Document
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
by and among
AUTONATION, INC.,
as Borrower,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and as Lender,
and
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., MIZUHO BANK, LTD., TRUIST BANK AND WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Syndication Agents and as Lenders,
and
MERCEDES-BENZ FINANCIAL SERVICES USA LLC, TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION AND U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Documentation Agents and as Lenders,
and
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME
July 18, 2023
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., BOFA SECURITIES, INC., MIZUHO BANK, LTD., TRUIST SECURITIES, INC. and WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
Co-Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page |
| ARTICLE I |
| Definitions |
1.1 Definitions |
1 |
1.2 Rules of Interpretation |
31 |
1.3 Accounting for Permitted Acquisitions |
32 |
1.4 Accounting for Derivatives |
32 |
1.5 Accounting and Financial Determinations |
32 |
1.6 Divisions |
33 |
1.7 Limited Condition Acquisition |
33 |
1.8 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification |
33 |
|
|
| ARTICLE II |
| The Loans |
| 2.1 [Reserved] |
34 |
2.2 [Reserved] |
34 |
2.3 [Reserved] |
34 |
2.4 Revolving Credit Commitments |
34 |
2.5 Competitive Bid Loans |
37 |
2.6 Payment of Interest |
40 |
2.7 Payment of Principal |
41 |
2.8 Non-Conforming Payments |
41 |
2.9 Pro Rata Payments |
42 |
2.10 Reductions and Prepayment |
42 |
2.11 Decrease in Amounts |
43 |
2.12 Conversions and Elections of Subsequent Interest Periods |
43 |
2.13 Fees |
44 |
2.14 Deficiency Advances; Failure to Purchase Participations |
44 |
2.15 Intraday Funding |
44 |
2.16 Use of Proceeds |
45 |
2.17 [Reserved] |
45 |
2.18 Increased Amounts |
45 |
2.19 Extension of Termination Date |
48 |
|
|
| ARTICLE III |
| Letters of Credit |
|
| 3.1 Letters of Credit |
49 |
3.2 Reimbursements and Participations |
50 |
3.3 Governmental Action |
53 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.4 Letter of Credit Fee |
53 |
3.5 Administrative Fees |
53 |
|
| ARTICLE IV |
| Change in Circumstances |
|
4.1 Increased Cost and Reduced Return |
53 |
4.2 Alternate Rate of Interest |
56 |
4.3 Illegality |
58 |
4.4 Treatment of Affected Loans |
58 |
4.5 Compensation |
59 |
4.6 Taxes |
60 |
4.7 Replacement Lenders |
63 |
4.8 Defaulting Revolving Lenders |
64 |
|
| ARTICLE V |
| Conditions to Making Loans and Issuing Letters of Credit |
|
5.1 Conditions to Effectiveness and the Initial Advance |
67 |
5.2 Conditions of Loans |
68 |
5.3 Supplements to Schedules |
68 |
|
| ARTICLE VI |
| Representations and Warranties |
|
6.1 Representations and Warranties |
69 |
|
| ARTICLE VII |
| Affirmative Covenants |
|
7.1 Financial Reports, Etc. |
74 |
7.2 Maintain Properties |
75 |
7.3 Existence, Qualification, Etc. |
75 |
7.4 Regulations and Taxes |
75 |
7.5 Insurance |
76 |
7.6 True Books |
76 |
7.7 Right of Inspection |
76 |
7.8 Observe all Laws |
76 |
7.9 Governmental Licenses |
76 |
7.10 Covenants Extending to Subsidiaries |
77 |
7.11 Officer's Knowledge of Default |
77 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 7.12 Suits or Other Proceedings |
77 |
7.13 Notice of Discharge of Hazardous Material or Environmental Complaint |
77 |
7.14 Environmental Compliance |
77 |
7.15 Notice of Change in Beneficial Ownership Certification |
77 |
7.16 Continued Operations |
77 |
7.17 Use of Proceeds |
78 |
7.18 Guarantors |
78 |
|
| ARTICLE VIII |
| Negative Covenants |
|
8.1 Financial Covenants |
78 |
8.2 Indebtedness |
79 |
8.3 Liens |
79 |
8.4 Merger, Consolidation or Fundamental Changes |
82 |
8.5 Fiscal Year |
82 |
8.6 [Reserved] |
82 |
8.7 Manufacturer Consents |
82 |
8.8 Use of Proceeds |
82 |
|
| ARTICLE IX |
| Events of Default and Acceleration |
|
9.1 Events of Default |
83 |
9.2 Administrative Agent to Act |
86 |
9.3 Cumulative Rights |
86 |
9.4 No Waiver |
86 |
9.5 Allocation of Proceeds |
86 |
|
| ARTICLE X |
| The Administrative Agent |
|
10.1 Authorization and Action |
87 |
10.2 Administrative Agent's Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc |
89 |
10.3 Posting of Communications |
90 |
10.4 The Administrative Agent Individually |
92 |
10.5 Successor Administrative Agent |
92 |
10.6 Acknowledgments of Lenders and Issuing Banks |
93 |
10.7 Certain ERISA Matters |
95 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ARTICLE XI |
| Miscellaneous |
|
11.1 Assignments and Participations |
96 |
11.2 Notices |
99 |
11.3 Right of Set-off; Adjustments |
101 |
11.4 Survival |
102 |
11.5 Expenses |
102 |
11.6 Amendments and Waivers |
102 |
11.7 Counterparts; Electronic Execution |
104 |
11.8 Termination |
105 |
11.9 Limitation of Liability; Indemnification |
105 |
11.10 Severability |
106 |
11.11 Entire Agreement |
106 |
11.12 Agreement Controls |
106 |
11.13 Usury Savings Clause |
106 |
11.14 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial |
107 |
11.15 Confidentiality |
108 |
11.16 Releases of Facility Guarantees |
109 |
11.17 Guarantor Release |
109 |
11.18 MANUFACTURER CONSENTS |
109 |
11.19 USA Patriot Act Notice |
110 |
11.20 Effect of Amendment and Restatement |
110 |
11.21 Acknowledgment and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions |
111 |
11.22 Acknowledgment Regarding Any Supported QFCs |
111 |
11.23 No Fiduciary Duty, etc |
112 |
31
|
|
|
|
|
|
| EXHIBIT A |
Revolving Credit Commitments |
| EXHIBIT B |
Form of Assignment and Assumption |
| EXHIBIT C |
Notice of Appointment (or Revocation) of Authorized Representative |
| EXHIBIT D |
Form of Borrowing Notice |
| EXHIBIT E |
Compliance Certificate |
| EXHIBIT F |
Form of Interest Rate Selection Notice |
| EXHIBIT G |
Form of Competitive Bid Quote Request |
| EXHIBIT H |
Form of Competitive Bid Quote |
| EXHIBIT I |
[Intentionally Omitted] |
| EXHIBIT J |
Form of Facility Guaranty |
| EXHIBIT K |
Form of Commitment Increase Agreement |
| EXHIBIT L |
Form of Added Lender Agreement |
| EXHIBIT M |
Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Schedule 1.1(a) |
Closing Date Existing Issuing Banks and Closing Date Existing Letters of Credit |
| Schedule 1.1(b) |
Manufacturer Consents |
| Schedule 1.1(c) |
Existing Vehicle Lenders |
| Schedule 6.1(g) |
Litigation |
| Schedule 6.1(l) |
ERISA |
| Schedule 6.1(n) |
Environmental Issues |
| Schedule 8.3 |
Existing Liens |
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of July 18, 2023 (the “Agreement”), is made by and among:
AUTONATION, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”); and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America (“JPMorgan Chase Bank”), each other lender signatory hereto on the Closing Date, each Person which may hereafter execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1 and each Person which hereafter becomes an Added Lender pursuant to Section 2.18 (hereinafter JPMorgan Chase Bank and such other lenders and Added Lenders may be referred to individually as a “Lender” or collectively as the “Lenders”); and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”);
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrower is party to the Existing Credit Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Existing Credit Agreement be amended and restated in order to make certain amendments as provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Lenders that are signatories hereto have agreed to amend the Existing Credit Agreement in such respects and to restate the Existing Credit Agreement as so amended and restated as provided in this Agreement (and, in that connection, certain lenders not currently party to the Existing Credit Agreement shall become a party as lenders hereunder), effective upon the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent set forth in Article V;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Borrower, the Lenders party hereto and the Administrative Agent hereby agree that on the Closing Date (as defined below) the Existing Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
1.1 Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, in addition to the definitions set forth above, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Absolute Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.5(c)(ii)(C) hereof.
“Acquisition” means the acquisition of (i) a controlling equity interest in another Person (including the purchase of an option, warrant or convertible or similar type security to acquire such a controlling interest at the time it is exercised by the holder thereof), whether by purchase of such equity interest or upon exercise of an option or warrant for, or conversion of securities into, such equity interest, or (ii) assets of another Person which constitute all or substantially all of the assets of such Person or of a line or lines of business conducted by such Person.
“Acquisition Adjustments” means with respect to any Permitted Acquisition the adjustments provided for in Section 1.3.
“Added Lender” means the Added Revolving Credit Lender or the Added Term Lender, as applicable.
“Added Revolving Credit Commitments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18 hereof.
“Added Revolving Credit Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18 hereof.
“Added Term Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18 hereof.
“Added Term Loan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18 hereof.
“Adjusted Consolidated EBITDA” means Consolidated EBITDA minus any Consolidated Interest Expense related to (i) Vehicle Secured Indebtedness and (ii) Vehicle Receivables Indebtedness.
“Adjusted Consolidated Interest Expense” means Consolidated Interest Expense minus any Consolidated Interest Expense related to Vehicle Receivables Indebtedness.
“Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR” means an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Daily Simple SOFR, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Adjusted Term SOFR Rate” means, for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to (a) the Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period, plus (b) 0.10%; provided that if the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate as so determined would be less than the Floor, such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Advance” means a borrowing under (i) the Revolving Credit Facility, consisting of the aggregate principal amount of a Base Rate Loan or a Term Benchmark Loan, as the case may be, or (ii) the Competitive Bid Facility consisting of a Competitive Bid Loan.
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person. The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting stock, by contract or otherwise.
“Agent-Related Persons” means the Administrative Agent (including any successor administrative agent), together with its Affiliates (including, in the case of JPMorgan Chase Bank in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC), and the officers, directors, employees and attorneys-in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.
“Agents” means the collective reference to the Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agents and Documentation Agents referred to on the cover page hereof.
“Aggregate Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect or, if the Revolving Credit Commitments have been terminated, the amount of such Lender’s Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations then in effect.
“Aggregate Exposure Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of such Lender’s Aggregate Exposure at such time to the Aggregate Exposure of all Lenders at such time.
“Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Ancillary Document” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.7.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
“Applicable Base Rate Margin” means that number of basis points per annum set forth in the Pricing Grid under the heading “Applicable Base Rate Margin”.
“Applicable Commitment Fee” for each Revolving Credit Lender means (a) that number of basis points per annum set forth on the Pricing Grid under the heading “Applicable Commitment Fee”, multiplied by (b) such Lender’s Available Revolving Credit Commitment.
“Applicable Lending Office” means, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan, the “Lending Office” of such Lender (or of an Affiliate of such Lender) designated for such Type of Loan on the signature pages hereof or such other office of such Lender (or an Affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower by written notice in accordance with the terms hereof as the office by which its Loans of such Type are to be made and maintained.
“Applicable Margin” means the Applicable Base Rate Margin, Applicable Term Benchmark Margin or Applicable RFR Margin, as applicable.
“Applicable Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.3(c).
“Applicable RFR Margin” means that number of basis points per annum set forth on the Pricing Grid under the heading “Applicable RFR Margin”.
“Applicable Term Benchmark Margin” means that number of basis points per annum set forth on the Pricing Grid under the heading “Applicable Term Benchmark Margin”.
“Applications and Agreements for Letters of Credit” means, collectively, the applications for Letters of Credit executed by the Borrower from time to time and delivered to the applicable Issuing Bank to support the issuance of Letters of Credit.
“Approved Electronic Platform” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.3(a).
“Arrangers” means the collective reference to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., BofA Securities, Inc., Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Truist Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.
“ASC” means Accounting Standards Codification.
“Assignment and Assumption” shall mean an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit B (with blanks appropriately filled in) delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with an assignment of a Lender’s interest under this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1.
“Authorized Representative” means (i) with respect to financial matters, the Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer of the Borrower and (ii) for all other purposes, any of the Executive Chairman, Chairman, Vice Chairmen, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Executive Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents of the Borrower or any other person expressly designated by the Board of Directors of the Borrower (or the appropriate committee thereof) as an Authorized Representative of the Borrower, in each case, as set forth from time to time in a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
“Auto-Releasing Credit Facility” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.17.
“Automobile Retailing Activities” means new and used vehicle retailing, renting, leasing, financing, servicing, repairing and related or complementary activities, including but not limited to the selling of finance and insurance related products and other aftermarket parts and accessories.
“Available Revolving Credit Commitment” means, as to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect over (b) the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding and such Lender’s Participation in the Letter of Credit Outstandings.
“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) or payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof), as applicable, that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period for any term rate or otherwise, for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated pursuant to this Agreement as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to clause (e) of Section 4.2.
“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, regulation rule or requirement for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Base Rate” means the sum of:
(a) for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (i) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (ii) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (iii) the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for a one month Interest Period as published two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day (or if such day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the immediately preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day) plus 1%; provided that for the purpose of this definition, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for any day shall be based on the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m. Chicago time on such day (or any amended publication time for the Term SOFR Reference Rate, as specified by the CME Term SOFR Administrator in the Term SOFR Reference Rate methodology).
plus
(b) the Applicable Base Rate Margin.
Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate, respectively. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 4.2 (for the avoidance of doubt, only until the Benchmark Replacement has been determined pursuant to Section 4.2(b)), then the Base Rate shall be the greater of clauses (i) and (ii) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (iii) above. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Base Rate as determined pursuant to the foregoing would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan for which the rate of interest is determined by reference to the Base Rate.
“Base Rate Refunding Loan” means a Base Rate Revolving Credit Loan made to satisfy Reimbursement Obligations arising from a drawing under a Letter of Credit.
“Benchmark” means, initially, with respect to any (i) RFR Loan, the Daily Simple SOFR, (ii) Term Benchmark Loan, the Term SOFR Rate or (iii) Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, the Term SOFR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event, and the related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the Daily Simple SOFR or Term SOFR Rate, as applicable, or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to clause (b) of Section 4.2.
“Benchmark Replacement” means, for any Available Tenor, the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:
(1) the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR;
(2) the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time in the United States and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
If the Benchmark Replacement as determined pursuant to clause (1) or (2) above would be less than the Floor, the Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for any applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor for any setting of such Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and/or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities in the United States at such time.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period,” timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, length of lookback periods, the applicability of breakage provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides in its reasonable discretion (in consultation with the Borrower) may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of such Benchmark exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, in each case, in consultation with the Borrower).
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:
(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or component thereof) have been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be no longer representative; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (3) and even if such Benchmark (or component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.
For the avoidance of doubt, (i) if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination and (ii) the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (1) or (2) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to such then-current Benchmark:
(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark (or component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);
(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the NYFRB, the CME Term SOFR Administrator, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide such Benchmark (or component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark (or component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or
(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such Benchmark (or component thereof) or, if such Benchmark is a term rate, all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are no longer, or as of a specified future date will no longer be, representative.
For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, with respect to any Benchmark, the period (if any) (x) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date pursuant to clauses (1) or (2) of that definition has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 4.2 and (y) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced such then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 4.2.
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership or control as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies, and (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise for purposes of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan.”
“BHC Act Affiliate” of a party means an “affiliate” (as such term is defined under, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 1841(k)) of such party.
“Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Borrowing Notice” means the notice delivered by an Authorized Representative in connection with an Advance under the Revolving Credit Facility, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
“Business Day” means, any day (other than a Saturday or a Sunday) on which banks are open for business in New York City; provided that, in addition to the foregoing, a Business Day shall be any such day that is only a U.S. Government Securities Business Day (a) in relation to RFR Loans and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such RFR Loan, or any other dealings of such RFR Loan and (b) in relation to Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate and any interest rate settings, fundings, disbursements, settlements or payments of any such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or any other dealings of such Loans referencing the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate.
“Change in Control” means if any Person or group of Persons acting in concert, other than the Permitted Investors, shall own or control, directly or indirectly, more than 35% of the outstanding securities (on a fully diluted basis and taking into account any Voting Securities or contract rights exercisable, exchangeable or convertible into equity securities) of the Borrower having voting rights in the election of directors.
“Closing Date” means the date as of which this Agreement is executed by the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and on which the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 have been satisfied or waived.
“Closing Date Existing Issuing Banks” means those financial institutions which have issued the Closing Date Existing Letters of Credit, as described on Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto.
“Closing Date Existing Letters of Credit” means those Letters of Credit issued by the Closing Date Existing Issuing Banks, which are outstanding on the Closing Date and which are described in Schedule 1.1(a) attached hereto.
“CME Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited as administrator of the forward-looking term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) (or a successor administrator).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, any successor provision or provisions and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Commitment” means, as to any Lender, the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender.
“Communications” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.3(c).
“Competitive Bid Borrowing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.5(b) hereof.
“Competitive Bid Facility” means the facility described in Section 2.5 hereof providing for Competitive Bid Loans to the Borrower.
“Competitive Bid Loans” means the Loans bearing interest at an Absolute Rate or a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate provided for in Section 2.5 hereof.
“Competitive Bid Quote” means an offer in accordance with Section 2.5 hereof by a Revolving Credit Lender to make a Competitive Bid Loan with one single specified interest rate.
“Competitive Bid Quote Request” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.5(b) hereof.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit E furnished to the Administrative Agent and Lenders by the Borrower pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof.
“Consenting Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19(b) hereof.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any period of computation thereof during such period, the sum of, without duplication, (i) Consolidated Net Income, plus (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense during such period, plus (iii) taxes on income during such period, plus (iv) amortization during such period, plus (v) depreciation during such period (excluding depreciation on any Vehicles other than Vehicles used for operational purposes), plus (vi) non-cash charges arising from share-based payments (as defined in accordance with GAAP) to employees and directors, plus (vii) to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of Consolidated Net Income for such period, the amortization or expense of all premiums, fees and expenses payable to the extent related to Indebtedness, plus (viii) to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of Consolidated Net Income for such period, any non-cash impairment charge or asset write-off of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to the extent reflected as a charge pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 350 “Intangibles -- Goodwill and Other” or FASB ASC Topic 360 “Property, Plant and Equipment” and the amortization of intangibles or non-cash write-off of assets arising pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 805 “Business Combinations” and any non-cash impairment charge related to the estimate of expected credit losses pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 326 “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses” (or any revisions or successor standards with respect to such FASB ASC Topics covering substantially the same subject matter), plus (ix) to the extent reflected as a charge or realized or unrealized loss in the statement of Consolidated Net Income for such period, any downward adjustment, realized loss or non-cash impairment charge related to any equity investment pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 321 “Investments – Equity Securities” (or any revisions or successor standards with respect to such FASB ASC Topics covering substantially the same subject matter), plus (x) to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of Consolidated Net Income for such period, all fees, cash and non-cash charges, and other cash expenses associated with the exit or disposal of a business, minus (xi) to the extent reflected as a realized or unrealized gain in the statement of Consolidated Net Income for such period, any upward adjustment or realized gain related to any equity investment pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 321 “Investments – Equity Securities” (or any revisions or successor standards with respect to such FASB ASC Topics covering substantially the same subject matter) and minus (xii) to the extent reflected as income in the statement of Consolidated Net Income for such period, any reduction in the estimate of expected credit losses pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 326 “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses” (or any revisions or successor standards with respect to such FASB ASC Topics covering substantially the same subject matter); the foregoing to be determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP subject to the Acquisition Adjustments.
“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means Funded Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as at the date of computation thereof, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for any period of computation ended on, or most recently ended prior to, such date, minus any Consolidated Interest Expense related to Vehicle Receivables Indebtedness for such period, to (b) Adjusted Consolidated Interest Expense for such period of computation.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any period of computation thereof, the gross interest expense of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including without limitation (i) the amortization of debt discounts and (ii) the portion of any liabilities incurred in connection with Finance Leases allocable to interest expense, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to the Acquisition Adjustments.
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as at the date of computation thereof, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness (determined as at such date) to (b) Adjusted Consolidated EBITDA (for the Four-Quarter Period ending on (or most recently ended prior to) such date).
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period of computation thereof, the net income from continuing operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, but excluding all significant unusual or infrequently occurring items, all as determined in accordance with GAAP, subject to Acquisition Adjustments.
“Consolidated Tangible Assets” means Consolidated Total Assets minus (i) all current liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries reflected in the consolidated balance sheet for the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is available (excluding any current liabilities for borrowed money having a maturity of less than 12 months but by its terms being renewable or extendible beyond 12 months from such date at the option of the Borrower) and (ii) all goodwill, tradenames, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangible assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries reflected in such balance sheet, in each case calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as determined as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is available, calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Continue”, “Continuation”, and “Continued” shall refer to the continuation pursuant to Section 2.12 hereof of a Loan of one Type as a Loan of the same Type from one Interest Period to the next Interest Period.
“Control Investment Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person that (a) directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person and (b) is organized by such Person primarily for the purpose of making equity or debt investments in one or more companies.
For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.
“Convert”, “Conversion”, and “Converted” shall refer to a conversion pursuant to Section 2.12 of one Type of Loan into another Type of Loan.
“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(c) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Covered Party” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.22.
“Credit Party” means the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank or any other Lender.
“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to SOFR for the day (such day “SOFR Determination Date”) that is three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower. If by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the second (2nd) U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately following any SOFR Determination Date, SOFR in respect of such SOFR Determination Date has not been published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Daily Simple SOFR has not occurred, then SOFR for such SOFR Determination Date will be SOFR as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website.
“Declining Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19(b) hereof.
“Default” means any event or condition which, with the giving or receipt of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default hereunder.
“Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) with respect to a Base Rate Loan under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Base Rate otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum; (b) with respect to a Term Benchmark Loan under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Term Benchmark Rate otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum; (c) with respect to a Competitive Bid Loan under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Absolute Rate or Term Benchmark Competitive Rate otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum; and (d) with respect to an RFR Loan under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR plus 2% per annum; 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 any Lender, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, that (a) in the case of any Revolving Credit Lender, has (i) failed to fund any portion of its Revolving Credit Loans or Participations in Letters of Credit within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder and such failure is continuing unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith 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, (ii) notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Revolving Credit Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith 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), (iii) failed, within three (3) Business Days after receipt of request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its obligations to fund prospective Revolving Credit Loans and Participations in then outstanding Letters of Credit (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (iii) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower), or (iv) otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within three Business Days of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (b) in the case of any Lender, has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, conservatorship, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, receivership, rearrangement, or similar debtor relief law of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit creditors or similar Persons, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such capacity, charged with organization or liquidation of its business or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment, unless, in the case of any Lender referred to in this clause (b)(i), the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall be satisfied that such Lender intends, and has all approvals required to enable it, to continue to perform its obligations as a Lender hereunder or (ii) 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 jurisdiction of courts of the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment of its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow, or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender.
“Dollars” and the symbol “$” means dollars constituting legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in the United States of America.
“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 Signature” means an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to, or associated with, a contract or other record and adopted by a Person with the intent to sign, authenticate or accept such contract or record.
“Eligible Special Purpose Entity” means any Person which is or is not a Subsidiary of the Borrower which has been formed by or for the benefit of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any Person acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary for the purpose of (i) financing or refinancing, leasing, selling or securitizing Vehicles or related receivables and which finances, refinances or securitizes Vehicles or related receivables of, leases Vehicles to or purchases Vehicles or related receivables from the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any Person acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; or (ii) financing or refinancing consumer receivables, leases, loans or retail installment contracts; provided that AutoNation Financial Services Corp. shall not be deemed an Eligible Special Purpose Entity.
“Employee Benefit Plan” means (i) any employee benefit plan, including any Pension Plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which (A) is maintained for employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates or is assumed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates in connection with any Acquisition or (B) has at any time within the last six (6) years been maintained for the employees of the Borrower or any current or former Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate and (ii) any plan, arrangement, understanding or scheme maintained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate that provides retirement, deferred compensation, employee or retiree medical or life insurance, severance benefits or any other benefit covering any employee or former employee and which is administered under any Foreign Benefit Law or regulated by any Governmental Authority other than the United States of America.
“Environmental Laws” means, collectively, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, the Clean Air Act, as amended, the Clean Water Act, as amended, any other “Superfund” or “Superlien” law or any other applicable statute, law, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order or decree, of the United States or any foreign nation or any province, territory, state, protectorate or other political subdivision thereof, regulating, relating to, or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning, any hazardous, toxic or dangerous waste, substance or material.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any (a) Person or trade or business which is a member of a group which is under common control with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, which together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or (b) entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA, with the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
“ERISA Event” means any of the following: (a) a Termination Event; (b) the failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan (whether or not waived in accordance with Section 412(c) of the Code) or the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 430(j) of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; or (c) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate.
“Escrow Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (a) incurred in connection with any Acquisition or investment for so long as the proceeds thereof have been irrevocably deposited or are otherwise held in trust or under an escrow or other funding arrangement with a trustee or other agent under or with respect to such Indebtedness to secure such Indebtedness pending the application of such proceeds to finance such Acquisition or investment or (b) to the extent and for so long as funds or securities have been irrevocably deposited or are otherwise held in trust or under an escrow or other funding arrangement with a trustee or other agent under or with respect to such Indebtedness for the sole purpose of repurchasing, redeeming, defeasing, repaying, satisfying and discharging or otherwise acquiring or retiring such Indebtedness.
“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” means any of the occurrences set forth as such in Section 9.1 hereof, provided that any requirement for notice or lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.
“Excluded Subsidiaries” means, collectively, (a) all Eligible Special Purpose Entities, (b) each Subsidiary organized solely for the purpose of engaging in the insurance business, (c) any Subsidiary organized or incorporated outside of the United States and (d) any Immaterial Subsidiary.
“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to the Lender or the Administrative Agent or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Lender or the Administrative Agent, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of the Lender or the Administrative Agent being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 4.7) or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 4.6, 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 the Lender or Administrative Agent’s failure to comply with Section 4.6(d) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
“Existing Credit Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2020, by and among the Borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and the other financial institutions party thereto (as amended by the First Amendment, dated as of September 29, 2022, as amended by the Second Amendment, dated as of March 2, 2023 and as may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified prior to the Closing Date).
“Existing Revolving Credit Loans” means the Revolving Credit Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) outstanding on the Closing Date immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement.
“Existing Vehicle Lenders” means those financial institutions listed on Schedule 1.1(c).
“Existing Vehicle Secured Indebtedness” means Indebtedness arising under new and used floorplan financing arrangements secured by new and used vehicles and related assets with the Existing Vehicle Lenders described on Schedule 1.1(c).
“Exiting Lender” means each Lender as defined in and under the Existing Credit Agreement which is not a Lender under this Agreement on the Closing Date.
“Extension Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19(b) hereof.
“Facility” means each of the Revolving Credit Facility and any tranche of Added Term Loans established pursuant to Section 2.18, as applicable.
“Facility Guaranty” means each Guaranty Agreement between one or more Guarantors and the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, delivered pursuant to Section 7.18, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented.
“Facility Termination Date” means such date as all of the following shall have occurred: (a) termination of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Letter of Credit Facility, the Competitive Bid Facility and payment in full of all Revolving Credit Outstandings, the outstanding principal of all Competitive Bid Loans and, except as provided in clause (b), all Letter of Credit Outstandings, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and fees thereon, (b) the undrawn portion of Letters of Credit and all letter of credit fees relating thereto accruing after such date to the respective expiry dates of the Letters of Credit (which fees shall be payable solely for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank and shall be computed based on interest rates and the Applicable Term Benchmark Margin then in effect) shall be fully cash collateralized in a manner consistent with the terms of Section 9.1(B) or otherwise provided for pursuant to arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Issuing Bank; and (c) the Borrower shall have fully paid and satisfied in full all other Obligations then due and owing (except for Obligations consisting of continuing indemnities and other contingent Obligations that may be owing to any Agent-Related Person or any Lender pursuant to the Loan Documents that expressly survive termination of this Agreement).
“FASB” means the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities and implementing such Sections of the Code.
“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as shall be set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the effective federal funds rate; provided that if the Federal Funds Effective Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement.
“Federal Reserve Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
“Finance Leases” means all leases which have been or should be classified as finance leases in accordance with GAAP (pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 842 “Leases”).
“Fiscal Year” means the period of the Borrower beginning on the first day of January of each calendar year and ending on December 31 of such calendar year.
“Floor” means the benchmark rate floor, if any, provided in this Agreement initially (as of the execution of this Agreement, the modification, amendment or renewal of this Agreement or otherwise) with respect to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt the initial Floor for each of Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR shall be zero.
“Foreign Benefit Law” means any applicable statute, law, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order or decree of any foreign nation or any province, state, territory, protectorate or other political subdivision thereof regulating, relating to, or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning, any Employee Benefit Plan.
“Four-Quarter Period” means a period of four full consecutive fiscal quarterly periods for which financial statements have been or are required to have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.1, taken together as one accounting period.
“Funded Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, without duplication, all indebtedness in respect of money borrowed, including without limitation all Finance Leases and the deferred purchase price of any property or asset, evidenced by a promissory note, bond or similar written obligation for the payment of money (including, but not limited to, conditional sales or similar title retention agreements), all determined in accordance with GAAP, and all undrawn amounts of letters of credit in excess of $150,000,000 in the aggregate, Guaranty Obligations (excluding Guaranty Obligations with respect to obligations of Subsidiaries that are not Funded Indebtedness) and any reimbursement obligations under letters of credit; provided, Escrow Indebtedness (but solely for so long as such Indebtedness constitutes Escrow Indebtedness), Vehicle Secured Indebtedness and Vehicle Receivables Indebtedness shall be excluded from Funded Indebtedness; and provided, further, that upon the defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of Funded Indebtedness in accordance with the terms of such Funded Indebtedness, such Funded Indebtedness shall cease to be “Funded Indebtedness” hereunder (for the avoidance of doubt, including upon the giving or mailing of a notice of redemption and redemption funds being irrevocably deposited or otherwise held in trust or under an escrow or other funding arrangement with a trustee or other agent for the sole purpose of repurchasing, redeeming, defeasing, repaying, satisfying and discharging or otherwise acquiring or retiring such Indebtedness).
“GAAP” means those principles of accounting set forth in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC), rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and principles set forth by other authoritative sources of GAAP as established in FASB ASC Topic 105 “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles,” as such principles are from time to time supplemented and amended.
“Governmental Authority” shall mean any Federal, state, municipal, national or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof, any central bank or any entity or officer exercising executive, legislative or judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government, any court or any arbitrator, in each case whether a state of the United States, the United States or foreign nation, state, province or other governmental instrumentality.
“Guarantor Release” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.17.
“Guarantors” means, at any date and to the extent required pursuant to Section 7.18, the Subsidiaries which are required to be parties to a Facility Guaranty at such date.
“Guaranty Obligation” means, as to any Person, any (a) guaranty by such Person of Indebtedness of, or other obligation payable by, any other Person or (b) assurance, agreement, letter of responsibility, letter of awareness, undertaking or arrangement given by such Person to an obligee of any other Person with respect to the payment of an obligation by, or the financial condition of, such other Person, whether direct or indirect or contingent, including any purchase or repurchase agreement covering such obligation or any collateral security therefor, any agreement to provide funds (by means of loans, capital contributions or otherwise) to such other Person, any agreement to support the solvency or level of any balance sheet item of such other Person or any “keep-well” or other arrangement of whatever nature given for the purpose of assuring or holding harmless such obligee against loss with respect to any obligation of such other Person; provided, however, that the term Guaranty Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guaranty Obligation shall be computed at the amount which, in the light of all facts and circumstances existing at the time, represents the present value of the amount which can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
“Hazardous Material” means and includes any pollutant, contaminant, or hazardous, toxic or dangerous waste, substance or material (including without limitation petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials and lead), the generation, handling, storage, transportation, disposal, treatment, release, discharge or emission of which is subject to any Environmental Law due to its deleterious properties.
“Immaterial Subsidiary” means at any time, any Subsidiary of the Borrower (i) having aggregate total assets (as determined in accordance with GAAP) in an amount of less than 5% of Consolidated Total Assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available and (ii) contributing in the aggregate less than 5% to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available. In the event that total assets of all Immaterial Subsidiaries exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter for which financial statements are available or the total contribution to Consolidated EBITDA of all Immaterial Subsidiaries exceeds 10% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available, as the case may be, the Borrower will designate Subsidiaries which would otherwise constitute Immaterial Subsidiaries to be excluded from qualifying as Immaterial Subsidiaries until the total assets and total contribution to Consolidated EBITDA of all Subsidiaries constituting Immaterial Subsidiaries are, in each case, less than or equal to such 10% thresholds.
“Increased Commitment Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18 hereof.
“Increasing Revolving Credit Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18 hereof.
“Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, including all Funded Indebtedness, all Vehicle Secured Indebtedness, all Vehicle Receivables Indebtedness, and all Rate Hedging Obligations (but excluding any premiums, fees and deposits received in the ordinary course of business), (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable or other like obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (f) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person with respect to Indebtedness of others described in clauses (a) through (i) (other than this clause (f)) of this definition, (g) all Finance Lease obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances.
“Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning therefor provided in Section 11.9.
“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 (a), Other Taxes.
“Interest Period” (a) for each Term Benchmark Loan means a period commencing on the date such Term Benchmark Loan is made or Converted or Continued and each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period for such Term Benchmark Loan, and ending, at the Borrower’s option, on the date one, three or six months thereafter, as notified to the Administrative Agent by the Authorized Representative three (3) Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period; provided, that,
(i) if the Authorized Representative fails to notify the Administrative Agent of the length of an Interest Period three (3) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, the Loan for which such Interest Period was to be determined shall be deemed to be a Base Rate Loan bearing interest at the Base Rate, as of the first day thereof;
(ii) if an Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Loan would end on a day which is not a Business Day such Interest Period shall be extended to the next Business Day (unless such extension would cause the applicable Interest Period to end in the succeeding calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day);
(iii) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period;
(iv) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 4.2(e) shall be available for specification in any notice delivered pursuant to Section 2.4(c) or Section 2.12; and
(v) on any day, with respect to all Revolving Credit Loans and Competitive Bid Loans, there shall not be in effect more than ten (10) Interest Periods;
(b) for each Competitive Bid Loan at an Absolute Rate means the period commencing on the date of such Loan and ending on such date as may be mutually agreed upon by the Borrower and the Lender or Lenders making such Competitive Bid Loan or Loans, as the case may be, comprising such Competitive Bid Loan; provided that no Interest Period for a Competitive Bid Loan at an Absolute Rate shall be for a period of less than seven (7) or greater than ninety (90) days; and
(c) for each Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate means the period commencing on the date such Competitive Bid Loan is made and ending, at the Borrower’s option, on the date one, three, six or (to the extent available) twelve months thereafter as notified by the Borrower to such Lender by the Authorized Representative three (3) Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period; provided that if an Interest Period for such Loan would end on a day which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next Business Day (unless such extension would cause the applicable Interest Period to end in the succeeding calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end in the immediately preceding Business Day).
“Interest Rate Selection Notice” means the written notice delivered by an Authorized Representative in connection with the election of a subsequent Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Loan or Competitive Bid Loan bearing interest at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or the Conversion of any Term Benchmark Rate Loan or Competitive Bid Loan bearing interest at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate into a Base Rate Loan or an RFR Loan or the Conversion of any Base Rate Loan or an RFR Loan into a Term Benchmark Rate Loan or Competitive Bid Loan bearing interest at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, in the form of Exhibit F.
“Issuing Banks” means the Lenders who agree from time to time (upon the request of Borrower) to issue (provided that no Lender shall be obligated to do so) Letters of Credit (including the Closing Date Existing Issuing Banks) in accordance with Section 3.1 and “Issuing Bank” means any one of such Issuing Banks.
“JPMorgan Chase Bank” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“LCA Election” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.7.
“LCA Test Date” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.7.
“Lender” shall as of any date have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto so long as such Lender still holds a Revolving Credit Loan, a Revolving Credit Commitment or an Added Term Loan as of such date.
“Letter of Credit” means (a) a standby letter of credit issued by an Issuing Bank for the account of the Borrower in favor of a Person advancing credit or securing an obligation on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (b) each of the Closing Date Existing Letters of Credit.
“Letter of Credit Commitment” means with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, the obligation of such Lender to acquire Letter of Credit Participations up to an aggregate stated amount at any one time outstanding equal to such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of the Total Letter of Credit Commitment as the same may by increased or decreased from time to time pursuant to this Agreement.
“Letter of Credit Facility” means the facility described in Article III hereof providing for the issuance by the Issuing Banks for the account of the Borrower of Letters of Credit in an aggregate stated amount at any time outstanding not exceeding the Total Letter of Credit Commitment.
“Letter of Credit Outstandings” means all undrawn amounts of Letters of Credit plus Reimbursement Obligations.
“Liabilities” means any losses, claims (including intraparty claims), demands, damages or liabilities of any kind.
“Lien” means any interest in property securing any obligation owed to, or a claim by, a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such interest is based on the common law, statute or contract, and including but not limited to the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be the owners of any property which either of them have acquired or hold subject to a conditional sale agreement, financing lease, or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the property has been retained by or vested in some other Person for security purposes.
“Limited Condition Acquisition” means an Acquisition the consummation of which is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.
“Limited Condition Acquisition Agreement Representations” means each representation and warranty made by the seller, the target and their respective subsidiaries or affiliates, as applicable, in the definitive documentation for a Limited Condition Acquisition that is material to the interests of the Added Term Lenders, but only to the extent that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, as applicable, has the right to terminate its obligations (or otherwise decline to consummate such Limited Condition Acquisition) under such definitive documentation as a result of a breach of the applicable representation or warranty (determined without regard as to whether any notice is required to be delivered by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, as applicable, pursuant to such documentation).
“Loan” or “Loans” means any of the Revolving Credit Loans, Competitive Bid Loans or Added Term Loans.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Applications and Agreements for Letters of Credit and any Facility Guaranty (to the extent required pursuant to Section 7.18), in each case, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and including any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto or waivers thereof.
“Loan Parties” means the collective reference to the Borrower and, to the extent required pursuant to Section 7.18, the Guarantors.
“Manufacturer” means a vehicle manufacturer or distributor which is party to a dealer agreement, franchise agreement or framework agreement with, or binding upon, the Borrower or any Retail Subsidiary.
“Manufacturer Consents” means, collectively, (a) those consent letters described on Schedule 1.1(b) attached hereto on the date hereof, and (b) any additional written consent by a Manufacturer to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby which consent is added to Schedule 1.1(b) and is in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Margin Stock” means capital stock issued by the Borrower that (i) constitutes “margin stock” within the meaning of such term under Regulation U as now or from time to time hereafter in effect and (ii) would, taking into account all other “margin stock” (within the meaning of such term under Regulation U as now or from time to time hereafter in effect) held by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, cause the value of all such “margin stock” to exceed 25% of the value of all assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that directly or indirectly secure (within the meaning of Regulation U) the Obligations.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, properties, operations or financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to pay or perform its payment obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party as such payment becomes due in accordance with the terms thereof, or (iii) the rights, powers and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under the Loan Documents, taken as a whole, or the validity, legality or enforceability thereof, taken as a whole.
“Material Credit Facilities” means (i) credit facilities with banks, other financial institutions or institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans or term loans (other than the Revolving Credit Facility), (ii) note purchase agreements and indentures providing for the issuance of debt securities or (iii) agreements that refinance any debt incurred under any arrangement or agreement described in clause (i) or (ii) or this clause (iii), including in each case any successor or replacement arrangement, arrangements, agreement or agreements; provided that “Material Credit Facilities” shall not include (a) any such arrangement or agreement described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, in each case in an aggregate principal amount less than or equal to $125,000,000, (b) any trade payables and other current liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business or (c) any Vehicle Secured Indebtedness and any Vehicle Receivables Indebtedness.
“Material Step-Up Acquisition” means an Acquisition (i) the cash consideration for which is equal to or greater than $500,000,000 and (ii) which is funded with proceeds of Indebtedness permitted under this Agreement, after giving pro forma effect to any increase in the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio due to such Acquisition.
“Mortgage Facilities” means one or more debt facilities with banks, manufacturers and/or other entities providing for borrowings by the Borrower or a Subsidiary secured primarily by real estate, in each case as such facilities are amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate is making, or is accruing an obligation to make, contributions or has made, or been obligated to make, contributions within the preceding six (6) Fiscal Years.
“Notes” means the collective reference to any promissory note evidencing Loans.
“NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
“NYFRB’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.
“NYFRB Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received by the Administrative Agent from a federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further, that if any of the aforesaid rates as so determined shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
“Obligations” means the obligations, liabilities and Indebtedness of the Borrower with respect to (i) the principal and interest on the Loans, (ii) the Reimbursement Obligations and (iii) the payment and performance of all other obligations, liabilities and Indebtedness of the Borrower hereunder, under any one or more of the other Loan Documents or with respect to the Loans or Letters of Credit.
“Operating Documents” means with respect to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other legally authorized incorporated or unincorporated entity, the bylaws, operating agreement, partnership agreement, limited partnership agreement or other applicable documents relating to the operation, governance or management of such entity.
“Organizational Action” means with respect to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other legally authorized incorporated or unincorporated entity, any corporate, organizational or partnership action (including any required shareholder, member or partner action), or other similar action, as applicable, taken by such entity.
“Organizational Documents” means with respect to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other legally authorized incorporated or unincorporated entity, the articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, articles of organization, certificate of limited partnership, certificate of formation or other applicable organizational or charter documents relating to the creation of such entity.
“Original Stated Termination Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19(c) hereof.
“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Lender or the Administrative Agent and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely from such Lender or the Administrative Agent 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 any interest in any Loan or Loan Document).
“Other Taxes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.6(b) hereof.
“Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations” means the sum of (i) the Revolving Credit Outstandings, (ii) Letter of Credit Outstandings, and (iii) outstanding Competitive Bid Loans, all as at the date of determination thereof.
“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurodollar transactions denominated in Dollars by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on the NYFRB’s Website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate.
“Participation” means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender (other than the applicable Issuing Bank with respect to a Letter of Credit), the extension of credit represented by the participation of such Lender hereunder in the liability of the applicable Issuing Bank in respect of Letters of Credit issued, and the rights of the applicable Issuing Bank in respect of Reimbursement Obligations, all in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Payment” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.6(c).
“Payment Notice” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.6(c).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any successor thereto.
“Pension Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA and which (i) is maintained for employees of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate or is assumed by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate in connection with any Acquisition or (ii) has at any time during the last six (6) years been maintained for the employees of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any current or former ERISA Affiliate.
“Permitted Acquisition” means an Acquisition effected with the consent and approval of the Board of Directors (or the appropriate committee thereof) or other applicable governing body of such Person being acquired and the duly obtained approval of such shareholders or other holders of equity interests in such Person as may be required to be obtained under applicable law, the charter documents of or any shareholder agreements or similar agreements pertaining to such Person, which Person derives the majority of its revenues from Automobile Retailing Activities.
“Permitted Indebtedness” means (i) the endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business and (ii) Indebtedness owing to the Borrower or a Subsidiary.
“Permitted Investor” means each Person and each of its Control Investment Affiliates that, on November 1, 2011, together own more than 10% of the outstanding securities of the Borrower having voting rights in the election of directors.
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture, other entity or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Plan Asset Regulations” means 29 CFR § 2510.3-101 et seq., as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as amended from time to time.
“Pricing Grid” means the applicable table set forth below setting forth the number of basis points to be utilized in calculating each of (i) the Applicable Term Benchmark Margin with respect to any Loan, (ii) the Applicable RFR Margin with respect to any Loan, (ii) the Applicable Base Rate Margin with respect to any Loan and (iii) the Applicable Commitment Fee.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated
Leverage Ratio |
Applicable Commitment Fee |
Applicable Term Benchmark Margin / Applicable RFR Margin |
Applicable Base Rate Margin |
| Greater than or equal to 3.25 to 1.00 |
20.0 |
150.0 |
50.0 |
| Greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 but less than 3.25 to 1.00 |
17.5 |
137.5 |
37.5 |
| Greater than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00 but less than 2.00 to 1.00 |
15.0 |
125.0 |
25.0 |
| Less than 1.50 to 1.00 |
12.5 |
112.5 |
12.5 |
For the purposes of the Pricing Grid set forth above, changes in the rates set forth therein resulting from changes in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective on the date that is three Business Days after the date on which financial statements and a Compliance Certificate are delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.1 and shall remain in effect until the next change to be effected pursuant to this paragraph. If any financial statements or the Compliance Certificate referred to above are not delivered within the time periods specified in Section 7.1, then, until the date that is three Business Days after the date on which such financial statements and Compliance Certificate are delivered, the highest rate set forth in each column of such Pricing Grid shall apply. Each determination of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio pursuant to such Pricing Grid shall be made in a manner consistent with the determination thereof pursuant to Section 8.1.
“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.
“Principal Office” means the office of the Administrative Agent at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Loan & Agency, 500 Stanton Christiana Road, 3rd Floor, Newark, Delaware 19713, or such other office and address as the Administrative Agent may from time to time designate.
“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.
“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 assigned to it in Section 11.22.
“Quotation Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.5(b) hereof.
“Rate Hedge Value” means, with respect to each contract, instrument or other arrangement creating a Rate Hedging Obligation, the net obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereunder equal to the termination value thereof as determined in accordance with its provisions (if such Rate Hedging Obligation has been terminated) or the mark to market value thereof as determined on the basis of available quotations from any recognized dealer in, or from Bloomberg or other similar service providing market quotations for, the applicable Rate Hedging Obligation (if such Rate Hedging Obligation has not been terminated).
“Rate Hedging Obligations” means, without duplication, any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (i) any and all agreements, devices or arrangements designed to protect at least one of the parties thereto from the fluctuations of interest rates, exchange rates or forward rates applicable to such party’s assets, liabilities or exchange transactions, including, but not limited to, Dollar-denominated or cross-currency interest rate exchange agreements, forward currency exchange agreements, interest rate cap or collar protection agreements, forward rate currency or interest rate options and those commonly known as interest rate “swap” agreements; (ii) all other “derivative instruments” as defined in FASB ASC Topic 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” and which are subject to the reporting requirements of FASB ASC Topic 815 “Derivatives and Hedging”; and (iii) any and all cancellations, buybacks, reversals, terminations or assignments of any of the foregoing. For purposes of any computation hereunder, each Rate Hedging Obligation shall be valued at the Rate Hedge Value thereof.
“Reimbursement Obligation” shall mean at any time, the obligation of the Borrower with respect to any Letter of Credit to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank and the Revolving Credit Lenders to the extent of their respective Participations (including by the receipt by such Issuing Bank of proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 3.2) for amounts theretofore paid by such Issuing Bank or the Lenders pursuant to a drawing under such Letter of Credit.
“Reference Time” with respect to any setting of the then-current Benchmark means (1) if such Benchmark is the Term SOFR Rate, 5:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the day that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days preceding the date of such setting, (2) if the RFR for such Benchmark is Daily Simple SOFR, then four Business Days prior to such setting or (3) if such Benchmark is none of the Term SOFR Rate or Daily Simple SOFR, the time determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means, the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the NYFRB or, in each case, any successor thereto.
“Relevant Rate” means (i) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan or borrowing, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate or (ii) with respect to any RFR Loan, the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR, as applicable.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date, the holders of more than 50% of the Total Revolving Credit Commitments then in effect or, if the Revolving Credit Commitments have been terminated, the Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations.
“Resolution Authority” means an EEA Resolution Authority or, with respect to any UK Financial Institution, a UK Resolution Authority.
“Retail Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary which is engaged in the sale or distribution of new or used motor vehicles, or both, and/or parts and accessories used in connection with motor vehicles.
“Revolving Credit Commitment” means with respect to each Revolving Credit Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower and purchase Participations up to an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding, determined with reference to such Lender’s Revolving Percentage as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment as the same may be increased or decreased from time to time pursuant to this Agreement.
“Revolving Credit Facility” means the facility described in Section 2.4(a) hereof providing for Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower by the Revolving Credit Lenders in the aggregate principal amount of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment less the aggregate amount of Outstanding Letters of Credit and outstanding Competitive Bid Loans.
“Revolving Credit Lenders” means each Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment or that holds Revolving Credit Loans.
“Revolving Credit Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to the Revolving Credit Facility.
“Revolving Credit Outstandings” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding.
“Revolving Credit Termination Date” means the earlier of (a) the Stated Termination Date and (b) the date the Borrower shall have terminated the Revolving Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.10(a).
“Revolving Percentage” means, as to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the percentage which such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment then constitutes of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment (or, at any time after the Revolving Credit Commitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Loans then outstanding constitutes of the Revolving Credit Outstandings); provided that each Revolving Percentage of each Revolving Credit Lender shall be increased or decreased to reflect any assignments to or by such Lender effected in accordance with Section 11.1 hereof and any voluntary or mandatory reductions in such committed amounts.
“RFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR.
“RFR Rate” means the rate of interest per annum equal to Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR plus the Applicable RFR Margin.
“Sanctions” means any international economic sanctions imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.
“Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, the so - called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so- called Luhansk People’s Republic, the Crimea Region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).
“Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, any Person subject or target of any Sanctions, including (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the U.S. government, including by Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce, or by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, any European Union member state, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (c) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b) (including, without limitation for purposes of defining a Sanctioned Person, as ownership and control may be defined and/or established in and/or by any applicable laws, rules, regulations, or orders).
“Senior Officer” means the President, Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel of the Borrower.
“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.
“SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the NYFRB’s website, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.
“SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.
“SOFR Rate Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Simple SOFR”.
“Specified Representations” mean the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 6.1(a) (solely with respect to the Borrower), 6.1(b), 6.1(h), 6.1(i), and 6.1(o).
“Stated Termination Date” means July 18, 2028, subject to extension pursuant to Section 2.19.
“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity in which more than 50% of its outstanding voting stock or more than 50% of all equity interests is owned directly or indirectly by the Borrower and/or by one or more of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries.
“Supported QFC” has the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.22.
“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.
“Taxes” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.6(a) hereof.
“Term Benchmark” when used in reference to any Loan or borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate.
“Term Benchmark Rate” means, for the Interest Period for any Term Benchmark Loan, the rate of interest per annum determined pursuant to the following formula:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term Benchmark Rate |
= |
Adjusted Term SOFR Rate |
+ |
Applicable Term Benchmark Margin |
“Term Benchmark Competitive Rate” means, for the Interest Period for any Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, the rate of interest per annum determined pursuant to the following formula:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term Benchmark Competitive Rate |
= |
Adjusted Term SOFR Rate |
+ or - |
a margin |
“Term Benchmark Loan” or “Term Benchmark Rate Loan” means a Loan for which the rate of interest is determined by reference to the Term Benchmark Rate.
“Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning assigned to it under the definition of Term SOFR Reference Rate.
“Term SOFR Rate” means, with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan or Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the Term SOFR Reference Rate at approximately 5:00 a.m., Chicago time, two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, as such rate is published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator.
“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means, for any day and time (such day, the “Term SOFR Determination Day”), with respect to any Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in Dollars and for any tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period, the rate per annum published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and identified by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.
If by 5:00 pm (New York City time) on such Term SOFR Determination Day, the “Term SOFR Reference Rate” for the applicable tenor has not been published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Rate has not occurred, then, so long as such day is otherwise a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Term SOFR Determination Day will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate was published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator, so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than five (5) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Term SOFR Determination Day. “Termination Date Extension Request” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19(a) hereof.
“Termination Event” means: (i) a “Reportable Event” described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder (other than an event for which the 30-day notice requirement has been waived by applicable regulation) with respect to a Pension Plan; or (ii) the withdrawal of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA or was deemed such under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; or (iii) the termination of a Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA; or (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Pension Plan by the PBGC; or (v) any other event or condition which would constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; or (vi) the partial or complete withdrawal (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA) of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan; or (vii) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Code or Section 303(k) of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan; or (viii) any event or condition which results in the insolvency of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4241 or Section 4245 of ERISA, respectively; or (ix) any event or condition which results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4041A of ERISA or the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA; or (x) any event or condition with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan which is regulated by any Foreign Benefit Law that results in the termination of such Employee Benefit Plan or the revocation of such Employee Benefit Plan’s authority to operate under the applicable Foreign Benefit Law.
“Total Letter of Credit Commitment” means an amount not to exceed $200,000,000.
“Total Revolving Credit Commitment” means $1,900,000,000, as the same may be increased or decreased from time to time pursuant to this Agreement, which shall be made available by the Lenders to the Borrower during the period from the date hereof until the Stated Termination Date.
“Type” shall mean any type of Loan (i.e., a Base Rate Loan, a Term Benchmark Loan or an RFR Loan).
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“UK Financial Institutions” means any BRRD Undertaking (as such term is defined under the PRA Rulebook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Prudential Regulation Authority) or any person falling within IFPRU 11.6 of the FCA Handbook (as amended from time to time) promulgated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which includes certain credit institutions and investment firms, and certain affiliates of such credit institutions or investment firms.
“UK Resolution Authority” means the Bank of England or any other public administrative authority having responsibility for the resolution of any UK Financial Institution.
“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (i) a Saturday, (ii) a Sunday or (iii) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.
“Vehicle Receivables Indebtedness” means Indebtedness incurred by any Eligible Special Purpose Entity to finance, refinance or guaranty the financing or refinancing of consumer receivables, leases, loans or retail installment contracts incurred in the sale, transfer or lease of Vehicles, including without limitation Indebtedness incurred pursuant to any securitization, factoring, warehousing or similar program; provided (x) no assets shall secure such Indebtedness other than the Vehicles, consumer receivables, leases, loans, or retail installment contracts to be so financed or refinanced, books, records, purchase agreements, rights and financial assets relating thereto, other assets customarily pledged in a receivables securitization, factoring, warehousing or similar program to provide security for such Indebtedness, and proceeds of the foregoing (including, without limitation, proceeds from insurance, Vehicles and other obligations) (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that so long as such Eligible Special Purpose Entity only owns assets of the type described in this clause (x), such Eligible Special Purpose Entity may secure such Indebtedness with substantially all of the assets of such Eligible Special Purpose Entity); and (y) neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries other than such Eligible Special Purpose Entity shall incur any liability with respect to such Indebtedness other than liability arising by reason of (1) a breach of a representation or warranty or customary indemnities in each case contained in any instrument relating to such Indebtedness, (2) customary interests retained by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in such assets or Indebtedness or (3) customary performance or payment guaranties, undertakings or support agreements with respect to obligations of any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Borrower in its capacity as servicer, back-up servicer, custodian, originator or seller, as applicable.
“Vehicle Secured Indebtedness” means, collectively, (a) the Existing Vehicle Secured Indebtedness and (b) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Eligible Special Purpose Entity to lease, finance or refinance or guaranty the leasing, financing or refinancing of Vehicles or related receivables, which Indebtedness in the case of this clause (b) is secured by the Vehicles or related receivables so financed or refinanced and/or other assets of the type described in clause (x) of the definition of Vehicle Receivables Indebtedness and (but only to the extent permitted by the last sentence of this definition) other assets, to the extent, when incurred, the amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the depreciated book value of the Vehicles so financed or refinanced or the book value of such related receivables, in each case plus the book value of any other assets securing such Indebtedness (in the aggregate, “Security Book Value”) as determined in accordance with GAAP. It is understood that, to the extent the amount of such Indebtedness exceeds the associated Security Book Value, such excess amount shall not constitute “Vehicle Secured Indebtedness” and, accordingly, shall constitute “Funded Indebtedness”. On the date any Vehicle Secured Indebtedness is incurred and on any date any lien is granted securing such Indebtedness, the percentage of Security Book Value contributed by Vehicles and related receivables financed or refinanced thereby shall not be less than 85% of the total Security Book Value with respect to such Indebtedness.
“Vehicles” means all now existing or hereafter acquired new and used automobiles, sport utility vehicles, trucks and vans of all types and descriptions, whether held for sale, lease, rental or operational purposes, which relate to the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s Automobile Retailing Activities or the Automobile Retailing Activities of any Person acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
“Voting Securities” means shares of capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent interests in any other 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 if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
“Withholding Agent” means any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.
“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule, and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
1.2 Rules of Interpretation.
(a) The headings, subheadings and table of contents used herein or in any other Loan Document are solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute a part of any such document or affect the meaning, construction or effect of any provision thereof.
(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided, references in any Loan Document to articles, sections, paragraphs, clauses, annexes, appendices, exhibits and schedules are references to articles, sections, paragraphs, clauses, annexes, appendices, exhibits and schedules in or to such Loan Document.
(c) All definitions set forth herein or in any other Loan Document shall apply to the singular as well as the plural form of such defined term, and all references to the masculine gender shall include reference to the feminine or neuter gender, and vice versa, as the context may require.
(d) When used herein or in any other Loan Document, words such as “hereunder”, “hereto”, “hereof” and “herein” and other words of like import shall, unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, refer to the whole of the applicable document and not to any particular article, section, subsection, paragraph or clause thereof.
(e) References to “including” means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term, and such term shall not limit a general statement to matters similar to those specifically mentioned.
(f) Except as otherwise expressly provided, all dates and times of day specified herein shall refer to such dates and times at New York City.
(g) Whenever interest rates or fees are established in whole or in part by reference to a numerical percentage expressed as “___%”, such arithmetic expression shall be interpreted in accordance with the convention that 1% = 100 basis points.
(h) Each of the parties to the Loan Documents and their counsel have reviewed and revised, or requested (or had the opportunity to request) revisions to, the Loan Documents, and any rule of construction that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall be inapplicable in the construing and interpretation of the Loan Documents and all exhibits, schedules and appendices thereto.
(i) Any reference to an officer of the Borrower or any other Person by reference to the title of such officer shall be deemed to refer to each other officer of such Person, however titled, exercising the same or substantially similar functions.
(j) All references to (i) any agreement or document as amended, modified or supplemented, or words of similar effect, shall mean such document or agreement, as the case may be, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time only as and to the extent permitted therein and not prohibited by the Loan Documents and (ii) except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any 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 or executive orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority (collectively, a “Law”) shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.
(k) Whenever in this Agreement any of the parties hereto is referred to, such reference shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party and all covenants, provisions and agreements by or on behalf of the Borrower which are contained in the Loan Documents shall inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, or any of them.
1.3 Accounting for Permitted Acquisitions. With respect to any Permitted Acquisition consummated on or after the Closing Date, the following shall apply:
For each Four-Quarter Period that includes the date of a Permitted Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense shall include the results of operations of the Person or assets so acquired, which amounts shall be determined on a historical pro forma basis and which may include such adjustments as are permitted under Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission; provided, however, Consolidated Interest Expense shall be adjusted on a historical pro forma basis to (i) eliminate interest expense accrued during such period on any Indebtedness repaid in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) include interest expense on any Indebtedness (including Indebtedness hereunder) incurred, acquired or assumed in connection with such Permitted Acquisition (“Incremental Debt”) calculated (x) as if all such Incremental Debt had been incurred as of the first day of such Four-Quarter Period and (y) at the following interest rates: (I) for all periods subsequent to the date of the Permitted Acquisition and for Incremental Debt assumed or acquired in the Permitted Acquisition and in effect prior to the date of Permitted Acquisition, at the actual rates of interest applicable thereto, and (II) for all periods prior to the actual incurrence of such Incremental Debt, equal to the rate of interest actually applicable to such Incremental Debt hereunder or under other financing documents applicable thereto as at the end of each affected Four-Quarter Period.
1.4 Accounting for Derivatives. In making any computation under Section 8.1, all adjustments to such computation or amount resulting from the application of FASB ASC Topic 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” shall be disregarded.
1.5 Accounting and Financial Determinations. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all
financial data required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP as in effect from time to time.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if at any time any change in GAAP would materially affect the computation of any financial ratio or other financial calculation set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders so request, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or other financial calculation to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP; provided that, until so amended, such ratio or other financial calculation shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change in GAAP. Without limiting the foregoing, leases shall continue to be classified and accounted for on a basis consistent with GAAP in effect and adopted by the Borrower as of the Closing Date, 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.
Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature used herein shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under FASB ASC Topic 825 “Financial Instruments” (or any other FASB ASC Topic having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at “fair value”, as defined therein.
1.6 Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws) (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized and acquired on the first date of its existence by the holders of its equity interests at such time.
1.7 Limited Condition Acquisition. In connection with any action being taken in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, for purposes of determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires (i) that no Default or Event of Default, as applicable, has occurred, is continuing or would result from any such action, as applicable, such condition shall, at the option of the Borrower (an “LCA Election”), be deemed satisfied so long as no Default or Event of Default, as applicable, exists on the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into (the “LCA Test Date”) and no Default or Event of Default under Section 9.1(a), Section 9.1(b), Section 9.1(g) (solely with respect to the Borrower) or Section 9.1(h) (solely with respect to the Borrower) exists or would result therefrom on the date any related Added Term Loans are advanced or (ii) that the representations and warranties set forth in Article VI or in any other Loan Document be true and correct, such representations and warranties shall, if the Borrower exercises an LCA Election, refer only to the representations and warranties that constitute Specified Representations and the Limited Condition Acquisition Agreement Representations or, in each case, other customary “SunGard” or “certain funds” representations.
1.8 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification. The interest rate on a Loan denominated in Dollars may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 4.2(b) provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept any responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to, the administration, submission, performance or any other matter related to any interest rate used in this Agreement, or with respect to any alternative or successor rate thereto, or replacement rate thereof, including without limitation, whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement reference rate will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, the existing interest rate being replaced or have the same volume or liquidity as did any existing interest rate prior to its discontinuance or unavailability. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates and/or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of any interest rate used in this Agreement or any alternative, successor or alternative rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) and/or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any interest rate used in this Agreement, any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.
ARTICLE II
The Loans
2.1 [Reserved].
2.2 [Reserved].
2.3 [Reserved].
2.4 Revolving Credit Commitments.
(a) Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make Advances to the Borrower in Dollars, from time to time from the Closing Date until the Revolving Credit Termination Date, on a pro rata basis as to the total borrowing requested by the Borrower under the Revolving Credit Facility on any day determined by its Revolving Percentage up to but not exceeding the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender, provided, however, that the Revolving Credit Lenders will not be required and shall have no obligation to make any Advance (i) so long as not all of the conditions under Section 5.2 hereof have been fulfilled, (ii) so long as a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (iii) if the Administrative Agent has accelerated the maturity of the Revolving Credit Loans as a result of an Event of Default in accordance with Section 9.1 hereof; provided further, however, that immediately after giving effect to each such Advance, the principal amount of Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations shall not exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. Within such limits, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow hereunder, on any Business Day, from the Closing Date until, but (as to borrowings and reborrowings) not including, the Revolving Credit Termination Date; provided, however, that (x) no Term Benchmark Loan that is a Revolving Credit Loan shall be made which has an Interest Period that extends beyond the Revolving Credit Termination Date and (y) each Revolving Credit Loan that is a Term Benchmark Loan may, subject to the provisions of Section 2.12, be repaid only on the last day of the Interest Period with respect thereto unless the Borrower has paid any amounts due pursuant to Section 4.5 hereof.
(b) Amounts. The aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations shall not exceed at any time an amount equal to the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Loan under the Revolving Credit Facility, other than a Base Rate Refunding Loan, and each Conversion thereof under Section 2.12, shall be in a principal amount of (i) at least $10,000,000, and, if greater than $10,000,000, an integral multiple of $1,000,000, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans, or (ii) at least $5,000,000 and, if greater than $5,000,000, an integral multiple of $1,000,000, in the case of Base Rate Loans.
(c) Advances and Rate Selection. (i) An Authorized Representative shall give the Administrative Agent (1) except as set forth in clause (2) below, at least three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days’ irrevocable written notice of each Revolving Credit Loan that is a Term Benchmark Loan (whether representing an additional borrowing hereunder or the Conversion of borrowing hereunder from Base Rate Loans or other Term Benchmark Loans to Term Benchmark Loans) prior to 12:00 Noon; (2) irrevocable written notice of each Revolving Credit Loan that is a Term Benchmark Loan to be made on the Closing Date prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, at least two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the Closing Date; (3) irrevocable written notice of each Revolving Credit Loan that is a Base Rate Loan (other than Base Rate Refunding Loans to the extent the same are effective without notice pursuant to Section 2.4(c)(iv)) representing a borrowing on the Closing Date or an additional borrowing hereunder in each case prior to 1:00 pm on the day of such proposed Base Rate Loan; and (4) irrevocable written notice of each Revolving Credit Loan that is an RFR Loan representing a borrowing on the Closing Date or an additional borrowing hereunder prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, at least three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the Closing Date. Each such borrowing notice, which shall be effective upon receipt by the Administrative Agent, shall specify the amount of the borrowing, the Type of Loan, the date of borrowing and, if a Term Benchmark Loan, the Interest Period to be used in the computation of interest. The Authorized Representative shall provide such written notice in the form of a Borrowing Notice, for additional Advances, or in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F as to selection or Conversion of interest rates as to outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, in each case with appropriate insertions. The duration of the initial Interest Period for each Revolving Credit Loan that is a Term Benchmark Loan shall be as specified in the initial Borrowing Notice. The Borrower shall have the option to elect the duration of subsequent Interest Periods and to Convert the Revolving Credit Loans in accordance with Section 2.12 hereof. If the Administrative Agent does not receive a notice of election of duration of an Interest Period or to Convert by the time prescribed hereby and by Section 2.12 hereof, the Borrower shall be deemed to have elected as to any Revolving Credit Loan, to Convert such Loan to (or Continue such Loan as) a Base Rate Loan bearing interest at the Base Rate until the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Section and Section 2.12.
(ii) Notice of receipt of each Borrowing Notice shall be provided by the Administrative Agent to each Revolving Credit Lender by written notice with reasonable promptness on the same day as Administrative Agent’s receipt of such Borrowing Notice.
(iii) Not later than 3:00 P.M. on the date specified for each Advance under the Revolving Credit Facility, each Revolving Credit Lender shall, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, make the amount of the Loan or Loans to be made by it on such day available to the Administrative Agent, by depositing or transferring the proceeds thereof in immediately available funds at the Principal Office. The amount so received by the Administrative Agent shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, be made available to the Borrower by delivery of the proceeds thereof as shall be directed in the applicable Borrowing Notice by the Authorized Representative.
(iv) If a drawing is made under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Bank for such drawing by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such drawing not later than 2:00 P.M. on (A) the Business Day (which may be the date such drawing is made) that the Borrower receives notice of such drawing, if the Borrower shall have received such notice prior to 10:00 a.m., or (B) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received by the Borrower on a day other than a Business Day or after 10:00 a.m. on a Business Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a drawing is made under any Letter of Credit, such drawing is honored by the Issuing Bank thereunder prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date, and the Borrower shall not immediately fully reimburse such Issuing Bank in respect of such drawing as provided above, (y) provided that the conditions to making a Revolving Credit Loan as herein provided shall then be satisfied, the Reimbursement Obligation arising from such drawing shall be paid to such Issuing Bank by the Administrative Agent without the requirement of notice to or from the Borrower from immediately available funds which shall be advanced as a Base Rate Refunding Loan by each Lender under the Revolving Credit Facility in an amount determined with reference to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Percentage of such Reimbursement Obligation, and (z) if the conditions to making a Revolving Credit Loan as herein provided shall not then be satisfied, each of the Revolving Credit Lenders shall fund by payment to the Administrative Agent (for the benefit of the Issuing Bank) in immediately available funds the purchase from such Issuing Bank of their respective Participations in the related Reimbursement Obligation based on their respective Revolving Percentages. If a drawing is presented under any Letter of Credit in accordance with the terms thereof and the Borrower shall not immediately reimburse the Issuing Bank thereunder in respect thereof as provided above, then notice of such drawing shall be provided promptly by such Issuing Bank to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent shall provide notice to each Revolving Credit Lender in writing. If notice to the Revolving Credit Lenders of a drawing under any Letter of Credit is given by the Administrative Agent at or before 2:00 P.M. on any Business Day, each Revolving Credit Lender shall, pursuant to the conditions specified in this Section 2.4(c)(iv), either make a Base Rate Refunding Loan or fund the purchase of its Participation in the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of such drawing or payment and shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank at the Principal Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds before 2:30 P.M. on the same Business Day. If notice to the Revolving Credit Lenders of a drawing under a Letter of Credit is given by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 P.M. on any Business Day, each Revolving Credit Lender shall, pursuant to the conditions specified in this Section 2.4(c)(iv), either make a Base Rate Refunding Loan or fund the purchase of its Participation in the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of such drawing and shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank at the Principal Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds before 2:00 P.M. on the next following Business Day. Any such Base Rate Refunding Loans shall be advanced as, and shall continue as, a Base Rate Loan unless and until the Borrower Converts such Base Rate Loan in accordance with the terms of Section 2.12.
2.5 Competitive Bid Loans.
(a) In addition to Revolving Credit Loans, at any time prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date and provided no Default or Event of Default exists hereunder, the Borrower may, as set forth in this Section 2.5, request the Revolving Credit Lenders to make offers to make Competitive Bid Loans to the Borrower in Dollars. The Revolving Credit Lenders may, but shall have no obligation to, make such offers and the Borrower may, but shall have no obligation to, accept any such offers in the manner set forth in this Section 2.5. There may be no more than ten (10) Interest Periods, and no more than one (1) one-week Interest Periods, for all Revolving Credit Loans and Competitive Bid Loans outstanding at the same time (for which purpose Interest Periods for each Term Benchmark Revolving Credit Loan and each Competitive Bid Loan shall be deemed to be different Interest Periods even if they are coterminous). The aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations shall not exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment at any time. The aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Competitive Bid Loans shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment at any time.
(b) When the Borrower wishes to request offers to make Competitive Bid Loans, it shall give the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Credit Lenders notice (a “Competitive Bid Quote Request”) to be received no later than 12:00 Noon on (A) the fourth Business Day prior to the date of borrowing proposed therein, in the case of a Competitive Bid Quote Request for Competitive Bid Loans at the Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or (B) the Business Day prior to the date of borrowing proposed therein, in the case of a Competitive Bid Quote Request for Competitive Bid Loans at the Absolute Rate (or, in any such case, such other time and date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may agree). The Borrower may request offers to make Competitive Bid Loans for up to three (3) different Interest Periods in a single notice; provided that the request for each separate Interest Period shall be deemed to be a separate Competitive Bid Quote Request for a separate borrowing (a “Competitive Bid Borrowing”) and there shall not be outstanding at any one time more than four (4) Competitive Bid Borrowings. Each such Competitive Bid Quote Request shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit G attached hereto and shall specify as to each Competitive Bid Borrowing:
(i) the proposed date of such borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(ii) the aggregate amount of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, which shall be at least $10,000,000 (or in increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) but shall not cause the limits specified in Section 2.5(a) hereof to be violated;
(iii) the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto;
(iv) whether the Competitive Bid Quote Request for a particular Interest Period is seeking quotes for Competitive Bid Loans at the Absolute Rate or the Term Benchmark Competitive Rate;
(v) whether the Borrower shall have the right to prepay a requested Competitive Bid Loan; and
(vi) the date on which the Competitive Bid Quotes are to be submitted if it is before the proposed date of borrowing (the date on which such Competitive Bid Quotes are to be submitted is called the “Quotation Date”).
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.5(b), no more than two (2) Competitive Bid Quote Requests shall be given within five (5) Business Days (or such other number of days as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may agree) of any other Competitive Bid Quote Request.
(c) (i) Each Revolving Credit Lender may submit one or more Competitive Bid Quotes, each containing an offer to make a Competitive Bid Loan in response to any Competitive Bid Quote Request; provided that, if the Borrower’s request under Section 2.5(b) hereof specified more than one Interest Period, such Lender may make a single submission containing one or more Competitive Bid Quotes for each such Interest Period. Each Competitive Bid Quote must be submitted to the Borrower not later than 9:30 A.M. on (A) the third Business Day prior to the proposed date of borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Quote Request for Competitive Bid Loans at the Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or (B) the Quotation Date, in the case of a Competitive Bid Quote Request for Competitive Bid Loans at the Absolute Rate (or, in any such case, such other time and date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may agree) provided that if JPMorgan Chase Bank is receiving quotes as provided in Section 2.5(g), any Competitive Bid Quote may be submitted by JPMorgan Chase Bank (or its applicable Lending Office) only if JPMorgan Chase Bank (or such applicable Lending Office) notifies the Borrower of the terms of the offer contained therein not later than 9:15 A.M. on the Quotation Date. Any Competitive Bid Quote so made shall be irrevocable except with the consent of the Administrative Agent given on the instructions of the Borrower.
(ii) Each Competitive Bid Quote shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit H attached hereto and shall specify:
(A) the proposed date of borrowing and the Interest Period therefor;
(B) the principal amount of the Competitive Bid Loan for which each such offer is being made, which principal amount shall be at least $5,000,000 (or in increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof); provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Competitive Bid Loans for which a Lender submits Competitive Bid Quotes may not exceed the principal amount of the Competitive Bid Borrowing for a particular Interest Period for which offers were requested;
(C) in the case of a Competitive Bid Quote for Competitive Bid Loans at an Absolute Rate, the rate of interest per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) offered for each such Competitive Bid Loan (the “Absolute Rate”);
(D) in the case of a Competitive Bid Quote for Competitive Bid Loans at the Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, the positive or negative margin to be added to or deducted from the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate; and
(E) the identity of the quoting Lender.
Unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, no Competitive Bid Quote shall contain qualifying, conditional or similar language or propose terms other than or in addition to those set forth in the applicable Competitive Bid Quote Request and, in particular, no Competitive Bid Quote may be conditioned upon acceptance by the Borrower of all (or some specified minimum) of the principal amount of the Competitive Bid Loan for which such Competitive Bid Quote is being made.
Any subsequent Competitive Bid Quote submitted by a Revolving Credit Lender that amends, modifies or is otherwise inconsistent with a previous Competitive Bid Quote submitted by such Lender with respect to the same Competitive Bid Quote Request shall be disregarded by the Borrower unless such subsequent Competitive Bid Quote is submitted solely to correct a manifest error in such former Competitive Bid Quote.
(d) The Borrower shall as promptly as practicable after the Competitive Bid Quote is submitted (but in any event not later than 12:00 Noon on (A) in the case of a Competitive Bid Loan at an Absolute Rate, the Quotation Date (or such other time and date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may agree) or (B) in the case of a Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, the third Business Day prior to the proposed date of borrowing) notify the Administrative Agent and Revolving Credit Lenders of (x) the aggregate principal amount of the Competitive Bid Borrowing for which Competitive Bid Quotes have been received as well as the ranges of bids submitted for each Interest Period requested, (y) the respective principal amounts and Absolute Rates or Term Benchmark Competitive Rates, as the case may be, so offered by each Revolving Credit Lender (identifying the Lender that made each Competitive Bid Quote), and (z) its acceptance or nonacceptance of the Competitive Bid Quotes. In the case of acceptance, such notice shall specify the aggregate principal amount of offers for each Interest Period that are accepted. The Borrower may accept any Competitive Bid Quote in whole or in part (provided that any Competitive Bid Quote accepted in part shall be at least $5,000,000 or in increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof); provided that:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of each Competitive Bid Borrowing may not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Competitive Bid Quote Request;
(ii) the aggregate principal amount of each Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be at least $5,000,000 (or an increment of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) but shall not cause the limits specified in Section 2.5(a) hereof to be violated;
(iii) except as provided below, acceptance of Competitive Bid Quotes for any Interest Period may be made only in ascending order of Absolute Rates or Term Benchmark Competitive Rates, as the case may be, beginning with the lowest rate so offered; and
(iv) the Borrower may not accept any Competitive Bid Quote where such Competitive Bid Quote fails to comply with Section 2.5(c)(ii) hereof or otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2.5(a) hereof).
Any of the conditions above notwithstanding, the Borrower may, in its sole discretion, accept a Competitive Bid Quote that does not contain the lowest Absolute Rate or Term Benchmark Competitive Rates, as the case may be, where acceptance of the Competitive Bid Quote containing the lowest Absolute Rate or Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, as the case may be, would be less favorable to the Borrower or would cause the principal amount of Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations to exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.
If Competitive Bid Quotes are made by two or more Revolving Credit Lenders with the same Absolute Rates or Term Benchmark Competitive Rates, as the case may be, for a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect of which Competitive Bid Quotes are accepted for the related Interest Period after the acceptance of all Competitive Bid Quotes, if any, of all lower Absolute Rates or Term Benchmark Competitive Rates, as the case may be, offered by any Revolving Credit Lender for such related Interest Period, the principal amount of Competitive Bid Loans in respect of which such Competitive Bid Quotes are accepted shall be allocated by the Borrower among such Lenders as nearly as possible (in amounts of at least $1,000,000 or in increments of $100,000 in excess thereof) in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of such Competitive Bid Quotes.
Determinations by the Borrower of the amounts of Competitive Bid Loans and the lowest bid after adjustment as provided in Section 2.5(d)(iii) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
(e) Any Revolving Credit Lender whose offer to make any Competitive Bid Loan has been accepted shall, not later than 1:00 P.M. on the date specified for the making of such Loan, make the amount of such Loan available to the Borrower as shall be directed by the Authorized Representative in Dollars and in immediately available funds.
(f) From time to time, the Borrower shall furnish such information to the Administrative Agent as the Administrative Agent may request relating to the making of Competitive Bid Loans, including the amounts, interest rates, dates of borrowings and maturities thereof.
(g) The Borrower may request the Administrative Agent to receive the Competitive Bid Quotes, in which event the Administrative Agent shall (A) in the case of a Competitive Bid Loan at the Absolute Rate, as promptly as practicable after the Competitive Bid Quote is submitted (but in no event later than 10:00 A.M. on the Quotation Date) or (B) in the case of a Competitive Bid Loan at the Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, by 10:00 A.M. on the date a Competitive Bid Quote is submitted, notify the Borrower of the terms of any Competitive Bid Quote submitted by a Revolving Credit Lender that is in accordance with Section 2.5(c) hereof. The Administrative Agent’s notice to the Borrower shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Competitive Bid Borrowing for which Competitive Bid Quotes have been received and (B) the respective principal amounts and Absolute Rates or Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, as the case may be, offered by each Revolving Credit Lender (identifying the Lender that made each Competitive Bid Quote). Not later than 12:00 Noon on (A) the third Business Day prior to the proposed date of borrowing, in the case of Competitive Bid Loans at the Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or (B) the Quotation Date (or, in any such case, such other time and date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may agree), the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of their acceptance or nonacceptance of the Competitive Bid Quotes so notified to it (and the failure of the Borrower to give such notice by such time shall constitute nonacceptance) and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each affected Lender. Together with each notice of a request for Competitive Bid Quotes which the Borrower requires the Administrative Agent to issue pursuant to this paragraph (g), the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Administrative Agent a bid administration fee of $1,500.
2.6 Payment of Interest.
(a) The Borrower shall pay interest (i) to the Administrative Agent at the Principal Office for the account of each Lender on the outstanding and unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit Loan made by such Lender for the period commencing on the date of such Loan until such Loan shall be due at the Term Benchmark Rate, the Base Rate or the RFR Rate, as elected or deemed elected by the Borrower or otherwise applicable to such Loan as herein provided and (ii) to each Revolving Credit Lender making a Competitive Bid Loan at its Applicable Lending Office, at the applicable Absolute Rate or Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, as the case may be; provided, however, that if any amount shall not be paid when due (at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), all amounts outstanding hereunder shall bear interest thereafter at a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to the Default Rate, or (in each case) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law, whichever is lower, from the date such amount was due and payable until the date such amount is paid in full.
(b) Interest on the outstanding principal balance of each Loan shall be computed on the basis of (x) in the case of Loans, other than Loans bearing interest based on the Prime Rate, a year of 360 days and calculated for the actual number of days elapsed and (y) in the case of Loans bearing interest based on the Prime Rate, a year of 365–366 days and calculated for the actual number of days elapsed. Interest on the outstanding principal balance of each Loan shall be paid (a) quarterly in arrears, such payment to be made not later than the third (3rd) Business Day of each April, July, October and January, on each Base Rate Loan, (b) on the last day of the applicable Interest Period for each Term Benchmark Loan and Competitive Bid Loan, but in no event less frequently than at the end of each three month period, (c) with respect to any RFR Loan, (i) initially the date that is one week after the date of the borrowing of such RFR Loan and, thereafter, each successive date that is on the same weekday as such initial date (provided that if such initial date or any such successive date is a day other than a Business Day, the applicable interest payment date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar week, in which case such interest payment date shall occur on the next preceding Business Day) and (d) upon payment in full of the principal amount of such Loan at the Revolving Credit Termination Date.
2.7 Payment of Principal. The principal amount of the Revolving Credit Outstandings shall be due and payable to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of each applicable Lender in full on the Revolving Credit Termination Date, or earlier as herein expressly provided. The principal amount of all Competitive Bid Loans shall be due and payable to the Lender making such Competitive Bid Loan in full on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, or earlier as herein expressly provided. The principal amount of Term Benchmark Loans may only be prepaid at the end of the applicable Interest Period, unless the Borrower shall pay to the applicable Lenders the amounts, if any, required under Section 4.5. The principal amount of Competitive Bid Loans may only be prepaid at the end of the applicable Interest Period, unless (i) the Borrower shall have retained in the Competitive Bid Quote Request with respect to such Competitive Bid Loans the right of prepayment, and (ii) the Borrower shall have paid to the Lender making such Competitive Bid Loans which bear interest at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, the amounts, if any, required under Section 4.5. The Borrower shall furnish the Administrative Agent written notice of its intention to make a principal payment (including Competitive Bid Loans) prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such payment. All payments of principal on Loans other than Competitive Bid Loans shall be in the amount of (i) $10,000,000, or such greater amount which is an integral multiple of $1,000,000, in the case of Term Benchmark Loans, or (ii) $5,000,000, or such greater amount which is an integral multiple of $1,000,000, in the case of Base Rate Loans. Optional prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans shall be applied ratably to the outstanding balance of the Revolving Credit Loans.
2.8 Non-Conforming Payments.
(a) Each payment of principal (including any prepayment) and payment of interest (other than principal and interest on Competitive Bid Loans which shall be paid to the Lender making such Loans) shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the Principal Office, for the account of each applicable Lender’s Applicable Lending Office, in Dollars and in immediately available funds before 2:00 P.M. on the date such payment is due. The Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, debit the amount of any such payment which is not made by such time to any ordinary deposit account, if any, of the Borrower with the Administrative Agent.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall deem any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder that is not made both (a) in Dollars and in immediately available funds and (b) prior to 2:00 P.M. on the date payment is due to be a non-conforming payment. Any such payment shall not be deemed to be received by the Administrative Agent until the time such funds become available funds. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt written notice to the Authorized Representative and each of the applicable Lenders if any payment is non-conforming. Interest shall continue to accrue on any principal as to which a non-conforming payment is made until such funds become available funds (but in no event less than the period from the date of such payment to the next succeeding Business Day) at the applicable rate of interest per annum specified in Section 2.6(a) until the date such amount is paid in Dollars and in immediately available funds.
(c) In the event that any payment hereunder becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, then such due date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day; provided that interest shall continue to accrue during the period of any such extension.
2.9 Pro Rata Payments. Except as otherwise provided herein (including without limitation Sections 2.18 and 2.19), (a) each payment and prepayment on account of the principal of and interest on the Revolving Credit Loans and the fees described in Section 2.13(a) hereof shall be made to the Administrative Agent in the aggregate amount payable to the Revolving Credit Lenders for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders pro rata based on their Revolving Percentages, (b) each payment of principal and interest on the Competitive Bid Loans shall be made to (i) the Administrative Agent for the account of the respective Lender making such Competitive Bid Loan if the Borrower has elected that the Administrative Agent act under Section 2.5(g) hereof and (ii) otherwise directly to the Lender making such Competitive Bid Loan, (c) all payments to be made by the Borrower for the account of each of the Lenders on account of principal, interest and fees, shall be made without set-off or counterclaim except as provided in Section 4.6, and (e) the Administrative Agent will distribute such payments when received to the Lenders as provided for herein and subject to Section 4.6.
2.10 Reductions and Prepayment.
(a) Reductions. The Borrower shall, by notice from an Authorized Representative, have the right from time to time (but not more frequently than twice during each Fiscal Year), upon not less than three (3) Business Days irrevocable written notice to the Administrative Agent to reduce the Total Revolving Credit Commitment without premium or penalty; provided that a notice of Commitment reduction may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or the receipt of the proceeds from the issuance of other Indebtedness or any other event, in which case such notice of Commitment reduction may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified date) if such condition is not satisfied. The Administrative Agent shall give each Revolving Credit Lender, within one (1) Business Day of receipt of such notice from the Borrower, written notice of such reduction. Each such reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or such greater amount which is in an integral multiple of $1,000,000, and shall permanently reduce the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. No such reduction shall be permitted that results in the payment of any Term Benchmark Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period of such Loan unless such prepayment is accompanied by amounts due, if any, under Section 4.5. Each reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall be accompanied by payment of the Revolving Credit Loans to the extent that the aggregate Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment after giving effect to such reduction, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the amounts prepaid. In no event shall the Borrower be entitled to reduce the Total Revolving Credit Commitment if, as a result of and after giving effect to such reduction, the aggregate Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.
(b) Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time, subject to Section 2.7, prepay the Loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, upon irrevocable prior notice which notice shall be given in writing delivered to the Administrative Agent no later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, three Business Days prior thereto in the case of Term Benchmark Rate Loans and RFR Loans and no later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, one Business Day prior thereto in the case of Base Rate Loans, which notice shall specify the date and amount of prepayment and whether the prepayment is of Term Benchmark Rate Loans, RFR Loans or Base Rate Loans; provided that a notice of optional prepayment may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or the receipt of the proceeds from the issuance of other Indebtedness or any other event, in which case such notice of optional prepayment may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified date) if such condition is not satisfied. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each relevant Lender thereof. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, together with (except in the case of Revolving Credit Loans that are Base Rate Loans) accrued interest to such date on the amount prepaid. Optional prepayments of Revolving Credit Loans shall be applied ratably to the outstanding balance of the Revolving Credit Loans.
2.11 Decrease in Amounts. The amount of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment which shall be available to the Borrower shall be reduced by the aggregate amount of all Letter of Credit Outstandings and all outstanding Competitive Bid Loans.
2.12 Conversions and Elections of Subsequent Interest Periods. Subject to the limitations set forth below and in Article IV hereof, the Borrower may:
(a) upon notice to the Administrative Agent on or before 12:00 noon on any Business Day, Convert all or a part of Term Benchmark Loans or RFR Loans to Base Rate Loans on the last day of the Interest Period for such Term Benchmark Loans; or
(b) provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and on three (3) Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent on or before 12:00 noon:
(i) elect a subsequent Interest Period for all or a portion of Term Benchmark Loans to begin on the last day of the current Interest Period for such Term Benchmark Loans; or
(ii) Convert all or a part of Base Rate Loans or RFR Loans to Term Benchmark Loans on any Business Day; or
(c) on three (3) Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent on or before 12:00 noon, Convert all or a part of Base Rate Loans or Term Benchmark Loans to RFR Loans.
Notice of any such elections or Conversions shall specify the effective date of such election or Conversion and, with respect to Term Benchmark Loans, the Interest Period to be applicable to the Loan as Continued or Converted. Each election and Conversion pursuant to this Section 2.12 shall be subject to the limitations on Term Benchmark Loans set forth in the definition of “Interest Period” herein and in Article IV hereof. All such Continuations or Conversions of Loans shall be effected pro rata based on the Revolving Percentages of the applicable Lenders, as the case may be.
2.13 Fees.
(a) Commitment Fee. For the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the Stated Termination Date, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of each Revolving Credit Lender based on such Lender’s average daily Available Revolving Credit Commitment, the quarterly portion of the Applicable Commitment Fee for such Lender. Such fees shall be payable quarterly in arrears, such payments to be made not later than the third (3rd) Business Day of each April, July, October and January to and on the Revolving Credit Termination Date (or such earlier date on which the Revolving Credit Commitments have terminated). Such fee shall be calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days elapsed.
(b) Agent Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the Administrative Agent’s individual account, an annual Administrative Agent’s fee to be payable in advance and annually thereafter on the anniversary of the Closing Date such amounts as agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing.
2.14 Deficiency Advances; Failure to Purchase Participations. No Lender shall be responsible for any default of any other Lender in respect of such other Lender’s obligation to make any Loan or Advance hereunder nor shall the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender hereunder be increased as a result of such default of any other Lender. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or the provisions of Section 2.15, in the event any Lender shall fail to advance funds to the Borrower as herein provided, the Administrative Agent may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, advance to the Borrower all or any portion of such amount or amounts (each, a “deficiency advance”) and shall thereafter be entitled to payments of principal of and interest on such deficiency advance in the same manner and at the same interest rate or rates to which such other Lender would have been entitled had it made such Advance; provided that, (i) such defaulting Lender shall not be entitled to receive payments of principal, interest or fees with respect to such deficiency advance until such deficiency advance (together with interest thereon as provided in clause (ii)) shall be paid by such Lender and (ii) upon payment to the Administrative Agent from such other Lender of the entire outstanding amount of each such deficiency advance, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, from the most recent date or dates interest was paid to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower on each Loan comprising the deficiency advance at the Federal Funds Effective Rate, then such payment shall be credited in full payment of such deficiency advance and the Borrower shall be deemed to have borrowed the amount of such deficiency advance from such other Lender as of the most recent date or dates, as the case may be, upon which any payments of interest were made by the Borrower thereon.
2.15 Intraday Funding. Without limiting the provisions of Section 2.14, unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 Noon of the Business Day before the date any payment (including in the case of Lenders any Advance) to be made by it is due, that it does not intend to remit such payment, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, assume that Borrower or each Lender, as the case may be, has timely remitted such payment in the manner required hereunder and may, in its discretion and in reliance thereon, make available such payment (or portion thereof) to the Person entitled thereto as otherwise provided herein. If such payment was not in fact remitted to the Administrative Agent in the manner required hereunder, then:
(i) if Borrower failed to make such payment, each applicable Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the amount of such assumed payment made available to such Lender, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the Federal Funds Effective Rate; and
(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent promptly shall notify the Borrower, and the Borrower shall promptly pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds upon receipt of such demand. The Administrative Agent also shall be entitled to recover interest on such corresponding amount in respect of each day from the date such corresponding amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such corresponding amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent, (A) from such Lender at a rate per annum equal to the daily Federal Funds Effective Rate or (B) from the Borrower, at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable to the Loan which includes such corresponding amount. Until the Administrative Agent shall recover such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, such corresponding amount shall constitute a deficiency advance within the meaning of Section 2.14. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.
2.16 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans and the Letters of Credit issued pursuant to the Letter of Credit Facility shall be used by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
2.17 [Reserved].
2.18 Increased Amounts.
(a) (i) The Borrower shall have the right from time to time, without the consent of the Lenders, subject to the terms of this Section 2.18 and provided that the Borrower has obtained any required consents of third parties, to effectuate an increase in the Total Revolving Credit Commitment under this Agreement by adding to this Agreement one or more Persons (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) acceptable to the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, who shall, upon completion of the requirements of this Section 2.18, constitute a “Revolving Credit Lender” or “Revolving Credit Lenders” hereunder (each an “Added Revolving Credit Lender”), or by allowing one or more Revolving Credit Lenders in their sole discretion to increase their respective Revolving Credit Commitments hereunder (each an “Increasing Revolving Credit Lender”), so that such increased Revolving Credit Commitments shall equal the aggregate increase in the Total Revolving Credit Commitment effectuated pursuant to this Section 2.18; provided that (A) the aggregate addition of or increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment of any Revolving Credit Lender to be effected under this Section 2.18 (collectively, the “Added Revolving Credit Commitments”) shall be in an amount not less than $5,000,000, and, if greater than $5,000,000, an integral multiple of $1,000,000, (B) the sum of Added Revolving Credit Commitments and the aggregate principal amount of all Added Term Loans shall not exceed $500,000,000 and the sum of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment (after giving effect to all Added Revolving Credit Commitments) and the aggregate principal amount of all Added Term Loans shall not exceed $2,400,000,000, (C) no Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment shall be increased under this Section 2.18 without the consent of such Lender, and (D) there shall not exist any Default or Event of Default immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to any such Added Revolving Credit Commitment.
(ii) The Borrower shall have the right from time to time, without the consent of the Lenders, subject to the terms of this Section 2.18 and provided that the Borrower has obtained the consents of any Lenders providing such tranche of Added Term Loans (defined below), to effectuate during the period commencing on the Closing Date and prior to the Stated Termination Date the establishment of one or more tranches of new term loans (the “Added Term Loans”); provided that each tranche of Added Term Loans (A) shall have terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and each Added Term Lender (as defined below), (B) shall rank pari passu in right of payment with the Revolving Credit Loans, (C) shall be treated substantially similar to the Revolving Credit Loans; provided that (i) the terms and conditions applicable to any tranche of Added Term Loans maturing after the Stated Termination Date may provide for material additional or different financial or other covenants applicable only during periods after the Stated Termination Date, (ii) the Added Term Loans may be priced differently than the Revolving Credit Loans (including without limitation in respect of the interest rate margins, upfront fees, original issue discount, any interest rate floors and any arrangement or commitment fees applicable to the Added Term Loans), (iii) the terms of any such Added Term Loan may provide for the inclusion, as appropriate, of Added Term Lenders in any required vote or action of the Required Lenders or of the Lenders of each tranche hereunder and may provide class protection for any additional credit facilities, and (iv) the prepayment provisions with respect to any Added Term Loans may differ from those applicable to the Revolving Credit Loans, (D) shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $50,000,000, and, if greater than $50,000,000, an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and (E) shall have a final stated maturity date that is on or later than the Stated Termination Date and may provide for customary amortization; provided, further that (1) the aggregate principal amount of all Added Term Loans, plus the Total Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder, shall not exceed $2,400,000,000, (2) no Lender shall be obligated to provide all or any portion of any Added Term Loan under this Section 2.18 without the consent of such Lender, and (3) there shall not exist any Default or Event of Default immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to any such Added Term Loans. Any Lender extending such Added Term Loans (each an “Added Term Lender”) shall be acceptable to the Borrower; provided that in no event shall any such Lender be a natural person or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person, or a Defaulting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Added Term Loans the proceeds of which will be used to finance a Limited Condition Acquisition shall be subject to the provisions of Section 1.7.
(b) The Borrower shall deliver or pay, as applicable, to the Administrative Agent not later than five (5) Business Days prior to any such increase in the Total Revolving Credit Commitment or establishment of a new tranche of Added Term Loans, as applicable, each of the following items with respect to each Added Lender and Increasing Revolving Credit Lender:
(i) a written notice of Borrower’s intention to increase the Total Revolving Credit Commitment or establish a new tranche of Added Term Loans, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.18, which shall specify each Added Lender and Increasing Revolving Credit Lender, the proposed effective date for the increase in Revolving Credit Commitments or the new tranche of Added Term Loans, as applicable, the amounts of the Added Revolving Credit Commitments or the Added Term Loans, as applicable, of each such Lender that will result (which amounts shall be subject to confirmation by the Administrative Agent), and such other information as is reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent;
(ii) (A) documents in the form of Exhibit K or Exhibit L, as may be required by the Administrative Agent, executed and delivered by each Added Lender and each Increasing Revolving Credit Lender, pursuant to which it becomes a party hereto or increases its Revolving Credit Commitment or extends Added Term Loans, as applicable and (B) in the case of Added Term Loans, an amendment to this Agreement to the extent necessary in order to effect such Added Term Loans, which amendment shall only be required to be signed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Added Term Lender to the extent that such amendment relates only to such Added Term Loans or affects only the Lenders providing such Added Term Loans;
(iii) a non-refundable processing fee of $3,500 with respect to each Added Lender or Increasing Revolving Credit Lender for the sole account of the Administrative Agent.
(c) Upon receipt of any notice referred to in clause (b) above, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof and shall distribute an amended Exhibit A (which shall be deemed effective as of the Increased Commitment Date referred to below and thereupon incorporated into this Agreement) to reflect any changes therein resulting from such increase. Upon execution and delivery of the documents and the payment of the fee as described above, and (i) upon delivery to the Administrative Agent (1) in the case of an increase of the Revolving Credit Commitments, by each Added Revolving Credit Lender and Increasing Revolving Credit Lender for further delivery to the Borrower or other Revolving Credit Lenders (as applicable) of immediately available, freely transferable funds in an amount equal to, for each Added Revolving Credit Lender, such Added Lender’s Revolving Percentage (after giving effect to all Added Revolving Credit Commitments) of Revolving Credit Outstandings, and funded Participations and, for each Increasing Revolving Credit Lender, the product of the increase in such Increasing Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Percentage (after giving effect to all Added Revolving Credit Commitments) multiplied by the sum of Revolving Credit Outstandings and funded Participations, as applicable or (2) in the case of the Added Term Loans, by each Added Term Lender for further delivery to the Borrower of immediately available, freely transferable funds in an amount equal to such Added Term Loans being made by such Added Term Lender (in each case, the “Increased Commitment Date”), (x) each such Added Revolving Credit Lender shall constitute a “Revolving Credit Lender”, each such Added Lender in respect of an Added Term Loan shall constitute an “Added Term Lender”, and each such Added Term Lender and Added Revolving Credit Lender shall constitute a “Lender”, in each case for all purposes under this Agreement and related documents and without any acknowledgment by or the consent of the other Lenders, with a Commitment as specified in such documents and revised Exhibit A, (y) each such Increasing Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment shall increase as specified in such documents and revised Exhibit A, and each such Increasing Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Percentage shall be adjusted to reflect the Added Revolving Credit Commitments and shall be specified in such revised Exhibit A. As of the Increased Commitment Date, (i) the respective Revolving Percentages of the Lenders shall be deemed modified as appropriate to correspond to such Added Revolving Credit Commitments and (ii) on the Increased Commitment Date with respect to Revolving Credit Commitments, to the extent necessary to keep all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and funded Participations ratable among all Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with any revised Revolving Percentages arising from any Added Revolving Credit Commitments under this Section 2.18, all Interest Periods then outstanding shall be deemed to be terminated without further action or consent of the Borrower and the Borrower shall pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 4.5 in connection therewith. In addition, with respect to increases of the Revolving Credit Commitments, if there are at such time outstanding any Revolving Credit Outstandings and funded Participations, each Revolving Credit Lender whose Revolving Percentage has been decreased as a result of the increase in the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed to have assigned, without recourse, to each Added Revolving Credit Lender and Increasing Revolving Credit Lender such portion of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Outstandings or funded Participations as shall be necessary to effectuate such adjustment in Revolving Percentages. Each Increasing Revolving Credit Lender and Added Revolving Credit Lender with respect to increases of the Revolving Credit Commitments, (i) shall be deemed to have assumed such portion of such Revolving Credit Outstandings and funded Participations and (ii) shall fund to each other Revolving Credit Lender on the Increased Commitment Date the amount of Revolving Credit Outstandings and funded Participations assigned to it by such Lender. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Revolving Credit Lenders on demand any and all amounts required pursuant to Section 4.5 resulting from any such assignment of Revolving Credit Outstandings.
(d) This Section 2.18 shall supersede any provisions in Sections 11.1 and 11.6 (other than the last paragraph of Section 11.6) to the contrary.
2.19 Extension of Termination Date. (a) The Borrower may, by delivery of written requests (each, a “Termination Date Extension Request”) to the Administrative Agent no more frequently than once in any twelve month period (which shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders) not less than 60 days prior to the Stated Termination Date, request that the Lenders extend the Stated Termination Date for an additional period of one year; provided, that (i) such request shall be made to all Lenders on the same terms, (ii) one Facility may be extended even if each of the other Facilities are not also extended pursuant to such request and (iii) at no time shall the tenor of the Revolving Credit Facility be more than five years. Such Termination Date Extension Request shall set forth (A) any changes to interest rate margins, fees or other pricing that will apply to the extensions of credit by the Lenders that elect to agree to such Termination Date Extension Request (which may be higher or lower than those that apply before giving effect to such Termination Date Extension Request) and (B) any covenants or other terms that will apply solely to any period after the latest Stated Termination Date (if any) applicable to any Lender that elects to agree to such Termination Date Extension Request. Other than the extended Stated Termination Date and the changes described in clauses (A) and (B) of the immediately preceding sentence, the terms applicable to the Lenders that elect to agree to such Termination Date Extension Request shall be identical to those that applied before giving effect thereto. The Borrower may extend the Stated Termination Date pursuant to this Section 2.19 no more than twice following the Closing Date.
(b) Each Lender, the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank shall, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent given not later than the 15th day after the date of the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the Borrower’s Termination Date Extension Request (or such other date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may agree; such date, the “Extension Date”), advise the Borrower whether or not it agrees to the requested extension (each Lender and each of the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank agreeing to a requested extension being called a “Consenting Party”, and each Lender, the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank declining to agree to a requested extension being called a “Declining Party”). The Administrative Agent shall use reasonable efforts to contact each Lender and Issuing Bank to obtain a prompt response to the Termination Date Extension Request. Any Lender or Administrative Agent or each Issuing Bank that has not so advised the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Extension Date shall be deemed to have declined to agree to such extension and shall be a Declining Party.
(c) The Stated Termination Date shall, as to each Consenting Party, be extended to the date requested in the Termination Date Extension Request. The decision to agree or withhold agreement to any Termination Date Extension Request shall be at the sole discretion of each Lender and shall not require the consent of the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank; provided, that (i) the consent of the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank shall be required for such Person to continue its respective obligations and duties under the Loan Documents (but not for the extension of the Stated Termination Date), (ii) the obligations and duties under the Loan Documents of the Administrative Agent or each Issuing Bank, as applicable who does not consent to the requested extension shall terminate on the Stated Termination Date in effect prior to any such extension (such Stated Termination Date being called the “Original Stated Termination Date”) (and for the purposes of the second sentence of Section 3.1, the Original Stated Termination Date shall govern the permitted expiry date of any Letter of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank) and (iii) the Borrower and the Consenting Parties shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent or Issuing Bank to replace any such Person that does not consent to continue its respective obligations and duties under the Loan Documents in connection with such extension. The Commitment of any Lender that is a Declining Party shall terminate on the Original Stated Termination Date. The principal amount of any outstanding Loans made by a Declining Party, together with any accrued interest thereon and any accrued fees and other amounts payable to or for the account of such Declining Party hereunder, shall be due and payable on the Original Stated Termination Date, and on the Original Stated Termination Date the Borrower shall also make such other prepayments of Loans pursuant to Section 2.7, as applicable, as shall be required in order that, after giving effect to the termination of the Commitments of, and all payments to, Declining Parties pursuant to this sentence, the total Aggregate Exposure of all Lenders would not exceed the total Commitments of all Lenders.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.19, the Borrower shall have the right, pursuant to Section 4.7, at any time prior to the Original Stated Termination Date, to replace a Declining Party with a bank or other financial institution that will agree to the applicable Termination Date Extension Request (provided that each such bank or other financial institution, if not already a Lender (or an Affiliate of a Lender) hereunder, shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), and any such replacement Person shall for all purposes constitute a Consenting Party.
(e) This Section 2.19 shall supersede any provisions in Sections 11.1 and 11.6 (other than the last paragraph of Section 11.6) to the contrary.
ARTICLE III
Letters of Credit
3.1 Letters of Credit. The Issuing Banks agree, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, upon request of the Borrower, to issue from time to time for the account of the Borrower Letters of Credit upon delivery to the applicable Issuing Bank of an Application and Agreement for Letter of Credit relating thereto in form and content acceptable to such Issuing Bank; provided, that (i) no Issuing Bank shall issue (or renew) any Letter of Credit if it has been notified by the Administrative Agent or has actual knowledge that a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) the aggregate Letter of Credit Outstandings shall not exceed the Total Letter of Credit Commitment and (iii) no Letter of Credit shall be issued (or renewed) if, after giving effect thereto, Letter of Credit Outstandings plus Revolving Credit Outstandings plus outstanding Competitive Bid Loans shall exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. No Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date (including all rights of the Borrower or any beneficiary named in such Letter of Credit to require renewal, but not any renewal options that are subject to the approval of the Issuing Bank) or payment date occurring later than the earlier to occur of one year after the date of its issuance or the fifth Business Day prior to the Stated Termination Date. Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or renewal of a Letter of Credit, whether pursuant to an Application and Agreement for Letter of Credit or otherwise, shall constitute its certification that the conditions specified in Section 5.2 with respect to such issuance or renewal have been satisfied.
3.2 Reimbursement and Participations.
(a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally agrees to pay to the applicable Issuing Bank immediately on demand at its Applicable Lending Office all amounts required to pay all drafts drawn under any Letters of Credit in accordance with Section 2.4(c)(iv) and all reasonable expenses incurred by an Issuing Bank in connection with the Letters of Credit, and in any event and without demand to place in possession of the applicable Issuing Bank (which shall include Advances under the Revolving Credit Facility if permitted by Section 2.4) sufficient funds to pay all debts and liabilities arising under any Letter of Credit. The Borrower’s obligations to pay an Issuing Bank under this Section 3.2, and such Issuing Bank’s right to receive the same, shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever. Each Issuing Bank agrees to give the Borrower prompt notice of any request for a draw under a Letter of Credit, but failure to provide such notice shall not affect the parties’ Obligations with respect thereto. Each Issuing Bank may charge any account the Borrower may have with it for any and all amounts such Issuing Bank pays under a Letter of Credit, plus reasonable charges and reasonable expenses as from time to time agreed to by such Issuing Bank and the Borrower; provided that to the extent permitted by Section 2.4(c)(iv), such amounts shall be paid pursuant to Advances under the Revolving Credit Facility. The Borrower agrees that an Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, accept or pay, as complying with the terms of any Letter of Credit, any drafts or other documents otherwise in order which may be signed or issued by an administrator, executor, trustee in bankruptcy, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver, attorney in fact or other legal representative of a party who is authorized under such Letter of Credit to draw or issue any drafts or other documents. The Borrower agrees to pay an Issuing Bank interest on any Reimbursement Obligations not paid when due hereunder at the Default Rate.
(b) In accordance with the provisions of Section 2.4(c), each Issuing Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent (and shall also notify the Borrower) of any drawing under any Letter of Credit as promptly as practicable following the receipt by the Issuing Bank of such drawing, but failure to provide such notice shall not affect the parties’ Obligations with respect thereto.
(c) Each Revolving Credit Lender (other than the applicable Issuing Bank) shall automatically acquire on the date of issuance thereof, a Participation in the liability of such Issuing Bank in respect of each Letter of Credit in an amount equal to such Lender’s Revolving Percentage of such liability, and to the extent that the Borrower is obligated to pay such Issuing Bank under Section 3.2(a), each Revolving Credit Lender (other than the Issuing Bank) thereby shall absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably assume, and shall be unconditionally obligated to pay to such Issuing Bank, its Revolving Percentage of the liability of such Issuing Bank under such Letter of Credit in the manner and with the effect provided in Section 2.4(c)(iv). With respect to drawings under any of the Letters of Credit, each Revolving Credit Lender, upon receipt from the Administrative Agent of notice of a drawing in the manner described in Section 2.4(c)(iv), shall promptly pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, prior to the applicable time set forth in Section 2.4(c)(iv), its Revolving Percentage of such drawing. Simultaneously with the making of each such payment by a Revolving Credit Lender to an Issuing Bank, such Lender shall, automatically and without any further action on the part of such Issuing Bank or such Lender, acquire a Participation in an amount equal to such payment (excluding the portion thereof constituting interest accrued prior to the date such Lender made its payment) in the related Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower. The Reimbursement Obligations of the Borrower shall be immediately due and payable upon notice to the Borrower (subject to Section 2.4(c)(iv)), whether in Advances made in accordance with Section 2.4(c)(iv) or otherwise. Each Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of an Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.4(c)(iv) and this Section 3.2(c), and the right of such Issuing Bank to receive the same, shall be absolute and unconditional, shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever and shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. In the event the Revolving Credit Lenders have purchased Participations in any Reimbursement Obligation as set forth above, then at any time payment (in fully collected, immediately available funds) of such Reimbursement Obligation, in whole or in part, is received by the applicable Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent from the Borrower, such Issuing Bank or Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to each Revolving Credit Lender an amount equal to its Revolving Percentage of such payment from the Borrower. If any Revolving Credit Lender is obligated to pay but does not pay amounts to the Administrative Agent for the account of an Issuing Bank in full upon such request as required by this Section 3.2(c), such Lender shall, on demand, pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank interest on the unpaid amount for each day during the period commencing on the date of notice given to such Lender pursuant to Section 2.4(c) until such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank in full at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.
(d) As soon as practical following the issuance of a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Credit Lender, of the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit, the stated amount and the expiry date of such Letter of Credit. Promptly following the end of each calendar quarter, each Issuing Bank shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a notice describing the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit at the end of such quarter. Upon the request of any Revolving Credit Lender from time to time, each Issuing Bank shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall deliver to such Lender, any other information reasonably requested by such Lender with respect to the Letter of Credit Outstandings.
(e) Each issuance by an Issuing Bank of a Letter of Credit shall, in addition to the conditions precedent set forth in Article V, be subject to the conditions that (x) such Letter of Credit be in such form and contain such terms as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank consistent with the then current practices and procedures of such Issuing Bank with respect to similar letters of credit, (y) the issuance of such Letter of Credit shall not violate any written policy of the Issuing Bank, and (z) the Borrower shall have executed and delivered such other instruments and agreements relating to such Letters of Credit as the Issuing Bank shall have reasonably requested consistent with such practices and procedures. Except as otherwise provided therein, all Letters of Credit shall be governed by the rules of the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
(f) Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 11.9, the Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Issuing Bank, each other Revolving Credit Lender and the Administrative Agent from and against any and all claims and damages, losses, liabilities, and reasonable costs and expenses which such Issuing Bank, such other Revolving Credit Lender or the Administrative Agent may incur (or which may be claimed against such Issuing Bank, such other Revolving Credit Lender or the Administrative Agent) by any Person by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of or payment or failure to pay under any Letter of Credit; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify an Issuing Bank, any other Revolving Credit Lender or the Administrative Agent for any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses to the extent, but only to the extent, (i) caused by the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the party to be indemnified or (ii) caused by the failure of an Issuing Bank to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it of a request for payment strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit, unless such payment is prohibited by any law, regulation, court order or decree or failure to pay is permitted under the terms of the applicable Letter of Credit. The indemnification and hold harmless provisions of this Section 3.2(f) shall survive repayment of the Obligations, occurrence of the Revolving Credit Termination Date, the Facility Termination Date and expiration or termination of this Agreement.
(g) Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.2(f), the obligation of the Borrower to immediately reimburse an Issuing Bank for drawings made under Letters of Credit and each Issuing Bank’s right to receive such payment shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and such obligations of the Borrower shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and such Letters of Credit and the related Application and Agreement for any Letter of Credit, under all circumstances whatsoever, including the following circumstances:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of the Letter of Credit, the obligation supported by the Letter of Credit or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto (collectively, the “Related LC Documents”);
(ii) any amendment or waiver of or any consent to or departure from all or any of the Related LC Documents;
(iii) the existence of any claim, setoff, defense (other than the defense of payment in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) or other rights which the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of a Letter of Credit (or any persons or entities for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or any other Person, whether in connection with the Loan Documents, the Related LC Documents or any unrelated transaction;
(iv) any breach of contract or other dispute between the Borrower and any beneficiary or any transferee of a Letter of Credit (or any persons or entities for whom such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or any other Person;
(v) any draft, statement or any other document presented under the Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever so long as any such document appeared to comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit;
(vi) any delay, extension of time, renewal, compromise or other indulgence or modification granted or agreed to by the Administrative Agent, with or without notice to or approval by the Borrower in respect of any of Borrower’s Obligations; or
(vii) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever where the applicable Issuing Bank has acted in good faith, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing;
provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to release an Issuing Bank or any other Lender of any liability for actual loss arising as a result of its gross negligence or willful misconduct or out of the wrongful dishonor by an Issuing Bank of a proper demand for payment made under and strictly complying with the terms of any Letter of Credit.
3.3 Governmental Action. No Issuing Bank shall be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any law applicable to such Issuing Bank or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or request that such Issuing Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Bank with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the Letter of Credit any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which such Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it, unless the Borrower agrees to compensate the Issuing Bank for such restriction, reserve, capital requirement, loss, cost or expense on terms satisfactory to the Issuing Bank.
3.4 Letter of Credit Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent, for the pro rata benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders based on their Revolving Percentages, a fee on the aggregate amount available to be drawn on each Letter of Credit Outstanding at a rate equal to the Applicable Term Benchmark Margin with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility as in effect from time to time, and (ii) to the applicable Issuing Bank, as issuer of each Letter of Credit, an issuance fee in such amount as may be agreed by such Issuing Bank and the Borrower from time to time. Such payments of fees provided for in this Section 3.4 shall be due with respect to each Letter of Credit quarterly in arrears, such payment to be made not later than the third (3rd) Business Day of each April, July, October and January, commencing on the first such date following the issuance of a Letter of Credit under this Agreement. Such fees shall be calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days elapsed.
3.5 Administrative Fees. The Borrower shall pay to any Issuing Bank such standard administrative fee and other standard fees, if any, in connection with the Letters of Credit in such amounts and at such times as such Issuing Bank and the Borrower shall agree from time to time.
ARTICLE IV
Change in Circumstances
4.1 Increased Cost and Reduced Return.
(a) If after the date hereof, the adoption of any applicable law, rule, or regulation, or any change in any applicable law, rule, or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable agency:
(i) shall subject such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) to any increase in the cost (other than Taxes and Other Taxes) of making or maintaining any Term Benchmark Loans, any Competitive Bid Loans bearing interest at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or its obligation to make Term Benchmark Loans or Competitive Bid Loans at the Term Benchmark Competitive Rate;
(ii) shall impose, modify, or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, assessment or similar requirement relating to any extensions of credit or other assets of, or any deposits with or other liabilities or commitments of, such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office), including the Revolving Credit Commitment of such Lender hereunder;
(iii) shall impose on such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) any other condition affecting this Agreement or any of such extensions of credit or liabilities or commitments; or
(iv) shall subject the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;
and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender or the Administrative Agent (or its Applicable Lending Office), by an amount deemed material by such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, of making, Converting into, Continuing, or maintaining any Loans or to reduce any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (or its Applicable Lending Office) under this Agreement in each case with respect to any Term Benchmark Rate Loans or any Competitive Bid Loans bearing interest at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate (or in the case of clause (iv), any Loans), then, within ten (10) Business Days of the Borrower’s receipt of a request certifying in reasonable detail calculations of such amount and in reasonable detail, the basis therefor, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender or the Administrative Agent such amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Administrative Agent for such increased cost or reduction; provided, that no Lender shall be entitled to claim any such amount or amounts for such increased cost or reduction incurred more than 90 days prior to the delivery of such request and such amounts shall be no greater than amounts that such Lender charges other borrowers or account parties on loans or letters of credit (as the case may be) similarly situated to the Borrower in connection with substantially similar facilities; provided further that, if the adoption or change of any law, rule or regulation (or change in the interpretation thereof) giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 90-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof but in no event shall be extended to a total period greater than 180 days; provided finally that, in any such case, the Borrower may, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, elect to convert the Term Benchmark Loans made by such Lender hereunder to Base Rate Loans by giving the Administrative Agent at least two Business Days’ notice of such election, in which case the Borrower shall promptly pay to such Lender, upon demand, without duplication, amounts theretofore required to be paid to such Lender pursuant to this Section 4.1(a).
If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under this Section 4.1(a), the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or Continue Loans of the Type with respect to which such compensation is requested, or to Convert Loans of any other Type into Loans of such Type, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 4.4 shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.
(b) If after the date hereof any Lender shall have determined that the adoption of any applicable law, rule, or regulation regarding capital adequacy or liquidity requirements or any change therein after the date hereof or in the interpretation or administration thereof after the date hereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or any request or directive made or issued after the date hereof regarding capital adequacy or liquidity requirements (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of such Lender’s obligations hereunder by an amount deemed material by such Lender and to a level below that which such Lender or such corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, change, request, or directive (taking into consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then, within ten (10) Business Days of the Borrower’s receipt of a request certifying in reasonable detail calculations of such amount and in reasonable detail, the basis therefor, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction, provided, that no Lender shall be entitled to claim any such amount or amounts for such increased cost incurred more than 90 days prior to the delivery of such request and such amounts shall be no greater than amounts that such Lender charges other borrowers or account parties on loans or letters of credit (as the case may be) similarly situated to the Borrower in connection with substantially similar facilities.
(c) Each Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof, which will entitle such Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 4.1 and will designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to it. Any Lender claiming compensation under this Section 4.1 shall furnish to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a statement setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Lender shall act reasonably and in good faith and may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.
(d) The provisions of this Section 4.1 shall continue in effect notwithstanding the Facility Termination Date.
(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or by United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, and (ii) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, shall in each case be deemed to be a change in law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.
(f) [Reserved].
4.2 Alternate Rate of Interest.
(a) Subject to clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this Section 4.2, if:
(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Loan or a Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate (including because the Term SOFR Reference Rate is not available or published on a current basis), for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the applicable Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR; or
(ii) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders (or, in the case of a Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, the Lender that is required to make such Loan) that (A) prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Term Benchmark Loan or a Competitive Bid Borrowing at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such borrowing for such Interest Period or (B) at any time, Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such borrowing;
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telecopy or electronic mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Borrowing Notice in accordance with the terms of Section 2.4, a new Competitive Bid Quote Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.5 or a new notice of Conversion in accordance with Section 2.12, (A) any notice of Conversion that requests the Conversion of any Loan to, or Continuation of any Loan as, a Term Benchmark Loan or Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, (B) any Borrowing Notice that requests a Term Benchmark Loan and (C) any Competitive Bid Quote Request that requests a Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate shall instead be deemed to be a Borrowing Notice or notice of Conversion or Continuation, as applicable, for (x) an RFR Loan so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 4.2(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y) a Base Rate Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 4.2(a)(i) or (ii) above; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Loan, then all other Types of Loans shall be permitted. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan, Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or RFR Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of the notice from the Administrative Agent referred to in this Section 4.2(a) with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or RFR Loan, then until (x) the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist with respect to the relevant Benchmark and (y) the Borrower delivers a new Borrowing Notice in accordance with the terms of Section 2.4, a new Competitive Bid Quote Request in accordance with the terms of Section 2.5, or a new notice of Conversion or Continuation in accordance with Section 2.12, (I) any Term Benchmark Loan or Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan, be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Loan so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not also the subject of Section 4.2(a)(i) or (ii) above or (y)
with respect to Term Benchmark Loans, a Base Rate Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR also is the subject of Section 4.2(a)(i) or (ii) above, on such day, and (II) if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is subject to Section 4.2(a)(i)(B) or Section 4.2(a)(ii)(B), any RFR Loan shall on and from such day be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, a Base Rate Loan.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the Borrower) will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(d) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (1) any occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, (2) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (3) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (4) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to clause (e) below and (5) the commencement or conclusion of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 4.2, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 4.2.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (1) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Rate) and either (a) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion or (b) the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is or will be no longer representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor and (2) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (a) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (b) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is or will no longer be representative for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.
(f) Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a Term Benchmark Loan or a Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate, or Conversion to or Continuation of Term Benchmark Loans or Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any request for a Term Benchmark Loan or a Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate into a request for a borrowing of or Conversion to (A) an RFR Loan so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (B) with respect to Term Benchmark Loans, a Base Rate Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of Base Rate. Furthermore, if any Term Benchmark Loan, Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or RFR Loan is outstanding on the date of the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period with respect to a Relevant Rate applicable to such Term Benchmark Loan, Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or RFR Loan, then until such time as a Benchmark Replacement is implemented pursuant to this Section 4.2, (I) any Term Benchmark Loan, Competitive Bid Loan at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate shall on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan, be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, (x) an RFR Loan so long as the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is not the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event or (y) with respect to Term Benchmark Loans, a Base Rate Loan if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, on such day, and (II) if the Adjusted Daily Simple SOFR is the subject of a Benchmark Transition Event, any RFR Loan shall on and from such day be converted by the Administrative Agent to, and shall constitute, a Base Rate Loan.
4.3 Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that, after the date hereof, it becomes unlawful for any Lender or its Applicable Lending Office to make, maintain, or fund Term Benchmark Rate Loans, Competitive Bid Loans bearing interest at the Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or RFR Loans hereunder, then such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower thereof and such Lender’s obligation to make or Continue Term Benchmark Rate Loans, Competitive Bid Loans bearing interest at the Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or RFR Loans (as the case may be) and to Convert other Types of Loans into Term Benchmark Rate Loans, Competitive Bid Loans bearing interest at the Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or RFR Loans (as the case may be) shall be suspended until such time as such Lender may again make, maintain, and fund Term Benchmark Rate Loans, Competitive Bid Loans bearing interest at the Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or RFR Loans, as the case may be (in which case the provisions of Section 4.4 shall be applicable).
4.4 Treatment of Affected Loans. If the obligation of any Lender to make a Term Benchmark Rate Loan, a Competitive Bid Loan bearing interest at a Term Benchmark Competitive Rate or an RFR Loan or to Continue, or to Convert Loans of any other Type into, Loans of a particular Type shall be suspended pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.3 hereof (Loans of such Type being herein called “Affected Loans” and such Type being herein called the “Affected Type”), such Lender’s Affected Loans shall be automatically Converted into Base Rate Loans on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for Affected Loans (or, in the case of a Conversion required by Section 4.3 hereof, on such earlier date as such Lender may specify to the Borrower with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Section 4.1 or 4.3 hereof that gave rise to such Conversion no longer exist:
(a) to the extent that such Lender’s Affected Loans have been so Converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s Affected Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and
(b) all Loans that would otherwise be made or Continued by such Lender as Loans of the Affected Type shall be made or Continued instead as Base Rate Loans, and all Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be Converted into Loans of the Affected Type shall be Converted instead into (or shall remain as) Base Rate Loans.
If such Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 4.1 or 4.3 hereof that gave rise to the Conversion of such Lender’s Affected Loans pursuant to this Section 4.4 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Loans of the Affected Type made by other Lenders are outstanding, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically Converted, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) as selected by the Borrower for such outstanding Loans of the Affected Type, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Loans of the Affected Type and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, Types, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Revolving Percentages.
4.5 Compensation. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Term Benchmark Rate Loan or Competitive Bid 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); or
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan notwithstanding satisfaction of all conditions precedent thereto) to prepay, borrow, Continue (including by reason of any prepayment) or Convert any Term Benchmark Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower;
including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 4.5, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Term Benchmark Rate Loan or Competitive Bid Loan made by it at the Adjusted Term SOFR Rate used in determining the Term Benchmark Rate or Term Benchmark Competitive Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the applicable offshore Dollar interbank market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Term Benchmark Rate Loan was in fact so funded.
The provisions of this Section 4.5 shall continue in effect notwithstanding the Facility Termination Date.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Lender party hereto on the Closing Date hereby agrees that the Borrower shall not be required to make payments to such Lender under this Section 4.5 solely to the extent such payments would arise from the continuation of the Revolving Credit Loans of such Lender in each case on the Closing Date.
4.6 Taxes.
(a) Except as required by applicable law, any and all payments by or on behalf of any Loan Party to or for the account of any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees, or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto (“Taxes”). If any Withholding Agent shall, in its good faith determination, be required by law to deduct or withhold any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 4.6) such Lender or the Administrative Agent receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholdings been made.
(b) The Loan Parties agree to timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any and all present or future stamp, court, or documentary, intangible, recording, filing taxes and any other excise or property taxes or charges or similar Taxes which arise from any payment made under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or from the execution, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).
(c) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender and the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including, without limitation, any Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 4.6) payable or paid by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest, and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d)
(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law 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 Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower 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 4.6(d)(ii)(1), (ii)(2) and (ii)(4) 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,
(1) each Lender that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “U.S. Lender”) shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (or, in the case of any Participant, on or before the date such Participant purchases the related participation) and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, two executed copies of U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;
(2) each Lender that is not a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “Non-U.S. Lender”) shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a Participant, to the Lender from which the related participation shall have been purchased), whichever of the following is applicable:
(A) in the case of a Non-U.S. 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, two executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, 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, two executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, 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;
(B) two executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI;
(C) in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender claiming exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code with respect to payments of “portfolio interest”, a statement substantially in the form of Exhibit M to the effect that such Non-U.S. Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10-percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and two executed copies of the applicable IRS Form W-8, W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E; or
(D) to the extent a Non-U.S. Lender is not the beneficial owner, two executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit M, IRS Form W-9 and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Non-U.S. Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Non-U.S. Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Non-U.S. Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit M on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner.
(3) Such forms shall be delivered by each Non-U.S. Lender on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement (or, in the case of any Participant, on or before the date such Participant purchases the related participation) and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Non-U.S. Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Non-U.S. Lender. Each Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at any time it determines that it is no longer in a position to provide any previously delivered certificate to the Borrower or Administrative Agent (or any other form of certification adopted by the U.S. taxing authorities for such purpose). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this Section that such Lender is not legally able to deliver.
(4) If a payment made to a Lender under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by applicable law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent 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 (4), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(e) Each Lender shall indemnify the Administrative Agent for the full amount of any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions, withholdings or similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority that are attributable to such Lender (including, but not limited to, any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 11.1(c)(iii) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register) and that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent, together with all interest, penalties, reasonable costs and expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, as determined by the Administrative Agent in good faith. 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.
(f) If the Borrower is required to pay additional amounts to or for the account of any Lender pursuant to this Section 4.6, then such Lender will agree to use reasonable efforts to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office so as to eliminate or reduce any such additional payment which may thereafter accrue if such change, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.
(g) As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by any Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 4.6, such Loan Party shall furnish to the Administrative Agent the original or certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other reasonably acceptable documentation evidencing such payment.
(h) If any party determines, in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 4.6 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 4.6), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 4.6 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (h) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (h), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (h) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid.
(i) The provisions of this Section 4.6 shall continue in effect notwithstanding the Facility Termination Date.
(j) For purposes of determining withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, from and after the Closing Date, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall treat (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to treat) the Loan as not qualifying as a “grandfathered obligation” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1471-2(b)(2)(i).
4.7 Replacement Lenders. The Borrower may, in its sole discretion, on prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and a Lender, cause a Lender that (a) is or may become entitled to receive any indemnification payment, additional amount or other compensation under this Article IV or that fails to make Loans for the reasons provided in this Article IV, (b) is a Defaulting Lender or (c) does not consent to any proposed amendment, supplement, modification, consent or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that requires the consent of each of the Lenders or each of the Lenders affected thereby (so long as the consent of the Required Lenders has been obtained) to (and such Lender shall) assign pursuant to Section 11.1 hereof (with such Lender being deemed to have executed an Assignment and Assumption for the purpose of effecting such assignment), all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to another Lender, an Affiliate of another Lender or a Person reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and designated by the Borrower which is willing to become a Lender for a purchase price equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Loans payable to such Lender, together with any accrued but unpaid interest on such Loans, any accrued but unpaid fees with respect to such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and any other amounts payable to such Lender under this Agreement; provided, that any expenses or other amounts which would be owing to such Lender pursuant to any indemnification provision hereunder shall be payable by the Borrower to such Lender. The replacement Lender under this Section shall pay the applicable processing fee under Section 11.1. Each party hereto agrees that an assignment required pursuant to this paragraph may be effected pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the assignee and that the Lender required to make such assignment need not be a party thereto.
4.8 Defaulting Revolving Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if any Revolving Credit Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the following provisions shall apply for so long as such Revolving Credit Lender is a Defaulting Lender:
(a) commitment fees shall cease to accrue on the Available Revolving Credit Commitment (if any) of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 2.13(a);
(b) if any Letter of Credit Outstandings exist at the time such Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:
(i) all or any part of such Letter of Credit Outstandings shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Percentages but only to the extent (w) the sum of all non-Defaulting Revolving Credit Lenders’ Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Revolving Credit Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments, (x) such reallocation does not cause the aggregate Revolving Credit Loans and Letter of Credit Outstandings of any non-Defaulting Revolving Credit Lender to exceed such non-Defaulting Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and (y) the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 are satisfied at such time; and
(ii) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, within one Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent, (1) if a drawing is made under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall reimburse the Issuing Bank in accordance with Section 2.4(c)(iv) and (2) if a Letter of Credit is requested by the Borrower in accordance with Section 3.1 during any period where there is a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower shall enter into an arrangement reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank to cover in whole or in part (which such arrangement may include cash collateralization) the exposure of the Issuing Bank related to the participating interests of such Defaulting Lender in such newly issued Letter of Credit Outstandings (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (i) above) for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender or until such Lender is replaced pursuant to Section 4.7;
(iii) if and so long as the Borrower cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Percentage of Letter of Credit Outstandings pursuant to Section 4.8(b)(ii), then, in the case of any such Defaulting Lender that is a Revolving Credit Lender, the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 3.4 with respect thereto;
(iv) upon any reallocation described in clause (i) above, the fees payable to the Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.13(a) and 3.4 shall be adjusted accordingly; and
(v) if any such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Percentage of Letter of Credit Outstandings is neither cash collateralized nor reallocated pursuant to Section 4.8(b)(i), then, if such Defaulting Lender is a Revolving Credit Lender, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of the Issuing Banks or any Lender hereunder, all letter of credit fees payable under Section 3.4 with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Percentage of Letter of Credit Outstandings shall be payable to the relevant Issuing Bank until such cash collateralization and/or reallocation occurs;
(c) no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, unless it is reasonably satisfied that the related exposure will be covered in whole or in part by the Revolving Credit Commitments of the non-Defaulting Revolving Credit Lenders and/or cash collateral or other arrangements will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 4.8(b)(ii), and participating interests in any such newly issued or increased Letter of Credit shall be (i) allocated among non-Defaulting Revolving Credit Lenders and/or (ii) covered by arrangements made by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.8(b)(ii) in a manner consistent with Section 4.8(b)(i) and (ii) (and any such Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein); and
(d) in the case of any Defaulting Lender that is a Revolving Credit Lender, any amount payable to such Defaulting Lender hereunder (whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise and including any amount that would otherwise be payable to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 11.3 but excluding Section 4.7) shall, in lieu of being distributed to such Defaulting Lender and without duplication, be retained by the Administrative Agent in a segregated interest-bearing account reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower and, subject to any applicable requirements of law, be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent (i) first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder, (ii) second, pro rata, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Banks hereunder, (iii) third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by an Issuing Bank, held in such account as cash collateral for existing or (unless such Defaulting Lender has no remaining unutilized Revolving Credit Commitment) future funding obligations of the Defaulting Lender in respect of any existing or (unless such Defaulting Lender has no remaining unutilized Revolving Credit Commitment) future Participation in any Letter of Credit, (iv) fourth, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to the funding of any Revolving Credit 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, (v) fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, unless such Defaulting Lender has no remaining unutilized Revolving Credit Commitment, held in such account as cash collateral for future funding obligations of the Defaulting Lender in respect of any Revolving Credit Loans under this Agreement, (vi) sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to any Issuing Bank as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by such Issuing Bank against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement, (vii) seventh, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower or any Guarantor as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower or any Guarantor against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement, and (viii) eighth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction, provided, that, with respect to this clause (viii), if such payment is (x) a prepayment of the principal amount of any Revolving Credit Loans or Reimbursement Obligations as to which a Defaulting Lender has funded its Participation and (y) made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 5.2 are satisfied, such payment shall be applied solely to prepay the Revolving Credit Loans of, and Reimbursement Obligations owed to, all non-Defaulting Revolving Credit Lenders pro rata prior to being applied to the prepayment of any Revolving Credit Loans of, or Reimbursement Obligations owed to, any Defaulting Lender.
(e) Upon not less than three Business Days’ prior notice to such Defaulting Lender and the Administrative Agent (which the Administrative Agent will promptly provide to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks), the Borrower shall have the right to terminate the then unutilized Revolving Credit Commitment of such Defaulting Lender, after taking into account the portion of such Revolving Credit Commitment, if any, which theretofore has been, or substantially contemporaneous therewith is being, assigned pursuant to Section 4.7. In the event of any such termination, future extensions of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility shall be allocated to the non-Defaulting Revolving Credit Lenders in a manner that disregards the existence of any remaining Revolving Credit Commitment of such Defaulting Lender.
(f) The Revolving Credit Commitment and Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations of such Defaulting Lender shall not be included in determining whether the Required Lenders have taken or may take any action hereunder (including any consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification pursuant to Section 11.6); provided, that this clause (f) shall not apply to the vote of a Defaulting Lender in the case of an amendment, waiver or other modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each Lender directly affected thereby that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender disproportionately adversely relative to other affected Lenders.
In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and each Issuing Bank each agrees that any such Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then (i) the Letter of Credit Outstandings of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Revolving Credit Loans of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans in accordance with its Revolving Percentage and (ii) any arrangements made by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.8(b)(ii) shall be terminated and any cash collateral or arrangement provided by the Borrower in accordance thereto will be terminated or promptly returned to the Borrower, as applicable.
The provisions of this Agreement relating to funding, payment and other matters with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility may be adjusted by the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), to the extent necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Section 4.8. The provisions of this Section 4.8 may not be amended, supplemented or modified without, in addition to consents required by Section 11.6, the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower.
ARTICLE V
Conditions to Making Loans and Issuing Letters of Credit
5.1 Conditions to Effectiveness and the Initial Advance. The effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligation of the Lenders to make the initial Advance (if any) under the Revolving Credit Facility, and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit (if any) on the Closing Date, is subject to the conditions precedent that the Administrative Agent shall have received on the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the following:
(a) a copy of this Agreement executed and delivered by the Borrower and each Lender, together with all schedules and exhibits hereto;
(b) the favorable written opinion or opinions with respect to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, special counsel to the Borrower, dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(c) resolutions of the boards of directors or other appropriate governing body (or of the appropriate committee thereof) of the Borrower certified by its secretary or assistant secretary as of the Closing Date, approving and adopting the Loan Documents to be executed by such Person, and authorizing the execution and delivery thereof;
(d) specimen signatures of officers or other appropriate representatives executing the Loan Documents on behalf of the Borrower, certified by the secretary or assistant secretary of such Borrower as of the Closing Date;
(e) a copy, certified as of a recent date by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower to be true and correct, of the Organizational Documents and Operating Documents of the Borrower;
(f) certificates issued as of a recent date by the Secretary of State (or other appropriate office) of the jurisdiction of formation of the Borrower as to the due existence and good standing of the Borrower;
(g) notice of appointment of the initial Authorized Representative(s);
(h) [reserved];
(i) evidence that all reasonable, out-of-pocket fees that have accrued from and after April 1, 2023, to the extent due and payable by the Borrower on the Closing Date to the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders, have been paid in full (including the reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket fees and expenses of one counsel for all Agent-Related Persons, taken as a whole), in each case to the extent invoiced two Business Days prior to the Closing Date and including reasonably detailed documentation;
(j) evidence that (i) the Borrower shall have paid all accrued and unpaid interest on the Revolving Credit Loans outstanding under (and as defined in) the Existing Credit Agreement and all accrued and unpaid commitment fees and letter of credit fees under the Existing Credit Agreement, accrued to (but not including) the Closing Date and (ii) the payments required pursuant to Section 11.20(b) shall have been made; and
(k) the Administrative Agent shall have received, at least five days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information regarding the Borrower requested in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act, to the extent requested in writing of the Borrower at least ten days prior to the Closing Date.
5.2 Conditions of Loans. The obligations of the Lenders to make any Loans (for the avoidance of doubt, which does not include the Conversion or Continuation of any existing Loans), and of the Issuing Banks to issue, renew or increase the amount of Letters of Credit, hereunder on or subsequent to the Closing Date are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) the Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Notice if required by Article II;
(b) the representations and warranties of the Borrower and the Guarantors (if any) set forth in Article VI (other than in Section 6.1(e)(ii)) and in each of the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Advance or issuance, renewal or increase of such Letters of Credit with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date) and except that the financial statements referred to in Section 6.1(e)(i) shall be deemed (solely for the purpose of the representation and warranty contained in such Section 6.1(e)(i) but not for the purpose of any cross reference to such Section 6.1(e)(i) or to the financial statements described therein contained in any other provision of Section 6.1(e) or elsewhere in Article VI) to be those financial statements most recently delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.1; provided that this Section 5.2(b) shall be subject to Section 1.7 with respect to the making of any Added Term Loans.
(c) in the case of the issuance, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, the Borrower shall have executed and delivered to the applicable Issuing Bank an Application and Agreement for Letter of Credit (or amendment or supplement thereto) in form and content acceptable to such applicable Issuing Bank together with such other instruments and documents as it shall request;
(d) at the time of (and after giving effect to) each Advance or issuance, renewal or increase of each Letter of Credit, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or would result from such extension of credit; provided that this Section 5.2(d) shall be subject to Section 1.7 with respect to the making of any Added Term Loans; and
(e) immediately after giving effect to:
(i) a Loan or Letter of Credit, the aggregate principal balance of all outstanding Loans and Participations for each Lender shall not exceed, respectively, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment or Letter of Credit Commitment; and
(ii) a Loan or Letter of Credit, the Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations shall not exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.
5.3 Supplements to Schedules. The Borrower may, from time to time, amend or supplement the Schedules, other than Schedules 1.1(a), 1.1(b) and 8.3 to this
Agreement by delivering (effective upon receipt) to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a copy of such revised Schedule or Schedules which shall (i) be dated the date of delivery, (ii) be certified by an Authorized Representative as true, complete and correct as of such date and as delivered in replacement for the corresponding Schedule or Schedules previously in effect, and (iii) show in reasonable detail (by blacklining or other appropriate graphic means) the changes from each such corresponding predecessor Schedule. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any of the other Loan Documents, in the event that the Required Lenders determine based upon such revised Schedule (whether individually or in the aggregate or cumulatively) that there has been a material adverse change since the Closing Date which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Lenders shall have no further obligation to fund additional Advances hereunder.
ARTICLE VI
Representations and Warranties
6.1 Representations and Warranties. The Borrower represents and warrants with respect to itself and to its Subsidiaries (which representations and warranties shall survive the delivery of the documents mentioned herein and the making of Loans and issuance of Letters of Credit), that:
(a) Organization and Authority.
(i) the Borrower and each Subsidiary is a corporation, limited liability company or partnership duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or creation;
(ii) the Borrower and each Subsidiary (x) has the requisite power and authority to own its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted and as contemplated in the Loan Documents, and (y) is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which failure so to qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect;
(iii) the Borrower has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, and to borrow hereunder, and to execute, deliver and perform each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party;
(iv) when executed and delivered, each of the Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party will be the legal, valid and binding obligation or agreement of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and to the effect of general principles of equity which may limit the availability of equitable remedies (whether in a proceeding at law or in equity).
(b) Loan Documents. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each of the Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party:
(i) have been duly authorized by all Organizational Action of the Borrower, required for the lawful execution, delivery and performance thereof;
(ii) do not violate any provisions of (1) any applicable law, rule or regulation, (2) any judgment, writ, order, determination, decree or arbitral award of any Governmental Authority or arbitral authority binding on the Borrower or its properties, or (3) the Organizational Documents or Operating Documents of the Borrower;
(iii) do not and will not be in conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute an event of default, or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an event of default, under any material indenture, agreement or other instrument to which the Borrower is a party, or any material indenture, agreement or other instrument by which the properties or assets of the Borrower is bound, in each case except to the extent that such conflict, breach, default or event of default could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(iv) do not and will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien, charge or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the Borrower, other than Liens permitted by Section 8.3.
(c) [Reserved].
(d) [Reserved].
(e) Financial Condition.
(i) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to each Lender an audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2022, and the notes thereto and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, and changes in stockholders’ equity and the notes thereto for the Fiscal Year then ended as examined and certified by KPMG LLP, or other such independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Borrower or such other accountants as are approved by the Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld) (it being understood that such financial statements shall be deemed to have been furnished on the date on which the Borrower causes such financial statements, reports containing such financial statements or other filings evidencing the items required by this sub-clause (i) to be posted on the Internet at www.sec.gov or at such other website identified by the Borrower in a notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and that is accessible by the Lenders without charge). Except as set forth therein (including, in the case of such audited balance sheet, the notes thereto), such financial statements (including, in the case of such audited balance sheet, the notes thereto) present fairly the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and results of their operations and the changes in their stockholders’ equity for such Fiscal Year, all in conformity with GAAP; and
(ii) As of the Closing Date, since December 31, 2022, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or in the businesses, properties and operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in each case considered as a whole.
(f) Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed or caused to be filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns which are required to be filed by them and except for taxes and assessments being contested in good faith and against which reserves satisfactory to the Borrower’s independent certified public accountants have been established, have paid or caused to be paid all taxes as shown on said returns or on any assessment received by them, to the extent that such taxes have become due except, with respect to any of the foregoing, where any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 6.1(g) attached hereto, there is no action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity or by or before any governmental instrumentality or agency or arbitral body pending, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened by or against the Borrower or any Subsidiary or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any properties or rights of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Margin Stock. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used in violation of Regulation U, as amended (12 C.F.R. Part 221), of the Board; and the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries will comply with Regulation U at all times. The proceeds of the borrowings made pursuant to Article II hereof will be used by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries only for the purposes set forth in Section 2.16 hereof.
(i) Investment Company. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is required to be registered as an “investment company” under and as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 80a-1, et seq.).
(j) No Untrue Statement. Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document or certificate or document executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Guarantor in accordance with or pursuant to any Loan Document, nor any statement, representation or warranty provided by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Guarantor to the Administrative Agent in writing in connection with the negotiation or preparation of the Loan Documents through the Closing Date (other than projections and other forward looking information and information of a general economic or industry nature), taken as a whole (together with any information contained in any filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to the date of this representation), when furnished, contains any misrepresentation or untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary, in light of the circumstance under which it was made, in order to make any such representation or statement contained herein or therein not misleading in any material respect.
(k) No Consents, Etc. Neither the respective businesses or properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, nor any relationship between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any other Person, nor any circumstance in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby is such as to require a material consent, approval or authorization of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any Governmental Authority or other authority or any other Person on the part of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as a condition to the execution, delivery and performance of, or consummation of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or if so, (i) such material consent, approval, authorization, filing, registration or qualification has been obtained or effected, as the case may be and is in full force and effect or (ii) the absence thereof could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Employee Benefit Plans.
(i) Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower and each Subsidiary and ERISA Affiliate is in compliance with all applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code, and all Foreign Benefit Laws, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder, with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans except for the making of any required amendments thereto for which the remedial amendment period as defined in Section 401(b) of the Code has not yet expired. Each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined to be, or the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate is in the process of obtaining a determination by the Internal Revenue Service that such Employee Benefit Plan is, so qualified, and each trust related to each such plan has been determined to be exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code. Each Employee Benefit Plan subject to any Foreign Benefit Law has received the required approvals by any Governmental Authority regulating such Employee Benefit Plan or the Borrower or its applicable Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate is in the process of obtaining such determination or approvals. No material liability has been incurred by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate for any taxes or penalties with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan or any Multiemployer Plan which remains unsatisfied;
(ii) Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has (a) engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA affecting any of the Employee Benefit Plans or the trusts created thereunder which could subject it to a tax or penalty on prohibited transactions imposed under Code Section 4975 or Section 502(i) of ERISA, (b) failed to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan, whether or not waived, or incurred any liability to the PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums and there are no such premium payments which are due and unpaid, (c) failed to make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer Plan, (d) failed to make a required installment or other required payment under Section 430(j) of the Code, Section 303(j) of ERISA or the terms of such Employee Benefit Plan, or (e) failed to make any required contribution or payment, required by any Foreign Benefit Law with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan or otherwise failed to operate in compliance with any Foreign Benefit Law regulating any Employee Benefit Plan;
(iii) Except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no Termination Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan, and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any unpaid withdrawal liability with respect to any Multiemployer Plan;
(iv) Except as provided in Schedule 6.1(l), the present value of all vested accrued benefits under each Pension Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA, or the funding of which is regulated by any Foreign Benefit Law did not, as of the most recent valuation date for each such plan, exceed the then current value of the assets of such Employee Benefit Plan allocable to such benefits (based on the assumptions used for purposes of FASB ASC Topic 715 “Compensation -- Retirement Benefits” or applicable non-US financial accounting standards) by a material amount;
(v) except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) each Employee Benefit Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or the funding of which is regulated by any Foreign Benefit Law, maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, has been administered in accordance with its terms in all material respects and is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable requirements of ERISA, applicable Foreign Benefit Law and other applicable laws, regulations and rules, (B) there has been no determination that any Pension Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA) and (C) neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has received any notice of a determination that any Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be in “endangered” or “critical” status (within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA);
(vi) Assuming that none of the Lenders is, is acting on behalf of, or is an entity the assets of which constitute the assets of, an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) or a “plan” (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code) with respect to which the Borrower is a “party in interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or a “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code), the consummation of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit provided for herein will not involve any “prohibited transaction” under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code which is not subject to a statutory or administrative exemption; and
(vii) No material proceeding, claim, lawsuit and/or investigation exists or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower after due inquiry, is threatened concerning or involving any Employee Benefit Plan.
(m) No Default. There does not exist any Default or Event of Default.
(n) Environmental Laws. Except as listed on Schedule 6.1(n) and except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and has been issued and currently maintains all required federal, state and local permits, licenses, certificates and approvals. Except as listed on Schedule 6.1(n) and except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has been notified of any pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation, and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is aware of any facts, which (a) calls into question, or could reasonably be expected to call into question, compliance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with any Environmental Laws, (b) seeks, or could reasonably be expected to form the basis of a meritorious proceeding, to suspend, revoke or terminate any license, permit or approval necessary for the operation of the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s business or facilities or for the generation, handling, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, or (c) seeks to cause, or could reasonably be expected to form the basis of a meritorious proceeding to cause, any property of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to be subject to any restrictions on ownership, use, occupancy or transferability under any Environmental Law.
(o) Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (in each case, acting in their capacity as such) with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, the directors, officers, employees and agents of Borrower and its Subsidiaries (in each case, acting in their capacity as such), are in compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects. None of (a) the Borrower, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, any of their respective directors, officers or employees (in each case, acting in their capacity as such), or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any agent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person.
(p) Affected Financial Institutions. No Loan Party is an Affected Financial Institution.
ARTICLE VII
Affirmative Covenants
Until the Facility Termination Date, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, the Borrower will, and where applicable will cause each Subsidiary to:
7.1 Financial Reports, Etc.
(a) as soon as practical and in any event within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Borrower, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (i) the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, with the notes thereto, the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, and shareholders’ equity and the respective notes thereto for such Fiscal Year, setting forth comparative financial statements for the preceding Fiscal Year, all prepared in accordance with GAAP and containing opinions of KPMG LLP, or other such independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Borrower or such other accountants as are approved by the Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld), which are unqualified as to the scope of the audit performed and as to the “going concern” status of the Borrower (other than a “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered); and (ii) a Compliance Certificate of an Authorized Representative as to the existence of any Default or Event of Default and demonstrating compliance with Section 8.1 of this Agreement;
(b) as soon as practical and in any event within 55 days after the end of each quarterly period (except the last reporting period of the Fiscal Year), deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (i) the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such reporting period, the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, and shareholders’ equity for such reporting period and for the period from the beginning of the Fiscal Year through the end of such reporting period, accompanied by a statement, set forth in the Compliance Certificate, of an Authorized Representative to the effect that such financial statements present fairly the financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such reporting period and the results of their operations and the changes in their financial position for such reporting period in accordance with GAAP, and (ii) a Compliance Certificate of an Authorized Representative as to the existence of any Default or Event of Default and containing computations for such quarter comparable to that required pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(ii);
(c) [reserved];
(d) promptly upon their becoming available to the Borrower, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a copy of (i) all regular or special reports or effective registration statements which the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor thereto) or any securities exchange, (ii) any proxy statement distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders, bondholders or the financial community in general, and (iii) any management letter or other report submitted to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(e) [reserved]; and
(f) (i) promptly, from time to time, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lender such other information regarding Borrower’s and any Subsidiary’s operations, business affairs and financial condition as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may reasonably request and (ii) 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” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
The Administrative Agent and the Lenders are hereby authorized to deliver a copy of any such financial or other information delivered hereunder to the Lenders (or any Affiliate of any Lender) or to the Administrative Agent, to any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders pursuant to any written request therefor or in the ordinary course of examination of loan files, or to any other Person who shall acquire or consider the assignment of, or acquisition of any participation interest in, any Obligation permitted by this Agreement, subject to Section 11.15.
Financial statements required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to clauses (a)(i) and (b)(i) of this Section 7.1 and items required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to clause (d) of this Section 7.1 shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Borrower causes such financial statements, reports containing such financial statements or other filings evidencing the items required by Section 7.1(d), to be posted on the Internet at www.sec.gov or at such other website identified by the Borrower in a notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and that is accessible by the Lenders without charge.
7.2 Maintain Properties. Maintain all properties necessary to its operations in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted), make all needed repairs, replacements and renewals to such properties, and maintain free from Liens (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.3) all trademarks, trade names, patents, copyrights, trade secrets, know-how, and other intellectual property and proprietary information (or adequate licenses thereto), in each case as are reasonably necessary to conduct its business as currently conducted or as contemplated hereby, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.3 Existence, Qualification, Etc. Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and all material rights and franchises, trade names, trademarks and permits, except to the extent conveyed or permitted in connection with a transaction permitted under Section 8.4 hereof, and maintain its license or qualification to do business as a foreign corporation and good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the nature of its business makes such license or qualification necessary, except, with respect to any of the foregoing in this Section 7.3, where any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.4 Regulations and Taxes. Comply in all material respects with all statutes and governmental regulations and pay all Taxes, assessments and governmental charges which, if unpaid, might become a Lien against any of its properties except liabilities being contested in good faith and against which adequate reserves have been established and except, with respect to any of the foregoing, where any failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.5 Insurance. (i) Keep all of its insurable properties adequately insured at all times with responsible insurance carriers or self-insured against loss or damage by fire and other hazards as are customarily insured against by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, (ii) maintain general public liability insurance at all times with responsible insurance carriers or self-insured against liability on account of damage to persons and property in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, and (iii) maintain insurance under all applicable workers’ compensation laws (or in the alternative, maintain required reserves if self-insured for workers’ compensation purposes).
7.6 True Books. Keep true books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries will be made in all material respects of all of its dealings and transactions in accordance with customary business practices in order to prepare its financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
7.7 Right of Inspection. Permit any Person designated by any Lender or the Administrative Agent at the Lender’s or Administrative Agent’s expense, as the case may be, to visit and inspect any of the properties, corporate books and financial reports of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their principal officers and independent certified public accountants, all at reasonable times, at reasonable intervals and with reasonable prior notice; provided that the Borrower may elect to have one or more Authorized Officers to be present during any discussions with the Borrower’s independent certified public accountants; provided further that any such inspection shall not entitle the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to receive, and neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to disclose, provide or deliver, any documents or information (i) that would result in a loss of attorney-client privilege or claim of attorney work product, (ii) that would result in disclosure of any sensitive or proprietary information (including non-financial trade secrets and non-financial proprietary information) related to the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) to the extent the disclosure thereof would violate any laws, rules or regulations applicable to, or any confidentiality obligation binding on, the Borrower or its Subsidiaries; provided further that in the event that the Borrower or any Subsidiary does not provide any information requested in connection with an inspection permitted under this Section 7.7 in reliance on the preceding proviso due to confidentiality or waiver concerns, the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall provide notice to the Administrative Agent that such information is being withheld and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to communicate the applicable information in a way that would not violate the applicable confidentiality obligation or risk waiver of such privilege.
7.8 Observe all Laws. Conform to and duly observe in all material respects all laws, rules and regulations and all other valid requirements of any Governmental Authority (including Environmental Laws) with respect to the conduct of its business the non-compliance with which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (in each case, acting in their capacities as such) with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.
7.9 Governmental Licenses. Obtain and maintain all licenses, permits, certifications and approvals of all applicable Governmental Authorities as are required for the conduct of its business as currently conducted and as contemplated by the Loan Documents, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.10 Covenants Extending to Subsidiaries. Cause each of its Subsidiaries to do with respect to itself, its business and its assets, each of the things required of the Borrower in Sections 7.2 through 7.9, inclusive to the extent the failure to do so could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.11 Officer’s Knowledge of Default. Upon any Senior Officer of the Borrower obtaining knowledge of (a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder or (b) any event, development or occurrence which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, cause such officer or an Authorized Representative to promptly notify the Administrative Agent of the nature thereof, the period of existence thereof, and what action the Borrower or any Subsidiary proposes to take with respect thereto.
7.12 Suits or Other Proceedings. Upon any Senior Officer of the Borrower obtaining knowledge of any litigation or other proceedings being instituted against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or any attachment, levy, execution or other process being instituted against any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent written notice thereof stating the nature and status of such litigation, dispute, proceeding, levy, execution or other process.
7.13 Notice of Discharge of Hazardous Material or Environmental Complaint. Promptly provide to the Administrative Agent true, accurate and complete copies of any and all notices, complaints, orders, directives, claims, or citations received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to any (a) violation or alleged violation by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any applicable Environmental Laws or OSHA; (b) release or threatened release by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Hazardous Material, except where occurring legally; or (c) liability or alleged liability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary for the costs of cleaning up, removing, remediating or responding to a release of Hazardous Materials, which violation, alleged violation, release, threatened release, actual liability or threatened liability described in clause (a), (b) or (c) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
7.14 Environmental Compliance. If the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall receive notice from any Governmental Authority that the Borrower or any Subsidiary has violated any applicable Environmental Laws in any respect that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower shall promptly (and in any event within the time period permitted by the applicable Governmental Authority) remove or remedy, or the Borrower shall cause the applicable Subsidiary to remove or remedy, such violation.
7.15 Notice of Change in Beneficial Ownership Certification. Furnish to each applicable Lender prompt written notice of any change in the information provided in the Beneficial Ownership Certification, if any, delivered to such Lender that would result in a change to the list of beneficial owners identified in such certification.
7.16 Continued Operations. Continue at all times (i) to conduct its business and engage principally in a line or lines of business similar or complementary to those heretofore engaged in, including, without limitation, Automobile Retailing Activities, or activities that are reasonably related thereto or similar extensions thereof (subject to the right to make Permitted Acquisitions) and (ii) preserve, protect and maintain free from Liens (other than Liens permitted under Section 8.3 hereof) its material patents, copyrights, licenses, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights, trade secrets and know-how, in each case to the extent necessary or reasonably required in the conduct of its operations.
7.17 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans solely for the purposes specified in Section 2.16 hereof.
7.18 Guarantors. If any Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) guarantees Indebtedness for money borrowed under any Material Credit Facility of the Borrower, then on or prior to the date that any such Subsidiary guarantees such Indebtedness, the Borrower shall cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent each of the following documents:
(a) a Facility Guaranty executed by such Subsidiary substantially in the form of Exhibit J;
(b) an opinion of counsel to the Subsidiary dated as of the date of delivery of the Facility Guaranty provided for in this Section 7.18 and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; and
(c) current copies of the Organizational Documents and Operating Documents of such Subsidiary, minutes of duly called and conducted meetings (or duly effected consent actions) of the Board of Directors, partners, or appropriate committees thereof (and, if required by such Organizational Documents, Operating Documents or applicable law, of the shareholders, members or partners) of such Subsidiary authorizing the actions and the execution and delivery of documents described in this Section 7.18.
For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall any Subsidiary that guarantees any Indebtedness for money borrowed under any Material Credit Facility of the Borrower (other than this Facility) be deemed to be an Excluded Subsidiary based on clause (d) of the definition thereof.
ARTICLE VIII
Negative Covenants
Until the Facility Termination Date unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, the Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to:
8.1 Financial Covenants.
(a) Consolidated Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Leverage Ratio as at the last day of any Four-Quarter Period to be greater than 3.75 to 1.00; provided that, at the Borrower’s election and upon written notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent within 30 days after the consummation of a Material Step-Up Acquisition, for the fiscal quarter in which such Material Step-Up Acquisition is consummated and each of the three fiscal quarters thereafter, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio pursuant to this subsection 8.1(a) shall increase to 4.25 to 1.00; provided that (i) such increase shall only apply for the fiscal quarter in which the Material Step-Up Acquisition occurred and the succeeding three fiscal quarters, and immediately upon the expiration of such third fiscal quarter succeeding the fiscal quarter in which the closing of the Material Step-Up Acquisition occurred, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall revert to 3.75 to 1.00, (ii) the Borrower may increase the Consolidated Leverage Ratio following the consummation of a Material Step-Up Acquisition not more than two times during the term of this Agreement and (iii) following any such increase, the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be 3.75 to 1.00 for at least two consecutive fiscal quarter end dates before the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio may be increased to 4.25 to 1.00 again as a result of a subsequent Material Step-Up Acquisition.
(b) Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as at the last day of any Four-Quarter Period to be less than 3.00 to 1.00.
8.2 Indebtedness. Incur, create or assume any Funded Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) unless, after giving pro forma effect thereto and after giving pro forma effect to any increase in the maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio under Section 8.1(a) which will result from the incurrence, creation or assumption of such Funded Indebtedness in connection with a Material Step-Up Acquisition, the Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 8.1 (with Consolidated EBITDA, for such purpose, being calculated in respect of the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements are available and giving pro forma effect to any Material Step-Up Acquisition funded by such Funded Indebtedness as if such Material Step-Up Acquisition occurred on the first day of the most recent Four Quarter Period for which financial statements are available).
8.3 Liens. Incur, create or permit to exist any Lien of any nature whatsoever with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case to secure Indebtedness, other than
(i) Liens existing as of the date hereof and as set forth in Schedule 8.3 attached hereto;
(ii) Liens imposed by law for Taxes, assessments or charges of any Governmental Authority for claims not yet due or payable and Liens for judgments or levies, in each case which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(iii) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, laborers, employees or suppliers and other Liens imposed by law or created in the ordinary course of business and in existence less than 120 days from the date of creation thereof for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are being maintained in accordance with GAAP;
(iv) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business (including, without limitation, surety bonds and appeal bonds) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, old age pensions and other types of social security or retirement benefits or to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, contracts (other than for the repayment of Indebtedness), self insurance general liability insurance programs, public or statutory obligations, stay, surety and appeal bonds posted in the ordinary course of business, letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business and other similar obligations, or arising as a result of progress payments or partial payments under government contracts or subcontracts;
(v) (i) Liens on property existing at the time of purchase thereof by the Borrower or a Subsidiary and not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition and (ii) easements (including, without limitation, reciprocal easement agreements and utility agreements), licenses, rights of others for rights-of-way, utilities, sewers, electric lines, telephone or telegraph lines and similar purposes, irregularities in title, covenants, consents, reservations, encroachments, variations and zoning and other restrictions, charges or encumbrances (whether or not recorded), which do not interfere materially with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and which do not materially detract from the value of the property to which they attach or materially impair the use thereof to the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(vi) Liens on real property and improvements securing (A) Mortgage Facilities of the Borrower or any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,000,000,000 at any time outstanding and (B) Rate Hedging Obligations related to such Mortgage Facilities (which Rate Hedging Obligations are owed to any of the respective lenders under such Mortgage Facilities and secured by the same assets as such Mortgage Facilities), provided that the amount of Indebtedness under any Mortgage Facility does not exceed eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market value of the real property and improvements securing such Indebtedness as of the date such Liens are granted on such real property and improvements;
(vii) Liens to secure the refinancing of any Indebtedness described on Schedule 8.3 to the extent such Liens encumber substantially the same assets in substantially the same manner as the Liens securing the debt being refinanced or to the extent such Liens constitute Liens permitted under this Section 8.3; and any extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement in whole or in part of any Lien described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) so long as no additional collateral is granted as security;
(viii) Liens on claims of the Borrower or any Subsidiary against Persons renting or leasing Vehicles, Persons damaging Vehicles or Persons issuing applicable insurance coverage for such Persons, which claims relate to damage to Vehicles, to the extent that such damage exceeds the renter’s or lessee’s collision damage waiver limitation or insurance deductible;
(ix) Liens securing Vehicle Receivables Indebtedness and Vehicle Secured Indebtedness and Rate Hedging Obligations related to such Indebtedness, which Rate Hedging Obligations are owed to any of the respective lenders of such Indebtedness and secured by the same assets as such Indebtedness;
(x) Liens incurred in compliance with Section 4.8 or Section 9.1(B);
(xi) Liens on Margin Stock that is held by the Borrower as treasury stock;
(xii) Liens arising from legal proceedings, so long as such proceedings are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(xiii) Liens arising from UCC financing statement filings (or similar filings) regarding or otherwise arising under leases entered into in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that such Liens attach only to the property being leased under such leases;
(xiv) Liens existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary (and on improvements, leases, installations, developments, repairs, renewals, replacements, additions, general intangibles, accessions, and proceeds related thereto); provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien shall not have been created in contemplation of such acquisition, merger or consolidation and (iii) such Lien and any replacements thereof shall secure only those commitments and obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, and extensions, renewals, substitutions, refinancings and replacements thereof that do not increase the commitments and obligations thereunder, plus any accreted amount, unpaid accrued interest, premium, underwriting discount, and any other fees, commissions and expenses incurred in connection therewith;
(xv) Liens on property, plant and equipment acquired, constructed, leased, installed, repaired, developed or improved by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are initially incurred prior to or within 270 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction, lease, installation, repair, development or improvement, (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of acquiring, constructing, leasing, installing, repairing, developing or improving such property, plant and equipment and (iii) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than improvements, installations, repairs, developments, renewals, replacements, additions and accessions of or to such property);
(xvi) Liens securing Indebtedness of a Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;
(xvii) Liens securing Escrow Indebtedness in favor of escrow agents, account custodians or similar third party intermediaries during the period which any such Escrow Indebtedness is held under escrow or similar contingent release arrangements;
(xviii) bankers’ Liens, rights of setoff, revocation, refund, chargeback or overdraft protection, and other similar Liens existing solely with respect to cash and cash equivalents on deposit in one or more accounts maintained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case granted in the ordinary course of business in favor of the bank or banks with which such accounts are maintained, including those involving pooled accounts and netting arrangements; and
(xix) (A) Liens not otherwise permitted hereby securing Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries so long as, on the date any such Lien is granted, after giving effect to such Indebtedness, the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by Liens (other than Liens permitted by clauses (i) through (xviii) of this Section 8.3) shall not exceed 15% of Consolidated Tangible Assets calculated as of the date of the creation or incurrence of the Lien and (B) Liens that extend, renew, substitute, replace or refinance (including successive extensions, renewals, substitutions, replacements or refinancings), in whole or in part, any Lien permitted pursuant to clause (xix)(A) of this Section 8.3; provided that the Indebtedness secured by any such Lien is in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not greater than the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by the Lien which is being extended, renewed, substituted, replaced or refinanced, plus any accreted amount, unpaid accrued interest, premium, underwriting discount, and any other fees, commissions and expenses incurred in connection therewith.
8.4 Merger, Consolidation or Fundamental Changes. (a) Sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose (whether effected pursuant to a division or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole), (b) consolidate with or merge into any other Person, or (c) permit any other Person to merge into it or (d) in the case of the Borrower, liquidate, wind-up or dissolve; provided, however, (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge or transfer all or substantially all of its assets into or consolidate with the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be the case so long as (x) in the case of a merger, transfer or consolidation with the Borrower, the surviving or continuing entity shall be the Borrower or (y) in the case of a merger, transfer or consolidation with another Subsidiary of the Borrower, the surviving or continuing entity shall be a Subsidiary and, if not a corporation, directly or indirectly controlled by the Borrower, upon consummation of such merger, transfer or consolidation), (ii) any Person may merge with the Borrower if the Borrower shall be the survivor thereof and such merger shall not otherwise cause, create or result in the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder, (iii) any Subsidiary may merge with or transfer substantially all of its assets to or consolidate with any other Person so long as such merger, transfer or consolidation does not constitute a sale, lease, transfer or other disposition (whether effected pursuant to a division or otherwise) of all or a majority of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to such other Person, (iv) any Person (other than the Borrower) may consolidate with or merge into any Subsidiary and (v) the foregoing shall not prohibit dispositions of Margin Stock that is held as treasury stock by the Borrower.
8.5 Fiscal Year. Change the Borrower’s Fiscal Year.
8.6 [Reserved].
8.7 Manufacturer Consents.
(a) To the extent any Facility Guaranty is outstanding, terminate, revoke or violate the terms of any Manufacturer Consent or amend or modify the terms of any Manufacturer Consent in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders.
(b) To the extent any Facility Guaranty is outstanding, authorize any Manufacturer to amend, modify, terminate, revoke or violate the terms of any Manufacturer Consent or to amend or modify the terms of any Manufacturer Consent in each case in any manner materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders.
8.8 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will not request any Loan or Letter of Credit, and the Borrower shall not directly (or knowingly indirectly) use, shall procure that its Subsidiaries and its or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (in each
case, acting in their capacities as such) shall not directly (or knowingly indirectly) use, the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit (A) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws, (B) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country, except to the extent permitted for a Person who is required to comply with Sanctions or (C) in any manner that would result in the violation of any Sanctions applicable to any party hereto.
ARTICLE IX
Events of Default and Acceleration
9.1 Events of Default. If any one or more of the following events (herein called “Events of Default”) shall occur for any reason whatsoever (and whether such occurrence shall be voluntary or involuntary or come about or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to or in compliance with any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), that is to say:
(a) if default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of the principal of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, when and as the same shall be due and payable whether pursuant to any provision of Article II or Article III hereof, at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise; or
(b) if default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of any amount of interest on any Loan or of any fees or other amounts payable to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Banks under the Loan Documents on the date on which the same shall be due and payable and such failure to pay shall continue for a period of three Business Days (after receipt of written notice from the Administrative Agent with respect to amounts other than interest); or
(c) if default shall be made in the performance or observance of any covenant set forth in Sections 7.11(a), 7.17 or Article VIII hereof; or
(d) if a default shall be made in the performance or observance of, or shall occur under, any covenant, agreement or provision contained in any Loan Document (other than as described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above) and such default shall continue for thirty (30) or more days after the earlier of receipt of notice of such default by an Authorized Representative from the Administrative Agent, or if any material provision of any Loan Document ceases to be in full force and effect (other than by reason of any action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), or if without the written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be disaffirmed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or shall terminate, be terminable or be terminated or become void or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever (other than in accordance with its terms in the absence of default or by reason of any action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender); or
(e) if a default shall occur, which is not cured or waived, (i) in the payment of any principal, interest, premium or other amounts with respect to any Indebtedness (other than the Loans or any Vehicle Receivables Indebtedness) of the Borrower or of any Subsidiary (other than any Eligible Special Purpose Entity) in an outstanding aggregate amount not less than $200,000,000, or (ii) in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any term or covenant (other than any term or covenant in any way restricting the Borrower’s or any such Subsidiary’s right or ability to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of Margin Stock) contained in any agreement or instrument under or pursuant to which any such Indebtedness described in clause (i) above may have been issued, created, assumed, guaranteed or secured by the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than any Eligible Special Purpose Entity), and in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) such default shall continue for more than the period of grace, if any, therein specified, and if such default shall permit the holder of any such Indebtedness to accelerate the maturity thereof; or
(f) if any representation, warranty or other statement of fact contained herein or any other Loan Document or in any document or other written statement delivered to the Agent or any Lender by the Borrower or any Guarantor pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, shall be false or misleading in any material respect when given or made or deemed given or made; provided that, if any such representation, warranty or other statement of fact is capable of being cured, no Event of Default shall occur hereunder if such misrepresentation, breach of warranty or misstatement of fact is cured within thirty (30) days after a Senior Officer of the Borrower shall have discovered such misrepresentation, breach of warranty or misstatement of fact; or
(g) if the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) shall be unable to pay its debts generally as they become due; file a petition to take advantage of any insolvency, reorganization, bankruptcy, receivership or similar law, domestic or foreign; make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors; commence a proceeding for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator or conservator of itself or of the whole or any substantial part of its property; file a petition or answer seeking reorganization or arrangement or similar relief under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute, federal, state or foreign; or
(h) if a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter an order, judgment or decree appointing a custodian, receiver, trustee, liquidator or conservator of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) or of the whole or any substantial part of its properties and such order, judgment or decree continues unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) days, or approve a petition filed against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) seeking reorganization or arrangement or similar relief under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute of the United States of America or any state or foreign country, province or other political subdivision, which petition is not dismissed within sixty (60) days; or if, under the provisions of any other law for the relief or aid of debtors, a court of competent jurisdiction shall assume custody or control of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) or of the whole or any substantial part of its properties, which control is not relinquished within sixty (60) days; or if there is commenced against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) any proceeding or petition seeking reorganization, arrangement or similar relief under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute of the United States of America or any state or foreign country, province or other political subdivision which proceeding or petition remains undismissed for a period of thirty (30) days; or if the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) takes any action to indicate its consent to or approval of any such proceeding or petition; or
(i) if (i) any judgments where the aggregate amount not covered by insurance (or the amount as to which the insurer denies liability) is in excess of $200,000,000, are rendered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary), or (ii) there are attachments, injunctions or executions against any of the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary) properties for an aggregate amount in excess of $200,000,000; and such judgments, attachments, injunctions or executions referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above remain unpaid, unstayed, undischarged, unbonded or undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days; or
(j) if an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or
(k) if a Change in Control shall have occurred;
then, and in any such event and at any time thereafter, if such Event of Default or any other Event of Default shall be continuing,
(A) either or both of the following actions may be taken: (i) the Administrative Agent may with the consent of the Required Lenders, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, declare any obligation of the Lenders to make further Loans or of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit terminated, whereupon the obligation of each Lender to make further Loans or of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall terminate immediately, and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall at the direction of the Required Lenders, at their option, declare by notice to the Borrower any or all of the Obligations to be immediately due and payable, and the same, including all interest accrued thereon and all other obligations of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, shall forthwith become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest, notice or other formality of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in any instrument evidencing the Obligations to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, however, that notwithstanding the above, if there shall occur an Event of Default under clause (g) or (h) above with respect to the Borrower, then the obligation of the Lenders to lend and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall automatically terminate and any and all of the Obligations shall be immediately due and payable without the necessity of any action by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders or notice to or from the Administrative Agent or the Lenders;
(B) at any time after the Administrative Agent has received the consent or direction of the Required Lenders to take action under clause (A)(i) or (A)(ii) above (or if an Event of Default described under clause (g) or (h) has occurred with respect to the Borrower) the Borrower shall, upon demand of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, deposit cash with the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of any Letters of Credit remaining undrawn or unpaid, as collateral security for the repayment of any future drawings or payments under such Letters of Credit and the Borrower shall forthwith deposit and pay such amounts and such amounts shall be held by the Administrative Agent as cash collateral for the Borrower’s obligations in respect thereof; and
(C) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have all of the rights and remedies available under the Loan Documents or under any applicable law.
9.2 Administrative Agent to Act. In case any one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Administrative Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, proceed to protect and enforce their rights or remedies either by suit in equity or by action at law, or both, whether for the specific performance of any covenant, agreement or other provision contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or to enforce the payment of the Obligations or any other legal or equitable right or remedy.
9.3 Cumulative Rights. No right or remedy herein conferred upon the Lenders or the Administrative Agent is intended to be exclusive of any other rights or remedies contained herein or in any other Loan Document, and every such right or remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other such right or remedy contained herein and therein or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute, or otherwise.
9.4 No Waiver. No course of dealing between the Borrower and any Lender or the Administrative Agent or any failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Administrative Agent in exercising any rights or remedies under any Loan Document or otherwise available to it shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies and no single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or of the same right or remedy on a future occasion.
9.5 Allocation of Proceeds. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated pursuant to Article IX hereof, all payments received by the Administrative Agent hereunder, in respect of any principal of or interest on the Obligations or any other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder (other than amounts deposited with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 9.1(B), which shall be applied to repay any unreimbursed drawings or payments under the Letters of Credit) shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:
(i) amounts due to the Issuing Banks, JPMorgan Chase Bank and the Lenders pursuant to Sections 2.13, 3.4 and 11.5 hereof;
(ii) amounts due to (A) any Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 3.5 hereof, and (B) the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.13(b) hereof;
(iii) payments of interest on Loans, to be applied for the ratable benefit of the Lenders;
(iv) payments of principal on Loans, to be applied for the ratable benefit of the Lenders;
(v) payment of cash amounts to the Administrative Agent in respect of Letter of Credit Outstandings pursuant to Section 9.1(B) hereof;
(vi) payments of all remaining Obligations, if any, to be applied for the ratable benefit of the Lenders; and
(vii) any surplus remaining after application as provided for herein, to the Borrower or otherwise as may be required by applicable law.
ARTICLE X
The Administrative Agent
10.1 Authorization and Action
(a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent in the heading of this Agreement and its successors and assigns to serve as the administrative agent under the Loan Documents and each Lender and each Issuing Bank authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent is a party, and to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent may have under such Loan Documents.
(b) As to any matters not expressly provided for herein and in the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon each Lender and each Issuing Bank; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification and is exculpated in a manner satisfactory to it from the Lenders and the Issuing Banks with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law, including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided, further, that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or direction from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or direction has been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Administrative Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(c) In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. The motivations of the Administrative Agent are commercial in nature and not to invest in the general performance or operations of the Borrower. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(i) the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duty or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender, Issuing Bank or holder of any other obligation other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties); additionally, each Lender agrees that it will not assert any claim against the Administrative Agent based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby; and
(ii) nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.
(d) The Administrative Agent may perform any 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 of their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers 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 pursuant to this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agent except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agent.
(e) None of any Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.
(f) In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any Reimbursement Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, Letter of Credit Outstandings 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 Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.6, 2.13, 4.1, 4.6 and 11.9) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(ii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each Issuing Bank 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, the Issuing Banks, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 11.9). 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 Issuing Bank any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender or Issuing Bank in any such proceeding.
(g) The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article and except for enforcing the proviso to Section 10.6(c)(iii), none of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary under any such provisions. Whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.
10.2 Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Limitation of Liability, Etc.
(a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such party, the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (x) with the consent of 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 to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or (y) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and non-appealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders or the Issuing Banks for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Administrative Agent’s reliance on any Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page) or for any failure of any Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any (i) notice of any of the events or circumstances set forth or described in Section 7.11, 7.12, 7.13 or 7.15 unless and until written notice thereof stating that it is a notice under Section 7.11, 7.12, 7.13 or 7.15 (as applicable) in respect of this Agreement and identifying the specific clause under said Section is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, or (ii) notice of any Default or Event of Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of Default” or a “notice of an Event of Default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or an Issuing Bank. Further, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (A) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (B) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (C) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, (D) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (E) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article V or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items (which on their face purport to be such items) expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any Liabilities, costs or expenses suffered by the Borrower, any Subsidiary, any Lender or any Issuing Bank as a result of, any determination of the Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations, any of the component amounts thereof or any portion thereof attributable to each Lender or Issuing Bank.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any promissory note as its holder until such promissory note has been assigned in accordance with Section 11.1, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 11.1, (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender or Issuing Bank and shall not be responsible to any Lender or Issuing Bank for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or Issuing Bank unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit and (vi) 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 notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).
10.3 Posting of Communications.
(a) The Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make any Communications available to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks by posting the Communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or any other electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “Approved Electronic Platform”).
(b) Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Closing Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization method whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure, that the Administrative Agent is not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives or contacts of any Lender that are added to the Approved Electronic Platform, and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower hereby approves distribution of the Communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.
(c) THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. 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 THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY DOCUMENTATION AGENT, ANY SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “APPLICABLE PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER, ANY ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO ACTUAL OR DIRECT DAMAGES TO THE EXTENT DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT OR DETERMINATION TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE BAD FAITH, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE OF ANY APPLICABLE PARTY.
“Communications” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through an Approved Electronic Platform.
(d) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that Communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender and Issuing Bank agrees (1) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (which could be in the form of electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s (as applicable) email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (2) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.
(e) Each of the Lenders, each of the Issuing Banks and the Borrower agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the Communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies.
(f) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.
10.4 The Administrative Agent Individually. With respect to its Commitment, Loans, Letter of Credit Commitments and Letters of Credit, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or Issuing Bank, as the case may be. The terms “Issuing Banks”, “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender, Issuing Bank or as one of the Required Lenders, as applicable. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent 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 or other business with, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person was not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the Issuing Banks.
10.5 Successor Administrative Agent.
(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrower (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall directly be given or made to each Lender and each Issuing Bank. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and Section 11.9, as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring 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 while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
10.6 Acknowledgements of Lenders and Issuing Banks.
(a) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank represents and warrants that (i) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility, (ii) in participating as a Lender, it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and in providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender or Issuing Bank, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and not for the purpose of investing in the general performance or operations of the Borrower, or for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument such as a security (and each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing, such as a claim under the federal or state securities laws), (iii) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement as a Lender, and to make, acquire or hold Loans hereunder and (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to make, acquire and/or hold such commercial loans or to provide such other facilities, is experienced in making, acquiring or holding such commercial loans or providing such other facilities. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any Syndication Agent, any Documentation Agent or any other Lender or Issuing Bank, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information (which may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States securities laws concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates) as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Closing Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Assumption or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Closing Date.
(c) Erroneous Payments.
(i) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby agrees that (x) if the Administrative Agent notifies such Lender or such Issuing Bank that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender or such Issuing Bank from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, a “Payment”) were erroneously transmitted to such Lender or such Issuing Bank (whether or not known to such Lender or such Issuing Bank), and demands the return of such Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter (or such later date as the Administrative Agent, may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender or such Issuing Bank to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect, and (y) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall not assert, and hereby waives, as to the Administrative Agent, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Payments received, including without limitation any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or any Issuing Bank under this Section 10.6(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(ii) Each Lender and each Issuing Bank hereby further agrees that if it receives a Payment from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such Payment (a “Payment Notice”) or (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, it shall be on notice, in each such case, that an error has been made with respect to such Payment. Each Lender and each Issuing Bank agrees that, in each such case, or if it otherwise becomes aware a Payment (or portion thereof) may have been sent in error, such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent, it shall promptly, but in no event later than one Business Day thereafter (or such later date as the Administrative Agent, may, in its sole discretion, specify in writing), return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds, together with interest thereon (except to the extent waived in writing by the Administrative Agent) in respect of each day from and including the date such Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Lender or such Issuing Bank to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the NYFRB Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.
(iii) The Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event an erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) are not recovered from any Lender or any Issuing Bank that has received such Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party; provided that this Section 10.6(c) shall not be interpreted to increase (or accelerate the due date for), or have the effect of increasing (or accelerating the due date for), the Obligations of the Borrower relative to the amount (and/or timing for payment) of the Obligations that would have been payable by the Borrower had such erroneous Payment not been made by the Administrative Agent.
(iv) Each party’s obligations under this Section 10.6(c) shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any transfer of rights or obligations by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations under any Loan Document.
10.7 Certain 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 each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that at least one of the following is and will be true:
(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) 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 or the Commitments,
(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.
(b) In addition, unless sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or such Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant as provided in sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, that none of the Administrative Agent, any Arranger, any other Agent or any of their respective Affiliates is 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 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).
(c) The Administrative Agent, each Arranger and each other Agent hereby informs the Lenders that each such Person is not undertaking to provide investment advice or to give advice in a fiduciary capacity, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that such Person has a financial interest in the transactions contemplated hereby in that such Person or an Affiliate thereof (i) may receive interest or other payments with respect to the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the Commitments, this Agreement and any other Loan Documents (ii) may recognize a gain if it extended the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments for an amount less than the amount being paid for an interest in the Loans, the Letters of Credit or the Commitments by such Lender or (iii) may receive fees or other payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, the Loan Documents or otherwise, including structuring fees, commitment fees, arrangement fees, facility fees, upfront fees, underwriting fees, ticking fees, agency fees, administrative agent or collateral agent fees, utilization fees, minimum usage fees, letter of credit fees, fronting fees, deal-away or alternate transaction fees, amendment fees, processing fees, term out premiums, banker’s acceptance fees, breakage or other early termination fees or fees similar to the foregoing.
ARTICLE XI
Miscellaneous
11.1 Assignments and Participations.
(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section.
(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (each, an “Assignee”) (other than (w) a natural person, (x) a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person, (y) a Defaulting Lender or (z) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries), all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:
(A) the Borrower, provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund (as defined below) or, if an Event of Default under Section 9.1(a), (b), (g) or (h) has occurred and is continuing, any other Person (in which case the Borrower shall instead be promptly notified of such assignment by the assigning Lender unless the Assignee is an Affiliate of such assigning Lender); provided, further, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless the Borrower shall object thereto by notice to the Administrative Agent within ten Business Days after having received notice thereof; and
(B) the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (as defined below).
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments or Loans, the amount of the Commitments or 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) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that (1) no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;
(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee shall not be reimbursed by the Borrower); and
(C) the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an administrative questionnaire.
For the purposes of this Section 11.1, “Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and 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.
(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) below, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto 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 4.1, 4.5, 4.6 and 11.9). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 11.1 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 paragraph (c) of this Section.
(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks 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, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, the Assignee’s completed administrative questionnaire (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register, including the total ownership interest of the relevant Loan that the Assignee owns subsequent to the assignment. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of or notice to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (other than (w) a natural person, (x) a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural person, (y) a Defaulting Lender or (z) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including with respect to the matters described in this Section 11.1(c)(i)) and (D) such participations shall be in a minimum amount equal to the lesser of $5,000,000 or the remaining portion of a Lender’s rights and obligations hereunder which are not subject to a pre-existing participation. Any agreement 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 may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that (1) requires the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby pursuant to Section 11.6(a) or (b) and (2) directly affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.1, 4.5 and 4.6 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.3(a) as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant shall be subject to Section 11.3(b) as though it were a Lender.
(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 4.1, 4.5 or 4.6 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. Any Participant that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 4.6 unless such Participant complies with Section 4.6(d).
(iii) Each Lender that sells a participation, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall 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 this Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, Letters of Credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is reasonably 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, and such Lender, each Loan Party and the Administrative Agent shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register pursuant to the terms hereof as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.
(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or Assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. The Borrower, upon receipt of written notice from the relevant Lender, agrees to issue a Note to any Lender requiring such Note to facilitate transactions of the type described in this paragraph (d).
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Lender will assign or sell participations in all or a portion of its Loans or Commitments to any Person who is (i) listed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) and/or on any other similar list maintained by the OFAC pursuant to any authorizing statute, Executive Order or regulation or (ii) either (A) included within the term “designated national” as defined in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515, or (B) designated under Sections 1(a), 1(b), 1(c) or 1(d) of Executive Order No. 13224, 66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (published September 25, 2001) or similarly designated under any related enabling legislation or any other similar Executive Orders.
11.2 Notices. Any notice shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by any party hereto and be effective (i) on the day on which delivered (including hand delivery by commercial courier service) to such party (against receipt therefor), (ii) on the date of transmission to such party, in the case of notice by telefacsimile (where the proper transmission of such notice is either acknowledged by the recipient or electronically confirmed by the transmitting device), or (iii) on the fifth Business Day after the day on which mailed to such party, if sent prepaid by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, in each case delivered, transmitted or mailed, as the case may be, to the address or telefacsimile number, as appropriate, set forth below or such other address or number as such party shall specify by notice hereunder:
(a) if to the Borrower:
AutoNation, Inc.
200 Southwest 1st Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301
Attn: Treasurer
Telephone: (954) 769-3125
Email: schoenbornd@autonation.com
with a copy to:
AutoNation, Inc.
200 Southwest 1st Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301
Attn: General Counsel
Telephone: (954) 769-2039
Email: edmundsc@autonation.com
(b) if to the Administrative Agent:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
500 Stanton Christiana Road
NCC5 / 1st Floor
Newark, Delaware 19713
Attn: Loan & Agency Services Group
Telephone: +1 (302) 634-2798
Email: annisha.badejo@chase.com
Agency Withholding Tax Inquiries:
Email: agency.tax.reporting@jpmorgan.com
Agency Compliance/Financials/Intralinks:
Email: covenant.compliance@jpmchase.com
(c) if to JPMorgan Chase Bank as Issuing Bank:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
10420 Highland Manor Dr. 4th Floor
Tampa, FL 33610
Attn: Standby LC Unit
Telephone: (800) 364-1969
Fax: (856) 294-5267
Email: GTS.Client.Services@jpmchase.com
With a copy to:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
500 Stanton Christiana Rd.
NCC5 / 1st Floor
Newark, DE 19713
Attn: Loan & Agency Services Group
Telephone +1 (302) 634-2798
Email: annisha.badejo@chase.com
(d) if to the Lenders:
At the addresses set forth in administrative questionnaires furnished by the Lenders to the Administrative Agent;
(e) if to any Guarantor, at the address set forth in clause (a) above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, notices and other communications to the Lenders and Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications (including email and internet and intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices under Article II to any Lender or Issuing Bank if such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. Any notices or other communications to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the recipient thereof prior thereto or as set forth in this Agreement; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited or rescinded by any such Person by notice to each other such Person.
11.3 Right of Set-off; Adjustments.
(a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender; provided that if any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement, (i) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with Section 4.8 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders and (ii) 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 set off. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application made by such Lender; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender under this Section 11.3 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender may have.
(b) If any Lender (a “benefited Lender”) shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of the Loans owing to it, or interest thereon, or receive any collateral in respect of such Loans or interest thereon (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of such other Lender’s Loans owing to it, or interest thereon, such benefited Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of each such other Lender’s Loans owing to it, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the Lenders; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such benefited Lender or is repaid in whole or in part by such benefited Lender in good faith settlement of a pending or threatened avoidance claim, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery or settlement payment, but without interest. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from a Lender pursuant to this Section 11.3 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all of its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Person were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
11.4 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made herein shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit and the execution and delivery to the Lenders of this Agreement and shall continue in full force and effect until the Facility Termination Date, subject to Section 11.8.
11.5 Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with the syndication, preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, and amendment of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, limited, in the case of counsel, to the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of one counsel for the Administrative Agent (and an additional single local counsel in each applicable local jurisdiction) with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Administrative Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under the Loan Documents; provided that any legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with the initial negotiation, execution, preparation and delivery of this Agreement and any other Loan Documents executed on the Closing Date, an invoice in respect of which is not provided to the Borrower at least 2 Business Days prior to the Closing Date, shall not be reimbursed by the Borrower unless an invoice with respect thereto shall be provided to the Borrower within 30 days after the Closing Date. The Borrower further agrees to pay on demand all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and, during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Lenders, if any (limited, in the case of counsel, to the reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and expenses of one counsel to the Administrative Agent (and, during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Lenders, taken as a whole), an additional single local counsel in each applicable local jurisdiction for the Administrative Agent (and, during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Lenders, taken as a whole) and, to the extent reasonably necessary in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel for all similarly situated affected persons), in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings, or otherwise) of the Loan Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder.
11.6 Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed (or consented to in writing) by the Borrower or other applicable Loan Party party to such Loan Document and (except as provided in Section 2.18, Section 2.19, Section 4.2(b), Section 4.2(c) and clauses (a) and (b) below) either the Required Lenders or (as to Loan Documents other than this Agreement) the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders (and, if Article X hereof or the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent are affected thereby, by the Administrative Agent); provided that
(a) no such amendment or waiver shall, (i) increase the Revolving Credit Commitments of any Lender without the consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce (x) the principal of or rate of interest on any Revolving Credit Loan or Competitive Bid Loan made by any Lender without the consent of such Lender; provided that the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement or Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes pursuant to Section 4.2(b) or Section 4.2(c), as applicable, shall not constitute a reduction in the rate of interest for purposes of this subclause (x), (y) the amounts of any Reimbursement Obligations owed to any Lender hereunder without the consent of such Lender or (z) any fees payable to any Lender hereunder without the consent of such Lender, except that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” hereunder or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate, (iii) (except as provided in Section 2.19) postpone any date scheduled for the payment of principal, interest or fees payable to any Lender hereunder (other than any mandatory prepayments) without the consent of such Lender or for termination of any Revolving Credit Commitment of any Lender without the consent of such Lender, (iv) (except as provided in Section 2.18 or 2.19) adversely change any pro rata provisions of Section 2.9 without the consent of each Lender directly adversely affected thereby or (v) without the consent of each Lender directly adversely affected thereby, reduce the specified percentage amount below 50% in the definition of Required Lenders or, except as provided in Section 2.18, the percentage of the Revolving Credit Commitments or outstanding Loans held by any Lender, as applicable, which shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action under this Section 11.6(a); and provided, further, that no such amendment or waiver that affects the rights, privileges or obligations of any Issuing Bank as issuer of Letters of Credit, shall be effective unless signed in writing by such Issuing Bank; and
(b) to the extent Guarantors are required pursuant to Section 7.18, no such amendment or waiver shall, unless signed by each Lender directly affected thereby, release all or substantially all of the Guarantors, or subordinate all or substantially all of the Facility Guarantees, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or as contemplated in the applicable Loan Documents.
Any such waiver and any such amendment or modification pursuant to this Section 11.6 shall be binding upon the Borrower, the Guarantors, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and all future holders of the Loans. Except as otherwise set forth in such waiver, any Default or Event of Default that is waived pursuant to this Section 11.6 shall not be deemed to be a Default or Event of Default during the period of such waiver.
No notice to or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle the Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances, except as otherwise expressly provided herein. No delay or omission on any Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s part in exercising any right, remedy or option shall operate as a waiver of such or any other right, remedy or option or of any Default or Event of Default.
Furthermore, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary, (i) the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Borrower, may amend, modify or supplement any Loan Document without the consent of any Lender or the Required Lenders in order to correct, amend or cure any ambiguity, omission, inconsistency or defect or correct any typographical error or other manifest error in any Loan Document, (ii) this Agreement may be amended to permit modifications to terms governing new tranches of Added Term Loans or any other additional facilities that may be implemented hereunder (“Additional Facilities”) with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower and the lenders providing such Added Term Loans or Additional Facilities (and without the consent of any other Lender) to the extent that such changes relate only to such Added Term Loans or Additional Facilities, as applicable, or directly affect only the lenders providing such Added Term Loans or Additional Facilities, as applicable, subject in each case with respect to the Added Term Loans to the limitations set forth in Section 2.18 and (iii) this Agreement may be amended to permit modifications permitted to be made by Section 2.19 with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower and the Lenders that elect to agree to the applicable Termination Date Extension Request (and without the consent of any other Lender).
11.7 Counterparts; Electronic Execution. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such fully-executed counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of (x) this Agreement, (y) any other Loan Document and/or (z) any document, amendment, approval, consent, information, notice (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any notice delivered pursuant to Section 11.2), certificate, request, statement, disclosure or authorization related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby (each an “Ancillary Document”) that is an Electronic Signature transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement, such other Loan Document or such Ancillary Document, as applicable. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall be deemed to include Electronic Signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in any electronic form (including deliveries by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page), each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be; provided that nothing herein shall require the Administrative Agent to accept Electronic Signatures in any form or format without its prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided, further, without limiting the foregoing, (i) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept any Electronic Signature, the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders shall be entitled to rely on such Electronic Signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party without further verification thereof and without any obligation to review the appearance or form of any such Electronic Signature and (ii) upon the request of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any Electronic Signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed counterpart. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower and each Loan Party hereby (A) agrees that, for all purposes, including without limitation, in connection with any workout, restructuring, enforcement of remedies, bankruptcy proceedings or litigation among the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Borrower and the Loan Parties, Electronic Signatures transmitted by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page and/or any electronic images of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as any paper original, (B) the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders may, at its option, create one or more copies of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document in the form of an imaged electronic record in any format, which shall be deemed created in the ordinary course of such Person’s business, and destroy the original paper document (and all such electronic records shall be considered an original for all purposes and shall have the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper record), (C) waives any argument, defense or right to contest the legal effect, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document and/or any Ancillary Document based solely on the lack of paper original copies of this Agreement, such other Loan Document and/or such Ancillary Document, respectively, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (D) waives any claim against any Agent/Lender Entity for any Liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s and/or any Lender’s reliance on or use of Electronic Signatures and/or transmissions by telecopy, emailed pdf. or any other electronic means that reproduces an image of an actual executed signature page, including any Liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrower and/or any Loan Party to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any Electronic Signature. Nothing contained in this Section shall limit the provisions of Section 10.4.
11.8 Termination. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall terminate on the Facility Termination Date, except that (x) those provisions which by the express terms thereof continue in effect notwithstanding the Facility Termination Date, and (y) obligations in the nature of continuing indemnities or expense reimbursement obligations not yet due and payable, shall continue in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if after receipt of any payment of all or any part of the Obligations, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment to any Person because such payment is determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, a diversion of trust funds or for any other reason or elects to repay any such amount in good faith settlement of a pending or threatened avoidance claim, (i) this Agreement (including the provisions pertaining to Participations in Letters of Credit and Reimbursement Obligations) and the other Loan Documents shall continue in full force (or be reinstated, as the case may be) and the Borrower shall be liable to, and shall indemnify and hold the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Lender harmless for, the amount of such payment surrendered until the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or such Lender shall have been finally paid in full, and (ii) in the event any portion of any amount so required to be surrendered by the Administrative Agent or any Issuing Bank shall have been distributed to the Lenders, the Lenders shall promptly repay such amounts to the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank on demand therefor. The provisions of the foregoing sentence shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Lenders in reliance upon such payment, and any such contrary action so taken shall be without prejudice to the Administrative Agent’s, any Issuing Bank’s or the Lenders’ rights under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and shall be deemed to have been conditioned upon such payment having become final and irrevocable.
11.9 Limitation of Liability; Indemnification.
(a) Limitation of Liability. Neither any Agent-Related Person, nor any Lender, nor any of their Affiliates, nor any of their or their Affiliates’ respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents or advisors (collectively, the “Agent/Lender Entities”) shall be liable, on any theory of liability, for (and the Borrower and its Affiliates agree not to assert any claim against any Agent/Lender Entity for) any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to the Loan Documents, any of the transactions contemplated therein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans. Neither the Borrower nor any of the Borrower’s affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents and advisors (collectively, the “Borrower Entities”) shall be liable, on any theory of liability, for (and Agent-Related Persons, Lenders and their respective Affiliates agree not to assert any claim against any Borrower Entities for) any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to the Loan Documents, any of the transactions contemplated therein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans (other than in respect of any such damages incurred or paid by any Indemnified Party to a third party in circumstances in which such Indemnified Party is otherwise entitled to indemnification in accordance with the terms of paragraph (b) of this Section 11.9).
(b) Indemnification. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person and each Lender and each of their Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, and advisors (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, penalties and reasonable, documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (limited, in the case of counsel, to the reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees of one primary counsel to the Indemnified Parties, taken as a whole, and an additional single local counsel in each applicable local jurisdiction for all such Indemnified Parties (and, to the extent reasonably necessary in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, one additional counsel for all similarly situated affected Indemnified Parties)) that may be incurred by or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation, or proceeding or preparation of defense in connection therewith) the Loan Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans or the Letters of Credit (all of the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”), except to the extent that any such Indemnified Liability (i) is found by a judgment or determination of a court of competent jurisdiction to arise from the bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence of such Indemnified Party or such Indemnified Party’s affiliates, directors, officers, employees, advisors or agents, (ii) is found by a judgment or determination of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from a breach in any material respect of the obligations of such Indemnified Party under the Loan Documents or (iii) arises out of or in connection with any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding that does not involve an act or omission of the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s affiliates and that is brought by an Indemnified Party against any other Indemnified Party (other than any such claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding brought against any Indemnified Party solely in its capacity as such or in fulfillment of its role as an Agent, Arranger or similar role under the Revolving Credit Facility). In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 11.9 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Borrower, its directors, shareholders or creditors or an Indemnified Party or any other Person or any Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated. The Borrower agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to it, any of its Subsidiaries, any Guarantor, or any security holders or creditors thereof arising out of, related to or in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except to the extent that such liability is found by a judgment or determination of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
(c) The agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section 11.9 shall continue in effect notwithstanding the Facility Termination Date.
11.10 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be determined to be illegal or invalid as to one or more of the parties hereto, then such provision shall remain in effect with respect to all parties, if any, as to whom such provision is neither illegal nor invalid, and in any event all other provisions hereof shall remain effective and binding on the parties hereto.
11.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous proposals, negotiations, representations, commitments and other communications between or among the parties, both oral and written, with respect thereto.
11.12 Agreement Controls. In the event that any term of any of the Loan Documents other than this Agreement conflicts with any express term of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall control to the extent of such conflict.
11.13 Usury Savings Clause. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the aggregate interest rate charged hereunder, including all charges or fees in connection therewith deemed in the nature of interest under applicable law shall not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate (as such term is defined below). If the rate of interest (determined without regard to the preceding sentence) under this Agreement at any time exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate (as defined below), the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder shall bear interest at the Highest Lawful Rate until the total amount of interest due hereunder equals the amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect. In addition, if when the Loans made hereunder are repaid in full the total interest due hereunder (taking into account the increase provided for above) is less than the total amount of interest which would have been due hereunder if the stated rates of interest set forth in this Agreement had at all times been in effect, then to the extent permitted by law, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to the difference between the amount of interest paid and the amount of interest which would have been paid if the Highest Lawful Rate had at all times been in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Lenders and the Borrower to conform strictly to any applicable usury laws. Accordingly, if any Lender contracts for, charges, or receives any consideration which constitutes interest in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate, then any such excess shall be cancelled automatically and, if previously paid, shall at such Lender’s option be applied to the outstanding amount of the Loans made hereunder or be refunded to the Borrower. As used in this paragraph, the term “Highest Lawful Rate” means the maximum lawful interest rate, if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, charged, or received under the laws applicable to such Lender which are presently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum nonusurious interest rate than applicable laws now allow.
11.14 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) THE BORROWER AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY WITH RESPECT TO ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN (OR IF SUCH COURT LACKS SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN), AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, AND, BY THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVE ANY OBJECTION THAT THEY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, OR TO THE EXERCISE OF JURISDICTION OVER IT AND ITS PROPERTY BY, ANY SUCH COURT IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, AND THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.
(c) THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY PERSONAL SERVICE OF A COPY OF THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT OR OTHER LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, OR BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL (POSTAGE PREPAID) TO THE ADDRESS OF SUCH PARTY PROVIDED IN SECTION 11.2, OR BY ANY OTHER METHOD OF SERVICE PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE APPLICABLE LAWS IN EFFECT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(d) IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS OR REMEDIES UNDER OR RELATED TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR THAT MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY AGREE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PERSON MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING. ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
(e) THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVE ANY OBJECTION THEY MAY HAVE THAT ANY COURT TO WHOSE JURISDICTION THEY HAVE SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO THE TERMS HEREOF IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
11.15 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and each Lender (together, the “Lending Parties”, and individually a “Lending Party”) agrees to keep confidential the Information (as defined below); provided that nothing herein shall prevent any Lending Party from disclosing such Information (a) to any other Lending Party or any Affiliate of any Lending Party, or any officer, director, employee, agent, or advisor of any Lending Party or Affiliate of any Lending Party, in each case who shall be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential, (b) to any other Person approved by the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) if reasonably incidental to the administration of the credit facility provided herein so long as such Person is bound by the provisions of this Section 11.15, (c) as required by any law, rule, or regulation, (d) upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (e) upon the request or demand of any regulatory agency or authority; provided that, to the extent commercially practical and not prohibited by applicable law or court order, and except in the case of any such request in connection with a regular or routine examination of the financial condition of such Lender in the ordinary course of its business by a governmental or regulatory agency or authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it, the Administrative Agent or applicable Lender, shall notify the Borrower of any request by any regulatory agency or authority for disclosure of any non-public information prior to disclosure of such information, (f) that is or becomes available to the public or that is or becomes available to any Lending Party other than as a result of a disclosure by any Lending Party prohibited by this Agreement or by any confidentiality agreement to which such Lending Party is a party, (g) in connection with any litigation to which such Lending Party or any of its Affiliates may be a party; provided that to the extent commercially feasible and not prohibited by applicable law or court order the Borrower shall be given notice thereof and a reasonable opportunity to seek a protective court order with respect to such disclosed information prior to such disclosure, (h) to the extent necessary in connection with the exercise of any remedy under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that to the extent commercially feasible and not prohibited by applicable law or court order the Borrower shall be given notice thereof and a reasonable opportunity to seek a protective court order with respect to such disclosed information prior to such disclosure, and (i) to any actual or proposed participant or assignee that is subject to provisions substantially similar to those contained in this Section 11.15. For the purposes of this Section 11.15, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower and other than information pertaining to this Agreement routinely provided by arrangers to data service providers, including league table providers, that serve the lending industry. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 11.15 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 of similar nature.
11.16 Releases of Facility Guarantees. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the Administrative Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender (without requirement of notice to or consent of any Lender except as expressly required by Section 11.6) to, and the Administrative Agent shall, take any action requested by the Borrower, at the Borrower’s expense, having the effect of releasing any Facility Guaranty to the extent necessary to (a) permit consummation of any transaction not prohibited by any Loan Document or that has been consented to in accordance with Section 11.6 or (b) release any Guarantor pursuant to Section 11.17. Further, the Administrative Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by each Lender to), upon the request of the Borrower, release any Guarantor from its obligations under its Facility Guaranty if such Guarantor is or becomes an Excluded Subsidiary and the Borrower would be in compliance with Section 7.18 and (ii) if such Subsidiary is an Excluded Subsidiary on the basis that it is an Immaterial Subsidiary, the thresholds set forth in the definition of “Immaterial Subsidiary,” in each case after giving effect to such release; provided that the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Senior Officer of the Borrower stating that (i) such Guarantor is or has become an Excluded Subsidiary and that any related transaction causing such Guarantor to become an Excluded Subsidiary is permitted by this Agreement and the Borrower is in compliance with Section 7.18 and (ii) if such Subsidiary is an Excluded Subsidiary on the basis that it is an Immaterial Subsidiary, the thresholds set forth in the definition of “Immaterial Subsidiary,” in each case after giving effect to such release.
11.17 Guarantor Release. To the extent any Facility Guaranty is outstanding, the Guarantors shall be released from all obligations under the Credit Agreement and the Facility Guarantees at such time as all Guarantors cease to guarantee Indebtedness for borrowed money, other than a discharge through payment thereon, under all Material Credit Facilities of the Borrower (the “Guarantor Release”); provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or after giving effect to such Guarantor Release; provided further that the foregoing shall not require the prior release of any guarantee under any Material Credit Facility which, by its terms, will be released upon the release of such Guarantors’ guarantee of the Revolving Credit Facility (each, an “Auto-Releasing Credit Facility”).
11.18 MANUFACTURER CONSENTS. IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED, UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED THAT, TO THE EXTENT ANY FACILITY GUARANTY IS OUTSTANDING (EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE RESPECTIVE MANUFACTURER WAIVES ANY OF THE TERMS OF A MANUFACTURER CONSENT OR A MANUFACTURER CONSENT IS TERMINATED OR CEASES TO BE IN EFFECT): (A) THE EXERCISE BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER (WHETHER THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR OTHERWISE) OF REMEDIES UNDER ANY FACILITY GUARANTY WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THE MANUFACTURER CONSENTS, (B) IN THE EVENT OF ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TERMS OF THE MANUFACTURER CONSENTS AND THE TERMS OF ANY FACILITY GUARANTY, THE TERMS OF THE MANUFACTURER CONSENTS WILL CONTROL, (C) THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AGREES TO FURNISH SUCH NOTICES AS IT IS REQUIRED TO FURNISH UNDER SUCH MANUFACTURER CONSENTS, AND (D) THE MANUFACTURERS PROVIDING SUCH MANUFACTURER CONSENTS SHALL BE THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS SECTION. PARTICIPATION BY AN AFFILIATE OR SUBSIDIARY OF A MANUFACTURER AS A LENDER SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF THE TERMS OF ANY MANUFACTURER CONSENT GRANTED BY SUCH MANUFACTURER.
11.19 USA Patriot Act Notice. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower and the Guarantors, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and the Guarantors and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower and the Guarantors in accordance with the Act.
11.20 Effect of Amendment and Restatement.
(a) Upon the Closing Date, (i) this Agreement shall amend, and restate as amended, the Existing Credit Agreement, but shall not constitute a novation thereof or in any way impair or otherwise affect the rights or obligations of the parties thereunder (including with respect to Loans and representations and warranties made thereunder) except as such rights or obligations are amended or modified hereby and (ii) the Commitments (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) provided for in the Existing Credit Agreement shall cease to be in effect and shall be replaced in full by the Commitments pursuant to this Agreement. The Existing Credit Agreement as amended and restated hereby shall be deemed to be a continuing agreement among the parties, and all documents, instruments and agreements delivered pursuant to or in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement not amended and restated in connection with the entry of the parties into this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, each in accordance with its terms, as of the date of delivery or such other date as contemplated by such document, instrument or agreement to the same extent as if the modifications to the Existing Credit Agreement contained herein were set forth in an amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement in a customary form, unless such document, instrument or agreement has otherwise been terminated or has expired in accordance with or pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Existing Credit Agreement or such document, instrument or agreement or as otherwise agreed by the required parties hereto or thereto.
(b) Upon the Closing Date, the Existing Revolving Credit Loans shall automatically, without any action on the part of any Person, be designated for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as Revolving Credit Loans, and the Closing Date Existing Letters of Credit shall continue as Letters of Credit under (and shall be governed by the terms of) this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall make such reallocations, sales, assignments or other relevant actions in respect of each Lender’s credit exposure in respect of the Existing Revolving Credit Loans and the Closing Date Existing Letters of Credit as are necessary in order that each such Lender’s Outstanding Revolving Credit Obligations hereunder on the Closing Date reflects such Lender’s Aggregate Exposure Percentage on the Closing Date. On the Closing Date, the commitments of each Exiting Lender under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be terminated, all outstanding amounts due under the Existing Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) to such Exiting Lender on the Closing Date shall be paid in full, and each Exiting Lender shall not be a Lender under this Agreement (it being understood that each Lender under this Agreement shall not have been deemed to assume the commitments of the Exiting Lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement). Concurrently therewith, the Lenders shall be deemed to have adjusted their participation interests in any outstanding Letters of Credit so that such interests are held ratably in accordance with their Commitments as set forth in Exhibit A hereto. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that the minimum borrowing, pro rata borrowing and pro rata payment requirements contained elsewhere in this Agreement shall not apply to the transactions effected pursuant to this Section 11.20(b).
11.21 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of the applicable Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an Affected Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such Affected Financial Institution, its parent 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.
11.22 Acknowledgement Regarding Any Supported QFCs. To the extent that the Loan Documents provide support, through a guarantee or otherwise, for Swap Agreements or any other agreement or instrument that is a QFC (such support “QFC Credit Support” and each such QFC a “Supported QFC”), the parties acknowledge and agree as follows with respect to the resolution power of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (together with the regulations promulgated thereunder, the “U.S. Special Resolution Regimes”) in respect of such Supported QFC and QFC Credit Support (with the provisions below applicable notwithstanding that the Loan Documents and any Supported QFC may in fact be stated to be governed by the laws of the State of New York and/or of the United States or any other state of the United States):
In the event a Covered Entity that is party to a Supported QFC (each, a “Covered Party”) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S.
Special Resolution Regime, the transfer of such Supported QFC and the benefit of such QFC Credit Support (and any interest and obligation in or under such Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support, and any rights in property securing such Supported QFC or such QFC Credit Support) from such Covered Party will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and such QFC Credit Support (and any such interest, obligation and rights in property) were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event a Covered Party or a BHC Act Affiliate of a Covered Party becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under the Loan Documents that might otherwise apply to such Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support that may be exercised against such Covered Party are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if the Supported QFC and the Loan Documents were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. Without limitation of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that rights and remedies of the parties with respect to a Defaulting Lender shall in no event affect the rights of any Covered Party with respect to a Supported QFC or any QFC Credit Support.
11.23 No Fiduciary Duty, etc.
(a) The Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that no Credit Party will have any obligations except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents and each Credit Party is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Borrower with respect to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated herein and therein and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Borrower or any other person. The Borrower agrees that it will not assert any claim against any Credit Party based on an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by such Credit Party in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Additionally, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that no Credit Party is advising the Borrower as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting, regulatory or any other matters in any jurisdiction. The Borrower shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated herein or in the other Loan Documents, and the Credit Parties shall have no responsibility or liability to the Borrower with respect thereto.
(b) The Borrower further acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party, together with its Affiliates, in addition to providing or participating in commercial lending facilities such as that provided hereunder, is a full service securities or banking firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities as well as providing investment banking and other financial services. In the ordinary course of business, any Credit Party may provide investment banking and other financial services to, and/or acquire, hold or sell, for its own accounts and the accounts of customers, equity, debt and other securities and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of, the Borrower and other companies with which the Borrower may have commercial or other relationships. With respect to any securities and/or financial instruments so held by any Credit Party or any of its customers, all rights in respect of such securities and financial instruments, including any voting rights, will be exercised by the holder of the rights, in its sole discretion.
(c) In addition, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Subsidiaries’ understanding, that each Credit Party and its affiliates may be providing debt financing, equity capital or other services (including financial advisory services) to other companies in respect of which the Borrower may have conflicting interests regarding the transactions described herein and otherwise. No Credit Party will use confidential information obtained from the Borrower by virtue of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or its other relationships with the Borrower in connection with the performance by such Credit Party of services for other companies, and no Credit Party will furnish any such information to other companies. The Borrower also acknowledges that no Credit Party has any obligation to
use in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, or to furnish to the Borrower, confidential information obtained from other companies.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be made, executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.
AUTONATION, INC. By: /s/ V. Mathew Giunta Name: V. Mathew Giunta Title: Vice President, SSC as Administrative Agent and as a Lender By: /s/ Marlon Mathews Name: Marlon Mathews Title: Executive Director
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
By: /s/ David T. Smith Name: David T. Smith Title: Senior Vice President MIZUHO BANK, LTD., as a Lender
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Donna DeMagistris Name: Donna DeMagistris Title: Executive Director Truist Bank, as a Lender
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ John P. Wofford Name: John P. Wofford Title: Authorized Officer Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as a Lender
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Jeffrey E. Bullard Name: Jeffrey E. Bullard Title: Director Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as a Lender
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Farrah Vaugh-Dixon Name: Farrah Vaugh-Dixon Title: Regional Dealer Credit TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION, as a Lender
Manager-National Accounts
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Dave Boskey Name: Dave Boskey Title: National Accounts Manager U.S. Bank National Association, as a Lender
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Brett M. Justman Name: Brett M. Justman Title: Senior Vice President BMW Financial Services NA, LLC, as a Lender
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Michael Ferguson
Name: Michael Ferguson
Title: Department Manager, Credit
By: /s/ Emily Adams Name: Emily Adams Title: Section Manager, Credit TD Bank, N.A., as a Lender
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Kyle Ludeman Name: Kyle Ludeman Title: Market Credit Manager American Honda Finance Corporation, as a Lender
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Richard Sauerbaum Name: Richard Sauerbaum Title: Manager, Dealer Financial SANTANDER BANK, N.A., as a Lender
Services
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Jim Garland Name: Jim Garland Title: EVP VW Credit, Inc., as a Lender
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ William J. Binz Name: William J. Binz Title: Sr. Mgr – Commercial Credit Ally Financial, Inc., as a Lender
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Richard Taylor
Name: Richard Taylor
Title: Authorized Representative
Ally Bank, as a Lender The Huntington National Bank, as a Lender
By: /s/ Richard Taylor
Name: Richard Taylor
Title: Authorized Representative
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Michael Kiss Name: Michael Kiss Title: Senior Vice President Nissan Motor Acceptance Company LLC, as a Lender
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
By: /s/ Todd Voorhies
Name: Todd Voorhies
Title: Sr. Manager, Dealer Credit
[Signature Page to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement]
エドガーで原本を確認する