as compared to 6.4% in the prior year quarter, primarily due to lease decisioning enhancements • Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin decreased YoY, primarily due to lower revenues YoY, partially offset by higher gross profit margin and lower personnel, other operating, and write-off expenses Highlights 2022 2023 $1.70B $1.55B -9.2% 2022 2023 $196.6M $174.3M -11.3% $126.5M $117.7M 2022 2023 -7.0% 87.5% 87.1% 2022 2023 -40 bps Margin % 11.5% 11.3% 1. Adjusted EBITDA does not include unallocated corporate expenses; non-GAAP reconciliations are included in the Appendix


 
Aaron’s Business FY 2023 Highlights – E-commerce & GenNext Store Strategy 15 % of Lease Revenues 15.9% 18.7% 2022 2023 +6.6% 19.7% 29.7% 2022 2023 2022 2023 +12.1% 116 211 95 2022 43 2023 211 254 Opened in the Year 2023 Initial Count 2022 Initial Count E-commerce Highlights GenNext Store Highlights Recurring Revenue Written1 Revenues % of Revenues2 GenNext Store Count 1. Monthly recurring revenue written into the portfolio resulting from new lease agreements 2. As a percent of lease and retail revenues; excludes GenNext stores open less than one month


 
BrandsMart FY 2023 Highlights 16 Revenues Gross Profit Adjusted EBITDA2 Product Mix3 • Revenues decreased YoY driven primarily by ongoing weaker customer traffic and customer trade down to lower priced products across major categories ‒ Average transaction value decreased 7.7% YoY ‒ E-commerce product sales were 9.1% of total product sales, down from 9.6% in the prior year • Gross profit margin % increased YoY primarily due to a one-time non-cash charge for a fair value adjustment to merchandise inventories of $23.1 million that occurred in 2022, in addition to ongoing strategic pricing and procurement initiatives • Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin % decreased YoY primarily due to lower retail sales and higher personnel expenses and other operating expenses in 2023 Highlights 2022 2023 $552.5M $604.4M +9.4% 2022 2023 $22.4M $9.2M -58.9% Margin % 4.1% 1.5% $101.4M $143.7M 2022 2023 +41.7% Margin % 18.3% 23.8% 1. Results prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition are not included; therefore, Comparable Sales results are not available 2. Adjusted EBITDA does not include unallocated corporate expenses; non-GAAP reconciliations are included in the Appendix 3. Based on merchandise product sales posted in 2023; excludes warranty, installation, delivery, and other service revenues 53% 36% 7% Major AppliancesElectronics 4% Furniture & Mattresses Other Comparable Sales YoY1 n/a n/a


 
17 Balance Sheet and Outlook


 
$390.0 million $3.8 million (Q4)3 $21.5 million (2023)4 $194.0 million Balance Sheet and Shareholder Returns Debt (As of 12/31/23) Liquidity2 (As of 12/31/23) Shareholder Returns 18 1. Non-GAAP reconciliation of net debt is included in the Appendix 2. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $59.0 million of cash and $331.0 million of availability under its $375.0 million revolving credit facility; on February 23, 2024, the Company entered into an amendment to the revolving credit facility agreement, information for which can be found in the Form 8-K filed on February 26, 2024 3. For the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid $3.8 million in dividends and repurchased 1,945 shares of common stock for $16 thousand 4.For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid $15.0 million in dividends and repurchased 608,007 shares of common stock for $6.5 million $59.0 million Cash and Cash Equivalents (As of 12/31/23) Company reduced net debt1 by $79.8 million YoY from the end of 2022, a reduction of 37%


 
2024 Outlook1 19 Low High Revenues $2,055.0 million $2,155.0 million Net (Loss) Earnings $(12.0) million $0.0 million Adjusted EBITDA $105.0 million $125.0 million Diluted EPS $(0.30) $(0.05) Non-GAAP Diluted EPS $(0.10) $0.25 Cash Provided by Operating Activities $100.0 million $115.0 million Capital Expenditures $85.0 million $95.0 million Adjusted Free Cash Flow $15.0 million $30.0 million Revenues $1,460.0 million $1,520.0 million Earnings Before Income Taxes $64.5 million $77.5 million Adjusted EBITDA $137.5 million $152.5 million Revenues $610.0 million $650.0 million Loss Before Income Taxes $(9.5) million $(5.5) million Adjusted EBITDA $7.0 million $12.0 million Consolidated Aaron’s Business BrandsMart 1. See the “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information” section included in the Appendix; Consolidated totals include unallocated corporate costs and intersegment elimination amounts The outlook below assumes no significant deterioration in the current retail environment, state of the U.S. economy, or global supply chain, as compared to its current condition.


 
2024 Priorities 20 Transform the Aaron’s Business Enhance and Grow BrandsMart Optimize Cost Structure • Grow e-commerce • Expand omnichannel customer acquisition programs • Enhance lease decisioning & digital platforms • Invest in market optimization • Expand to new markets • Grow e-commerce • Invest in enhanced customer payment and financing programs • Capture transaction synergies • Rationalize store labor, store support center personnel, and other overhead • Drive supply chain efficiencies • Reduce real estate and third party spend


 
Overview of Capital Allocation Strategy 21 ▪ Invest in Aaron’s and BrandsMart Growth Initiatives ▪ Maintain Conservative Leverage Profile (1.0x – 1.5x Net Debt-to-Adjusted EBITDA) ▪ Return Capital to Shareholders through Dividends and Share Repurchases ▪ Evaluate Acquisitions on an Opportunistic Basis 1 2 3 4


 
Key Takeaways 22 • 2023 earnings challenged by demand headwinds leading to lower portfolio size to begin 2024 • Innovation through new omnichannel lease decisioning and customer acquisition program delivering strong start to 2024 • Exceeded 2023 cost savings target with additional actions in 2024 • Strong financial foundation and healthy balance sheet – Adjusted free cash flow exceeded high end of revised outlook by ~28% in 2023 – Net debt down ~37% YoY at year-end 2023 – Low leverage profile with net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA less than 1.0x • Management team and Board committed to taking actions to deliver value for shareholders


 
23 Appendix


 
24 Company Store Count By Ownership Type Company-Operated Aaron’s Stores by Type (Unaudited) As of December 31, 2023 2022 Company-operated Aaron’s Stores1 1,019 1,034 GenNext (included in Company-Operated) 254 211 Franchisee-operated Aaron’s Stores 224 232 BrandsMart U.S.A. Stores2 11 10 Systemwide Stores 1,254 1,276 (Unaudited) As of December 31, 2023 GenNext Legacy Total Store 186 605 791 Hub 58 56 114 Showroom 10 104 114 Total 254 765 1,019 1. The typical layout for a Company-operated Aaron's store is a combination of showroom, customer service and warehouse space, generally comprising 6,000 to 15,000 square feet. Certain Company- operated Aaron's stores consist solely of a showroom. 2. BrandsMart U.S.A. stores average approximately 96,000 square feet and have been included in this table subsequent to the acquisition date of April 1, 2022.


 
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information Non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, adjusted free cash flow, net debt, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of our performance that are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for 2023 exclude certain charges including amortization expense resulting from acquisitions, restructuring charges, separation costs associated with the separation and distribution transaction that resulted in our spin-off into a separate publicly-traded company and acquisition-related costs. Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for 2022 exclude certain charges including amortization expense resulting from acquisitions, restructuring charges and separation costs associated with the separation and distribution transaction that resulted in our spin-off into a separate publicly-traded company, acquisition-related costs, a goodwill impairment charge recognized for the Aaron's Business reporting unit, and a one time non-cash charge for a fair value adjustment to merchandise inventories. The amounts for these pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments, which are tax-effected using estimated tax rates which are commensurate with non-GAAP pre-tax earnings, can be found in the Reconciliation of Net Earnings and Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution to non-GAAP Net Earnings and non-GAAP Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution table in this presentation. Beginning in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. For comparability purposes, the prior period adjusted EBITDA results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 shown in the table below has been restated to also exclude stock-based compensation expense. The EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA figures presented in this presentation are calculated as the Company’s earnings before interest expense, depreciation on property, plant and equipment, amortization of intangible assets and income taxes. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes the other adjustments described in the calculation of non-GAAP net earnings above. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue. The amounts for these pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments can be found in the Quarterly EBITDA table in this presentation. Management believes that non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA provide relevant and useful information, and are widely used by analysts, investors and competitors in our industry as well as by our management in assessing both consolidated and business unit performance. Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share provide management and investors with an understanding of the results from the primary operations of our business by excluding the effects of certain items that generally arise from larger, one-time transactions that are not reflective of the ordinary earnings activity of our operations. This measure may be useful to an investor in evaluating the underlying operating performance of our business. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA also provide management and investors with an understanding of one aspect of earnings before the impact of investing and financing charges and income taxes. These measures may be useful to an investor in evaluating our operating performance and liquidity because the measures: • Are widely used by investors to measure a company’s operating performance without regard to items excluded from the calculation of such measure, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods, book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired, among other factors. • Are a financial measurement that is used by rating agencies, lenders and other parties to evaluate our creditworthiness. • Are used by our management for various purposes, including as a measure of performance of our operating entities and as a basis for strategic planning and forecasting. The adjusted free cash flow figures presented in this presentation are calculated as the Company’s cash flows provided by operating activities, adjusted for acquisition-related transaction costs and proceeds from real estate transactions, less capital expenditures. Management believes that adjusted free cash flow is an important measure of liquidity, provides relevant and useful information, and is widely used by analysts, investors and competitors in our industry as well as by our management team in assessing liquidity. Net debt represents total debt less cash and cash equivalents. Management believes that net debt is an important measure of liquidity, provides relevant and useful information, and is widely used by analysts, investors and competitors in our industry as well as by our management team in assessing liquidity. Non-GAAP financial measures, however, should not be used as a substitute for, or considered superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as the Company’s GAAP basis net earnings and diluted earnings per share, the Company’s GAAP revenues and earnings before income taxes and GAAP cash provided by operating activities, which are also presented in the presentation. Further, we caution investors that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions of non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies, because not all companies and analysts calculate these measures in the same manner. 25


 
26 Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Net Earnings and Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share1 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31, (In Thousands, except per share amounts) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Net (Loss) Earnings $ (12,355) $ (5,854) $ 2,823 $ (5,280) Income Taxes 1,660 (3,767) (3,881) (9,463) (Loss) Earnings Before Income Taxes $ (10,695) $ (9,621) $ (1,058) $ (14,743) Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expense 2,519 2,652 10,348 8,953 Restructuring Expenses, Net 2,777 8,870 15,597 32,717 Separation Costs 38 214 201 1,204 Non-Cash Inventory Fair Value Adjustment — — — 23,074 Acquisition-Related Costs 551 1,460 3,638 14,616 Impairment of Goodwill — — — 12,933 Non-GAAP (Loss) Earnings Before Income Taxes (4,810) 3,575 28, 726 78,754 Income Taxes, calculated using a non-GAAP Effective Tax Rate 2,969 752 3,582 13,998 Non-GAAP Net (Loss) Earnings $ (7,779) $ 2,823 $ 25,144 $ 64,756 (Loss) Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution $ (0.41) $ (0.19) $ 0.09 $ (0.17) Acquisition-Related Intangible Amortization Expense 0.08 0.09 0.33 0.29 Restructuring Expenses, Net 0.09 0.29 0.50 1.05 Separation Costs — 0.01 0.01 0.04 Non-Cash Inventory Fair Value Adjustment — — — 0.74 Acquisition-Related Costs 0.02 0.05 0.12 0.47 Impairment of Goodwill — — — 0.41 Tax Effect of Non-GAAP adjustments (0.04) (0.15) (0.24) (0.75) Non-GAAP (Loss) Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution2 $ (0.26) $ 0.09 $ 0.81 $ 2.07 Weighted Average Shares Outstanding Assuming Dilution3 30,447 31,096 31,105 31,303 1. The Company's financial results do not include the results of BrandsMart U.S.A. prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition 2. In some cases, the sum of individual EPS amounts may not equal total non-GAAP EPS calculations due to rounding 3. For the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the GAAP weighted average shares outstanding were 30,447 and 30,763, which had no dilutive effect due to the net GAAP loss incurred in both periods; the non-GAAP weighted average shares outstanding assuming dilution were 30,447 and 31,096 during those same periods.


 
Reconciliation to Quarterly Adjusted EBITDA by Segment 27 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, 2023 Three Months Ended December 31, 2022 (In Thousands) Aaron’s Business BrandsMart Unallocated Corporate Elimination1 Total Aaron’s Business BrandsMart Unallocated Corporate Elimination1 Total Net Loss $ (12,355) $ (5,854) Income Taxes 1,660 (3,767) Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes $ 14,832 $ (2,809) $ (22,468) $ (250) $ (10,695) $ 17,046 $ 1,793 $ (28,365) $ (95) $ (9,621) Interest Expense — — 3,788 — 3,788 — — 3,911 — 3,911 Depreciation 18,648 1,552 210 — 20,410 18,504 1,415 222 — 20,141 Amortization 293 2,226 — — 2,519 601 2,130 — — 2,731 EBITDA $ 33,773 $ 969 $ (18,470) $ (250) $ 16,022 $ 36,151 $ 5,338 $ (24,232) $ (95) $ 17,162 Separation Costs — — 38 — 38 — — 214 — 214 Restructuring Expenses, Net — — 2,777 — 2,777 — — 8,870 — 8,870 Acquisition-Related Costs — — 551 — 551 — — 1,460 — 1,460 Stock-Based Compensation2 — — 2,975 — 2,975 — — 2,187 — 2,187 Adjusted EBITDA $ 33,773 $ 969 $ (12,129) $ (250) $ 22,363 $ 36,151 $ 5,338 $ (11,501) $ (95) $ 29,893 1. Intersegment sales between BrandsMart and the Aaron's Business pertaining to BrandsMart Leasing are recognized at retail prices. Since the intersegment profit affects sales, cost of goods sold, depreciation and inventory valuation, they are adjusted when intersegment profit is eliminated in consolidation 2. Beginning in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. For comparability purposes, the prior period results for the three months ended December 31, 2022 shown in the table above have been restated to also exclude stock-based compensation expense


 
Reconciliation to Twelve Months Adjusted EBITDA by Segment1 28 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Year Ended December 31, 2023 Year Ended December 31, 2022 (In Thousands) Aaron’s Business BrandsMart Unallocated Corporate Elimination2 Total Aaron’s Business BrandsMart Unallocated Corporate Elimination2 Total Net Earnings (Loss) $ 2,823 $ (5,280) Income Taxes (3,881) (9,463) Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes $ 99,041 $ (5,029) $ (94,416) $ (654) $ (1,058) $ 122,220 $ (11,171) $ (125,021) $ (771) $ (14,743) Interest Expense — — 15,512 — 15,512 — — 9,875 — 9,875 Depreciation 73,778 5,339 876 — 79,993 71,682 3,841 1,230 — 76,753 Amortization 1,443 8,905 — — 10,348 2,651 6,679 — — 9,330 EBITDA $ 174,262 $ 9,215 $ (78,028) $ (654) $ 104,795 $ 196,553 $ (651) $ (113,916) $ (771) $ 81,215 Separation Costs — — 201 — 201 — — 1,204 — 1,204 Restructuring Expenses, Net — — 15,597 — 15,597 — — 32,717 — 32,717 Impairment of Goodwill — — — — — — — 12,933 — 12,933 Acquisition-Related Costs — — 3,638 — 3,638 — — 14,616 — 14,616 Non-Cash Inventory Fair Value Adjustment — — — — — — 23,074 — — 23,074 Stock-Based Compensation3 — — 11,723 — 11,723 — — 11,358 — 11,358 Adjusted EBITDA $ 174,262 $ 9,215 $ (46,869) $ (654) $ 135,954 $ 196,553 $ 22,423 $ (41,088) $ (771) $ 177,117 1. The Company's financial results do not include the results of BrandsMart U.S.A. prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition 2. Intersegment sales between BrandsMart and the Aaron's Business pertaining to BrandsMart Leasing are recognized at retail prices. Since the intersegment profit affects sales, cost of goods sold, depreciation and inventory valuation, they are adjusted when intersegment profit is eliminated in consolidation 3. Beginning in 2023, adjusted EBITDA excludes stock-based compensation expense. For comparability purposes, the prior period results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 shown in the table above have been restated to also exclude stock-based compensation expense


 
Reconciliation to Adjusted Free Cash Flow1 29 Reconciliation to Net Debt (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31, (In Thousands) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ 31,308 $ 46,561 $ 180,414 $ 170,432 Proceeds from Real Estate Transactions 9,429 1,600 11,092 16,519 Acquisition-Related Transaction Costs 625 777 5,174 13,556 Capital Expenditures (25,488) (24,285) (94,415) (107,980) Adjusted Free Cash Flow $ 15,874 $ 24,653 $ 102,265 $ 92,527 1. The Company's financial results do not include the results of BrandsMart U.S.A. prior to the April 1, 2022 acquisition (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, Three Months Ended December 31, (In Thousands) 2023 2022 Debt $ 193,963 $ 242,413 Cash and Cash Equivalents (59,035) (27,716) Net Debt $ 134,928 $ 214,697


 
Fiscal Year 2024 Ranges (In Thousands) Aaron’s Business BrandsMart Consolidated Total Projected Net (Loss) Earnings $(12,000) - $0 Income Taxes 0 - 4,000 Projected Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes 64,500 - 77,500 (9,500) - (5,500) (12,000) - 4,000 Interest Expense — — 15,000 - 16,000 Depreciation and Amortization 73,000 - 75,000 16,500 - 17,500 89,500 - 92,500 Projected EBITDA 137,500 - 152,500 7,000 - 12,000 92,500 - 112,500 Stock-Based Compensation — — 12,500 Projected Adjusted EBITDA $137,500 - $152,500 $7,000 - $12,000 $105,000 - $125,000 Fiscal Year 2024 Ranges Low High Projected (Loss) Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution $(0.30) $(0.05) Sum of Other Adjustments1 0.20 0.30 Projected Non-GAAP (Loss) Earnings Per Share Assuming Dilution $(0.10) $0.25 30 Reconciliation to 2024 Current Outlook for Adjusted EBITDA Fiscal Year 2024 Ranges (In Thousands) Consolidated Total Cash Provided by Operating Activities $100,000 - $115,000 Proceeds from Real Estate Transactions 0 - 10,000 Capital Expenditures (85,000) – (95,000) Adjusted Free Cash Flow $15,000 - $30,000 Reconciliation to 2024 Current Outlook for Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share Reconciliation to 2024 Current Outlook for Adjusted Free Cash Flow 1. Includes intangible amortization expense resulting from acquisitions


 
31 investor.aarons.com


 
Exhibit 99.3
image_0c.jpg        
                                                            
Aaron's Directors Declare Cash Dividend    

ATLANTA, February 26, 2024 – The Aaron’s Company, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions, today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share and declared such dividend payable on April 3, 2024, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 14, 2024.

About The Aaron’s Company, Inc.    
Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron’s Company, Inc. is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods across its brands: Aaron’s, BrandsMart U.S.A, BrandsMart Leasing, and Woodhaven. Aaron's offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,240 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart U.S.A. is one of the leading appliance retailers in the country with 11 retail stores in Florida and Georgia, as well as its e-commerce platform. BrandsMart Leasing offers lease-to-own solutions to customers of BrandsMart U.S.A. Woodhaven is the Company’s furniture manufacturing division. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, aarons.com, and brandsmartusa.com. 


Investor Relations Contact: Call: 678-402-3590, Email: InvestorRelations@aarons.com
Media Relations Contact: Call: 678-402-3591, Email: MediaRelations@aarons.com

                    ###

v3.24.0.1
Document and Entity Information Document
Feb. 26, 2024
Cover [Abstract]  
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Feb. 26, 2024
Entity Registrant Name THE AARON'S COMPANY, INC.
Entity Central Index Key 0001821393
Amendment Flag false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code GA
Entity File Number 1-39681
Entity Tax Identification Number 85-2483376
Entity Address, Address Line One 400 Galleria Parkway SE
Entity Address, City or Town Atlanta
Entity Address, State or Province GA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 30339-3194
City Area Code 678
Local Phone Number 402-3000
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, $0.50 Par Value
Trading Symbol AAN
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company false
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 300

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