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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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): September 27, 2023

 

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-09305   43-1273600

(State of

incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

501 N. Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2188

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(314) 342-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of Each Exchange

on Which Registered

Common Stock, $0.15 par value per share   SF   New York Stock Exchange
Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.25% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B   SF-PB   New York Stock Exchange
Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.125% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C   SF-PC   New York Stock Exchange
Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D   SF-PD   New York Stock Exchange
5.20% Senior Notes due 2047   SFB   New York Stock Exchange

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))

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.

The information set forth in Item 2.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K 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.

On September 27, 2023, Stifel Financial Corp. (“Stifel”) and Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (“Stifel Nicolaus, and together with Stifel, the “Borrowers”) entered into an unsecured credit agreement with a syndicate of lenders led by Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Credit Agreement”). Concurrently with, and conditional upon, the effectiveness of the Credit Agreement, all of the commitments under the Borrowers existing $500.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility agreement were terminated.

The Credit Agreement has a maturity date of September 27, 2028, and provides for a committed unsecured borrowing facility for maximum aggregate borrowings of up to $750.0 million depending on the amount of outstanding borrowings of the Borrowers from time to time during the duration of the Credit Agreement. The interest rates on borrowings under the Credit Agreement are variable and based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate.

The Borrowers can draw upon this line as long as certain restrictive covenants are maintained. Under the Credit Agreement, the Borrowers are required to maintain compliance with a minimum consolidated tangible net worth covenant, as defined, and a maximum consolidated total capitalization ratio covenant, as defined. In addition, Stifel Nicolaus is required to maintain compliance with a minimum regulatory excess net capital percentage covenant, as defined, and Stifel’s bank subsidiaries are required to maintain their status as well-capitalized, as defined.

Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default, the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement may be accelerated and the lending commitments thereunder terminated. The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default, including, without limitation, payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to similar obligations, certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, change of control, and judgment defaults.

The Borrowers are required to use the proceeds from the Credit Agreement for working capital, short-term operating needs and general corporate purposes.

The foregoing summary of the Credit Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Credit Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits. The following are filed as exhibits to this report.

 

Exhibit
No.
   Description
10.1    Credit Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2023, among Stifel Financial Corp. and Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, the Lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A. *
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

*

Pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K, certain exhibits and schedules have been omitted. The registrant hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any omitted exhibit or schedule to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

2


SIGNATURE

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.

 

            STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.
            (Registrant)
Date: September 28, 2023     By:  

/s/ James M. Marischen

    Name:   James M. Marischen
    Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

3

EXHIBIT 10.1

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of September 27, 2023

among

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

and

STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED,

as the Borrowers,

THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,

THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent, a Swingline Lender, and the L/C Issuer,

and

THE OTHER SWINGLINE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

Arranged By:

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.,

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

and

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Co-Syndication Agents


  TABLE OF CONTENTS   
         Page  
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS      1  

1.01

  Defined Terms      1  

1.02

  Other Interpretive Provisions      26  

1.03

  Accounting Terms      27  

1.04

  Rounding      28  

1.05

  Times of Day; Rates      28  

1.06

  Letter of Credit Amounts      28  
ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS      28  

2.01

  Revolving Loans      28  

2.02

  Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans      29  

2.03

  Letters of Credit      30  

2.04

  Swingline Loans      38  

2.05

  Prepayments      41  

2.06

  Termination or Reduction of Aggregate Revolving Commitments      42  

2.07

  Repayment of Loans      42  

2.08

  Interest      42  

2.09

  Fees      43  

2.10

  Computation of Interest and Fees      44  

2.11

  Evidence of Debt      44  

2.12

  Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback      45  

2.13

  Sharing of Payments by Lenders      46  

2.14

  Cash Collateral      47  

2.15

  Defaulting Lenders      48  

2.16

  Incremental Revolving Commitments      50  

2.17

  Several Liability      51  

2.18

  ESG Amendment; Sustainability Coordinator      52  
ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY      52  

3.01

  Taxes      52  

3.02

  Illegality      57  

3.03

  Inability to Determine Rates      57  

3.04

  Increased Costs      59  

3.05

  Compensation for Losses      61  

3.06

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      61  

3.07

  Survival      61  
ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSION      62  

4.01

  Conditions of Initial Credit Extension      62  

4.02

  Conditions to all Credit Extensions      63  
ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      64  

5.01

  Existence, Qualification and Power      64  

5.02

  Authorization; No Contravention      64  

5.03

  Governmental Authorization; Other Consents      64  

5.04

  Binding Effect      65  

5.05

  Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect      65  

 

i


5.06

  Litigation      65  

5.07

  No Default      65  

5.08

  Ownership of Property      66  

5.09

  Insurance      66  

5.10

  Taxes      66  

5.11

  ERISA Compliance      66  

5.12

  Subsidiaries      67  

5.13

  Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      67  

5.14

  Disclosure      67  

5.15

  Compliance with Laws      68  

5.16

  Subordinated Indebtedness      68  

5.17

  Solvency      68  

5.18

  Taxpayer Identification Number      68  

5.19

  OFAC      68  

5.20

  Anti-Corruption Laws      68  

5.21

  No Affected Financial Institution or Covered Entity      68  

5.22

  Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries      69  
ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS      69  

6.01

  Financial Statements      69  

6.02

  Certificates; Other Information      71  

6.03

  Notices      72  

6.04

  Payment of Taxes      73  

6.05

  Preservation of Existence, Etc.      73  

6.06

  Maintenance of Properties      73  

6.07

  Maintenance of Insurance      74  

6.08

  Compliance with Laws      74  

6.09

  Books and Records      74  

6.10

  Registration Status      74  

6.11

  Use of Proceeds      74  

6.12

  ERISA Compliance      74  

6.13

  Regulatory Matters      75  

6.14

  Inspection Rights      75  

6.15

  Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions      75  

6.16

  Capitalization      75  
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS      75  

7.01

  Liens.      75  

7.02

  Investments      77  

7.03

  Indebtedness      78  

7.04

  Fundamental Changes      80  

7.05

  Dispositions      80  

7.06

  Restricted Payments      81  

7.07

  Change in Nature of Business      81  

7.08

  Transactions with Affiliates      81  

7.09

  Burdensome Agreements      81  

7.10

  Use of Proceeds      82  

7.11

  Financial Covenants      82  

7.12

  Subordinated Indebtedness      82  

7.13

  Sanctions      82  

7.14

  Anti-Corruption Laws      82  

 

ii


ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES      83  

8.01

  Events of Default      83  

8.02

  Remedies Upon Event of Default      85  

8.03

  Application of Funds      85  
ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT      86  

9.01

  Appointment and Authority      86  

9.02

  Rights as a Lender      87  

9.03

  Exculpatory Provisions      87  

9.04

  Reliance by Administrative Agent      88  

9.05

  Delegation of Duties      88  

9.06

  Resignation of Administrative Agent      89  

9.07

  Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, Sustainability Coordinator and the Other Lenders      90  

9.08

  No Other Duties; Etc.      91  

9.09

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      91  

9.10

  Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements and Guaranteed Hedge Agreements      92  

9.11

  ERISA Matters      92  

9.12

  Recovery of Erroneous Payments      93  
ARTICLE X. GUARANTY      93  

10.01

  The Guaranty      93  

10.02

  Obligations Unconditional      94  

10.03

  Reinstatement      94  

10.04

  Remedies      95  

10.05

  Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee      95  

10.06

  Keepwell      95  
ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS      95  

11.01

  Amendments, Etc.      95  

11.02

  Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications      97  

11.03

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement      99  

11.04

  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver      100  

11.05

  Payments Set Aside      102  

11.06

  Successors and Assigns      102  

11.07

  Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality      107  

11.08

  Rights of Setoff      108  

11.09

  Interest Rate Limitation      108  

11.10

  Integration; Effectiveness      108  

11.11

  Survival of Representations and Warranties      109  

11.12

  Severability      109  

11.13

  Replacement of Lenders      109  

11.14

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.      110  

11.15

  Waiver of Jury Trial      111  

11.16

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      112  

11.17

  Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts      112  

11.18

  USA PATRIOT Act Notice      113  

11.19

  Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness      113  

11.20

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions      114  

11.21

  Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs      114  

 

iii


SCHEDULES   
 2.01    Commitments and Applicable Percentages; L/C Commitment
 2.03    Existing Letters of Credit
 5.12    Subsidiaries
 5.18    Taxpayer Identification Number
 7.01    Liens Existing on the Closing Date
 7.02    Investments Existing on the Closing Date
 7.03    Indebtedness Existing on the Closing Date
11.02    Certain Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS   
 1.01    Form of Guaranteed Party Designation Notice
 2.02    Form of Loan Notice
 2.04    Form of Swingline Notice
 2.05    Form of Notice of Loan Prepayment
 2.11(a)    Form of Note
 3.01    Forms of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates
 6.02    Form of Compliance Certificate
11.06(b)    Form of Assignment and Assumption

 

iv


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of September 27, 2023 among STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP., a Delaware corporation (“SFC”), STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED, a Missouri corporation (“SNC”; SNC together with SFC, each, a “Borrower” and collectively, the “Borrowers”), the Guarantors party hereto, the Lenders from time to time party hereto, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, a Swingline Lender, and the L/C Issuer, and the other Swingline Lenders from time to time party hereto.

The Borrowers have requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

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

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01 Defined Terms.

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

Acquisition”, by any Person, means the acquisition by such Person, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of either (a) all or any substantial portion of the property of, or a line of business, division of or other business unit of, another Person or (b) at least a majority of the Voting Stock of another Person, in each case whether or not involving a merger or consolidation with such other Person.

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

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

Administrative Questionnaire” means an administrative questionnaire in a form supplied by and approved by the Administrative Agent.

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

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

Aggregate Revolving Commitments” means the Revolving Commitments of all the Lenders. The initial amount of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is $750,000,000, as such amount may be increased, pursuant to Section 2.16.

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.


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

“Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:

 

Pricing Level

  

Debt

Ratings

S&P /Fitch

   Commitment Fee     With respect to Loans made to SFC:     With respect to Loans
made to SNC:
 
  Term SOFR
Loans, Term
SOFR Daily
Floating Rate
Loans, and
Letter of Credit
Fee
    Base Rate
Loans and
Swingline Loans
    Term SOFR
Loans, Term
SOFR Daily
Floating Rate
Loans, and Letter
of Credit Fee
    Base Rate
Loans and
Swingline Loans
 

1

   ≥ A-      0.150     1.250     0.250     1.125     0.125

2

   BBB+      0.175     1.375     0.375     1.250     0.250

3

   BBB      0.225     1.625     0.625     1.500     0.500

4

   BBB-      0.275     1.875     0.875     1.750     0.750

5

   ≤ BB+      0.325     2.250     1.250     2.125     1.125

Notwithstanding the above: (a) if the respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the lowest), (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply, (c) if SFC has only one Debt Rating, the Pricing Level for such Debt Rating shall apply and (d) if SFC does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.

Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the Debt Rating specified in the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(iv). Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section 6.03(e) and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of S&P or Fitch shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrowers and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation.

 

2


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

Arrangers” means each of (a) BofA Securities, Inc. and (b) any other Person designated as a lead arranger, book manager or bookrunner on the cover page of this Agreement or any amendment, modification or supplement of this Agreement.

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

Audited Financial Statements” means (a) the audited consolidated balance sheet of SFC and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, including the notes thereto, and (b) the audited consolidated balance sheet of SNC and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, including the notes thereto.

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

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

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

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

Bank Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of a Person whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (a “Bank”) and any Bank Holding Company (as defined herein) whose parent corporation is SFC. As used herein, the term “Bank Holding Company” shall mean a Subsidiary of SFC which owns a controlling interest in a Bank. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Bank Subsidiary” or to “Bank Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Bank Subsidiary or Bank Subsidiaries of SFC and is intended to include a Bank Holding Company.

Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate”, (c) Term SOFR plus 1.0%, subject to the interest rate floors set forth therein, and (d) 1.0%. The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various

 

3


factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such “prime rate” announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03, then the Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (a), (b), and (d) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, which certification shall be substantially similar in form and substance to the form of Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers published jointly, in May 2018, by the Loan Syndications and Trading Association and Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

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

Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue 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 Internal Revenue Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan”.

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

Borrower” and “Borrowers” each has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

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

2.01 and (b) a borrowing of a Swingline Loan pursuant to Section 2.04, as the context may require.

Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries” any Subsidiary of a Loan Party (unless otherwise specified) that is registered as a broker dealer pursuant to Section 15 of the Exchange Act (as in effect from time to time) or that is regulated as a broker dealer or underwriter under any foreign securities law.

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

Capitalized Lease” of a Person means any lease of Property by such Person as lessee which would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Capitalized Lease Obligations” of a Person means the amount of the obligations of such Person under Capitalized Leases which would be shown as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of one or more of the L/C Issuer or the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of the Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer. “Cash Collateral” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

Cash Equivalents” means, as at any date, (a) 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, (b) Dollar denominated time deposits and certificates of deposit of (i) any Lender, (ii) any domestic commercial bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (iii) 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 270 days from the date of acquisition, (c) 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, (d) repurchase agreements entered into by any Person with a bank or trust company (including any of the Lenders) 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 100% of the amount of the repurchase obligations and (e) 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 subdivisions (a) through (d).

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

Cash Management Bank” means any Person that (a) at the time it enters into a Cash Management Agreement, is a Lender or the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, (b) in the case of any Cash Management Agreement in effect on or prior to the Closing Date, is, as of the Closing Date or within 30 days thereafter, a Lender or the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent and a party to a Cash Management Agreement or (c) within 30 days after the time it enters into the applicable Cash Management Agreement, becomes a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case, in its capacity as a party to such Cash Management Agreement.

Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the Closing Date, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, (b) any change in any Law or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, rule, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) by any Governmental Authority; provided that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in the implementation thereof and (ii) 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 or implemented.

 

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Change of Control” means (a) the acquisition by any Person, or two or more Persons acting in concert, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of 35% or more of the outstanding shares of voting stock of SFC, (b) the occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of SFC by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of SFC nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated or (c) SFC shall cease to own and control, of record and beneficially, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Voting Stock of SNC.

Closing Date” means September 27, 2023.

CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.

Commitment” means, as to each Lender, the Revolving Commitment of such Lender.

Commitment Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09(a).

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

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 6.02.

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

Communication” means this Agreement, any other Loan Document, and any other document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice, certificate, request, statement, disclosure, or authorization related to any Loan Document.

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

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for SFC and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, (a) Indebtedness as of such date, minus (b) Net Mark-to-Market Exposure under Rate Management Transactions and other Financial Contracts as of such date, minus (c) the undrawn face amount of Letters of Credit as of such date, minus (d) Indebtedness consisting of Short Term Loans as of such date.

 

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Consolidated Net Worth” means, as of any date of determination, the consolidated stockholders’ equity of SFC and its Subsidiaries as of such date as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Tangible Net Worth” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) Consolidated Net Worth as of such date minus (b) the aggregate book value of all Intangible Assets of SFC and its Subsidiaries as of such date.

Consolidated Total Capitalization” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness (excluding Non-Recourse Indebtedness) and (b) Consolidated Net Worth, each calculated as of such date.

Consolidated Total Capitalization Ratio” means, as of the date of any determination, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness (excluding Non-Recourse Indebtedness) as of such date to (b) Consolidated Total Capitalization as of such date.

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

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to be Controlled by another Person if such other Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managing general partners or the equivalent.

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

Covered Party” has the meaning specified in Section 11.21.

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

Daily Simple SOFR” with respect to any applicable determination date means the SOFR published on such date on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s website (or any successor source).

Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Fitch (collectively, the “Debt Ratings”) of SFC’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt.

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

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

 

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Default Rate” means (a) with respect to any Obligation for which a rate is specified, a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate otherwise applicable thereto and (b) with respect to any Obligation for which a rate is not specified or available, a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans plus two percent (2%), in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

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

Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.15(b), any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, any Swingline Lender or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder (including in respect of its participation in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans) within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Borrowers, the L/C Issuer, any Swingline Lender or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above, and of the effective date of such status, shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.15(b)) as of the date established therefor by the Administrative Agent in a written notice of such determination, which shall be delivered by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers, the L/C Issuer, the Swingline Lenders and each other Lender promptly following such determination.

Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory to the extent that such country or territory, or such country’s or territory’s government, is the subject of any Sanction.

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

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

 

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

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

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

Electronic Copy” has the meaning specified in Section 11.17.

Electronic Record” has the meaning specified in 15 USC §7006.

Electronic Signature” has the meaning specified in 15 USC §7006.

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

Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

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

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

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

 

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

ESG” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

ESG Amendment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

ESG Pricing Provisions” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

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

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

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to a Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guaranty of such Guarantor of 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 Future Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation thereof) by virtue of the Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (determined after giving effect to Section 10.06 and any other “keepwell”, support or other agreement for the benefit of such Guarantor and any and all guarantees of such Guarantor’s Swap Obligations by other Loan Parties) at the time the Guaranty of such Guarantor becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Rate Management Transaction, such exclusion shall apply to only the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to Rate Management Transactions for which such Guaranty is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.

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

 

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imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a Law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrowers under Section 11.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii), 3.01(a)(iii) or 3.01(c), amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2021, among SNC, SFC, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Bank of America, as administrative agent, swingline lender, and l/c issuer, and the other swingline lenders from time to time party thereto.

Existing Letters of Credit” means those certain letters of credit set forth on Schedule 2.03.

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

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

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue 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 Internal Revenue Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or 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” means, for any day, the rate per annum calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depository institutions (as determined in such manner as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall set forth on its public website from time to time) and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as the federal funds effective rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Fee Letter” means that certain Fee Letter, dated August 29, 2023, among the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and BofA Securities, Inc.

Financial Contract” of a Person means any exchange-traded or over-the-counter futures, forward, swap or option contract or other financial instrument with similar characteristics.

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc., or any successor or assignee of the business of such company in the business of rating securities.

FOCUS Report” means each Financial and Operational Combined Uniform Single Report (FOCUS) (SEC Form X-17A-5) completed and executed by SNC and filed with the SEC.

 

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

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

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

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

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

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supranational bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

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Guaranteed Cash Management Agreement” means any Cash Management Agreement that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Cash Management Bank with respect to such Cash Management Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, a holder of Obligations in respect of Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements shall be subject to the last paragraph of Section 8.03 and Section 9.10.

Guaranteed Hedge Agreement” means any Rate Management Transaction that is entered into by and between any Loan Party and any Hedge Bank with respect to such Rate Management Transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, a holder of Obligations in respect of Guaranteed Hedge Agreements shall be subject to the last paragraph of Section 8.03 and Section 9.10.

Guaranteed Party Designation Notice” means a notice from any Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender substantially in the form of Exhibit 1.01.

Guarantor” means, collectively, (a) with respect to all Obligations, SFC, (b) with respect to (i) Obligations under any Guaranteed Hedge Agreement, (ii) Obligations under any Guaranteed Cash Management Agreement and (iii) any Swap Obligation of a Specified Loan Party (determined before giving effect to Sections 10.01 and 10.06) under the Guaranty, SNC and (c) the successors and permitted assigns of the foregoing.

Guaranty” means the unconditional guaranty made by the Guarantors for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other holders of the Obligations pursuant to and in accordance with Article X.

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

Hedge Bank” means any Person that (i) at the time it enters into a Rate Management Transaction, is a Lender or the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, (ii) in the case of any Rate Management Transaction in effect on or prior to the Closing Date, is, as of the Closing Date or within 30 days thereafter, a Lender or the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent and a party to a Rate Management Transaction or (iii) within 30 days after the time it enters into the applicable Rate Management Transaction, becomes a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent, in each case, in its capacity as a party to such Rate Management Transaction; provided, in the case of a Guaranteed Hedge Agreement with a Person who is no longer a Lender (or Affiliate of a Lender), such Person shall be considered a Hedge Bank only through the stated termination date (without extension or renewal) of such Guaranteed Hedge Agreement.

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

Incremental Request” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16.

Incremental Revolving Amendment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16.

“Incremental Revolving Commitments” has the meaning specified in Section 2.16.

 

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Indebtedness” of a Person means such Person’s (a) obligations for borrowed money; (b) obligations representing the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of such Person’s business payable on terms customary in the trade), (c) obligations, whether or not assumed, secured by Liens or payable out of the proceeds or production from Property now or hereafter owned or acquired by such Person, (d) obligations which are evidenced by notes, acceptances, or other instruments, (e) obligations of such Person to purchase Securities or other Property arising out of or in connection with the sale of the same or substantially similar Securities or Property, (f) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (g) obligations of such Person as an account party with respect to standby and commercial letters of credit, (h) Guarantees of such Person, (i) Net Mark-to-Market Exposure under Rate Management Transactions (and other Financial Contracts), and (j) any other obligation for borrowed money or other financial accommodation which in accordance with GAAP would be shown as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person.

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

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

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

Intangible Assets” means all patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, trade names, goodwill (including any amounts, however designated, representing the cost of acquisition of businesses and investments in excess of the book value thereof), unamortized debt discount and expense, unamortized deferred charges, deferred research and development costs, any write-up of asset value after the date of this Agreement, non-competition covenants, signing bonuses, prepaid expenses and other forms of prepaid assets, deferred taxes, loans, advances and/or other amounts due from stockholders, partners, members, directors, officers, managers and/or employees, intercompany accounts, investments in and receivables due from Affiliates, deposits for insurance, utilities and the like and any other assets treated as intangible assets under GAAP.

Interest Payment Date” means (a) as to any Term SOFR Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, that, if any Interest Period for a Term SOFR Loan exceeds three (3) months, the respective dates that fall every three (3) months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swingline Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date; and (c) as to any Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.

Interest Period” means, (a) as to each Term SOFR Loan made to SFC, the period commencing on the date such Term SOFR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan and ending on the date one (1), three (3), or six (6) months thereafter (in each case, subject to availability) or such other period that is twelve (12) months or less as agreed to by the Administrative Agent and all Lenders, as selected by SFC in its Loan Notice, and (b) as to each Term SOFR Loan made to SNC, the period commencing on the date such Term SOFR Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan and ending on the date one (1) month thereafter (in each case, subject to availability) or such other period that is twelve (12) months or less as agreed to by the Administrative Agent and all Lenders, as selected by SNC in its Loan Notice; provided that:

(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the 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;

 

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

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

Interim Financial Statements” means (a) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of SFC and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of SFC’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of SFC’s fiscal year then ended, including the notes thereto, and (b) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of SNC and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of SNC’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of SNC’s fiscal year then ended, including the notes thereto.

Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of Equity Interests of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person, or (c) an Acquisition. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

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

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

KPIs” has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a).

L/C Commitment” means, with respect to the L/C Issuer, the commitment of the L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder. The initial amount of the L/C Issuer’s L/C Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01. The L/C Commitment of the L/C Issuer may be modified from time to time by agreement between the L/C Issuer and the Borrowers, and notified to the Administrative Agent.

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

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

 

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L/C Issuer” means Bank of America, in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. The L/C Issuer may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the L/C Issuer, in which case the term “L/C Issuer” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.

L/C Obligations” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time, including any automatic or scheduled increases provided for by the terms of such Letters of Credit, determined without regard to whether any conditions to drawing could be met at that time, plus (b) the aggregate amount of all Unreimbursed Amounts. The L/C Obligations of any Lender at any time shall be its pro rata share of the total L/C Obligations at such time (based upon its Applicable Percentage). For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.13 or Rule 3.14 of the ISP or similar terms of the Letter of Credit itself, or if compliant documents have been presented but not yet honored, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” and “undrawn” in the amount so remaining available to be paid, and the obligations of the applicable Borrower and each Lender shall remain in full force and effect until the L/C Issuers and the Lenders shall have no further obligations to make any payments or disbursements under any circumstances with respect to any Letter of Credit.

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

Lender Party” means each Lender, each L/C Issuer and each Swingline Lender.

Lenders” means each of the Persons identified as a “Lender” on the signature pages hereto, each other Person that becomes a “Lender” in accordance with this Agreement and their successors and assigns and, as the context requires, includes the Swingline Lenders.

Lending Office” means, as to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the office or offices of such Person described as such in such Person’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as such Person may from time to time notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, which office may include any Affiliate of such Person or any domestic or foreign branch of such Person or such Affiliate. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to a lender shall include its applicable Lending Office.

Letter of Credit” means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder providing for the payment of cash upon the honoring of a presentation thereunder and shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.

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

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

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $5,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

 

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

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

Loan Documents” means this Agreement (including the Guaranty), each Note, each Incremental Revolving Amendment, each ESG Amendment, each Issuer Document, the Fee Letter, any agreement creating or perfecting rights in Cash Collateral pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14 of this Agreement, and any amendments, modifications or supplements to any other Loan Document or waivers under any other Loan Document (but specifically excluding Guaranteed Hedge Agreements and any Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements).

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

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrowers and the Guarantors.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect on (a) the business, Property, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operation or prospects of (i) SNC and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) SFC and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of a Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party or (c) the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders thereunder.

Maturity Date” means September 27, 2028; provided, however, that, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.

Minimum Collateral Amount” means, at any time, (a) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances, an amount equal to 105% of the Fronting Exposure of the L/C Issuer with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time and (b) otherwise, an amount determined by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer in their sole discretion.

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

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

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

 

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Net Capital” means “net capital” calculated using the alternative standard for net capital calculation in accordance with Section 15c3-1(a)(1)(ii) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Net Capital Percentage” means, at any time, the “Percentage of Net Capital, after anticipated withdrawals, to Aggregate Debits” as calculated by SNC and set forth on line 27 of the “Computation of Alternative Net Capital Requirement” section of the FOCUS Report most recently filed by SNC with the SEC.

Net Mark-to-Market Exposure” of a Person means, as of any date of determination, the excess (if any) of all unrealized losses over all unrealized profits of such Person arising from Rate Management Transactions. “Unrealized losses” means the fair market value of the cost to such Person of replacing such Rate Management Transactions as of the date of determination (assuming the Rate Management Transactions were to be terminated as of that date), and “unrealized profits” means the fair market value of the gain to such Person of replacing such Rate Management Transactions as of the date of determination (assuming such Rate Management Transactions were to be terminated as of that date).

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

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

Non-Recourse Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for SFC and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, any Indebtedness that is classified non-recourse as to SFC or any Subsidiary under GAAP as of such date.

Note” has the meaning specified in Section 2.11(a).

Non-Reimbursement Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(f).

Notice of Loan Prepayment” means a notice of prepayment with respect to a Loan, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.05 or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the applicable Borrower.

Obligations” means with respect to each Loan Party (a) all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan or Letter of Credit, and (b) all obligations of any Loan Party owing to a Cash Management Bank or a Hedge Bank in respect of Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements or Guaranteed Hedge Agreements, in each case identified in clauses (a) and (b) whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding; provided, however, that the “Obligations” of a Loan Party shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to such Loan Party.

 

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

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

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

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

Outstanding Amount” means (a) with respect to any Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of any Loans occurring on such date and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by any Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.

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

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

PATRIOT Act” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18.

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

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

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

 

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Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition made by a Loan Party, provided that, (a) as of the date of the consummation of such Acquisition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from such Acquisition, (b) such Acquisition is consummated on a non-hostile basis pursuant to a negotiated acquisition agreement approved by the board of directors or other applicable governing body of the seller or entity to be acquired, and no material challenge to such Acquisition (excluding the exercise of appraisal rights) shall be pending or threatened by any shareholder or director of the seller or entity to be acquired, (c) as of the date of the consummation of such Acquisition, all material approvals required in connection therewith shall have been obtained and (d) if the Consolidated Total Capitalization Ratio exceeds 27%, as of the most recently completed fiscal quarter for which SFC was required to deliver financial statements pursuant to 6.01(a)(ii) or 6.01(b)(ii), as applicable, the Borrowers shall have furnished to the Administrative Agent a certificate demonstrating in reasonable detail pro forma compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section 7.11 for such period, in each case, calculated as if such Acquisition, including the consideration therefor, had been consummated on the first day of such period.

Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness” means (a) the Subordinated Indebtedness arising under the trust preferred securities issued by Stifel Financial Capital Trust II, Stifel Financial Capital Trust III and Stifel Financial Capital Trust IV and (b) the Subordinated Loan Agreement – Cash dated as of September 27, 2005, executed by the Borrowers.

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

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

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Property” of a Person means any and all property, whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned, leased or operated by such Person.

PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

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

QFC Credit Support” has the meaning specified in Section 11.21.

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

Rate Management Transaction” means any non-speculative transaction (including an agreement with respect thereto) now existing or hereafter entered by any Loan Party in the ordinary course of business which is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap, equity or equity index option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange

 

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transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, forward transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether linked to one or more interest rates, foreign currencies, commodity prices, equity prices or other financial measures.

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

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

Regulation W” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01(q).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests of any Person, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests or on account of any return of capital to such Person’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof), or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such dividend or other distribution or payment.

Revolving Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swingline Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption or other documentation pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. Revolving Commitments shall include any Incremental Revolving Commitment.

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

Revolving Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

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

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to any Person, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby such Person shall sell or transfer any property used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter 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 being sold or transferred.

Sanction(s)” means any sanction administered or enforced by the United States Government, including OFAC, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union (or any of its current or former member states), His Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant sanctions authority.

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

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

Securities” means any stocks, bonds, instruments, or other securities, including but not limited to all items included in either or both of the definitions of “security” contained in the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. §77b(1)), or in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York, (N.Y. U.C.C. §8-102).

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

Short Term Loans” means, as of any date of determination, for SFC and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, any Indebtedness of that is outstanding for not more than thirty (30) days (except to the extent such Indebtedness is rolled-over for subsequent thirty-day periods at the election of the applicable lender) as of such date; provided, that, such Indebtedness (a) is to Subsidiaries to finance the purchase/sale of Securities in the ordinary course of business, (b) is provided by the applicable lender on an uncommitted basis and (c) is repayable on demand.

 

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

SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator).

SOFR Adjustment” means: (a) with respect to Daily Simple SOFR, 0.10% (10 basis points); (b) with respect to Term SOFR, (i) 0.10% (10 basis points) for an Interest Period of one month’s duration, three months’ duration, and six months’ duration and (ii) for any other Interest Period agreed to by all Lenders, such amount as is agreed to by all Lenders for such Interest Period; and (c) with respect to the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, 0.10% (10 basis points).

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

Specified Loan Party” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06.

Subordinated Indebtedness” of a Person means any Indebtedness of such Person the payment of which is subordinated to payment of the Obligations to the written satisfaction of the Required Lenders and none of the principal of which is payable until at least one hundred eighty (180) days after the Facility Termination Date.

Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of Voting Stock is at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of SFC.

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

Supported QFC” has the meaning specified in Section 11.21.

Sustainability Coordinator” means BofA Securities, Inc., in its capacity as the sustainability coordinator.

Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the

 

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foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

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

Swingline Lender” means each of Bank of America and, after the Closing Date, any other Lender that, with the consent of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, agrees to provide Swingline Loans.

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

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

Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

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

Term SOFR” means: (a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; provided, that, if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date, then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto; in each case, plus the applicable SOFR Adjustment; and (b) for any interest calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any date, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such date with a term of one (1) month commencing that day; provided, that, if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date, then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto, in each case, plus the applicable SOFR Adjustment; provided, that, if Term SOFR determined in accordance with either of the foregoing clause (a) or clause (b) would otherwise be less than zero, Term SOFR shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate” means, for any interest calculation with respect to a Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan on any date, a fluctuating rate of interest, which can change on each Business Day, equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate, two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, with a term equivalent to one (1) month beginning on that date; provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m. on such determination date, then the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first (1st) U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto; plus the applicable SOFR Adjustment; provided that if the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate.

Term SOFR Loan” means any Term SOFR Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Term SOFR.

Term SOFR Replacement Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(b).

Term SOFR Screen Rate” means the forward-looking SOFR term rate administered by CME (or any successor administrator satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and published on the applicable Reuters screen page (or such other commercially available source providing such quotations as may be designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time, in its reasonable discretion).

Threshold Amount” means $35,000,000.

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

Total Revolving Outstandings” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving Loans, all Swingline Loans, and all L/C Obligations as of such date.

Type” means, with respect to any Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan, a Term SOFR Loan or a Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan.

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

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

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

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

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

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any Business Day, except any Business Day on which any of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, the New York Stock Exchange or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is not open for business because such day is a legal holiday under the federal laws of the United States or the laws of the State of New York, as applicable.

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

U.S. Special Resolution Regimes” has the meaning specified in Section 11.21.

 

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

Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, Equity Interests issued by such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

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

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions.

With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

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

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

 

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

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

1.03 Accounting Terms.

(a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

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

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

 

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1.04 Rounding.

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

1.05 Times of Day; Rates.

Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable). The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to any reference rate referred to herein or with respect to any rate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the selection of such rate and any related spread or other adjustment) that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any such rate (including any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions or other activities that affect any reference rate referred to herein, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or any related spread or other adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any reference rate referred to herein or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing), 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 other action or omission related to or affecting the selection, determination, or calculation of any rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts.

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

ARTICLE II.

THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS

2.01 Revolving Loans.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Revolving Loan”) to the Borrowers in Dollars from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Borrowing of Revolving Loans, (a) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and (b) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans, Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, or a combination thereof, as further provided herein.

 

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2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be made upon the applicable Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone, or (B) a Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Loan Notice. Each such Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) two Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of, Term SOFR Loans or of any conversion of Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or of any conversion of Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, any Borrowing of Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans or of any conversion of Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Each Borrowing of or conversion to Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice shall specify (i) the applicable Borrower submitting such Loan Notice, (ii) whether the applicable Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, (iii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iv) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (v) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (vi) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the applicable Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the applicable Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term SOFR Loans. If the applicable Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans in any Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Swingline Loan may not be converted.

(b) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the applicable Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the applicable Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of such Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided

 

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to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by such Borrower; provided, that, if, on the date the Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by such Borrower, there are Unreimbursed Amounts outstanding owing from such Borrower, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such Unreimbursed Amounts, and second, shall be made available to such Borrower as provided above.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Term SOFR Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of the Interest Period for such Term SOFR Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Term SOFR Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the outstanding Term SOFR Loans be converted immediately to Base Rate Loans.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the applicable Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Term SOFR Loans upon determination of such interest rate. Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrowers and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error.

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

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

(g) With respect to SOFR, Term SOFR, or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, 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; provided, that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrowers and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

(h) This Section 2.02 shall not apply to Swingline Loans.

2.03 Letters of Credit.

(a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, in addition to the Loans provided for in Section 2.01, each Borrower may request the L/C Issuer, in reliance on the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, to issue, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period, Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars for its own account or, with respect to SFC, the account of any of its Subsidiaries in such form as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer in its reasonable determination. Letters of Credit issued hereunder shall constitute utilization of the Commitments. All Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant to this Agreement and deemed L/C Obligations, and from and after the Closing Date shall be subject to and governed by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Extension, Reinstatement or Renewal. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment of the terms and conditions, extension of the terms and conditions, extension of the expiration date, or reinstatement of amounts paid, or renewal of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the applicable Borrower shall deliver (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the L/C Issuer) to the L/C Issuer and to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two (2) Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, extended, reinstated or renewed, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with Section 2.03(d)), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, extend, reinstate or renew such Letter of Credit. If requested by the L/C Issuer, the applicable Borrower also shall submit a Letter of Credit Application and reimbursement agreement on the L/C Issuer’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of Letter of Credit Application and reimbursement agreement or other agreement submitted by the applicable Borrower to, or entered into by such Borrower with, the L/C Issuer relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

(c) Limitations on Amounts, Issuance and Amendment.

(i) A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, extended, reinstated or renewed only if (and upon issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal of each Letter of Credit the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal (A) the aggregate amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer shall not exceed its L/C Commitment, (B) the aggregate L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit, (C) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed its Revolving Commitment, and (D) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

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

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

 

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

(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, the Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $500,000;

(D) any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (in its sole discretion) with the Borrowers or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which the L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion; or

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

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

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

(e) Participations.

(i) By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount or extending the expiration date thereof), and without any further action on the part of the L/C Issuer or the Lenders, the L/C Issuer hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from the L/C Issuer, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this Section 2.03(e)(i) in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments.

(ii) In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, upon receipt of any Non-Reimbursement Notice, each Lender hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for account of the L/C Issuer, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each L/C Disbursement made by the L/C Issuer not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such Non-Reimbursement Notice, until such L/C Disbursement is reimbursed by the applicable Borrower or at any time after any reimbursement payment is required to be refunded to such Borrower for any reason, including after the Maturity Date. Such payment shall be made without any offset,

 

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abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each such payment shall be made in the same manner as provided in Section 2.02 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.02 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the L/C Issuer the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the applicable Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03(f), the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the L/C Issuer or, to the extent that the Lenders have made payments pursuant to this Section 2.03(e)(ii) to reimburse the L/C Issuer, then to such Lenders and the L/C Issuer as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this Section 2.03(e)(ii) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any L/C Disbursement shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve any Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such L/C Disbursement.

(iii) Each Lender further acknowledges and agrees that its participation in each Letter of Credit will be automatically adjusted to reflect such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit at each time such Lender’s Commitment is amended pursuant to the operation of Section 2.16, as a result of an assignment in accordance with Section 11.06 or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement.

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

(f) Reimbursement. If the L/C Issuer shall make any L/C Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the applicable Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer in respect of such L/C Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such L/C Disbursement not later than 12:00 noon on (i) the Business Day that such Borrower receives notice of such L/C Disbursement, if such notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m. or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that such Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time; provided, that, if such L/C Disbursement is not less than $1,000,000, such Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.02 or Section 2.04 that such payment be financed with a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Swingline Loans in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, such Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or Swingline Loans. If the applicable Borrower fails to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable L/C Disbursement, the payment then due from such Borrower in respect thereof (the “Unreimbursed Amount”) and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof (each such notice, a “Non-Reimbursement Notice”). Promptly upon receipt of any Non-Reimbursement Notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount pursuant to

 

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Section 2.03(e)(ii), subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(f) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided, that, the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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The applicable Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with such Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, such Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The applicable Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

None of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, or any of their Related Parties shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit by the L/C Issuer or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms, any error in translation or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the L/C Issuer; provided, that, the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the L/C Issuer from liability to the applicable Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by such Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Law) suffered by such Borrower that are caused by the L/C Issuer’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the L/C Issuer (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the L/C Issuer shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination, and that: (i) the L/C Issuer may replace a purportedly lost, stolen, or destroyed original Letter of Credit or missing amendment thereto with a certified true copy marked as such or waive a requirement for its presentation; (ii) the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and may make payment upon presentation of documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit and without regard to any non-documentary condition in such Letter of Credit; (iii) the L/C Issuer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to decline to accept such documents and to make such payment if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit; and (iv) this sentence shall establish the standard of care to be exercised by the L/C Issuer when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof (and the parties hereto hereby waive, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, any standard of care inconsistent with the foregoing).

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

(h) Applicability of ISP; Limitation of Liability. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the applicable Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued by it (including any such agreement applicable to an Existing Letter of Credit), the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible to the applicable Borrower for, and the L/C Issuer’s rights and remedies against such Borrower shall not be impaired by, any action or inaction of the L/C Issuer required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit

 

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or this Agreement, including the Law or any order of a jurisdiction where the L/C Issuer or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements, or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade - International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

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

(j) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance, subject to Section 2.15, with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Maturity Date and thereafter on demand and (ii) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.

(k) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuers. The Borrowers shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum equal to the percentage separately agreed upon between the Borrowers and the L/C Issuer, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Maturity Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. In addition, the Borrowers shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.

(l) Disbursement Procedures. The L/C Issuer for any Letter of Credit shall, within the time allowed by applicable Laws or the specific terms of the Letter of Credit following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under such Letter of Credit. The L/C Issuer shall promptly after such examination notify the Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower in writing of such demand for payment if the L/C Issuer has made or will make a L/C Disbursement thereunder; provided, that, any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve such Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the L/C Issuer and the Lenders with respect to any such L/C Disbursement.

 

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

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

(o) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrowers receive notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with L/C Obligations representing more than 50% of the total L/C Obligations) demanding the deposit of Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.03(o), the Borrowers shall immediately deposit into an account established and maintained on the books and records of the Administrative Agent an amount in cash equal to 105% of the total L/C Obligations as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided, that, the obligation to deposit such Cash Collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the Borrowers described in Section 8.01(f). Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing or Section 2.03(d), if any L/C Obligations remain outstanding after the expiration date specified in Section 2.03(d), the Borrowers shall immediately deposit into an account established and maintained on the books and records of the Administrative Agent an amount in cash equal to 105% of such L/C Obligations as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over any 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 Borrowers’ risk and expense, such deposits shall

 

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not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate any such account. Moneys in any such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the L/C Issuer for L/C Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed, together with related fees, costs, and customary processing charges, and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers for the L/C Obligations at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with L/C Obligations representing more than 50% of the total L/C Obligations), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement. If the Borrowers are required to provide an amount of Cash Collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrowers within three (3) Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

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

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

2.04 Swingline Loans.

(a) Swingline Facility. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Swingline Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, may in its sole discretion, make loans (each such loan, a “Swingline Loan”) to the Borrowers in Dollars from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swingline Loan, (i) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments and (ii) the Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Revolving Commitment; provided, further, that (A) no Borrower shall use the proceeds of any Swingline Loan to refinance any outstanding Swingline Loan and (B) no Swingline Lender shall be under any obligation to make any Swingline Loan if it shall determine (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) that it has, or by such Credit Extension may have, Fronting Exposure. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swingline Loan shall bear interest only at a rate based on the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate. Immediately upon the making of a Swingline Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from a Swingline Lender a risk participation in such Swingline Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swingline Loan.

(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Borrowing of Swingline Loans shall be made upon the applicable Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the applicable Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by (A) telephone or (B) a Swingline Loan Notice; provided, that, each telephonic notice by the applicable Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.04(b) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the applicable Swingline Lender and the Administrative

 

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Agent of a written Swingline Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of such Borrower. Each such notice must be received by the applicable Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 3:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum principal amount of $100,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Promptly after receipt by the applicable Swingline Lender of any telephonic Swingline Loan Notice, such Swingline Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swingline Loan Notice and, if not, such Swingline Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the applicable Swingline Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to the earlier of (x) 4:00 p.m. and (y) one hour after receipt of the Swingline Loan Notice on the date of the proposed Borrowing of Swingline Loans (A) directing a Swingline Lender not to make such Swingline Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the applicable Swingline Lender shall, on or before the later of (x) 3:00 p.m. and (y) two hours after receipt of the Swingline Loan Notice on the borrowing date specified in such Swingline Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swingline Loan available to the applicable Borrower either by (i) crediting the account of such Borrower on the books of such Swingline Lender with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the applicable Swingline Lender by such Borrower.

(c) Refinancing of Swingline Loans.

(i) Each Swingline Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the applicable Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes each Swingline Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Revolving Loan that is a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swingline Loans held by such Swingline Lender then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Loan Notice); provided that, after giving effect to such Borrowing, the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. The applicable Swingline Lender shall furnish the applicable Borrower with a copy of the applicable Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the applicable Swingline Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the applicable Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the applicable Swingline Lender.

(ii) If for any reason any Swingline Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Borrowing of Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans submitted by the applicable Swingline Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the applicable Swingline Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swingline Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.

 

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

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

(d) Repayment of Participations.

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

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

 

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(e) Interest for Account of Swingline Lenders. Each Swingline Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrowers for interest on the Swingline Loans. Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loans that are Base Rate Loans or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swingline Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the applicable Swingline Lender.

(f) Payments Directly to Swingline Lender. The Borrowers shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swingline Loans directly to the applicable Swingline Lender.

2.05 Prepayments.

(a) Voluntary Prepayments.

(i) Revolving Loans. Each Borrower may, upon delivery of a Notice of Loan Prepayment to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that, unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, (A) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (1) two Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Term SOFR Loans and (2) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans or of Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans; (B) any such prepayment of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding) and (C) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans or of Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding). Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Term SOFR Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by a Borrower, such Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein; provided, that, if a Notice of Loan Prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.06, then such Notice of Loan Prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.06. Any prepayment of a Term SOFR Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.15, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the applicable Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

(ii) Swingline Loans. Each Borrower may, upon delivery of a Notice of Loan Prepayment from such Borrower to the applicable Swingline Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swingline Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that unless otherwise agreed by the applicable Swingline Lender, (i) such notice must be received by the applicable Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal thereof then outstanding). Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by a Borrower, such Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.

 

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(b) Mandatory Prepayments of Loans. If for any reason the Total Revolving Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments then in effect, the Borrowers shall immediately prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, that, the Borrowers shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans the Total Revolving Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments then in effect.

2.06 Termination or Reduction of Aggregate Revolving Commitments.

The Borrowers may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction (or such shorter period as agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrowers shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, or the Letter of Credit Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, or the Letter of Credit Sublimit, as applicable, shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction. Any reduction of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall be applied to the Revolving Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice of termination of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments delivered by the Borrowers may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrowers (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.

2.07 Repayment of Loans.

(a) Revolving Loans. Each Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans outstanding to such Borrower on such date, together with all other outstanding amounts owing by such Borrower under the Loan Documents.

(b) Swingline Loans. Each Borrower shall repay to the applicable Swingline Lender each Swingline Loan outstanding to such Borrower on the earlier of (i) ten (10) Business Days after such Swingline Loan was made and (ii) the Maturity Date; provided that no Swingline Loan can be repaid with another Swingline Loan.

2.08 Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Revolving Loan that is a Term SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the sum of Term SOFR for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate, (ii) each Revolving Loan that is a Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal

 

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to the sum of the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate, (iii) each Revolving Loan that is a Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate plus the Applicable Rate, and (iv) each Swingline Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate. Unless otherwise set forth herein, to the extent that any calculation of interest or any fee required to be paid under this Agreement shall be based on (or result in) a calculation that is less than zero, such calculation shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

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

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

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

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

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

2.09 Fees.

In addition to certain fees described in Sections 2.03(j) and (k):

(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Rate times (ii) the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Revolving Commitments exceed the sum of (A) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and (B) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15. The Commitment Fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period. The Commitment Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. For purposes of clarification, Swingline Loans shall not be counted towards or considered usage of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments for purposes of determining the Commitment Fee.

 

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(b) Other Fees.

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

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

2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees.

All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Term SOFR) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

2.11 Evidence of Debt.

(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Administrative Agent shall maintain the Register in accordance with Section 11.06(c). The accounts or records maintained by each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrowers and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the Register, the Register shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a promissory note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each such promissory note shall be in the form of Exhibit 2.11(a) (a “Note”). Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

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

 

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2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made free and clear of and without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. Subject to Section 2.07(b) and as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement, if any payment to be made by the Borrowers shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Term SOFR Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or of any Borrowing of Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the applicable Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If such Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to such Borrower the amount of such interest paid by such Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by such Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim such Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by Borrowers; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrowers prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrowers will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrowers have made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. With respect to any payment

 

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that the Administrative Agent makes for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder as to which the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that any of the following applies (such payment referred to as the “Rescindable Amount”): (A) the Borrowers have not in fact made such payment; (B) the Administrative Agent has made a payment in excess of the amount so paid by the Borrowers (whether or not then owed); or (C) the Administrative Agent has for any reason otherwise erroneously made such payment; then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or any Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12 (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

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

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

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

(f) Insufficient Funds. If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, toward payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, toward payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders.

If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swingline Loans held by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the

 

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Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

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

(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (B) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.14, or (C) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

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

2.14 Cash Collateral.

(a) Obligation to Cash Collateralize. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one (1) Business Day following the written request of the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrowers shall Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount.

(b) Grant of Security Interest. Each Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, and the Lenders, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be applied pursuant to Section 2.14(c). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer as herein provided, other than Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.01(l), or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrowers will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (determined in the case of Cash Collateral provided pursuant to Section 2.14(a), after giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender). All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in one or more blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America. The Borrowers shall pay on demand therefor from time to time all customary account opening, activity and other administrative fees and charges in connection with the maintenance and disbursement of Cash Collateral.

 

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(c) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.14 or Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.15, or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be held and applied to the satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

(d) Release. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or to secure other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender (or, as appropriate, its assignee following compliance with Section 11.06(b)(vi))) or (ii) the determination by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, that, the Person providing Cash Collateral and the L/C Issuer may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

2.15 Defaulting Lenders.

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

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

(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise) or received by the Administrative Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.08 shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis on any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the L/C Issuer or the Swingline Lenders hereunder; third, to Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with Section 2.14; fourth, as the Borrowers may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, to be held in a deposit account and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.14; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, or Swingline Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the L/C Issuer, or Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s

 

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breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, so long as no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to any Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by such Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Obligations in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Loans were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder without giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv). Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.15(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(iii) Certain Fees.

(A) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any fee payable under Section 2.09(a) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrowers shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).

(B) Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive Letter of Credit Fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Applicable Percentage of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.14.

(C) With respect to any Letter of Credit Fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Borrowers shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations or Swingline Loans that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.15(a)(iv) below, (y) pay to the L/C Issuer and each Swingline Lender, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to the L/C Issuer’s or such Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

(iv) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Commitment. Subject to Section 11.20, no reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

 

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(v) Cash Collateral; Repayment of Swingline Loans. If the reallocation described in Section 2.15(a)(iv) cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrowers shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under applicable Law, (A) first, prepay Swingline Loans, pro rata, in an amount equal to each Swingline Lender’s Fronting Exposure, and (B) second, Cash Collateralize the L/C Issuer’s Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.14.

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, and the Swingline Lenders agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

2.16 Incremental Revolving Commitments.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers shall have the right, from time to time and upon at least ten Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent (an “Incremental Request”), to increase the Aggregate Revolving Commitments (the “Incremental Revolving Commitments”); provided, that, each Incremental Request with respect to Incremental Revolving Commitments shall be subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) after giving to such Incremental Revolving Commitments, the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall not exceed $1,000,000,000;

(b) on the date on which the applicable Incremental Revolving Amendment is to become effective, both immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Incremental Revolving Commitments (assuming that the full amount of such Incremental Revolving Commitments shall have been funded on such date) and any related transactions, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(c) the representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date on which such Incremental Revolving Amendment is to become effective, except to the extent that such representations and warranties (i) are qualified by materiality in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects and (ii) specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date;

 

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(d) such Incremental Revolving Commitments shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000 and in integral multiples of $5,000,000 in excess thereof (or such lesser amounts as agreed by the Administrative Agent);

(e) such Incremental Revolving Commitments shall be made on the same terms and provisions (other than upfront fees) as apply to the existing Revolving Commitments, including with respect to maturity date, interest rate and prepayment provisions, and shall not constitute a credit facility separate and apart from the existing revolving credit facility set forth in Section 2.01;

(f) the Administrative Agent shall have received additional commitments in a corresponding amount of such requested Incremental Revolving Commitments from either existing Lenders and/or one or more other institutions that qualify as Eligible Assignees (it being understood and agreed that no existing Lender shall be required to provide an additional commitment); and

(g) the Administrative Agent shall have received customary closing certificates and legal opinions and all other documents (including resolutions of the board of directors of the Loan Parties) it may reasonably request relating to the corporate or other necessary authority for such Incremental Revolving Commitments and the validity of such Incremental Revolving Commitments, and any other matters relevant thereto, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Any Incremental Revolving Commitments shall be evidenced by an amendment (an “Incremental Revolving Amendment”) to this Agreement, giving effect to the modifications permitted by this Section 2.16 (and subject to the limitations set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph), executed by the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and each Lender providing a portion of the Incremental Revolving Commitments; which such amendment, when so executed, shall amend this Agreement as provided therein. Each Incremental Revolving Amendment shall also require such amendments to the Loan Documents, and such other new Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary or appropriate to effect the modifications and credit extensions permitted by this Section 2.16. Neither any Incremental Revolving Amendment, nor any such amendments to the other Loan Documents or such other new Loan Documents, shall be required to be executed or approved by any Lender, other than the Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Commitments, and the Administrative Agent, in order to be effective. The effectiveness of any Incremental Revolving Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth above and as such other conditions as requested by the Lenders under the Incremental Revolving Commitments established in connection therewith.

2.17 Several Liability.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Borrower (a) shall be liable on a several, but not joint, basis for the Credit Extensions and Obligations of such Borrower hereunder and (b) shall not be liable for the Credit Extensions or Obligations of the other Borrower hereunder; provided, that, nothing in this Section 2.17 shall limit the obligations of any Guarantor under this Agreement (including the Guaranty) or the other Loan Documents.

 

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2.18 ESG Amendment; Sustainability Coordinator.

(a) Prior to the date which is twelve (12) months following the Closing Date, the Borrowers, at their option and in consultation with the Sustainability Coordinator, shall be entitled to establish specified key performance indicators (“KPIs”) with respect to certain environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) targets of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Sustainability Coordinator, the Administrative Agent, and the Borrowers may amend this Agreement (such amendment, an “ESG Amendment”) solely for the purpose of incorporating the KPIs and other related provisions (the “ESG Pricing Provisions”) into this Agreement, and any such ESG Amendment shall become effective upon the receipt of the consent in writing of the Sustainability Coordinator, the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers, and the Required Lenders. Upon effectiveness of any such ESG Amendment, based on the Borrowers’ performance against the KPIs, certain adjustments (increase, decrease or no adjustment) (such adjustments, the “ESG Applicable Rate Adjustments”) to the Applicable Rate for the Commitment Fee, Base Rate Loans, Term SOFR Loans, and/or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans may be made; provided, that, (i) the aggregate amount of the ESG Applicable Rate Adjustments shall not exceed (A) in the case of the Applicable Rate for the Commitment Fee, an increase and/or decrease of 0.01% (1 basis point), and (B) in the case of the Applicable Rate for Base Rate Loans, Term SOFR Loans, and/or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, an increase and/or decrease of 0.05% (5.00 basis points), (ii) in no event shall any adjusted Applicable Rate be less than zero, and (iii) the ESG Applicable Rate Adjustments shall be made on a per annum basis, and not be cumulative from year to year. The ESG Applicable Rate Adjustments pursuant to the KPIs will require, among other things, reporting and validation of the measurement of the KPIs in a manner that is aligned with the Sustainability Linked Loan Principles (as published from time to time by the Loan Market Association, Asia Pacific Loan Market Association and Loan Syndications & Trading Association) and is to be agreed between the Borrowers and the Sustainability Coordinator (each acting reasonably). Following the effectiveness of an ESG Amendment, any modification to the ESG Pricing Provisions which does not have the effect of reducing the Applicable Rate to a level not otherwise permitted by this Section 2.18(a) shall be subject only to the consent of the Sustainability Coordinator, the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers, and the Required Lenders.

(b) The Sustainability Coordinator will (i) assist the Borrowers in determining the ESG Pricing Provisions in connection with the ESG Amendment and (ii) assist the Borrowers in preparing informational materials focused on ESG to be used in connection with the ESG Amendment.

ARTICLE III.

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes.

(i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable Laws. If any applicable Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Administrative Agent) require the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party, then the Administrative Agent or such Loan Party shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.

 

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(ii) If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Internal Revenue Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

(iii) If any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Internal Revenue Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes, the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Loan Parties shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

(c) Tax Indemnifications. (i) Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrowers by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each of the Loan Parties shall, and does hereby, jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or the L/C Issuer for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii) below.

(ii) Each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, (x) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender or the L/C Issuer (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (y) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable,

 

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against any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.06(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or a Loan Party in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii).

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

(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.

(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 3.01(e)(ii)(A), 3.01(e)(ii)(B) and 3.01(e)(ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

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

(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

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(B) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

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

(II) executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;

(III) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 3.01-A to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable); or

(IV) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 3.01-B or Exhibit 3.01-C, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 3.01-D on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

(C) any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent), executed copies (or originals, as required) of any other form prescribed by applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Law to permit the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

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(D) if a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by Law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Closing Date.

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

(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be. If any Recipient determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by any Loan Party or with respect to which any Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to the Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by a Loan Party under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Loan Party, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Loan Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection, in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to the Loan Party pursuant to this subsection the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This subsection shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

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

 

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3.02 Illegality.

If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Lending Office to make, maintain or fund any Loans whose interest is determined by reference to SOFR, Term SOFR or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR, Term SOFR or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrowers through the Administrative Agent, (a) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Loans or affected Interest Periods) and (b) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender, shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), promptly prepay or, if applicable, convert (which determination shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be made in the Borrowers’ discretion) all Term SOFR Loans or all Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans of such Lender, as applicable, to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, on the next Interest Payment Date therefor), if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Term SOFR. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.

3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.

(a) If in connection with any request for a Term SOFR Loan or a Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans or a conversion of Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans or a continuation of any Term SOFR Loan, as applicable, (i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that (A) no Successor Rate has been determined in accordance with Section 3.03(b), and the circumstances under Section 3.03(b)(i) or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred, or (B) adequate and reasonable means do not otherwise exist for determining Term SOFR or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate for any requested Interest Period or for any determination date(s), as applicable, with respect to a proposed Term SOFR Loan or a proposed Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (ii) the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders determine that for any reason that Term SOFR or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, as applicable, for any requested Interest Period or for any determination date(s), as applicable, with respect to a proposed Term SOFR Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrowers and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans, Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, Interest Periods or determination date(s)), and (y) in the event of a determination

 

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described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Term SOFR component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in Section 3.03(a)(ii), until the Administrative Agent upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice (which the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lenders, as applicable, agree to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist). Upon receipt of such notice, (A) the Borrowers may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans, Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans, Interest Periods or determination date(s)) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein, (B) any outstanding Term SOFR Loans shall be deemed to have been converted to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans shall, if necessary, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate) immediately at the end of their respective applicable Interest Period, and (C) any outstanding Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans shall be converted to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans shall, if necessary, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate) immediately.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrowers or Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Borrowers) that the Borrowers or Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that: (i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining one month, three month, and sixth month interest periods of Term SOFR, or for ascertaining the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, including because the Term SOFR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or (ii) CME or any successor administrator of the Term SOFR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator with respect to its publication of Term SOFR and/or the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, in each case acting in such capacity, has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which one month, three month, and sixth month interest periods of Term SOFR, or the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, or the Term SOFR Screen Rate shall or will no longer be representative or made available, or permitted to be used for determining the interest rate of Dollar denominated syndicated loans, or shall or will otherwise cease; provided, that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, that will continue to provide such representative interest periods of Term SOFR after such specific date or the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, as applicable (the latest date on which one month, three month, and sixth month interest periods of Term SOFR, or the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate, or the Term SOFR Screen Rate are no longer representative or available permanently or indefinitely, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”); then, on a date and time determined by the Administrative Agent (any such date, the “Term SOFR Replacement Date”), which date shall be at the end of an Interest Period or on the relevant interest payment date, as applicable, for interest calculated and, solely with respect to clause (ii) above, no later than the Scheduled Unavailability Date, Term SOFR and the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate will be replaced hereunder and under any Loan Document with Daily Simple SOFR plus the SOFR Adjustment for any payment period for interest calculated that can be determined by the Administrative Agent, in each case, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (any such successor rate established pursuant to this Section 3.03(b), a “Successor Rate”). If the Successor Rate is Daily Simple SOFR plus the SOFR Adjustment, all interest payments will be payable on a monthly basis.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) if the Administrative Agent determines that Daily Simple SOFR is not available on or prior to the Term SOFR Replacement Date, or (ii) if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(b)(i) or 3.03(b)(ii) have occurred with respect to the Successor Rate then in effect, then in each case, the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing Term SOFR, the Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate or any then current Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 3.03(b) at the end of any Interest Period, relevant interest payment date or payment period for interest calculated, as applicable, with an alternative benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar Dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such alternative benchmark and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar Dollar denominated credit facilities syndicated and agented in the United States for such benchmark. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments, shall constitute a “Successor Rate”. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrowers unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.

The Administrative Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Borrowers and each Lender of the implementation of any Successor Rate. Any Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided, that, to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Borrowers. Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any Successor Rate as so determined would otherwise be less than zero, the Successor Rate will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

In connection with the implementation of a Successor Rate, 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; provided, that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrowers and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

3.04 Increased Costs.

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

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

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

 

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(iii) impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement, Term SOFR Loans, or Term SOFR Daily Floating Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit participation therein;

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

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

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

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

 

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3.05 Compensation for Losses.

Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrowers shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

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

(b) any failure by the Borrowers (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Term SOFR Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrowers; or

(c) any assignment of a Term SOFR Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 11.13;

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

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. Each Lender may make any Credit Extension to any Borrower through any Lending Office; provided, that, the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of such Borrower to repay the Credit Extension in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or requires any Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender, the L/C Issuer, or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then at the request of the Borrowers, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, 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 judgment of such Lender or the L/C Issuer such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be. The Borrowers hereby agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.

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

3.07 Survival.

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

 

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ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSION

4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.

This Agreement shall become effective upon, and the obligation of each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to, the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(i) Loan Documents. Executed counterparts of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party and, in the case of this Agreement, by each Lender.

(ii) Opinions of Counsel. Favorable opinions of legal counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, and the L/C Issuer, dated as of the Closing Date.

(iii) Organization Documents, Resolutions, Etc.

(A) copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date;

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

(C) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its state of organization or formation.

(iv) Closing Certificate. A certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrowers certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and 4.02(b) have been satisfied, (B) the current Debt Ratings, (C) that since December 31, 2022 there shall not have occurred any event or condition that has had or could be reasonably expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect and (D) that there shall not exist any action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of a Loan Party, threatened by or against the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries in any court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Consents. All governmental, shareholder, corporate and third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and all such consents and approvals shall be in force and effect.

 

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(vi) Financial Statements. (A) The Audited Financial Statements, (B) the Interim Financial Statements, and (C) the FOCUS Report of SNC and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2023.

(b) Existing Credit Agreement. Evidence that all Indebtedness in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement has been, or concurrently with the Closing Date is being, repaid in full, and that all commitments and Guarantees under the Existing Credit Agreement have been, or concurrently with the Closing Date are being, terminated.

(c) KYC Information.

(i) Upon the reasonable request of any Lender made at least ten days prior to the Closing Date, each Borrower shall have provided to such Lender the documentation and other information so requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act, in each case at least five days prior to the Closing Date.

(ii) At least five days prior to the Closing Date, if any Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, it shall deliver a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to such Borrower.

(d) Fees. Receipt by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders of any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date.

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

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

4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions.

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

(a) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties (A) are qualified by materiality in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects and (B) specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date.

 

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

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

Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans) submitted by any Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.

ARTICLE V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Loan Parties represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and the L/C Issuer that:

5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power.

Each Loan Party and each Subsidiary (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.02 Authorization; No Contravention.

The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.

No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document other than those that have already been obtained and are in full force and effect.

 

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5.04 Binding Effect.

Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. Each Loan Document constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party that is party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms.

5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) The financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b) (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of SFC and its Subsidiaries or SNC and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein (subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments); and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of SFC and its Subsidiaries or SNC and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

(b) The Audited Financial Statements and the Interim Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of SFC and its Subsidiaries or SNC and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby (subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments); and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of SFC and its Subsidiaries or SNC and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

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

5.06 Litigation.

There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (b) either individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.07 No Default.

(a) No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) No Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

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5.08 Ownership of Property.

Each Loan Party and each of its Subsidiaries has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for (a) Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 and (b) such other defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.09 Insurance.

The properties of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrowers, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the applicable Loan Party or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

5.10 Taxes.

Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party nor any Subsidiary is party to any tax sharing agreement, other than tax sharing agreements among SFC and one or more of its Subsidiaries.

5.11 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and other federal or state Laws. Each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has received a favorable determination letter or is subject to a favorable opinion letter from the IRS to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the IRS to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS. To the best knowledge of the Loan Parties, nothing has occurred that would reasonably be expected to prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.

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

(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (ii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code) is 60% or higher and no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iii) no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC

 

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other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (iv) no Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (v) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan.

(d) As of the Closing Date, no Borrower is or will be using “plan assets” (within the meaning of 29 CFR § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Loans, Letters of Credit, or the Commitments.

(e) No Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to, or has any unsatisfied obligation to contribute to, or liability under, any active or terminated Pension Plan.

5.12 Subsidiaries.

Set forth on Schedule 5.12 is a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of each Subsidiary of any Loan Party. The outstanding Equity Interests of each Subsidiary of any Loan Party are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

5.13 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) No Borrower is engaged or will engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of (x) purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U, T or X issued by the FRB), or (y) using the proceeds of Borrowings to extend credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of any Borrower only or of SFC and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section 7.05 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between any Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Indebtedness and within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be margin stock.

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

5.14 Disclosure.

Each Loan Party has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Loan Parties represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time. As of the Closing Date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification is true and correct in all respects.

 

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5.15 Compliance with Laws.

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

5.16 Subordinated Indebtedness.

The Obligations constitute senior indebtedness which are entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions of all outstanding Subordinated Indebtedness.

5.17 Solvency.

Each Borrower is Solvent individually, and the Borrowers are Solvent on a consolidated basis.

5.18 Taxpayer Identification Number.

Set forth on Schedule 5.18 is the U.S. tax payer identification number of each Loan Party as of the Closing Date.

5.19 OFAC.

None of the Loan Parties, nor any of their Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is (i) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals, HMT’s Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets and the Investment Ban List, or any similar list enforced by any other relevant sanctions authority or (iii) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction. Each Borrower and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Sanctions and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such Sanctions.

5.20 Anti-Corruption Laws.

The Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010, and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions to the extent applicable to a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries and have instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.

5.21 No Affected Financial Institution or Covered Entity.

No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution or a Covered Entity.

 

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5.22 Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries.

(a) SNC and each Broker-Dealer Subsidiary which is required to be registered as a broker or dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is duly so registered, is a member of FINRA or another self-regulatory organization of which it is required to be a member, and is duly registered and licensed under any applicable state laws, is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable rules of FINRA or such self-regulatory organization except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All natural persons associated with SNC or any Broker-Dealer Subsidiary required to be registered or licensed with FINRA or with any other self-regulatory organization or other governmental entity are duly registered or licensed except where any failure to be so registered or licensed individually, or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No proceeding is pending or threatened in writing with respect to the suspension, revocation, or termination of any such registrations and the termination or withdrawal of any such registrations is not contemplated by SNC or any Broker-Dealer Subsidiary except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) To the knowledge of each Borrower and each Subsidiary, neither SNC or any Broker-Dealer Subsidiary or its “associated persons” (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) is currently ineligible or disqualified pursuant to Section 15, Section 15B or Section 15C of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to serve as a broker or dealer or “associated person” of a broker or dealer except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) The information contained in the currently effective Form BD of SNC and each Broker-Dealer Subsidiary and any amendments thereto filed with the SEC and FINRA by SNC and each Broker-Dealer Subsidiary, was, at the time of filing, complete and accurate in all material respects.

(d) Neither SNC or any Broker-Dealer Subsidiary has received a notice from the SEC, FINRA, or any other government authority, self-regulatory organization or securities exchange of any alleged rule violation or other circumstance which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) No governmental authorization, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or any other third party is required for the exercise by any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents, except as would not otherwise be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE VI.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

After the Closing Date and until the Facility Termination Date, each Loan Party shall and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:

6.01 Financial Statements.

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

(a) (i) as soon as available, but in any event within ninety days after the end of each fiscal year of SNC, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, a consolidated balance sheet of SNC and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; and

 

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(ii) as soon as available, but in any event within ninety days after the end of each fiscal year of SFC (or, if earlier, 15 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC)), commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, (A) a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of SFC and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income or operations and (B) the related consolidated changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit.

(b) (i) as soon as available, but in any event within forty-five days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of SNC, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2023, a consolidated balance sheet of SNC and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of SNC’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of SNC’s fiscal year then ended, all in reasonable detail and certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of SNC as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of SNC and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes; and

(ii) as soon as available, but in any event within forty-five days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of SFC (or, if earlier, 15 days after the date required to be filed with the SEC (without giving effect to any extension permitted by the SEC)), commencing with the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2023, (A) a consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of SFC and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of SFC’s fiscal year then ended, and (B) the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of SFC’s fiscal year then ended, all in reasonable detail and certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of SFC as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of SFC and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

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

6.02 Certificates; Other Information.

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

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and 6.01(b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer, controller, director of treasury and capital risk or director of accounting of each Borrower which shall include (i) calculations of the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11, in each case, as of the last day of the applicable fiscal quarter and (ii) such supplements to Schedule 5.12 as are necessary such that, as supplemented, such Schedule would be accurate and complete as of the date of such Compliance Certificate;

(b) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the equity holders of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, including any quarterly FOCUS Reports and regulatory capital reports, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which a Loan Party or any Subsidiary may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any other Governmental Authority that regulates SNC or a Broker-Dealer Subsidiary, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

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

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

(e) promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary;

(f) promptly following any request therefor, information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” requirements under the PATRIOT Act, the Beneficial Ownership Regulation or other applicable anti-money laundering laws; and

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

 

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

Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or an Affiliate thereof may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of such Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks, Syndtrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to such Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. Each Borrower hereby agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” such Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, any Affiliate thereof, the Lenders, and the L/C Issuer to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to such Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities Laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and any Affiliate thereof shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated as “Public Side Information.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Borrower shall be under any obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

6.03 Notices.

Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender of:

(a) the occurrence of any Default.

(b) any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including, if such event has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between a Loan Party or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (ii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting a Loan Party or any Subsidiary.

 

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(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event.

(d) any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary.

(e) any announcement by Fitch or S&P of any change or possible change in a Debt Rating.

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

6.04 Payment of Taxes.

Pay and discharge, as the same shall become due and payable, all its tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary.

6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.

(a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05.

(b) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05.

(c) Take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.06 Maintenance of Properties.

(a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

(b) Make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities.

 

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6.07 Maintenance of Insurance.

Maintain in full force and effect insurance (including worker’s compensation insurance, liability insurance, casualty insurance and business interruption insurance) with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of any Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where such Loan Party or such Subsidiary operates.

6.08 Compliance with Laws.

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

6.09 Books and Records.

(a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

(b) Maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over such Loan Party or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

6.10 Registration Status.

Cause SNC and each Broker-Dealer Subsidiary to maintain (i) its registration as registered “broker-dealers” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and under the laws of each state in which such registration is required in connection and where a failure to obtain such registration would be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) its membership with FINRA, except where the failure to maintain such membership would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.11 Use of Proceeds.

Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions (a) with respect to SFC, to (i) refinance any Indebtedness outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement and (ii) finance working capital and other lawful corporate purposes, and (b) with respect to SNC, (i) refinance any Indebtedness outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement and (ii) to finance short-term operating needs, provided that in no event shall the proceeds of the Credit Extensions be used in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

6.12 ERISA Compliance.

Do, and cause each of its ERISA Affiliates to do, each of the following: (a) maintain each Plan in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and other federal or state Law; (b) cause each Plan that is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code to maintain such qualification; and (c) make all required contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412, Section 430 or Section 431 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

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6.13 Regulatory Matters.

Cause SNC and the Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries to (a) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, broker-dealer licenses and memberships, broker-dealer registrations necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except, in each case, to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) comply with all material rules and regulations of the SEC and FINRA applicable to it (including such rules and regulations dealing with net capital requirements) and, to the extent applicable to SNC and any Broker-Dealer Subsidiary, all similar, equivalent or comparable foreign statutes, rules, regulations and other regulatory requirements, except, in each case, where the failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.14 Inspection Rights.

Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrowers and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrowers; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrowers at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

6.15 Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions.

Conduct its businesses in compliance with the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 and other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions and with all applicable Sanctions, in each case, to the extent applicable to a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries, and maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with applicable Sanctions.

6.16 Capitalization.

Cause all Bank Subsidiaries of the Loan Parties to be categorized as “well capitalized” within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. §1831(o), as amended, reenacted or redesignated from time to time.

ARTICLE VII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

After the Closing Date and until the Facility Termination Date, no Loan Party shall, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

7.01 Liens.

Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

 

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(b) Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals or extensions thereof, provided that the property covered thereby is not increased;

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

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

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

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

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

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

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(e) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount of all such Indebtedness not to exceed $15,000,000 at any one time outstanding; provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) such Liens attach to such property concurrently with or within ninety days after the acquisition thereof;

(j) leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary;

(k) any interest of title of a lessor under, and Liens arising from UCC financing statements (or equivalent filings, registrations or agreements in foreign jurisdictions) relating to, leases permitted by this Agreement;

(l) normal and customary bankers’ liens and rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions;

(m) Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;

(n) Liens on Property acquired in a Permitted Acquisition, provided that such Liens extend only to the Property so acquired and were not created in contemplation of such Acquisition;

 

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(o) Liens on Securities owned by SNC or any Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries or by customers of SNC or any Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(p) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Sections 7.03(f), 7.03(l), 7.03(p), 7.03(q)(ii), 7.03(r) and 7.03(t) (to the extent any such Lien existed at the time of such Permitted Acquisition and was not created in contemplation thereof);

(q) Liens securing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(c); provided, that to the extent such Indebtedness is owed to one or more of the Bank Subsidiaries, such Liens shall be subject to the requirements of (and granted in compliance with) Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation W, as promulgated by the FRB (“Regulation W”); and

(r) other Liens at any one time outstanding to secure obligations not to exceed $20,000,000 at such time.

7.02 Investments.

Make any Investments, except:

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

(b) Investments existing as of the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.02;

(c) Investments in any Person that is a Loan Party prior to giving effect to such Investment;

(d) Investments by any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

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

(f) Guarantees permitted by Section 7.03;

(g) Permitted Acquisitions;

(h) travel advances to management personnel and employees in the ordinary course of business;

(i) Investments constituting Rate Management Transactions;

(j) Investments constituting Securities purchased by SNC or any Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries (whether purchased and held for resale to retail customers or for SNC’s or any Broker-Dealer Subsidiary’s own investment purposes) in accordance with SEC Rule 15c3-3, and acquired in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(k) Investments of SNC or any Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries constituting margin loans to retail customers in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

 

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(l) Investments by SFC in Securities to fund deferred compensation liabilities for employees in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(m) Investments of SFC or any of its Subsidiaries constituting venture capital or private equity investments in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(n) Investments (i) by Stifel Bancorp, Inc. or its Subsidiaries in any Bank Subsidiary of Stifel Bancorp, Inc., (ii) by any Bank Subsidiary of Stifel Bancorp, Inc. in any direct or indirect Subsidiary of such Bank Subsidiary and (iii) by a Bank Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Investments of a Borrower and its Subsidiaries constituting loans for the purpose of recruitment and retention of financial advisors in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(p) Investments in Securities purchased or originated from time to time by Bank Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;

(q) (i) so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Investments in Subsidiaries and (ii) so long as no Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01(a) or (f) shall have occurred and be continuing, Investments in Bank Subsidiaries; and

(r) so long as no Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01(a) or (f) shall have occurred and be continuing, other Investments in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice.

7.03 Indebtedness.

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

(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

(b) Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date set forth on Schedule 7.03 (and renewals, refinancings and extensions thereof); provided that (i) the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (ii) the terms relating to principal amount, amortization, maturity, collateral (if any) and subordination (if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such refinancing, renewal or extension are no less favorable in any material respect to the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries or the Lenders than the terms of the Indebtedness being refinanced, renewed or extended;

(c) intercompany Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02; provided that in the case of Indebtedness owing by a Loan Party to a Subsidiary (i) such Indebtedness, if not made pursuant to Regulation W, shall be subordinated to the Obligations in a manner and to an extent reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) such Indebtedness shall not be prepaid unless no Event of Default exists immediately prior to or after giving effect to such prepayment;

(d) Indebtedness arising under Rate Management Transactions;

 

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(e) purchase money Indebtedness (including obligations in respect of capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations) hereafter incurred to finance the purchase of fixed assets, and renewals, refinancings and extensions thereof, provided that such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price of the asset(s) financed;

(f) secured or unsecured Indebtedness consisting of loans from SFC to SNC or any Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(g) unsecured Indebtedness of Subsidiaries (other than Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries) of SFC in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $35,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(h) unsecured Indebtedness of SFC;

(i) Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness;

(j) unsecured Indebtedness of (i) SNC and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $20,000,000 and (b) 5% of Net Capital of SNC and its Subsidiaries at any one time outstanding, (ii) Subsidiaries that are Broker-Dealer Subsidiaries of SFC (other than SNC and its Subsidiaries) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $15,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(k) Guarantees with respect to Indebtedness permitted under this Section 7.03;

(l) Indebtedness of (i) Bank Subsidiaries consisting of Federal Home Loan Banks or Federal Reserve Bank borrowings and (ii) Bank Subsidiaries between and among themselves;

(m) Indebtedness consisting of liabilities of Bank Subsidiaries of any Borrower to customers for cash on deposit incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;

(n) Non-Recourse Indebtedness related to investments by variable interest entities of any Bank Subsidiary of SFC in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the value of the associated assets reflected on the balance sheet of SFC prepared on a consolidated basis;

(o) letters of credit issued by Stifel Bank or Stifel Bank & Trust or any other Bank Subsidiary of SFC in the ordinary course of business;

(p) Indebtedness pursuant to the loan made to SNC by Stifel Bank & Trust under that certain revolving loan agreement dated as of July 31, 2018, as amended, restated or modified from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $150,000,000 at any one time outstanding;

(q) (i) Indebtedness incurred for operational liquidity needs pursuant to lines of credit, (ii) secured and unsecured Indebtedness in connection with the financing of securities and other financial instruments borrowed, bought or sold in the normal day to day conduct of SNC or any Subsidiary’s business, (iii) liabilities payable to brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, clients and correspondents, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of SNC or any Subsidiary’s business, including Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business to finance or secure the purchase or carrying of securities, clearing and clearing-related activities, the provision of margin for forward, futures, repurchase or similar transactions, Indebtedness constituting credit balances in accounts carried by SNC or any Subsidiary, the making of advances to customers, the establishment

 

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of performance or surety bonds or guarantees, or in the nature of a letter of credit or letter of guaranty to support or secure trading and other obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the ordinary course of business of SNC and its Subsidiaries, (v) notes, bills and checks presented in the ordinary course of business by such Person to banks for collection or deposit and (vi) all obligations of SNC and its Subsidiaries of the character referred to in this Section 7.03(q) to the extent owing to SNC or any of its Subsidiaries;

(r) Indebtedness consisting of intercompany indebtedness from trust company subsidiaries under a capital or liquidity maintenance agreement incurred for the benefit of a Subsidiary to meet the regulatory requirements of a Governmental Authority;

(s) Indebtedness incurred in connection with that certain intercompany note agreement in an aggregate principal amount of CAD 40,000,000, dated as of December 6, 2019, by and between Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc., as borrower, and Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited, as creditor; and

(t) Indebtedness acquired in a Permitted Acquisition provided that such Indebtedness was not created in contemplation of such Acquisition.

7.04 Fundamental Changes.

Merge, dissolve, liquidate or consolidate with or into another Person, except that so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, (a) each Borrower may merge or consolidate with any of its Subsidiaries; provided that (i) such Borrower is the continuing or surviving Person and (ii) SNC may not merge or consolidate with SFC, (b) any Subsidiary (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, SNC) may merge or consolidate with any other Subsidiary, (c) any Borrower or any Subsidiary may merge with any other Person in connection with a Permitted Acquisition; provided that (i) if a Borrower is a party to such transaction, such Borrower is the continuing or surviving Person and (ii) if SNC is a party to such transaction, SNC continues to be a registered broker-dealer pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (d) any Subsidiary (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, SNC) may dissolve, liquidate or wind up its affairs at any time provided that such dissolution, liquidation or winding up, as applicable, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.05 Dispositions.

Make any Disposition except:

(a) sales of inventory, or used, worn-out or surplus equipment, all in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the sale of equipment to the extent that such equipment is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement equipment, or the proceeds of such sale are applied with reasonable promptness to the purchase price of such replacement equipment;

(c) Dispositions that, together with all other property of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries previously leased, sold or disposed of (other than inventory in the ordinary course of business) as permitted by this Section 7.05 during the twelve-month period ending with the month in which any such Disposition occurs, do not constitute a substantial portion of the Property of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries;

 

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(d) Securities acquired as Investments which are sold from time to time by SFC or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; and

(e) Securities sold by Stifel Syndicated Credit LLC as part of its origination and syndication activities in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice.

7.06 Restricted Payments.

Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that:

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

(b) each Loan Party and each Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in common Equity Interests of such Person; and

(c) each Borrower may make Restricted Payments so long as no Default or Event of Default shall exist before or after giving effect to such declaration or payment of dividends on its capital stock or repurchase of its shares or equity interests.

7.07 Change in Nature of Business.

Engage in (x) any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries on the Closing Date or any business substantially related or incidental thereto or (y) proprietary trading and other trading transactions (other than Rate Management Transactions permitted under Section 7.03(d) and Investments permitted under Section 7.02).

7.08 Transactions with Affiliates.

Enter into or permit to exist any transaction or series of transactions with any Affiliate of such Person, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than (a) transactions in the ordinary course which are on terms and conditions substantially as favorable to such Person as would be obtainable by it in an arms-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate and (b) transactions in the ordinary course involving a Bank Subsidiary which are not subject to the market terms requirement of Section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 223.52.

7.09 Burdensome Agreements.

Enter into, or permit to exist, any Contractual Obligation (except for the Loan Documents) that encumbers or restricts the ability of any such Person to (a) make Restricted Payments to any Loan Party, (b) pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed to any Loan Party, (c) make loans or advances to any Loan Party, (d) transfer any of its property to any Loan Party, or (e) act as a Loan Party pursuant to the Loan Documents, except (in respect of any of the matters referred to in clauses (a) through (d) above) for (i) any document or instrument governing Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(e), provided that any such restriction contained therein relates only to the asset or assets constructed or acquired in connection therewith, (ii) any agreement in effect at the time any Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary of any Borrower, so long as such agreement was not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of such Borrower, or (iii) customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of any property permitted under Section 7.05 pending the consummation of such sale.

 

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7.10 Use of Proceeds.

Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U, T or X of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.

 

  7.11

Financial Covenants.

(a) Minimum Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. Permit Consolidated Tangible Net Worth at any time to be less than an amount equal to the sum of (i) $2,903,500,100 plus (ii) 50% of (A) positive consolidated net income of SFC and its Subsidiaries for each fiscal year of SFC (beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023), as set forth in the financial statements delivered pursuant to Sections 6.01(a)(ii) for such fiscal year, plus (B) all cash equity proceeds received by SFC and its Subsidiaries subsequent to the Closing Date.

(b) Minimum Net Capital Percentage. Permit the Net Capital Percentage at any time to be less than 9.0%. For the avoidance of doubt, Net Capital Percentage shall be updated on the last day of each fiscal quarter of SNC in which a FOCUS Report is completed by SNC and filed with the SEC.

(c) Maximum Consolidated Total Capitalization Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Total Capitalization Ratio at any time to be greater than 35.0%.

7.12 Subordinated Indebtedness.

Permit or make any amendment or modification to the indenture, note or other agreement evidencing or governing any Permitted Subordinated Indebtedness, or directly or indirectly voluntarily prepay, defease or in substance defease, purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire, any Subordinated Indebtedness except (a) the renewal of the Subordinated Indebtedness arising under the trust preferred securities issued by Stifel Financial Capital Trust II, Stifel Financial Capital Trust III and Stifel Financial Capital Trust IV, (b) the renewal of the Subordinated Loan Agreement – Cash dated as of September 27, 2005, executed by the Borrowers and (c) the renewal of other Subordinated Indebtedness of SNC.

7.13 Sanctions.

Directly or indirectly, use any Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension to any Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as Lender, Arranger, Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, or otherwise) of Sanctions.

7.14 Anti-Corruption Laws.

Directly or indirectly use any Credit Extension or the proceeds of any Credit Extension for any purpose which would breach the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act 2010 or other similar anti-corruption legislation in other jurisdictions to the extent applicable to a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries.

 

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ARTICLE VIII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01 Events of Default.

Any of the following shall constitute an event of default (each, an “Event of Default”):

(a) Non-Payment. Any Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation or (ii) within five days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, any fee due hereunder or any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03(a), 6.05(a) or 6.11 or Article VII; or

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty days; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading when made or deemed made (other than those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects); or

(e) Cross-Default. (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Rate Management Transactions) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Rate Management Transaction an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Rate Management Transaction) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Rate Management Transaction as to which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Rate Management Transaction) or (B) any Termination Event (as defined in such Rate Management Transaction) under such Rate Management Transaction as to which any Loan Party or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as defined in such Rate Management Transaction) and, in either event, the Net Mark-to-Market Exposure owed by such Loan Party or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

 

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(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.

(i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(ii) Any court, government or governmental agency shall condemn, seize or otherwise appropriate, or take custody or control of, all or any portion of the Property of any Loan Party which, when taken together with all other Property of the Loan Parties so condemned, seized, appropriated, or taken custody or control of, during the twelve-month period ending with the month in which any such action occurs, is greater than the Threshold Amount.

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) Any Loan Party or any Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty days after its issue or levy; or

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

(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of any Loan Party under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

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

 

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

8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default.

If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers;

(c) require that the Borrowers Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the Minimum Collateral Amount with respect thereto); and

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

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an event described in Section 8.01(f), the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrowers to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case, without further act of the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or the L/C Issuer.

8.03 Application of Funds.

After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall, subject to the provisions of Section 2.14 and 2.15, be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

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

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

 

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

Fourth, to (a) payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Disbursements, (b) payment of Obligations then owing under any Guaranteed Hedge Agreements and (c) payment of Obligations then owing under any Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements, ratably among the Lenders, the Hedge Banks and the Cash Management Banks in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth payable to them;

Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit to the extent not otherwise Cash Collateralized by the Borrowers pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.14; and

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

Subject to Sections 2.03(c) and 2.14, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.

Excluded Swap Obligations with respect to a Guarantor shall not be paid with amounts received from such Guarantor or such Guarantor’s 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.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obligations arising under Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements and Guaranteed Hedge Agreements shall be excluded from the application described above if the Administrative Agent has not received a Guaranteed Party Designation Notice, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be (unless such Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank is the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate thereof). Each Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank 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.

ARTICLE IX.

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

9.01 Appointment and Authority.

Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and the L/C Issuer, and no Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of

 

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any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

9.02 Rights as a Lender.

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

9.03 Exculpatory Provisions.

The Administrative Agent, any Arranger, or the Sustainability Coordinator, as applicable, shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, or Sustainability Coordinator, as applicable, and their Related Parties:

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

(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law;

(c) shall not have any duty or responsibility to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any of the Loan Parties or any of their Affiliates, that is communicated to, obtained or in the possession of, the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, Sustainability Coordinator, or any of their Related Parties in any capacity, except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent herein;

 

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(d) shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given in writing to the Administrative Agent by any Borrower, a Lender, or the L/C Issuer; and

(e) shall not be responsible or have any duty or obligation to any Lender or participant or any other Person to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent.

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

9.05 Delegation of Duties.

The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and non-appealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

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9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent.

(a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, and the Borrowers. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrowers, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above, provided that in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent be a Defaulting Lender. Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

(b) If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, by notice in writing to the Borrowers and such Person remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrowers, appoint a successor. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

(c) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (i) the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or removed) Administrative Agent (other than as provided in Section 3.01(g) and other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent as of the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date, as applicable), and the retiring or removed Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and such successor. After the retiring or removed Administrative Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 11.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Administrative Agent, its sub agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them (i) while the retiring or removed Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and (ii) after such resignation or removal for as long as any of them continues to act in any capacity hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, including in respect of any actions taken in connection with transferring the agency to any successor Administrative Agent.

 

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(d) Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.06 shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and a Swingline Lender. If Bank of America resigns as the L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as the L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c). If Bank of America resigns as a Swingline Lender, it shall retain all the rights of a Swingline Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swingline Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment by the Borrowers of a successor L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender hereunder (which successor shall in all cases be a Lender other than a Defaulting Lender), (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender, as applicable, (ii) the retiring L/C Issuer 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 L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.

9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, Sustainability Coordinator and the Other Lenders.

Each Lender and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent, any Arranger nor the Sustainability Coordinator has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent, an Arranger or the Sustainability Coordinator hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent, an Arranger, or the Sustainability Coordinator to any Lender or the L/C Issuer as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent, an Arranger, or the Sustainability Coordinator have disclosed material information in their (or their Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer represents to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, and the Sustainability Coordinator that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Sustainability Coordinator or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrowers hereunder. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, the Sustainability Coordinator, or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (ii) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender or the L/C Issuer for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or the L/C Issuer and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender and the L/C

 

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Issuer agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or the L/C Issuer and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities.

9.08 No Other Duties; Etc.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the bookrunners, arrangers, syndication agents, documentation agents or co-agents shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender, or the L/C Issuer hereunder.

9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations, and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer, and the Administrative Agent under Section 2.03(j), 2.03(k), 2.09 and 11.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or the L/C Issuer in any such proceeding.

 

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9.10 Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements and Guaranteed Hedge Agreements.

Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, no Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank that obtains the benefit of Section 8.03 or the Guaranty shall have any right to notice of any action or to consent to, direct or object to any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document (or to notice of or to consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of the provisions hereof or of the Guaranty) other than in its capacity as a Lender and, in such case, only to the extent expressly provided in the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements and Guaranteed Hedge Agreements except to the extent expressly provided herein and unless the Administrative Agent has received a Guaranteed Party Designation Notice of such Obligations, together with such supporting documentation as the Administrative Agent may request, from the applicable Cash Management Bank or Hedge Bank, as the case may be. The Administrative Agent shall not be required to verify the payment of, or that other satisfactory arrangements have been made with respect to, Obligations arising under Guaranteed Cash Management Agreements and Guaranteed Hedge Agreements in the case of the Facility Termination Date.

9.11 ERISA Matters.

(a) 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 any Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) 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,

(ii) 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,

(iii) (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

(iv) such other representation, warranty and covenant as may be agreed in writing between the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, and such Lender.

 

 

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(b) In addition, unless either (i) Section 9.11(a)(i) is true with respect to a Lender or (ii) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with Section 9.11(a)(iv), such Lender further (A) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (B) 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 any Borrower, 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).

9.12 Recovery of Erroneous Payments.

Without limitation of any other provision in this Agreement, if at any time the Administrative Agent makes a payment hereunder in error to any Lender Party, whether or not in respect of an Obligation due and owing by any Borrower at such time, where such payment is a Rescindable Amount, then in any such event, each Lender Party receiving a Rescindable Amount severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the Rescindable Amount received by such Lender Party in immediately available funds in the currency so received, with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount is received by it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. Each Lender Party irrevocably waives any and all defenses, including any “discharge for value” (under which a creditor might otherwise claim a right to retain funds mistakenly paid by a third party in respect of a debt owed by another) or similar defense to its obligation to return any Rescindable Amount. The Administrative Agent shall inform each Lender Party promptly upon determining that any payment made to such Lender Party comprised, in whole or in part, a Rescindable Amount.

ARTICLE X.

GUARANTY

10.01 The Guaranty.

Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally guarantees to each Lender and each other holder of Obligations as hereinafter provided, as primary obligor and not as surety, the prompt payment of the Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof. Each Guarantor hereby further agrees that if any of the Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise), Each Guarantor will, jointly and severally, promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan Documents or the other documents relating to the Obligations, the obligations of each Guarantor under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not exceed an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under applicable Debtor Relief Laws.

 

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10.02 Obligations Unconditional.

The obligations of each Guarantor under Section 10.01 are joint and several, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations, or any substitution, release, impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of any of the Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 10.02 that the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. Each Guarantor agrees that it shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against any Loan Party for amounts paid under this Article X until such time as the Obligations have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or terminated. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of each Guarantor hereunder, which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:

(a) at any time or from time to time, without notice to any Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;

(b) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations shall be done or omitted;

(c) the maturity of any of the Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Obligations shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;

(d) any of the Obligations shall be determined to be void or voidable (including for the benefit of any creditor of any Guarantor) or shall be subordinated to the claims of any Person (including any creditor of any Guarantor).

With respect to its obligations hereunder, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Administrative Agent or any other holder of the Obligations exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against any Person under any of the Loan Documents or any other document relating to the Obligations, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of any of the Obligations.

10.03 Reinstatement.

The obligations of each Guarantor under this Article X shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Obligations, whether as a result of any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, and each Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each other holder of the Obligations on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such holder of the Obligations in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any Debtor Relief Law.

 

 

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10.04 Remedies.

Each Guarantor agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, as between such Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other holders of the Obligations, on the other hand, the Obligations may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as specified in Section 8.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances specified in Section 8.02) for purposes of Section 10.01 notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing the Obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or the Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), the Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for purposes of Section 10.01.

10.05 Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee.

The guarantee in this Article X is a guaranty of payment and not of collection, is a continuing guarantee, and shall apply to the Obligations whenever arising.

10.06 Keepwell.

Each Loan Party that is a Qualified ECP Guarantor at the time the Guaranty in this Article X by any Loan Party that is not then an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act (a “Specified Loan Party”) becomes effective with respect to any Swap Obligation, hereby jointly and severally, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support to each Specified Loan Party with respect to such Swap Obligation as may be needed by such Specified Loan Party from time to time to honor all of its obligations under the Loan Documents in respect of such Swap Obligation (but, in each case, only up to the maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering such Qualified ECP Guarantor’s obligations and undertakings under this Article X voidable under applicable Debtor Relief Laws, and not for any greater amount). The obligations and undertakings of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full. Each Loan Party intends this Section to constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each Specified Loan Party for all purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act.

ARTICLE XI.

MISCELLANEOUS

11.01 Amendments, Etc.

No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Borrowers or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that

(a) no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(i) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02 or of any Default or a mandatory reduction in Commitments is not considered an extension or increase in Commitments of any Lender);

 

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(ii) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) or any scheduled reduction of the Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such payment or whose Commitments are to be reduced;

(iii) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or Letter of Credit (except as set forth in Section 2.18(a)), or (subject to clause (i) of the final proviso to this Section 11.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such amount; provided, however, that (A) only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrowers to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate and (B) an amendment to any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or to reduce any fee payable hereunder shall not be deemed to be a reduction of the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or Letter of Credit, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document;

(iv) change Section 8.03 or Section 2.13 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(v) change any provision of this Section 11.01(a) or the definition of “Required Lenders” without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;

(vi) release any Borrower without the consent of each Lender;

(vii) release SFC as a Guarantor without the consent of each Lender; or

(vii) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01 without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(b) impose any greater restriction on the ability of any Lender to assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the written consent of Lenders having more than 50% of the sum of (i) the unused portion of the Commitments then in effect and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of all Loans at such time of Revolving Commitments, Revolving Loans and other Borrowings;

(c) unless also signed by the Administrative Agent, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;

(d) unless also signed by the Swingline Lenders in addition to the Lenders required above, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Swingline Lenders under this Agreement; or

 

 

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(e) unless also signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it;

provided, further, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto; (ii) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States supersedes the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein; (iii) the Required Lenders shall determine whether or not to allow a Loan Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding and such determination shall be binding on all of the Lenders; (iv) Incremental Revolving Amendments may be effected in accordance with Section 2.16; (v) no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (A) the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (B) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects such Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender; (vi) this Agreement may be amended or amended and restated without the consent of any Lender (but with the consent of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent) if, upon giving effect to such amendment or amendment and restatement, as applicable, (A) such Lender shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended or amended and restated), (B) the Commitments of such Lender shall have terminated, (C) such Lender shall have no other commitment or other obligation hereunder, and (D) such Lender shall have been paid in full all principal, interest and other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement; (vii) the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers may amend, modify or supplement this Agreement or any other Loan Document to cure or correct administrative errors or omissions, any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency or to effect administrative changes, and such amendment shall become effective without any further consent of any other party to such Loan Document so long as (A) such amendment, modification or supplement does not adversely affect the rights of any Lender or other holder of Obligations in any material respect and (B) the Lenders shall have received at least five Business Days’ prior written notice thereof and the Administrative Agent shall not have received, within five Business Days of the date of such notice to the Lenders, a written notice from the Required Lenders stating that the Required Lenders object to such amendment; (viii) in order to implement any Successor Rate or any Conforming Changes, in each case in accordance with Section 2.02(g) or 3.03(b), as applicable, this Agreement may be amended for such purpose as provided in Section 2.02(g) or 3.03(b), as applicable; and (ix) in order to implement an ESG Amendment in accordance with Section 2.18(a), this Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) for such purpose (but solely to the extent necessary to implement an ESG Amendment in accordance with Section 2.18(a)) by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Sustainability Coordinator, and the Required Lenders.

11.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.

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

 

 

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(i) if to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, or the L/C Issuer, to the address, facsimile number, e-mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02; and

(ii) if to any other Lender (including a Swingline Lender), to the address, facsimile number, e-mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrowers).

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

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

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

(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its

 

 

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Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer, or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of any Loan Party’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials or notices through the Platform, any other electronic platform or electronic messaging service, or through the Internet.

(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of any Borrower, any Swingline Lender, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent, may change its address, facsimile, email address or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile, email address or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrowers, the Swingline Lenders, the L/C Issuer, and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and e-mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to any Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities Laws.

(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic or electronic notices, Loan Notices, Notices of Loan Prepayment, Swingline Loan Notices, and Letter of Credit Applications) purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of a Loan Party. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.

No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer, or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document (including the imposition of the Default Rate) preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders and the L/C Issuer; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) the L/C Issuer or any Swingline Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as the L/C Issuer or a Swingline Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

11.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Loan Parties shall pay (i) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent) in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuers in connection with the issuance, amendment, extension, reinstatement or renewal of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, and (iii) all out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or the L/C Issuer (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or the L/C Issuer), and shall pay all reasonable fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or the L/C Issuer, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans or Letters of Credit made hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.

(b) Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, penalties, 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 reasonable 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 Person (including any 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, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including any Indemnitee’s reliance on any Communication executed using an Electronic Signature, or in the form of an Electronic Record), or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents

 

 

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(including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any 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 any Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(c), this Section 11.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by them to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer, any Swingline Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer, such Swingline Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the Total Credit Exposures of all Lenders at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender), such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought), provided, further that, the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer, or a Swingline Lender, in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer, or a Swingline Lender in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives, and acknowledges that no other Person shall have, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

 

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

(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section and the indemnity provisions of Section 11.02(e) shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, any Swingline Lender, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

11.05 Payments Set Aside.

To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Loan Party is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

11.06 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder 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 subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (e) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and Swingline Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts.

 

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(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the related Loans at the time owing to it or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds (determined after giving effect to such assignments) that equal at least the amount specified in subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

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

(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s Loans and Commitments, and rights and obligations with respect thereto, assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not (A) apply to any Swingline Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of Swingline Loans or (B) prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations in respect of its Revolving Commitment (and the related Revolving Loans thereunder) on a non-pro rata basis;

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

(A) the consent of the Borrowers (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrowers shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

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

(C) the consent of the L/C Issuer and each Swingline Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of any Revolving Commitment.

 

 

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(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) any Borrower or any Affiliate or Subsidiary of any Borrower, (B) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural Person).

(vi) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of credit and Swingline Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment); provided, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender. Upon request, each Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

 

 

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(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers (and such agency being solely for Tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it (or the equivalent thereof in electronic form) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Loans and the L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by any Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural Person), a Defaulting Lender or any Borrower or any Affiliate or Subsidiary of any Borrower) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swingline Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and the L/C Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 11.04(c) without regard to the existence of any participation.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in Section 11.01(a) that affects such Participant. The Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(e) shall be delivered to the Lender who sells the participation) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.06 and 11.13 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01 or 3.04, with respect to any participation, than the Lender from whom it acquired the applicable participation would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation. Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrowers’ request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrowers to effectuate the provisions of Section 3.06 with respect to any Participant. To the extent permitted by Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13as though it were a Lender. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and 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

 

 

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Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit, or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

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

(f) Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swingline Lender after Assignment.

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Revolving Commitment and Loans pursuant to Section 11.06(b), Bank of America may, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and the Lenders, resign as the L/C Issuer. In the event of any such resignation as the L/C Issuer, the Borrowers shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer; provided, that, no failure by the Borrowers to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as the L/C Issuer. If Bank of America resigns as the L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit issued by it and outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as the L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer, (A) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer, and (B) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time a Lender acting as a Swingline Lender assigns all of its Revolving Commitment and Loans pursuant to Section 11.06(b), such Lender may upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Borrowers, resign as a Swingline Lender. In the event of any such resignation as a Swingline Lender, the Borrowers shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor Swingline Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrowers to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of such Lender as a Swingline Lender. If a Lender resigns as a Swingline Lender, it shall retain all the rights of a Swingline Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swingline Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a Swingline Lender, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Swingline Lender.

 

 

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11.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.

Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates, its auditors and to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or any Eligible Assignee invited to become a Lender pursuant to Section 2.16 or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to any Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder, (g) on a confidential basis to (i) any rating agency in connection with rating any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the application, issuance, publishing, and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrowers or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section, (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer, or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrowers, or (z) is independently discovered or developed by a party hereto without utilizing any Information received from any Borrower or violating the terms of this Section 11.07. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.

For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from a Loan Party or any Subsidiary relating to the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by such Loan Party or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from a Loan Party or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

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

The Loan Parties and their Affiliates agree that they will not in the future issue any press releases or other public disclosure using the name of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or their respective Affiliates or referring to this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, unless (and only to the extent that) the Loan Parties or such Affiliate is required to do so under law and then, in any event the Loan Parties or such Affiliate will consult with such Person before issuing such press release or other public disclosure.

 

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The Loan Parties consent to the publication by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of customary advertising material relating to the transactions contemplated hereby using the name, product photographs, logo or trademark of the Loan Parties.

11.08 Rights of Setoff.

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

11.09 Interest Rate Limitation.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrowers. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

11.10 Integration; Effectiveness.

This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

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11.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties.

All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

11.12 Severability.

If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, or a Swingline Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

11.13 Replacement of Lenders.

If the Borrowers are entitled to replace a Lender pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.06, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Sections 3.01 and 3.04) and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(a) the Borrowers shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 11.06(b);

(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts);

 

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(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and

(e) in the case of an assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.

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

Each party hereto agrees that (a) an assignment required pursuant to this Section 11.13 may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and (b) the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto in order for such assignment to be effective and shall be deemed to have consented to an be bound by the terms thereof; provided, that, following the effectiveness of any such assignment, the other parties to such assignment agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender; provided, further that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11.13 to the contrary, (i) the Lender that acts as the L/C Issuer may not be replaced hereunder at any time it has any Letter of Credit outstanding hereunder unless arrangements satisfactory to such Lender (including the furnishing of a backstop standby letter of credit in form and substance, and issued by an issuer, reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer or the depositing of Cash Collateral into a cash collateral account in amounts and pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to such L/C Issuer) have been made with respect to such outstanding Letter of Credit and (ii) the Lender that acts as the Administrative Agent may not be replaced hereunder except in accordance with the terms of Section 9.06.

11.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE ANY ACTION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING OF ANY KIND OR DESCRIPTION, WHETHER IN LAW OR EQUITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT OR OTHERWISE, AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER, THE L/C ISSUER, OR ANY RELATED PARTY OF THE FOREGOING IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATING HERETO OR THERETO, IN

 

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

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

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

11.15 Waiver of Jury Trial.

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

 

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11.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.

In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of the Loan Parties acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, the Sustainability Coordinator, and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, the Sustainability Coordinator, and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) each of the Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) each of the Loan Parties is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, the Sustainability Coordinator, and the Lenders each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, the Sustainability Coordinator, nor any Lender has any obligation to the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, the Sustainability Coordinator, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, the Sustainability Coordinator, nor any Lender has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, the Sustainability Coordinator, or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

11.17 Electronic Execution; Electronic Records; Counterparts.

This Agreement, any other Loan Document, and any other Communication, including Communications required to be in writing, may be in the form of an Electronic Record and may be executed using Electronic Signatures. Each of the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties agrees that any Electronic Signature on or associated with any Communication shall be valid and binding on such Person to the same extent as a manual, original signature, and that any Communication entered into by Electronic Signature, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with the terms thereof to the same extent as if a manually executed original signature was delivered. Any Communication may be executed in as many counterparts as necessary or convenient, including both paper and electronic counterparts, but all such counterparts are one and the same Communication. For the avoidance of doubt, the authorization under this Section 11.17 may include use or acceptance of a manually signed paper Communication which has been converted into electronic form (such as scanned into .pdf format), or an electronically signed Communication converted into another format, for transmission, delivery and/or retention. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lender Parties may, at its option, create one or more copies of any Communication in the form of an imaged Electronic Record (“Electronic Copy”), which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document. All Communications in the form of an Electronic Record, including an Electronic Copy, shall be considered an original for all purposes, and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Administrative Agent, any Swingline Lender, nor the L/C Issuer is under any obligation to accept an Electronic Signature in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Person pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, that, without limiting

 

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the foregoing, (a) to the extent the Administrative Agent, any Swingline Lender, and/or the L/C Issuer has agreed to accept such Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each Lender Party shall be entitled to rely on any such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, and/or any Lender Party without further verification and regardless of the appearance or form of such Electronic Signature, and (b) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party, any Communication executed using an Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart.

Neither the Administrative Agent, any Swingline Lender, nor the L/C Issuer shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Communication (including in connection with the Administrative Agent’s, such Swingline Lender’s, or the L/C Issuer’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed .pdf or any other electronic means). Each of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lenders, and the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to rely on, and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon, any Communication (which Communication may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet, or intranet website posting or other distribution signed using an Electronic Signature) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

Each of the Loan Parties and the Lender Parties hereby waives (a) any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement and/or any other Communication based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement or such Communication, as applicable, and (b) any claim against the Administrative Agent or any Lender Party and any Related Party of the foregoing for any liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or such Lender Party’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures, including any liabilities arising as a result of the failure of any Loan Party or any Lender Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature.

11.18 USA PATRIOT Act Notice.

Each Lender that is subject to the PATRIOT Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “PATRIOT Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of the Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the PATRIOT Act. The Loan Parties shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.

11.19 Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness.

Each Loan Party (a “Subordinating Loan Party”) agrees that the payment of all obligations and indebtedness, whether principal, interest, fees and other amounts and whether now owing or hereafter arising, owing to such Subordinating Loan Party by any other Loan Party is expressly subordinated to the payment in full in cash of the Obligations. If the Administrative Agent so requests, any such obligation or indebtedness shall be enforced and performance received by the Subordinating Loan Party as trustee for the holders of the Obligations and the proceeds thereof shall be paid over to the holders of the Obligations on account of the Obligations, but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of the

 

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Subordinating Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. Without limitation of the foregoing, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, the Loan Parties may make and receive payments with respect to any such obligations and indebtedness, provided, that in the event that any Loan Party receives any payment of any such obligations and indebtedness at a time when such payment is prohibited by this Section, such payment shall be held by such Loan Party, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to the Administrative Agent.

11.20 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions.

Solely to the extent any Lender or the L/C Issuer that is an EEA Financial Institution is a party to this Agreement and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Lender or the L/C Issuer that is an Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any Lender or the L/C Issuer 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 entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

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

11.21 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs.

To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for any Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support, “QFC Credit Support”, and each such QFC, a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated 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

 

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under such 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 such 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.

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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

 

BORROWERS AND GUARANTORS:      

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.,

a Delaware Corporation

      By:  

/s/ James M. Marischen

      Name:   James M. Marischen
      Title:   Chief Financial Officer
     

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED,

a Missouri Corporation

      By:  

/s/ Frederick Schrick

      Name:   Frederick Schrick
      Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:    

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

    By:  

/s/ Rose Thomas

    Name:   Rose Thomas
    Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


LENDERS:    

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as a Lender, a Swingline Lender, and the L/C Issuer

    By:  

/s/ Sherman Wong

    Name:   Sherman Wong
    Title:   Director

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Madeline Cassidy

Name:   Madeline Cassidy
Title:   Duly Authorized Signatory

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Chris Doering

Name:   Chris Doering
Title:   Senior Vice President

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ James Mastroianna

Name:   James Mastroianna
Title:   Director

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Sonia Malhotra

Name:   Sonia Malhotra
Title:   Director

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


M&T BANK,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Macon Heikes

Name:   Macon Heikes
Title:   Vice President

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


ASSOCIATED BANK, N.A.,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Daniel R. Raynor

Daniel R. Raynor

Senior Vice President

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


CITIZENS BANK, N.A.,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Martin Rohan

Name:   Martin Rohan
Title:   Senior Vice President

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


UMB BANK, N.A.,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Daniel P. Genovese

Name:   Daniel P. Genovese
Title:   Senior Vice-President

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


PROVIDENT BANK,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Raymond Eckhoff

Name:   Raymond Eckhoff
Title:   First Vice President

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT


TRISTATE CAPITAL BANK,

as a Lender

By:  

/s/ Ellen Frank

Name:   Ellen Frank
Title:   Senior Vice President

 

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

CREDIT AGREEMENT

v3.23.3
Document and Entity Information
Sep. 27, 2023
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]  
Entity Registrant Name STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP
Amendment Flag false
Entity Central Index Key 0000720672
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Sep. 27, 2023
Entity Incorporation State Country Code DE
Entity File Number 001-09305
Entity Tax Identification Number 43-1273600
Entity Address, Address Line One 501 N. Broadway
Entity Address, City or Town St. Louis
Entity Address, State or Province MO
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 63102-2188
City Area Code (314)
Local Phone Number 342-2000
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Entity Emerging Growth Company false
Common Stock [Member]  
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]  
Security 12b Title Common Stock, $0.15 par value per share
Trading Symbol SF
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Depository Shares Each Representing One By Thousandth Interest In Share Of Six Point Two Five Percentage Not Cumulative Preferred Stock Series B [Member]  
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]  
Security 12b Title Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.25% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B
Trading Symbol SF-PB
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Depository Shares Each Representing One By Thousandth Interest In Share Of Six Point One Two Five Percentage Not Cumulative Preferred Stock Series C Preferred Stock [Member]  
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]  
Security 12b Title Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.125% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C
Trading Symbol SF-PC
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Depository Shares Each Representing One By Thousandth Interest In Share Of Four Point Five Zero Percentage Not Cumulative Preferred Stock Series D Preferred Stock [Member]  
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]  
Security 12b Title Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D
Trading Symbol SF-PD
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Senior Notes 520 Due 2047 [Member]  
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]  
Security 12b Title 5.20% Senior Notes due 2047
Trading Symbol SFB
Security Exchange Name NYSE

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