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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 18, 2026

 

 

VERISK ANALYTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-34480   26-2994223

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

545 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ   07310
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (201) 469-3000

 

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

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

where registered

Common Stock $.001 par value   VRSK   NASDAQ Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 
 


Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Term Credit Agreement

On February 18, 2026, Verisk Analytics, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Term Credit Agreement (the “Term Credit Agreement”) among the Company, the lenders party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent.

The Term Credit Agreement provides for a 364-day senior unsecured delayed draw term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000 (the “Term Facility”). The availability of the Term Facility is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of certain conditions set forth in the Term Credit Agreement. The proceeds of the Term Facility will be used to finance, together with other sources of funds, share repurchases under the accelerated share repurchase agreements described below, for general corporate purposes and to pay related fees and expenses. Unless previously terminated, the commitments under the Term Facility will automatically terminate upon the earliest of (i) the funding of the loans on the funding date and (ii) February 25, 2026.

Borrowings under the Term Facility bear interest at rates equal to (i) Term SOFR plus an applicable margin of 95 basis points or (ii) a base rate, in each case as provided in the Term Credit Agreement.

The Term Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants, events of default, and financial covenants, including a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio requirement of not less than 3.00:1.00 and a maximum consolidated funded debt leverage ratio requirement of not greater than 3.75:1.00, with the ability to elect one temporary step-up to 4.50:1.00 and one temporary step-up to 4.25:1.00 in connection with the closing of certain permitted acquisitions.

The foregoing descriptions of the Term Credit Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreement, which is annexed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreements

On February 20, 2026, as part of the Company’s existing stock repurchase program, the Company entered into accelerated share repurchase agreements (each, an “ASR Agreement” and together, the “ASR Agreements”) with each of HSBC Bank USA, National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (each, an “ASR Counterparty” and together, the “ASR Counterparties”) to repurchase an aggregate of $1.5 billion of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”). The Company is funding the share repurchases under the ASR Agreements with borrowings of $500 million under its Term Facility as described above and of $750 million under the Company’s existing syndicated revolving credit facility, together with $250 million of cash on hand. After giving effect to the ASR Agreements, approximately $1.0 billion will remain available for share repurchases under the Company’s existing stock repurchase program.


The ASR Counterparties are expected to make an aggregate initial delivery of approximately 7.0 million shares of Common Stock to the Company at the inception of the ASR Agreements.

The total number of shares ultimately to be purchased by the Company under the ASR Agreements will generally be based on the daily volume-weighted average share price of the Common Stock during the calculation period of each ASR Agreement, less an agreed discount and subject to adjustments pursuant to the terms and conditions of the ASR Agreements. At final settlement of the ASR Agreements, the Company may be entitled to receive additional shares of Common Stock, or, under certain limited circumstances, be required to deliver shares to the ASR Counterparties or, at the Company’s election, remit a settlement amount in cash to the ASR Counterparties. The final settlement of the transactions under the ASR Agreements is expected to occur no later than the third fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2026, with the settlement date for each ASR Agreement determined at the relevant ASR Counterparty’s option within an agreed range, subject to earlier termination under certain limited circumstances, as set forth in the ASR Agreements.

The ASR Agreements contains customary terms for these types of transactions, including, but not limited to, the mechanisms to determine the number of shares of Common Stock or the amount of cash that will be delivered at settlement, the required timing of delivery of the shares of Common Stock, the specific circumstances under which adjustments may be made to the transactions, the specific circumstances under which the transactions may be terminated prior to their scheduled maturity and various acknowledgements, representations and warranties made by the Company and the ASR Counterparties to one another.

From time to time, the ASR Counterparties and/or their respective affiliates have directly and indirectly engaged, and may engage in the future, in investment and/or commercial banking transactions with the Company for which the ASR Counterparties (or such affiliates) have received, or may receive, customary compensation, fees and expense reimbursement.

The foregoing description of the ASR Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of confirmation for the ASR Agreements, a copy of which form is attached as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7.01.

Regulation FD Disclosure.

On February 23, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing entering into the ASR Agreements, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. All information in the press release is furnished but not filed.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. This Current Report on 8-K contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. This includes, but is not limited to, the Company’s existing share repurchase program and the transactions under the ASR Agreements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “target,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond our control and that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance. Other factors that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements can be found in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, annual reports on Form 10-K, and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from what we projected. Any forward-looking statement in this release reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties, and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy, and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.


Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.1    Term Credit Agreement, dated as of February 18, 2026, among Verisk Analytics, Inc., the lenders party thereto, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent.
10.2    Form of Confirmation for the ASR Agreements
99.1    Press Release dated February 23, 2026
104    Cover Page Interactive File (the cover page tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document).


SIGNATURES

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

 

    VERISK ANALYTICS, INC.
Date: February 23, 2026    

/s/ Kathy Card Beckles

    Name:   Kathy Card Beckles
    Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
EX-10.1 2 d56543dex101.htm EX-10.1 EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 
 

TERM CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of February 18, 2026,

among

VERISK ANALYTICS, INC.,

the LENDERS party hereto

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Administrative Agent

 

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,

as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner

 

 
 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS      1  

1.01

  Defined Terms      1  

1.02

  Other Interpretive Provisions      22  

1.03

  Accounting Terms      23  

1.04

  Rounding      23  

1.05

  Times of Day      23  

1.06

  Interpretation and Construction of Exceptions/Carveouts to Article VII Negative Covenants      23  

1.07

  [Reserved]      24  

1.08

  Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification      24  
ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS      24  

2.01

  Loans      24  

2.02

  Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans      24  

2.03

  [Reserved]      26  

2.04

  [Reserved]      26  

2.05

  Prepayments      26  

2.06

  Termination or Reduction of Commitments      26  

2.07

  Repayment of Loans      27  

2.08

  Interest      27  

2.09

  Fees      27  

2.10

  Computation of Interest and Fees      27  

2.11

  Evidence of Debt      28  

2.12

  Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback      28  

2.13

  Sharing of Payments by Lenders      29  

2.14

  [Reserved]      30  

2.15

  [Reserved]      30  

2.16

  [Reserved]      30  

2.17

  Defaulting Lenders      30  
ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY      31  

3.01

  Taxes      31  

3.02

  Illegality      35  

3.03

  Inability to Determine Rates      35  

3.04

  Increased Costs      37  

3.05

  Compensation for Losses      38  

3.06

  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders      39  

3.07

  Survival      39  
ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT      39  

4.01

  Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness      39  

4.02

  Conditions Precedent to the Funding Date      40  

 

i


ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      41  

5.01

  Existence, Qualification and Power      41  

5.02

  Authorization; No Contravention      41  

5.03

  Governmental Authorization; Other Consents      41  

5.04

  Binding Effect      41  

5.05

  Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect      41  

5.06

  Litigation      42  

5.07

  No Default      42  

5.08

  Ownership of Property; Liens      42  

5.09

  Insurance      42  

5.10

  Taxes      42  

5.11

  ERISA Compliance      42  

5.12

  Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act      43  

5.13

  Disclosure      43  

5.14

  Compliance with Laws      43  

5.15

  OFAC; Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions      44  

5.16

  Affected Financial Institutions      44  

5.17

  Beneficial Ownership Certification      44  

5.18

  Solvency      44  
ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS      44  

6.01

  Financial Statements      44  

6.02

  Certificates; Other Information      45  

6.03

  Notices      46  

6.04

  Payment of Obligations      47  

6.05

  Preservation of Existence, Etc.      47  

6.06

  Compliance with Laws      47  

6.07

  Books and Records      47  

6.08

  Inspection Rights      48  

6.09

  Use of Proceeds      48  
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS      48  

7.01

  Liens      48  

7.02

  Priority Indebtedness      49  

7.03

  Fundamental Changes      49  

7.04

  Dispositions      49  

7.05

  Use of Proceeds      50  

7.06

  Financial Covenants      50  

7.07

  Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions      50  
ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES      50  

8.01

  Events of Default      50  

8.02

  Remedies Upon Event of Default      52  

8.03

  Application of Funds      53  

 

ii


ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT      53  

9.01

  Appointment and Authority      53  

9.02

  Rights as a Lender      54  

9.03

  Exculpatory Provisions      54  

9.04

  Reliance by Administrative Agent      55  

9.05

  Delegation of Duties      55  

9.06

  Resignation of Administrative Agent      55  

9.07

  Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, the Arranger and Other Lenders      56  

9.08

  No Other Duties, Etc.      57  

9.09

  Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim      57  

9.10

  [Reserved]      57  

9.11

  Certain ERISA Matters      58  

9.12

  Recovery of Rescindable Amounts      59  
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS      60  

10.01

  Amendments, Etc.      60  

10.02

  Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication      61  

10.03

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement      63  

10.04

  Expenses; Indemnity; Limitation of Liability      63  

10.05

  Payments Set Aside      66  

10.06

  Successors and Assigns      66  

10.07

  Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality      71  

10.08

  Right of Setoff      72  

10.09

  Interest Rate Limitation      72  

10.10

  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness      72  

10.11

  Survival      73  

10.12

  Severability      73  

10.13

  Replacement of Lenders      73  

10.14

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.      74  

10.15

  Waiver of Jury Trial      75  

10.16

  No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility      75  

10.17

  Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents      75  

10.18

  USA PATRIOT Act      76  

10.19

  Time of the Essence      76  

10.20

  [Reserved]      76  

10.21

  [Reserved]      76  

10.22

  Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions      76  

 

iii


SCHEDULES

2.01

   Commitments and Applicable Percentages

5.06

   Litigation

7.01

   Existing Liens

10.02

   Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

 

EXHIBITS

Form of

A

   Loan Notice

B

   Solvency Certificate

C

   Note

D

   Compliance Certificate

E-1

   Assignment and Assumption

E-2

   [Reserved]

F

   [Reserved]

G

   Notice of Loan Prepayment

H-1

   U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

H-2

   U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

H-3

   U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

H-4

   U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate (For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

iv


TERM CREDIT AGREEMENT

TERM CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of February 18, 2026 (this “Agreement”), among VERISK ANALYTICS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the LENDERS from time to time party hereto and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent.

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders make Loans to the Borrower, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

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

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

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

“Acquisition” means any transaction, or series of related transactions, resulting, directly or indirectly, in (a) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of all or substantially all of the assets of any division, line of business or other business unit of a Person, (b) the acquisition of more than 50% of the Equity Interests of any Person, or otherwise causing any Person not previously a Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary, or (c) a merger or consolidation or any other combination with another Person (other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary).

“Acquisition Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that has been incurred for the purpose of financing, in whole or in part, an Acquisition and any related transactions (including for the purpose of refinancing or replacing all or a portion of any related bridge facilities or any pre-existing Indebtedness of the Persons or assets to be acquired); provided that either (a) the release of the proceeds thereof to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is contingent upon the substantially simultaneous consummation of such Acquisition (and, if the definitive agreement for such Acquisition is terminated prior to the consummation of such Acquisition, or if such Acquisition is otherwise not consummated by the date specified in the definitive documentation evidencing, governing the rights of the holders of or otherwise relating to such Indebtedness (subject to any extensions to such date agreed by the parties thereto), then, in each case, such proceeds are, and pursuant to the terms of such definitive documentation are required to be, promptly applied to satisfy and discharge all obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of such Indebtedness) or (b) such Indebtedness contains a “special mandatory redemption” provision (or a similar provision) if such Acquisition is not consummated by the date specified in the definitive documentation evidencing, governing the rights of the holders of or otherwise relating to such Indebtedness (subject to any extensions to such date agreed by the parties thereto) (and, if the definitive agreement for such Acquisition is terminated prior to the consummation of such Acquisition or such Acquisition is otherwise not consummated by the date so specified, such Indebtedness is, and pursuant to such “special mandatory redemption” (or similar) provision is required to be, redeemed or otherwise satisfied and discharged within 90 days of such termination or such specified date, as the case may be).

“Administrative Agent” means Wells Fargo (or any of its designated branch offices or affiliates), in its capacity as administrative agent under the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

“Administrative Agent Fee Letter” means the administrative agent fee letter dated February 18, 2026, among Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and the Borrower.


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

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

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

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

“Aggregate Commitments” means, at any time, the aggregate amount of the Commitments of all the Lenders at such time. The Aggregate Commitments as of the Closing Date are $500,000,000.

“Agreement” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

“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 including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the UK Bribery Act of 2010 and, in each case, the rules and regulations thereunder.

“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, (a) at any time on or prior to the funding of the Loans on the Funding Date, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time and (b) at any time thereafter, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans represented by the Loans of such Lender at such time. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any Term SOFR Loan, 0.95% per annum and (b) with respect to any Base Rate Loan, 0.00% per annum.

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

“Arranger” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in its capacities as sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner for the Facility.

“Assets” means, at any time, the total assets of the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis which would be shown as assets on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such time prepared in accordance with GAAP, after eliminating all amounts properly attributable to minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of Subsidiaries.

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

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any Person whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E-1 or any other form (including electronic documentation generated by use of an electronic platform) approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

2


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

“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2025, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal year of the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries then ended, including the notes thereto.

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to, and including, the Commitment Termination Date.

“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, for any day, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Prime Rate for such day, (b) the sum of the Federal Funds Rate for such day plus fifty basis points (0.50%), (c) Term SOFR for a one-month Interest Period beginning on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus one hundred basis points (1.0%) and (d) 1.00%. If the Base Rate is being used as an alternate rate of interest pursuant to Section 3.03, then the Base Rate shall be the highest of clauses (a), (b) and (d) above and shall be determined without reference to clause (c) above.

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

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

“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230, as amended from time to time.

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

 

3


“Bona Fide Debt Fund” means any debt fund, investment vehicle, regulated bank entity or unregulated lending entity that is engaged primarily in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of business for financial investment purposes and with respect to which no personnel involved with the investment in the relevant competitor of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or the management, control or operation thereof, directly or indirectly, possesses the power to direct the investment policies of such fund, vehicle or entity.

“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

“Borrowing” means Loans of the same Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Term SOFR Loans, having the same Interest Period.

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

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

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

“Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, and any Person acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis. For purposes of this definition, a “person” or “group” shall not be deemed to beneficially own equity securities of the Borrower subject to an equity or asset purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement (or voting or option or similar agreement related thereto) until the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such agreement.

“Closing Date” means the first date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.01), which date is acknowledged to be February 18, 2026.

“CME” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

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“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make a Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 in a principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

“Commitment Termination Date” means February 25, 2026.

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

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

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

“Consolidated EBIT” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (b) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period; (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries for such period; (iii) non-cash stock-related compensation expenses for such period; (iv) non-cash loss on the disposal of fixed assets and intangibles for such period and non-cash impairment on the relevant long-lived assets to the extent classified as assets held for sale for such period; and (v) other non-recurring expenses of the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries for such period; provided that, in the case of this clause (v), any such amounts which represent a cash item in such period or any future period may be included only to the extent that in the aggregate they do not exceed 5% of Consolidated EBIT (prior to giving effect to such addback) for such period, minus (c) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits of the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries for such period; (ii) non-cash gain on the disposal of fixed assets and intangibles for such period; and (iii) other non-recurring non-cash items for such period.

“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to (a) Consolidated EBIT for such period plus (b) to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income for such period, depreciation and amortization expense for such period.

 

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“Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date minus (ii) unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of such date in an amount not to exceed $250,000,000 to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended Test Period. For the purposes of calculating the Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio, if the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have consummated any Acquisition, or any Disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of all or substantially all of the assets of any division, line of business or other business unit of a Person, or more than 50% of the Equity Interests of any Person, during any Test Period, the Borrower shall include in its calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such Test Period the pro forma effect of such Acquisition or Disposition as if such Acquisition or Disposition shall have occurred on the first date of such Test Period.

“Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio Step-up” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.08(b).

“Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum of: (a) the outstanding principal amount of all indebtedness, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including the Loans) and all indebtedness evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all obligations, whether contingent or otherwise, arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial letters of credit), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than obligations to pay the earn out portion of the purchase price for Acquisitions and trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capitalized Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (f) without duplication, all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Borrower or any direct or indirect Subsidiary, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Borrower or a direct or indirect Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Borrower or such direct or indirect Subsidiary; provided that (i) for purposes of determining Consolidated Funded Indebtedness at any time after the definitive agreement for any Acquisition shall have been executed, any Acquisition Indebtedness with respect to such Acquisition shall, unless such Acquisition has been consummated, be disregarded (it being understood and agreed, however, that, for so long as any Acquisition Indebtedness is so disregarded, any cash and cash equivalents constituting proceeds of such Acquisition Indebtedness shall be disregarded in clause (a)(ii) of the definition of Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio) and (ii) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness shall be calculated excluding any Indebtedness (and any Guarantees in respect of any Indebtedness) to the extent that, upon or prior to the maturity thereof, cash and/or cash equivalents shall have been irrevocably deposited with the proper Person in trust or escrow for the payment, redemption or satisfaction in full of such Indebtedness, and thereafter such cash and cash equivalents so deposited are disregarded in clause (a)(ii) of the definition of Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio.

“Consolidated Interest Charges” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, all interest, premium payments, debt discount, fees, charges and related expenses of the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries in connection with borrowed money or in connection with the deferred purchase price of assets, in each case to the extent treated as interest in accordance with GAAP (whether paid in cash or accrued).

“Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBIT for the period of the four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such date to (b) Consolidated Interest Charges for such period; provided that (i) interest on any debt paid in kind and (ii) interest that is due and payable more than five years from the incurrence of the debt under which such interest is payable, shall, in each case, not be counted as “Consolidated Interest Charges” for purposes of clause (b) above.

 

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For the purposes of calculating the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio, if the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have consummated any Acquisition, or any Disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Person, or of all or substantially all of the assets of any division, line of business or other business unit of a Person, or more than 50% of the Equity Interests of any Person, during any Test Period, the Borrower shall include in its calculation of Consolidated EBIT and Consolidated Interest Charges for such Test Period the pro forma effect of such Acquisition or Disposition as if such Acquisition or Disposition shall have occurred on the first date of such Test Period.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income of the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries (excluding extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses) for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

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

“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

“Customary Permitted Liens” means the following:

(a) Liens (other than Environmental Liens and any Lien imposed under ERISA) for taxes, assessments or charges of any Governmental Authority or claims 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 to the extent required by GAAP;

(b) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other like Liens (other than any Lien imposed under ERISA) imposed by Laws, including, without limitation, Liens in favor of any Governmental Authority securing progress payments made under government contracts created in the ordinary course of business and for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings which are sufficient to prevent imminent foreclosure of such Liens, are promptly instituted and diligently conducted and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provision are being maintained to the extent required by GAAP;

(c) Liens (other than any Lien imposed under ERISA) 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 and other types of social security benefits or to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, contracts, statutory obligations and other similar obligations, arising as a result of progress payments or deposits under government contracts (including foreign government contracts), or to secure health, safety and environmental obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business; provided that in each such case such Liens (i) were not incurred or made in connection with the incurrence or maintenance of Indebtedness, the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit and (ii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the Property so encumbered or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses;

(d) easements (including, without limitation, reciprocal easement agreements and utility agreements), rights-of-way, covenants, consents, reservations, encroachments, variations and other restrictions, charges or encumbrances (whether or not recorded) affecting the use of real property or impairing the use thereof which are imposed by law or arise in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Person owning such Property; (e) Liens arising out of and with respect to customer deposits made in the ordinary course of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses;

 

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(f) Liens arising as a result of the filing of any financing statement under any applicable state uniform commercial code or comparable Laws of any jurisdiction covering consigned or leased goods which do not constitute assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and which is not intended as security; and

(g) extensions, renewals or replacements of any Lien referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above; provided that (i) in the case of clause (a) through (f) above, the principal amount of the obligation secured thereby is not increased and such obligations are of the type referred to in the applicable clause above and (ii) any such extension, renewal or replacement is limited to the Property originally encumbered thereby.

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

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

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

“Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum.

“Defaulting Lender” means, subject to Section 2.17(b), any Lender that, as determined by the Administrative Agent, (a) has failed to perform any of its funding obligations hereunder, including in respect of its Loans, within three Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder or under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations, or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or a Bail-In Action, (ii) had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it, or (iii) taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority.

“Delaware Divided LLC” means any Delaware LLC which has been formed upon consummation of a Delaware LLC Division.

 

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“Delaware LLC” means any limited liability company organized or formed under the laws of the State of Delaware.

“Delaware LLC Division” means the statutory division of any Delaware LLC into two or more Delaware LLCs pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.

“Designated Jurisdiction” means any country or territory that is the subject of any Sanctions (which, on the Closing Date, includes the Crimea region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and the non-government controlled areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea).

“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any Property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith and including any disposition of property to a Delaware Divided LLC pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division.

“Disqualified Institution” means (a) any Person that is reasonably determined by the Borrower to be a competitor of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries and that the Borrower has identified, by name, in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time and (b) any Affiliate of any Person described in clause (a) above (other than any Bona Fide Debt Fund) if such Affiliate is identified, by name, by the Borrower in writing to the Administrative Agent or is otherwise reasonably identifiable as an Affiliate of such Person based solely on the similarity of such Affiliate’s name to the name of such Person; provided that (i) each notice shall become effective two Business Days after delivery thereof to the Administrative Agent and (ii) “Disqualified Institutions” shall exclude any Person that the Borrower has designated as no longer being a “Disqualified Institution” by notice delivered to the Administrative Agent from time to time.

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

“DQ List” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(g)(iii).

“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.

“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)). For the avoidance of doubt, any Disqualified Institution is subject to Section 10.06(g).

“Engagement Letter” means the engagement later dated February 18, 2026, among Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and the Borrower.

 

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

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

“Environmental Lien” means a Lien in favor of any Governmental Authority for (a) any liability under any Environmental Laws or (b) damages arising from, or costs incurred by such Governmental Authority in response to, a Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment.

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

“Exchange Act” means the Exchange Act, including all amendments thereto and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes 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 3.06(b) or 10.13) or (ii) such Lender changes its Lending Office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii), (a)(iii) or (c), amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(e) or (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA.

“Facility” means the term loan facility established hereunder.

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

“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date hereof (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, any applicable intergovernmental agreements with respect thereto, and related legislation, official administrative regulations or practices with respect thereto.

“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day, provided that if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average of the quotation for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Federal Funds Rate as so determined would be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

“Fee Letters” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent Fee Letter and the Upfront Fee Letter.

“Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

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

 

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

“Funding Date” means the date on which the Loans are made pursuant to Section 2.01.

“GAAP” means, subject to Section 1.03, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

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

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

“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law due to their dangerous or deleterious properties or characteristics or on a similar basis.

“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments; (b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

 

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(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of Property or services (other than obligations to pay the earn out portion of the purchase price for Acquisitions and trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on Property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) Capitalized Leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person; and

(g) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing of any other Person.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any Capitalized Leases or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

“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 the Borrower under any Loan Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in the foregoing clause (a), Other Taxes.

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

“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.

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

“Interest Period” means as to each Term SOFR Loan, the period commencing on the date such Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Term SOFR Loan and ending on the date one, three or six months thereafter (in each case, subject to availability), as selected by the Borrower in a Loan Notice; provided that:

(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day; (b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

 

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

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

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

“Lender” means each of the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.

“Lender-Related Person” means the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), the Arranger, each Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons.

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

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

“Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

“Loan Documents” means (a) this Agreement and (b) other than for purposes of Section 10.01, each Note and the Fee Letters.

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

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect upon (a) the business, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), performance, properties or operations of the Borrower and its direct and indirect consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower to perform its material obligations and duties under the Loan Documents, or (c) the ability of the Administrative Agent to enforce the Obligations or to make use of any of the remedies available to the Administrative Agent under the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.

 

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“Material Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Subsidiary (a) the total assets of which (determined on a consolidated basis for such Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries, but eliminating all intercompany items) are 10% or more of the Assets and (b) the contribution to Consolidated EBITDA by which (determined on a consolidated basis for such Subsidiary and its Subsidiaries, but eliminating all intercompany items) is 10% or more of Consolidated EBITDA, in each case, as of the last day of or for the most recently ended Test Period.

“Maturity Date” means the day that is 364 days after the Funding Date; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

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

“Non-Consenting Lender” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that (a) requires the approval of all Lenders or all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 and (b) has been approved by the Required Lenders.

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

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

“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, in each case, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

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

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

 

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

“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 3.06(b) or 10.13).

“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate and (b) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

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

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

“PATRIOT Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

“Pension Funding Rules” means the rules of the Code and ERISA regarding minimum required contributions (including any installment payment thereof) to Pension Plans and set forth in Section 412, 430 and 436 of the Code and Sections 302 and 303 of ERISA.

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

“Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition that complies with each of the following terms and conditions:

(a) the Person or assets that are the subject thereof must be in, or used or useful in, a line of business similar to those in which the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are engaged as of the date hereof, or any related line of business, or a line of business which is reasonably complimentary or incidental thereto; and

(b) in the case of any such Acquisition involving a merger or consolidation to which the Borrower is a party, in the event the Borrower is not the surviving Person, the surviving Person (i) shall be a Person organized under the Laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and (ii) shall expressly assume, by a written agreement satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent (which agreement may require, in connection with such assumption, the delivery of such opinions of counsel (who may be in-house counsel) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require), the obligations of the prior Borrower under the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, all covenants contained therein, and pursuant to which such surviving Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Borrower with the same effect as if it had been named herein as a party hereto.

 

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“Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness” means Indebtedness that is:

(a) owed by any Person (other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary) at the time (i) such Person becomes a Subsidiary of or is merged with or into the Borrower or a Subsidiary or (ii) the Borrower or a Subsidiary acquires any Property from such Person and which Indebtedness is expressly assumed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time of such acquisition; provided that (A) such Indebtedness was not created, incurred, or assumed by such Person in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary (or such merger) or such acquisition, (B) in the event such Indebtedness shall be Guaranteed, (x) such Guarantee shall be unsecured and shall be given solely by the Borrower or (y) solely in the case of clause (i) above, such Guarantees shall be existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (or is so merged) and not created or incurred in connection therewith and (C) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not be increased at any time after such Person becomes a Subsidiary (or such merger) or such assumption thereof, as applicable; or

(b) incurred by any Subsidiary to finance a Permitted Acquisition (including to refinance any Indebtedness of any Person acquired in such Permitted Acquisition); provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed 100% of the original purchase price of such Permitted Acquisition, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred in connection with such Permitted Acquisition shall not be increased at any time after it is first incurred and (iii) in the event such Indebtedness shall be Guaranteed, such Guarantee shall be unsecured and shall be given solely by the Borrower.

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

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

“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

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

“Priority Indebtedness” means, at any time, (a) all Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness of the type specified in clauses (b) and (c) of the definition of Indebtedness, or any Guarantee insofar as it relates to such types of Indebtedness) of the Borrower secured by Liens not otherwise permitted by Sections 7.01(a), (b), (c), (e) through (k), inclusive, and (m) and (b) all Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries owed to any Person other than the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.

 

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“Property” or “Properties” means any real or personal property, plant, building, facility, structure, underground storage tank, equipment or unit, or other asset owned, leased or operated by the Borrower and/or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

“Recipient” means the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

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

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

“Release” means release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into the indoor or outdoor environment or into or out of any Property, including the movement of Hazardous Materials through or in the air, soil, surface water, groundwater or real property.

“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

“Required Lenders” means, (a) at any time on or prior to the funding of the Loans on the Funding Date, Lenders having Commitments representing more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments at such time and (b) at any time thereafter, Lenders holding Loans representing more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans then outstanding; provided that the Commitments of, and the Loans held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

“Rescindable Amount” has the meaning as specified in Section 9.12.

“Rescindable Amount Deficiency Assignment” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 9.12.

“Rescindable Amount Impacted Class” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 9.12.

“Rescindable Amount Return Deficiency” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 9.12.

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

“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer, controller or assistant controller of the Borrower, and solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 4.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of the Borrower, and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the Borrower so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent or any other officer or employee of the Borrower designated in or pursuant to an agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the representations and warranties of the Borrower under the Loan Documents, any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the Borrower.

 

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“Revolving Credit Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 15, 2025, among the Borrower, the Subsidiaries party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and L/C issuer.

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

“Sanction(s)” means any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government (including without limitation, OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or other relevant sanctions authority with jurisdiction over the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.

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

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

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, including all amendments thereto and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

“SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of SOFR, or any successor administrator of SOFR designated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or other Person acting as the SOFR Administrator at such time that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

“Specified Permitted Lender” means a Person that (a) is a Lender as of the Closing Date, (b) is a lender under the Revolving Credit Agreement (other than any “Defaulting Lender” (or any term of similar import) under the Revolving Credit Agreement as of the date of the applicable assignment) or (c) is a commercial or investment bank that at the time of the applicable assignment has corporate rating or senior unsecured, non-credit enhanced long-term indebtedness rating from Moody’s that is Baa3 or higher or from S&P that is BBB- or higher.

“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

“Successor Rate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03.

“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b)

 

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any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

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

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

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

“Term SOFR” means:

(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Term SOFR Loan, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period with a term equivalent to such Interest Period; provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such determination date then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such determination date; and

(b) for any interest calculation with respect to Base Rate on any date, the rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR Screen Rate two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such date with a term of one month commencing that day; provided that if the rate is not published prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such determination date then Term SOFR means the Term SOFR Screen Rate on the first U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately prior thereto so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such determination date;

provided that if the Term SOFR determined in accordance with either of the foregoing clause (a) or (b) of this definition would otherwise be less than zero, the Term SOFR shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

“Term SOFR Administrator” means CME, as the administrator of the Term SOFR Screen Rate, or any successor administrator of the Term SOFR Screen Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion in consultation with the Borrower.

“Term SOFR Borrowing” means a Borrowing comprised of Term SOFR Loans.

 

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

“Term SOFR Screen Rate” means the forward-looking SOFR term rate administered by the Term SOFR Administrator).

“Test Period” means, as of any date, the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower then most recently ended prior to such date for which financial statements have been delivered (or are required to have been delivered) under Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(b), as applicable (or, prior to the first such delivery and other than as such term is used in Section 7.06, the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2025).

“Transactions” means (a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and the use of the proceeds thereof and (b) the payment of fees and expenses in connection with the foregoing.

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

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

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

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

“Upfront Fee Letter” means the fee later dated February 18, 2026, among Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and the Borrower.

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

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

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

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

“Wholly-Owned” means with respect to any Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower, that all of the Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares but not in excess of the minimum number of shares necessary to satisfy local ownership legal requirements) of such Subsidiary or Subsidiaries is/are, at the time as of which any such determination is being made, owned by the Borrower, either directly or through any other Wholly-Owned Subsidiary or Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.

 

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

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

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

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

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

 

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1.03 Accounting Terms.

(a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant, but excluding Section 6.01) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

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

(c) Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Borrower is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB Interpretation No. 46 – Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities: an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (January 2003) as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.

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

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

1.06 Interpretation and Construction of Exceptions/Carveouts to Article VII Negative Covenants.

In connection with the exceptions/carveouts to the negative covenants set forth and described in Article VII, each such exception/carveout shall be available as described therein independent of, and separate, distinct, and apart from, any other such exceptions/carveouts, including any other exceptions/carveouts expressly set forth and described within the same section of such Article VII. Any and all such exceptions/carveouts which make reference to an aggregate dollar amount (i.e., a “basket”) shall be deemed to refer to the aggregate dollar amount which the Lenders will permit the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to incur or to have incurred and to permit to remain outstanding subsequent to the date hereof; however, such aggregate dollar amount (i.e., a “basket”) shall be deemed to be inclusive of, and not in addition to, the aggregate dollar amount of each such exception/carveout which may have been previously incurred and which is currently outstanding as of the date hereof.

 

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1.07 [Reserved].

1.08 Interest Rates; Benchmark Notification. The Administrative Agent does not warrant, nor accept responsibility, nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to the administration, submission or any other matter related to any reference rate referred to herein or with respect to any rate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the selection of such rate and any related spread or other adjustment) that is an alternative or replacement for or successor to any such rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or the effect of any of the foregoing, or of any Conforming Changes. The Administrative Agent and its Affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions or other activities that affect any reference rate referred to herein, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing) or any related spread or other adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain any reference rate referred to herein or any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including, without limitation, any Successor Rate) (or any component of any of the foregoing), in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or other action or omission related to or affecting the selection, determination, or calculation of any rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

ARTICLE II.

THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS

2.01 Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally but not jointly agrees to make a loan (each, a “Loan”) to the Borrower in a single draw on any Business Day during the Availability Period in Dollars in an amount not to exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Amounts repaid on the Loans may not be reborrowed. The Loans may consist of Base Rate Loans or Term SOFR Loans, in each case, as further provided herein.

2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) The borrowing of Loans, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other and each continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable (except as expressly provided below) notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone or a Loan Notice; provided that any telephonic notice must be confirmed immediately by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Loan Notice. Each such Loan Notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, (i) two Business Days prior to the requested date of any borrowing of Term SOFR Loans and three Business Days prior to the requested date of any conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans or of any conversion of Term SOFR Loans to Base Rate Loans and (ii) on the requested date of any borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Term SOFR Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; provided that a continuation of an outstanding Term SOFR Borrowing may be in a principal amount that is equal to such outstanding Borrowing. Each borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.

 

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Each Loan Notice shall specify (A) whether the Borrower is requesting the borrowing of Loans, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Term SOFR Loans, (B) the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) of the borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be, (C) the aggregate principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (D) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, (E) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto and (F) in the case of a borrowing of Loans, the location and number of the account to which funds are to be disbursed (which, if not an account of the Borrower located in the United States, shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent). In the case of any conversion or continuation of any Loans, such conversion or continuation shall apply to Loans comprising the same existing Borrowing, it being understood that the Borrower may elect different conversion or continuation options with respect to different portions of the affected existing Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice requesting a borrowing of Loans or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a continuation of any Term SOFR Loans, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or continued as, Term SOFR Loans with an Interest Period of one month. Any such automatic continuation of Term SOFR Loans with an Interest Period of one month shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Term SOFR Loans. If the Borrower requests a borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans in any Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Loan Notice delivered with respect to the borrowing of Loans on the Funding Date may, at the Borrower’s option, be conditioned on the occurrence of the Closing Date, in which case such Loan Notice may be revoked or extended by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent, which must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than the time by which the Lenders are required to make available to the Administrative Agent their respective Loans as set forth below) if such condition is not satisfied.

(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice requesting the borrowing of Loans, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify (but in any event on the same Business Day the Administrative Agent receives such Loan Notice) each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the requested Loans. Each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice (or in the case of a Base Rate Loan the Loan Notice for which shall be delivered after 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Business Day, not later than two hours after the delivery of such Loan Notice). The Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent by wire transfer of such funds to the account set forth in the applicable Loan Notice.

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

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Term SOFR Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that any Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the Prime Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

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

 

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

2.03 [Reserved].

2.04 [Reserved].

2.05 Prepayments. The Borrower may, upon delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Loan Prepayment, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, subject to Section 3.05; provided that (a) such Notice of Loan Prepayment must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, (i) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Term SOFR Loans and (ii) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (b) any prepayment of Term SOFR Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, in each case, or if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding; and (c) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, in each case, or if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each Notice of Loan Prepayment shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Term SOFR Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such Notice of Loan Prepayment, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such Notice of Loan Prepayment is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein; provided that any such Notice of Loan Prepayment may state that such Notice of Loan Prepayment is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, the issuance of senior notes of the Borrower or the consummation of a specific transaction, in which case such notice may be revoked or extended by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified prepayment date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any prepayment shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid. Subject to Section 2.17, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.

(a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitment of each Lender shall automatically terminate upon the earlier of (i) the funding by such Lender of its Loan on the Funding Date and (ii) the Commitment Termination Date.

(b) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities or the consummation of a specific transaction, in which case such notice may be revoked or extended by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified termination or reduction date) if such condition is not satisfied, (ii) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, two Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction and (iii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

(c) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of any notice under Section 2.06(b) and, in the case of any partial reduction, of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such reduction. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage.

 

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2.07 Repayment of Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

2.08 Interest.

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

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

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

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

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

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

2.09 Fees.

(a) The Borrower shall pay to the parties entitled thereto the fees payable pursuant to the Fee Letters, in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letters.

(b) Once paid, fees shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

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

 

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

2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date specified herein; provided that payments pursuant to Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 10.04 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of each payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m., New York City time, shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. Subject to the definitions of “Interest Period” and “Maturity Date”, if any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans.

 

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If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by the Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the relevant Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing.

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

(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the Loans set forth in Section 4.02 are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).

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

2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them; provided that:

 

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(i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and (ii) the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (for the avoidance of doubt, as in effect from time to time) (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 2.13 shall apply).

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

2.14 [Reserved].

2.15 [Reserved].

2.16 [Reserved].

2.17 Defaulting Lenders.

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

(i) Waivers and Amendments. That Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 10.01.

(ii) Reallocation of Payments. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth, to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender.

 

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Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, take such actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be appropriate in connection with that Lender ceasing to be a Defaulting Lender, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that all amendments, waivers or modifications effected without its consent in accordance with the provisions in Section 10.01 and this Section 2.17 during such period shall be binding on it; and provided, further, that, subject to Section 10.22, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender having been a Defaulting Lender.

ARTICLE III.

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

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

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

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

 

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(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall 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 Other Taxes.

(c) Tax Indemnifications.

(i) The Borrower shall, and does hereby indemnify each Recipient, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable by the Borrower under this Section 3.01) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment by the Borrower to such Recipient, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by 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. The Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required pursuant to Section 3.01(c)(ii).

(ii) Each Lender shall, and does hereby, severally indemnify, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days after demand therefor, (x) the Administrative Agent against any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (y) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as applicable, against any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to maintain a Participant Register and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, as applicable, against any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, as applicable, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (c)(ii).

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

(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.

(i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.

 

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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 as will enable 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 3.01(e)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

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

(A) any Lender that is a U.S. Person 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 (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), executed copies of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

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

(I) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Loan Document, executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN 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, 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;

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

(III) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-I to the effect that such Foreign 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 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S.

 

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Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E; or (IV) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2 or Exhibit H-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

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

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

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

(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender. If any Recipient determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 3.01 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) incurred by such Recipient, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Recipient, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Recipient in the event the Recipient is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this subsection (f), in no event will the applicable Recipient be required to pay any amount to the Borrower pursuant to this subsection (f) the payment of which would place the Recipient in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Recipient would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This subsection (f) shall not be construed to require any Recipient to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

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

3.02 Illegality.

(a) If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to SOFR or Term SOFR, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR or Term SOFR, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower (through the Administrative Agent), (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Term SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.

(b) Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or convert, as elected by the Borrower, all Term SOFR Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loan, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Term SOFR Loan and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon SOFR or Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Term SOFR component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon SOFR or Term SOFR. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05.

3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.

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

 

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Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Term SOFR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Term SOFR Loans shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans or Interest Periods), and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Term SOFR component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Term SOFR component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of a determination by the Required Lenders described in clause (ii) of this Section 3.03(a), until the Administrative Agent upon instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.

Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a borrowing of, or conversion to, or continuation of Term SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans or Interest Periods), or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein and (ii) any outstanding Term SOFR Loans (to the extent of the affected Term SOFR Loans or Interest Periods) shall be deemed to have been converted to Base Rate Loans immediately at the end of their respective applicable Interest Period.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Borrower or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to the Borrower) that the Borrower or the Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:

(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR, including because SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or

(ii) CME or any successor administrator of SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent or such administrator with respect to its publication of Term SOFR, in each case acting in such capacity, has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate shall or will no longer be made available, or permitted to be used for determining the interest rate of syndicated loans denominated in Dollars, or shall or will otherwise cease, provided that, at the time of such statement, there is no successor administrator that is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that will continue to provide such representative interest periods of Term SOFR after such specific date (the latest date on which one month, three month and six month interest periods of Term SOFR or the Term SOFR Screen Rate are no longer available permanently or indefinitely, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”);

then, on a date and time determined by the Administrative Agent (any such date, the “Term SOFR Replacement Date”), which date shall be at the end of an Interest Period or on the relevant interest payment date, as applicable, for interest calculated and, solely with respect to clause (ii) above, no later than the Scheduled Unavailability Date, Term SOFR will be replaced hereunder and under any Loan Document with Daily Simple SOFR for any payment period for interest calculated that can be determined by the Administrative Agent, in each case, without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (the “Successor Rate”).

If the Successor Rate is Daily Simple SOFR, all interest payments will be payable on a quarterly basis.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) if the Administrative Agent determines that Daily Simple SOFR is not available on or prior to the Term SOFR Replacement Date, or (ii) if the events or circumstances of the type described in Section 3.03(b)(i) or (ii) have occurred with respect to the Successor Rate then in effect, then in each case, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement solely for the purpose of replacing Term SOFR or any then current Successor Rate in accordance with this Section 3.03 with an alternative benchmark rate giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar credit facilities syndicated and agented in the U.S. and denominated in Dollars for such alternative benchmark, and, in each case, including any mathematical or other adjustments to such benchmark giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar credit facilities syndicated and agented in the U.S. and denominated in Dollars for such benchmark, which adjustment or method for calculating such adjustment shall be published on an information service as selected by the Administrative Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion and may be periodically updated. For the avoidance of doubt, any such proposed rate and adjustments shall constitute a “Successor Rate”. Any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders object to such amendment.

(c) The Administrative Agent will promptly (in one or more notices) notify the Borrower and each Lender of the implementation of any Successor Rate. Any Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner consistent with market practice; provided that to the extent such market practice is not administratively feasible for the Administrative Agent, such Successor Rate shall be applied in a manner as otherwise reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything else herein, if at any time any Successor Rate as so determined would otherwise be less than zero, the Successor Rate will be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In connection with the implementation of a Successor Rate, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement; provided that, with respect to any such amendment effected, the Administrative Agent shall post each such amendment implementing such Conforming Changes to the Borrower and the Lenders reasonably promptly after such amendment becomes effective.

3.04 Increased Costs.

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

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

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

 

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(iii) impose on any Lender any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Term SOFR Loans made by such Lender; and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making, continuing, converting to or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

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

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

(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

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

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

(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Term SOFR Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower (whether or not such notice may be revoked or extended in accordance herewith); or

(c) to the extent applicable, any assignment of a Term SOFR Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;

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.

 

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3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. Each Lender may make any Loan to the Borrower through any Lending Office; provided that the exercise of this option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.

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

ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

4.01 Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 10.01) of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following:

(i) counterparts of this Agreement signed on behalf of the Borrower, each Lender and the Administrative Agent;

(ii) a customary secretary’s certificate of the Borrower dated the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, attaching, and where applicable, certifying (A) a copy of the certificate of incorporation of the Borrower, certified as of a recent date prior to the Closing Date by the Secretary of State of Delaware, (B) a copy of the by-laws of the Borrower, (C) a copy of the resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower approving the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, (D) the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign the Loan Documents and the other documents to be delivered by the Borrower hereunder, and (E) a good standing certificate (certificate of existence) for the Borrower from the Secretary of State of Delaware dated as of a recent date; and

(iii) a customary opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel to the Borrower, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

(b) The Arranger, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received all fees and invoiced expenses required to be paid by the Borrower on or prior to the Closing Date under this Agreement, the Engagement Letter or the Fee Letters (in the case of expenses, to the extent invoiced at least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date).

 

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(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date (i) all documentation and other information regarding the Borrower required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act, and (ii) if the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

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

4.02 Conditions Precedent to the Funding Date. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan hereunder is subject solely to the occurrence of the Closing Date and the satisfaction (or waiver in accordance with Section 10.01) of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V or any other Loan Document or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith shall be true and correct on and as of the Funding Date, before and after giving effect to the borrowing of Loans and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date.

(b) No Default or Event of Default shall exist, or would result from such borrowing of Loans or from the application of the proceeds thereof.

(c) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following:

(i) a certificate, dated the Funding Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, certifying that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and 4.02(b) have been satisfied;

(ii) a Loan Notice in accordance with Section 2.02(a) (which shall not contain any representations or warranties) and a funding indemnity letter in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

(iii) a solvency certificate from the chief financial officer of the Borrower in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto as to the solvency of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis as of the Funding Date after giving effect to the Transactions.

 

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ARTICLE V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the Closing Date (other than with respect to Section 5.18) and the Funding Date (after giving effect to the Transactions), that:

5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power. The Borrower (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite corporate or other organizational power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms its Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any material Contractual Obligation to which the Borrower is a party or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which the Borrower or its Property is subject; or (c) violate any Law; except in each case referred to in clause (b) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent of any other Person is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, in each case, except where the failure of which to obtain or make would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principals of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.

 

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

5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their Properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.06, either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.07 No Default. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that would, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all Property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

5.09 Insurance. The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

5.10 Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except (a) those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.11 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (i) each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state laws, and (ii) each Pension Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the form of such Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and the trust related thereto has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the Internal Revenue Service, and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred that would prevent or cause the loss of such tax-qualified status.

 

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

(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred, and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate is aware of any fact, event or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to constitute or result in an ERISA Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate has met all applicable requirements under the Pension Funding Rules in respect of each Pension Plan, and no waiver of the minimum funding standards under the Pension Funding Rules has been applied for or obtained; (iii) as of the most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the funding target attainment percentage (as defined in Section 430(d)(2) of the Code) is 60% or higher and neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate knows of any facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to cause the funding target attainment percentage for any such plan to drop below 60% as of the most recent valuation date; (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to the PBGC other than for the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due that are unpaid; (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that would be subject to Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA; and (vi) no Pension Plan has been terminated by the plan administrator thereof nor by the PBGC, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that would reasonably be expected to cause the PBGC to institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any Pension Plan, except with respect to each of the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) of this Section 5.11(c), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

5.12 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.

(b) The Borrower is not required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

5.13 Disclosure. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to them, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, no report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time (it being recognized that projections to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that the actual results during the period or periods covered by any projections may materially differ from the projected results).

5.14 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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5.15 OFAC; Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions. None of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent, Affiliate or representative thereof, is an individual or entity that is, or is 50% or more owned or controlled by any individual or entity that is (a) the subject or target of any Sanctions or (b) located, organized or resident in a Designated Jurisdiction. The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective officers and employees and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, its directors and agents, are in compliance in all material respects with any Anti-Corruption Law, any applicable Sanctions or the PATRIOT Act.

5.16 Affected Financial Institutions. The Borrower is not an Affected Financial Institution.

5.17 Beneficial Ownership Certification. As of the Closing Date, the information included in any Beneficial Ownership Certification, if any, delivered to any Lenders on or prior to the Closing Date with respect to the Borrower is true and correct in all respects.

5.18 Solvency. As of the Funding Date, immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, including the making of the Loans and the application of the proceeds thereof, (a) the fair value of the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will exceed, on a consolidated basis, their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (b) the present fair saleable value of the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability, on a consolidated basis, of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (d) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will not be engaged in, and will not be about to engage in, business for which they have unreasonably small capital. For purposes of this Section 5.18, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual and matured liability.

ARTICLE VI.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation (other than contingent obligations as to which no claim has been made on the Borrower) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:

6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

 

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(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit; and (b) as soon as available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, and the related consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial position, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP as at the end of, and for, such period, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

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

6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) and 6.01(b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate that is consistent with the level of detail set forth in Exhibit D and signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower;

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

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

(d) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request; and

(e) 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, without limitation, the PATRIOT Act and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

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Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a), 6.01(b) or 6.02(d) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at https://www.verisk.com, (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents or (iii) on which the Borrower publicly files such documents with the SEC at www.sec.gov. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(b) to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or obtaining or maintaining its copies of such documents.

The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debt Domain, Intralinks, SyndTrak or another similar electronic system (hereinafter referred to as the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (hereinafter each referred to as a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as the Borrower is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities, (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their respective securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform that is not designated “Public Side Information.” Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”

6.03 Notices. Promptly following a Responsible Officer of the Borrower having knowledge thereof, notify the Administrative Agent (which, in turn, will notify each other Lender):

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws, that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event where there is any reasonable likelihood of the imposition of liability on the Borrower or any Subsidiary as a result thereof that would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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

6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its Property; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its Property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness, except where, in regard to the matters described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above, the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, or the failure to make payment would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect the Borrower’s legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.03; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation or non-renewal of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.06 Compliance with Laws. (a) Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or Property, except in such instances in which (i) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (ii) the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and its and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions.

6.07 Books and Records. (a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct in all material respects entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

 

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6.08 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Administrative Agent and Lenders so long as no Event of Default exists, and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonably advance notice to the Borrower; provided, that any exercise of such access and inspection rights by any Lender shall be coordinated through the Administrative Agent; provided, further, that, when an Event of Default does not exist, (i) such access and inspection rights will be available to the Administrative Agent only, and (ii) such inspection shall be limited to one such inspection per year; provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

6.09 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans for (a) general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document and (b) to pay fees and expenses related to the Transactions.

ARTICLE VII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation (other than contingent obligations as to which no claim has been made on the Borrower) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

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

(a) Customary Permitted Liens;

(b) Liens in existence on the date hereof as set forth on Schedule 7.01 and any extensions, renewals, or replacements thereof; provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien(s) immediately prior to such extension, renewal, or replacement is not increased and (ii) such Lien(s) is not extended to any other Property (other than the proceeds or products thereof, replacements, accessions or additions thereto and improvements thereon);

(c) Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or the ownership of its Property which were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances of credit and which in the aggregate do not materially detract from the use or value of its Property or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business;

(d) Liens in favor of the Borrower or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary on Property of a Subsidiary to secure obligations of such Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;

(e) any attachment or judgment Lien, so long as such attachment or judgment does not constitute an Event of Default under Section 8.01(g) or 8.01(h), and Liens securing appeal or other surety bonds related to such judgments;

 

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(f) Liens securing Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness; provided that (i) in the case of Liens securing Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness described in clause (a) of the definition of such term, (A) such Liens shall have existed on the Property of the applicable Person (1) at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of or is merged with or into the Borrower or a Subsidiary or (2) at the time the Borrower or a Subsidiary acquires the applicable Property from such Person, as applicable, and, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2), such Liens shall not have been created in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary (or such merger) or such acquisition and (B) no such Lien at any time shall encumber any other Property (other than the proceeds or products thereof, replacements, accessions or additions thereto and improvements thereon) and (ii) in the case of Liens securing Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness described in clause (b) of the definition of such term, no such Lien at any time shall encumber any Property other than the Property acquired in the applicable Permitted Acquisition (and the proceeds or products thereof, replacements, accessions or additions thereto and improvements thereon), it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that in the event that a Permitted Acquisition is consummated as a purchase of Equity Interests or a similar transaction, the pledge of stock or other Equity Interests acquired in such Permitted Acquisition to secure the related Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness shall be permitted;

(g) Liens provided for in equipment leases (including financing statements and undertakings to file the same); provided that such Liens are limited to the equipment subject to such leases, accessions thereto and the proceeds thereof;

(h) [reserved];

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations to any counterparty under repurchase or securities loan agreements;

(j) Liens existing solely with respect to cash or deposit account balances used to cash collateralize obligations of “defaulting lenders” pursuant to customary provisions;

(k) Liens created by this Agreement or any other Loan Document;

(l) Liens in respect of Priority Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02(a); provided that such Liens do not secure Indebtedness owing by the Borrower in respect of (i) any private placement or note purchase facility or facilities or (ii) any senior credit facility or facilities; and

(m) Liens securing other Indebtedness to the extent that the Borrower and each of its applicable Subsidiaries shall have made or caused to be made effective provision whereby the Obligations shall be secured equally and ratably with any and all other obligations secured by any such Lien, such security to be pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and, in any such case, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the benefit, to the fullest extent that, and with such priority as, they may be entitled under applicable Laws, of an equitable Lien on such Property.

7.02 Priority Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Priority Indebtedness, other than (a) any Priority Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed 7.5% of Assets at any time and (b) any Permitted Acquisition Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $500,000,000 at any time.

7.03 Fundamental Changes. Solely with respect to the Borrower, (a) merge with or into another Person, unless the Borrower is the continuing or surviving Person, provided, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the consummation of any Permitted Acquisition by the Borrower, (b) dissolve, liquidate or wind-up or (c) change its structure as a corporation.

7.04 Dispositions. Make any Disposition or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, calculated on a consolidated basis (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person (including pursuant to a Delaware LLC Division).

 

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7.05 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the borrowing of Loans, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose which in any case entails a violation of Regulation U of the FRB.

7.06 Financial Covenants.

(a) Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio as of the last day of any Test Period to be less than 3.00:1.00.

(b) Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio. Permit the Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any Test Period to be greater than 3.75:1.00. Notwithstanding the foregoing to the contrary, at the election of the Borrower (such election to be made in writing to the Administrative Agent upon the closing of a Permitted Acquisition and such election to be made not more than twice during the term of the Facility), the maximum Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio shall be increased to 4.50:1.00 (not more than once during the term of the Facility) and 4.25:1.00 (not more than once during the term of the Facility) in any sequence as requested by the Borrower in writing (each such increase in the Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio, a “Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio Step-up”), in each case, for the four consecutive fiscal quarter period (hereinafter referred to as a “Leverage Increase Period”) commencing with the fiscal quarter in which such Permitted Acquisition occurs (which Leverage Increase Period shall include, for the avoidance of doubt, the fourth fiscal quarter end following the closing date of such Permitted Acquisition), provided that immediately upon the expiration of any Leverage Increase Period, the maximum Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio permitted under this Section 7.06(b) shall revert automatically to 3.75:1.00; provided, further, that the Borrower shall only be permitted to elect a second Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio Step-up if there have been at least two consecutive fiscal quarters between the date of the commencement of the initial Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio Step-up and the date of the commencement of the second Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio Step-up as of the last day of which the Consolidated Funded Debt Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 3.25:1.00, which shall be evidenced by the delivery of Compliance Certificates to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 6.02(b).

7.07 Anti-Corruption Laws; Sanctions.

Directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of any Loan, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity, to fund any activities of or business with any individual or entity, or in any Designated Jurisdiction, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions, except to the extent permitted for a Person required to comply with Sanctions, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transaction, whether as a Lender, an Arranger, the Administrative Agent or otherwise) of Sanctions, and/or directly or indirectly permit or allow any Loan, use of proceeds hereunder or other transaction contemplated by this Agreement to violate any Anti-Corruption Law, any applicable Sanctions or the PATRIOT Act.

ARTICLE VIII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an “Event of Default”:

(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or (ii) within five days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan, or any fee due hereunder or (iii) within five days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or (b) Specific Covenants.

 

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The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(a), 6.05(a) or 6.09 or Article VII; or

(c) Other Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any substantial and material respect when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross Default. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise and after the giving of any required notice and the running of any applicable grace or cure periods) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit agreement) of more than $250,000,000, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee, or any other event occurs, the effect of which failure or other event referred to in this clause (B) is to cause such Indebtedness to become due or to be required to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be required to be made, in each case, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than $250,000,000 and the counterparties to such Swap Contract elect to terminate such Swap Contract; provided that clause (i)(B) above shall not apply to (1) any secured Indebtedness that becomes due or is required to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed, or with respect to which an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem is required to be made, in each case, as a result of the voluntary Disposition of, or a casualty, condemnation, taking or similar event with respect to, the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (2) any repurchase, prepayment, defeasance or redemption of any Acquisition Indebtedness if the related Acquisition is not consummated, (3) any Indebtedness of any Person assumed in connection with an Acquisition to the extent that such Indebtedness is required to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed by the terms thereof in connection with such Acquisition, (4) any Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of a voluntary repurchase, prepayment, defeasance or redemption thereof, or any refinancing thereof, (5) any requirement to, or to offer to, repurchase, prepay or redeem any Indebtedness using a portion of excess cash flow or similar financial measure or (6) any customary debt and equity proceeds prepayment requirements contained in any bridge or other interim credit facility; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.

 

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The Borrower or any Material Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its respective Property (other than, in the case of any Material Subsidiary, any solvent dissolution or liquidation as part of a corporate restructuring); or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its Property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Material Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against any Property of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount of more than $250,000,000 and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding $250,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or

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

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

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

(a) declare the Commitment of each Lender to be terminated, whereupon the Commitments shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and (c) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

 

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provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the Commitment of each Lender shall automatically terminate and the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

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

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

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and

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

ARTICLE IX.

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

9.01 Appointment and Authority.

Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Wells Fargo to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article IX are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and, except for its rights under Section 9.06, the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Documents (or any other similar term) with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law.

 

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Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties. The provisions of this Article and each party’s rights and obligations hereunder 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 Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.

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

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

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

(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and

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

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

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The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or (vi) the validity, sufficiency, enforceability or effectiveness of any Loan Document or other agreement, instrument or document executed or transmitted in accordance with Section 6.02 or 10.10.

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible or have any liability for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions of this Agreement relating to Disqualified Institutions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (x) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or Participant or prospective Lender or Participant is a Disqualified Institution or (y) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Institution.

9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent.

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

9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article IX shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then

 

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such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (b) except for any indemnity payments or other amounts then owed to the retiring or removed Administrative Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section 9.06. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments or other amounts owed to the retiring Administrative Agent), and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section 9.06). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article IX and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its 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 or relating to its duties as Administrative Agent that are carried out following its retirement or removal, including, in respect of any actions taken in connection with the transfer of agency to a replacement or successor Administrative Agent.

If the Person serving as Administrative Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (d) of the definition of “Defaulting Lender”, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable laws, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person, remove such Person as Administrative Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States; provided, that without the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), the Required Lenders shall not be permitted to select a successor that is not a U.S. financial institution described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(ii) or a U.S. branch of a foreign bank described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv)(A). If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (hereinafter referred to as the “Removal Effective Date”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent, the Arranger and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Administrative Agent or the Arranger hereafter taken, including any consent to, and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of Verisk or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent or the Arranger to any Lender as to any matter, including whether the Administrative Agent or the Arranger has disclosed material information in their (or their respective Related Parties’) possession. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent and the Arranger that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of, appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of Verisk and its Subsidiaries, and all applicable bank or other regulatory Laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, any other Lender or any of their respective Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder, to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and it will not assert any claim under any federal or state securities law or otherwise in contravention of this Section 9.07. Each Lender represents and warrants that (a) the Loan Documents set forth the terms of a commercial lending facility and (b) it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course and is entering into this Agreement as a Lender for the purpose of making, acquiring or holding commercial loans and providing other facilities set forth herein as may be applicable to such Lender, and not for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring or holding any other type of financial instrument, and each Lender agrees not to assert a claim in contravention of the foregoing. Each Lender represents and warrants that it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to make, acquire and/or hold commercial loans and to provide other facilities set forth herein, as may be applicable to such Lender, 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.

 

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9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Arranger shall not have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent or a Lender hereunder.

9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans 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 and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender 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, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.

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

9.10 [Reserved].

 

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9.11 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 not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit the Borrower, that at least one of the following is and will be true:

(i) such Lender is not using “plan assets” (within the meaning of Section 3(42) of ERISA or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments or this Agreement;

(ii) the transaction exemption set forth in one or more PTEs, such as PTE 84-14 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers), PTE 95-60 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts), PTE 90-1 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTE 91-38 (a class exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds) or PTE 96-23 (a class exemption for certain transactions determined by in-house asset managers), is applicable with respect to such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the 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 Commitments and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the Commitments and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of sub-sections (b) through (g) and (k) 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 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 either (i) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (ii) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (A) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (B) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto, for the benefit of, the Administrative Agent and not, for the avoidance of doubt, to or for the benefit of the Borrower, that the Administrative Agent is not a fiduciary with respect to the assets of such Lender involved in such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Loans, the 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).

 

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9.12 Recovery of Rescindable Amounts.

(a) Each Lender and any other party hereto hereby severally agrees that if (i) the Administrative Agent notifies (which such notice shall be conclusive absent manifest error) such Lender or any other Person that has received funds from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates, either for its own account or on behalf of a Lender (each such recipient, a “Payment Recipient”) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Payment Recipient were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Payment Recipient) or (ii) any Payment Recipient receives any 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, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, as applicable, (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment, as applicable, or (z) that such Payment Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted or received in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) then, in each case, an error in payment shall be presumed to have been made (any such amounts specified in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 9.12, whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise; individually and collectively, an “Rescindable Amount”), then, in each case, such Payment Recipient is deemed to have knowledge of such error at the time of its receipt of such Rescindable Amount; provided that nothing in this Section shall require the Administrative Agent to provide any of the notices specified in clauses (i) or (ii) above. Each Payment Recipient agrees that it shall not assert any right or claim to any Rescindable Amount, and hereby waives 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 Rescindable Amounts, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.

(b) Without limiting the immediately preceding clause (a), each Payment Recipient agrees that, in the case of clause (a)(ii) above, it shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing of such occurrence.

(c) In the case of either clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, such Rescindable Amount shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent and shall be segregated by the Payment Recipient and held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and upon demand from the Administrative Agent such Payment Recipient shall (or, shall cause any Person who received any portion of an Rescindable Amount on its behalf to), promptly, but in all events no later than one Business Day thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Rescindable Amount (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made in same day funds and in the currency so received, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Rescindable Amount (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

(d) In the event that an Rescindable Amount (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with immediately preceding clause (c), from any Lender that is a Payment Recipient or an Affiliate of a Payment Recipient (such unrecovered amount as to such Lender, an “Rescindable Amount Return Deficiency”), then at the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and upon the Administrative Agent’s written notice to such Lender (i) such Lender shall be deemed to have made a cashless assignment of the full face amount of the portion of its Loans (but not its Commitments) of the relevant Class with respect to which such Rescindable Amount was made (the “Rescindable Amount Impacted Class”) to the Administrative Agent or, at the option of the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent’s applicable lending affiliate in an amount that is equal to the Rescindable Amount Return Deficiency (or such lesser amount as the Administrative Agent may specify) (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments) of the Rescindable Amount Impacted Class, the “Rescindable Amount Deficiency Assignment”) plus any accrued and unpaid interest on such assigned amount, without further consent or approval of any party hereto and without any payment by the Administrative Agent or its applicable lending affiliate as the assignee of such Rescindable Amount Deficiency Assignment.

 

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The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that (1) any assignment contemplated in this clause (d) shall be made without any requirement for any payment or other consideration paid by the applicable assignee or received by the assignor, (2) the provisions of this clause (d) shall govern in the event of any conflict with the terms and conditions of Section 10.06 and (3) the Administrative Agent may reflect such assignments in the Register without further consent or action by any other Person.

(e) Each party hereto hereby agrees that (x) in the event an Rescindable Amount (or portion thereof) is not recovered from any Payment Recipient that has received such Rescindable Amount (or portion thereof) for any reason, the Administrative Agent (1) shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Payment Recipient with respect to such amount and (2) is authorized to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Payment Recipient under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Payment Recipient from any source, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 9.12 or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement, (y) the receipt of an Rescindable Amount by a Payment Recipient shall not for the purpose of this Agreement be treated as a payment, prepayment, repayment, discharge or other satisfaction of any Obligations owed by the Borrower, except, in each case, to the extent such Rescindable Amount is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Rescindable Amount that is, comprised of funds received by the Administrative Agent from the Borrower or any other Credit Party for the purpose of making a payment on the Obligations and (z) to the extent that an Rescindable Amount was in any way or at any time credited as payment or satisfaction of any of the Obligations, the Obligations or any part thereof that were so credited, and all rights of the Payment Recipient, as the case may be, shall be reinstated and continue in full force and effect as if such payment or satisfaction had never been received.

(f) Nothing in this Section 9.12 will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of the Administrative Agent hereunder arising from any Payment Recipient’s receipt of an Rescindable Amount.

ARTICLE X.

MISCELLANEOUS

10.01 Amendments, Etc. Subject to Section 3.03 and the remainder of this Section 10.01, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) (including any extension as a result of any amendment or waiver of the definition of the term “Commitment Termination Date”) without the prior express written consent of such Lender;

(b) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any scheduled payment of principal, interest or fees due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or any fees payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior express written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate; (d) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender; or

 

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(e) change any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;

provided, further, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (x) except as provided in clause (a), (b) or (c) above and (y) other than any waiver, amendment, consent or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely relative to other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, (i) if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower acting together identify any obvious ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect in any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including the schedules and exhibits thereto), then the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall be permitted to amend, modify or supplement such provision to cure such ambiguity, omission, mistake, typographical error or other defect, and such amendment shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement and (ii) the Administrative Agent (and, if applicable, the Borrower) may, without the consent of any Lender, enter into amendments or modifications to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to enter into additional Loan Documents in order to implement any Successor Rate or any Conforming Changes or otherwise effectuate the terms of Section 3.03.

10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

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

(i) if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the address, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and

(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received. Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

 

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(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished, in addition to e-mail, by other electronic communication (including Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by such electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in their respective discretion and in addition to e-mail, agree to accept notices and other communications to them hereunder by other electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by them; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

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

(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. Although the Platform is secured pursuant to generally-applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent and its Related Parties, each of the Lenders and the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that distribution of information through an electronic means is not necessarily secure in all respects, the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Agent Parties”) are not responsible for approving or vetting the representatives, designees or contacts of any Lender or Issuing Lender that are provided access to the Platform and that there may be confidentiality and other risks associated with such form of distribution. Each of the Borrower, each Lender and each Issuing Lender party hereto understands and accepts such risks. In no event shall the Agent Parties have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except, in the case of any Agent Party, to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc. The Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, e-mail address or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.

 

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Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or their respective securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

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

10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Borrower shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to the Borrower under any Debtor Relief Law; provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Limitation of Liability.

(a) Costs and Expenses.

 

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The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and their respective Affiliates (including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, provided that any legal expenses shall be limited to one primary counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Arranger taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, a single local counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Arranger taken as a whole in each material relevant jurisdiction (which may be a single local counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and related documentation or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all actual out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the actual fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 10.04, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans. The Borrower shall have no obligation to pay, or reimburse any Person for, the fees and time charges of attorneys who are employees of the Administrative Agent, the Arranger or any Lender.

(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), the Arranger, each Lender and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reimburse each Indemnitee in accordance with Section 10.04(e) for its reasonable and documented out of pocket legal and other out of pocket expenses (including the cost of any investigation and preparation) incurred in connection therewith (including the reasonable actual fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee excluding the fees, time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee; provided that any legal expenses shall be limited to a single firm of primary counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, a single firm of local counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each material relevant jurisdiction (which may be a single local counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) and, solely in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest between the Indemnitees where the Indemnitees affected by such conflict inform the Borrower of such conflict, one additional firm of primary counsel and one additional firm of local counsel in each material relevant jurisdiction for each group of the affected Indemnitees similarly situated taken as a whole), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or any of the respective shareholders, partners, members or other equity holders of the Borrower of its Subsidiaries) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) to the extent related to the foregoing (including the Loan Documents and the consummation or implementation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any Property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or any of the respective shareholders, partners, members or other equity holders of the Borrower of its Subsidiaries) or any Indemnitee, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity, hold harmless and reimbursement obligations shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (A) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from (x) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties in performing the services hereunder or under any other Loan Document or (y) a material breach of the obligations of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties hereunder or under any other Loan Document or (B) arise from disputes among Lenders and/or other Indemnitees and/or any of their Related Parties not arising from or in connection with any act or omission by the Borrower of any of its Affiliates (other than any suit, action, investigation or proceeding against the Administrative Agent, the Arranger or any other titled person in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as such); provided, however, that each reference to a Related Party of an Indemnitee in the immediately preceding proviso pertains to a Related Party involved in the negotiation, syndication or administration of the Loan Documents and the Facility.

 

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The obligations of the Borrower under this clause (b) shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement. This clause (b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages or expenses arising from any non-Tax claim.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 10.04 to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided, that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent)in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).

(d) Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim of the Borrower or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of the Borrower or any other person against any Lender-Related Person, on any theory of liability (whether in contract, in tort or otherwise), arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, except, in the case of any such liability of any Lender-Related Person to the Borrower, solely to the extent that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Borrower have been found by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Lender-Related Person in performing the services that are the subject of this Agreement and any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby; provided that in no event will any Lender-Related Person have any liability for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Lender-Related Person shall be liable for any damages, on any theory of liability, arising from the use or misuse by others of any information or other materials distributed through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than, in the case of any Lender-Related Person, for damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Lender-Related Person as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Affiliates will be responsible or liable to any Lender-Related Person for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages that may be alleged as a result of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that nothing in this sentence shall limit the Borrower’s or its Affiliates’ indemnity and reimbursement obligations set forth in this Section 10.04 or in any other written agreements to which the Borrower or any of its Affiliates is a party with respect to any suit, action, proceeding or investigation brought against any Lender-Related Person.

 

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(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be payable not later than 15 Business Days after demand therefor.

(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

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

10.06 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not (except as expressly permitted by Section 7.03) assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior express written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 10.06, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section 10.06, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section 10.06 (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section 10.06 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Arranger and the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and any Lender) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts.

 

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(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and (B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section 10.06, the aggregate amount of the Commitment or the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met; provided, further, that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after having received notice thereof.

(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;

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

(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a) or 8.01(f) has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment, (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or (3) such assignment is to a Specified Permitted Lender; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after having received notice thereof; and

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender;

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

(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates or (B) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person that, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B).

 

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(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural persons).

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

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 10.06, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its reasonable expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection (b) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section 10.06.

(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for Tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

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(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of one or more natural persons, a Defaulting Lender or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates) (hereinafter each shall be referred to as a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts and interest amounts of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “Participant Register”). The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and each party hereto shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. Without limitation of the requirements of this subsection (d), no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of a Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in the Commitments, Loans or other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan or other obligation is in registered form for U.S. federal income tax purposes or is otherwise required by applicable law. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section 10.06, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 10.06. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.

(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign (without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a federal reserve bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(g) Disqualified Institutions. (i) No assignment shall be made to any Person that was a Disqualified Institution as of the date (the “Trade Date”) on which the applicable Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell and assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to such Person (unless the Borrower has consented to such assignment as otherwise contemplated by this Section 10.06, in which case such Person will not be considered a Disqualified Institution for the purpose of such assignment).

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any assignee that becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date (including as a result of the delivery of a notice pursuant to, and/or the expiration of the notice period referred to in, the definition of “Disqualified Institution”), (x) such assignee shall not retroactively be disqualified from becoming a Lender and (y) the execution by the Borrower of an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignee will not by itself result in such assignee no longer being considered a Disqualified Institution. Any assignment in violation of this clause (g)(i) shall not be void, but the other provisions of this clause (g) shall apply.

(ii) If any assignment is made to any Disqualified Institution without the Borrower’s prior consent in violation of clause (i) above, or if any Person becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date, the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent, (A) terminate the Commitment of such Disqualified Institution and repay all obligations of the Borrower owing to such Disqualified Institution in connection with such Commitment, (B) in the case of outstanding Loans held by Disqualified Institutions, prepay such Loan by paying the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such Loans, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and/or (C) require such Disqualified Institution to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 10.06), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement and related Loan Documents to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations at the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and other the other Loan Documents; provided that (1) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 10.06(b) and (2) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Institutions (A) will not (x) have the right to receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Disqualified Institution will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Institutions consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any plan of reorganization or plan of liquidation pursuant to any Debtor Relief Laws (“Plan of Reorganization”), each Disqualified Institution party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such Plan of Reorganization, (2) if such Disqualified Institution does vote on such Plan of Reorganization notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such Plan of Reorganization in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).

 

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(iv) The Administrative Agent shall have the right, and the Borrower hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent, to (A) post the list of Disqualified Institutions provided by the Borrower and any updates thereto from time to time (collectively, the “DQ List”) on the Platform, including that portion of the Platform that is designated for “public side” Lenders or (B) provide the DQ List to each Lender requesting the same.

10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the “Information” (as such term is defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Related Parties (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section 10.07, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder (it being understood that the DQ List may be disclosed to any assignee or prospective assignee), (g) on a confidential basis to (A) rating agencies in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the credit facilities provided hereunder or (B) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the application, issuance, publishing and monitoring of CUSIP numbers or other market identifiers with respect to the credit facilities provided hereunder, (h) with the consent of the Borrower, (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.07, (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or (z) is independently discovered or developed by a party hereto without utilizing any Information received from the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or violating the terms of this Section 10.07 and (j) to any credit insurance provider relating to the Borrower and its obligations; provided that, prior to any disclosure, such credit insurance provider shall undertake in writing to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries received by it from the Administrative Agent or any Lenders. In addition, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and the Commitments.

For purposes of this Section 10.07, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or a Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 10.07 shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

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

For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein prohibits any individual from communicating or disclosing information regarding suspected violations of laws, rules, or regulations to a governmental, regulatory, or self-regulatory authority without any notification to any Person.

10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate 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 or any other Loan Document to such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (a) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (b) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section 10.08 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

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

10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

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

(b) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof (but do not supersede any provisions of the Engagement Letter or the Fee Letters that do not by the terms of such documents terminate upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, all of which provisions shall remain in full force and effect).

 

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(c) Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by e-mail of a .pdf or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement.

10.11 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery hereof of this Agreement and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation (other than contingent obligations for which no claim or demand has been made) is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 10.04 and this Section 10.11 and Article IX (and any other provision hereof that by the terms thereof is expressed so to survive) shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.

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

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

(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to 100% of the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts); (c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

 

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

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

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

10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED EXCLUSIVELY IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION 10.14. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

 

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

10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.15.

10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (a) (i) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders, on the other hand, (ii) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate and (iii) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (b) (i) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (ii) none of the Administrative Agent, the Arranger or any Lender has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (c) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Arranger or any Lender with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

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10.17 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents. The words “execute,” “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including without limitation Assignment and Assumptions, amendments or other modifications, Loan Notices, waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, the electronic matching of assignment terms and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Administrative Agent, or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary the Administrative Agent is under no obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Administrative Agent pursuant to procedures approved by it and provided further, without limiting the foregoing, (x) to the extent the Administrative Agent has agreed to accept such electronic signature from any party hereto, the Administrative Agent and the other parties hereto shall be entitled to rely on any such electronic signature purportedly given by or on behalf of the executing party without further verification and (y) upon the request of any party, any electronic signature shall be promptly followed by a manually executed signature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby waives (1) any argument, defense or right to contest the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents based solely on the lack of paper original copies of any Loan Documents, including with respect to any signature pages thereto and (2) any claim against the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their Related Parties for liabilities arising solely from the Administrative Agent’s, any Lender’s or any of their Related Parties’ reliance on or use of electronic signatures, including any such liabilities arising as a result of the failure of the Borrower to use any available security measures in connection with the execution, delivery or transmission of any such electronic signature.

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

10.19 Time of the Essence. Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.

10.20 [Reserved].

10.21 [Reserved].

10.22 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of Affected Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any Affected Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document 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:

 

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(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.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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

 

VERISK ANALYTICS, INC.,
as the Borrower
By:   /s/ Stephen Maire

Name:  Stephen Maire

Title:   Treasurer and Deputy Head of Investor Relations

 

[Verisk Analytics, Inc. – Signature Page to Term Credit Agreement]


 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent and as a Lender
By:   /s/ Benjamin Schwartz

Name:  Benjamin Schwartz

Title:   Vice President

 

[Verisk Analytics, Inc. – Signature Page to Term Credit Agreement]

EX-10.2 3 d56543dex102.htm EX-10.2 EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

February 20, 2026

Fixed Dollar Accelerated Share Repurchase Transaction

Verisk Analytics, Inc.

545 Washington Blvd

Jersey City, NJ 07310

 

 

Dear Sir/Madam:

The purpose of this letter agreement (this “Confirmation”) is to confirm the terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between [Dealer] (“Dealer”) and Verisk Analytics, Inc. (“Issuer”) on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”). This confirmation constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the Agreement specified below.

The definitions and provisions contained in the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”)) (the “Equity Definitions”) are incorporated into this Confirmation. The Transaction is a Share Forward Transaction for purposes of the Equity Definitions. Any reference to a currency shall have the meaning contained in Section 1.7 of the 2006 ISDA Definitions, as published by ISDA.

1. This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Issuer as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates and shall supersede all prior or contemporaneous written or oral communications with respect thereto. This Confirmation shall be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement as if Dealer and Issuer had executed an agreement in such form (but without any Schedule except for (i) the election of New York law as the governing law (without reference to its choice of law provisions), (ii) the election that subparagraph (ii) of Section 2(c) of the Agreement will not apply to the Transaction and (iii) the election that the “Cross Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) of the Agreement will apply to Dealer if (w) the phrase “, or becoming capable at such time of being declared,” were deleted from Section 5(a)(vi)(1) of the Agreement, (x) the “Threshold Amount” with respect to Dealer were three percent (3%) of shareholders’ equity of [Dealer/Dealer’s Ultimate Parent], (y) “Specified Indebtedness” had the meaning specified in Section 14 of the Agreement, except that such term shall not include obligations in respect of deposits received in the ordinary course of Dealer’s banking business and (z) the following language were added to the end of such Section 5(a)(vi): “Notwithstanding the foregoing, a default under subsection (2) hereof shall not constitute an Event of Default if (1) the default was caused solely by error or omission of an administrative or operational nature; (2) funds were available to enable Dealer to make the payment when due; and (3) the payment is made within two Local Business Days of such party’s receipt of written notice of its failure to pay.”) and (iii) the elections set forth in this Confirmation.

The Transaction shall be the only transaction under the Agreement. If there exists any ISDA Master Agreement between Dealer and Issuer or any confirmation or other agreement between Dealer and Issuer pursuant to which an ISDA Master Agreement is deemed to exist between Dealer and Issuer, then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such ISDA Master Agreement, such confirmation or agreement or any other agreement to which Dealer and Issuer are parties, the Transaction shall not be considered a transaction under, or otherwise governed by, such existing or deemed to be existing ISDA Master Agreement.

If there is any inconsistency between the Agreement, this Confirmation and the Equity Definitions, the following will prevail for purposes of the Transaction in the order of precedence indicated: (i) this Confirmation; (ii) the Equity Definitions; and (iii) the Agreement.

 

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2. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

 

GENERAL TERMS:

  
Trade Date:    As specified in Schedule I
Buyer:    Issuer
Seller:    Dealer
Shares:    Common Stock, par value USD 0.001 per share, of Issuer (Ticker: VRSK)
Forward Price:    A price equal to the greater of (A) (i) the arithmetic mean (not a weighted average, subject to “Market Disruption Event” below) of the 10b-18 VWAPs on each Calculation Date during the Calculation Period minus (ii) the Discount and (B) the Floor Price.
Discount:    As specified in Schedule I
Floor Price:    As specified in Schedule I
10b-18 VWAP:    For any Exchange Business Day, the Rule 10b-18 volume-weighted average price at which the Shares trade as reported in the composite transactions for United States exchanges and quotation systems, during the regular trading session for the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day, as published by Bloomberg at 4:15 p.m. (New York City time) (or 15 minutes following the end of any extension of the regular trading session) on Bloomberg Page “VRSK <Equity> AQR SEC” (or any successor thereto), absent manifest error or unavailability of such page or a successor thereto, in which case the Calculation Agent shall determine the 10b-18 VWAP for such Exchange Business Day in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner using, if practicable, a volume-weighted methodology (taking into account only those trades that are reported during the period of time during which Issuer could purchase its own shares under Rule 10b-18(b)(2) and are effected pursuant to the conditions of Rule 10b-18(b)(3), each under the Exchange Act (as defined below)).
Calculation Period:    The period from, and including, the Calculation Period Start Date to, and including, the Valuation Date.
Calculation Period Start Date:    As specified in Schedule I
Calculation Dates:    As specified in Schedule I

 

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Initial Shares:    As specified in Schedule I
Initial Share Delivery Date:    As specified in Schedule I. On the Initial Share Delivery Date, Seller shall deliver to Buyer a number of Shares equal to the Initial Shares in accordance with Section 9.4 of the Equity Definitions, with the Initial Share Delivery Date being deemed to be a “Settlement Date” for purposes of such Section 9.4.
Prepayment:    Applicable
Prepayment Amount:    As specified in Schedule I
Prepayment Date:    As specified in Schedule I
Exchange:    Nasdaq Global Select Market
Related Exchange:    All Exchanges
Market Disruption Event:    The definition of “Market Disruption Event” in Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “at any time during the one hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be,” starting in the third line thereof.
   Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.
   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, if any Scheduled Trading Day that is a Calculation Date in the Calculation Period or the Buyer Settlement Valuation Period (each such Scheduled Trading Day, an “Observation Day”) is a Disrupted Day, the Calculation Agent (i) shall determine whether such Observation Day is a Disrupted Day in whole, in which case the Calculation Agent shall exclude the 10b-18 VWAP on such Observation Day in determining the Forward Price or Buyer Settlement Price, as applicable, or in part, in which case the Calculation Agent shall (x) determine the 10b-18 VWAP on such Observation Day based on Rule 10b-18 eligible trades in the Shares on such day taking into account the nature and duration of the relevant Market Disruption Event and (y) determine the Forward Price or Buyer Settlement Price, as applicable, using an appropriately weighted average of 10b-18 VWAPs instead of an arithmetic mean, with such adjustments based on, among other factors, the duration of any Market Disruption Event and the volume, historical trading patterns and price of the Shares and (ii) may elect to (x) postpone the Scheduled Valuation Date and, in the case of any Disrupted Day occurring on or prior to the Lock-

 

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   Out Date and only if such postponement would produce a commercially reasonable result, the Lock-Out Date (in the case of a disrupted Calculation Date) or (y) extend the Buyer Settlement Valuation Period (in the case of a Disrupted Day during the Buyer Settlement Valuation Period), in each case, by up to one Scheduled Trading Day that is a Calculation Date for every Observation Day that is Calculation Date and is a Disrupted Day during the Calculation Period or Buyer Settlement Valuation Period, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, any Disrupted Day in part that is a Calculation Date shall be an Observation Day for purposes of calculating the Forward Price or Buyer Settlement Price, as applicable. The Calculation Agent shall promptly notify Issuer in writing of (A) circumstances giving rise to any Disrupted Day (but without disclosing any information that is subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations not to disclose such information and subject to compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, and with related policies and procedures applicable to the Calculation Agent), and (B) any such weighting, extension or suspension as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of such Disrupted Day.
   The Calculation Agent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to notify Buyer of the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event within one Exchange Business Day following the day on which such Market Disruption Event occurs.
   Any Scheduled Trading Day on which, as of the date hereof, the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its normal close of trading shall be deemed not to be a Scheduled Trading Day. If a closure of the Exchange prior to its normal close of trading is scheduled (x) on any Scheduled Trading Day that is a Calculation Date during the Calculation Period following the date hereof or (y) on any Scheduled Trading Day that is a Calculation Date during the Buyer Settlement Valuation Period after the relevant Buyer Election Date, then such Scheduled Trading Day shall be deemed to be a Disrupted Day in full.

VALUATION:

  
Valuation Date:    The earlier of (i) the Scheduled Valuation Date and (ii) any earlier accelerated Valuation Date as a result of Dealer’s election in accordance with the immediately succeeding paragraph.

 

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   Dealer shall have the right, in its absolute discretion, to accelerate the Valuation Date for the whole Transaction to any Calculation Date that is on or after the Lock-Out Date and prior to the Scheduled Valuation Date by notice (such notice, an “Acceleration Notice”) to Issuer by 7:30 p.m., New York City time, on the Calculation Date immediately following the accelerated Valuation Date (such date of notice, the “Acceleration Date”).
Scheduled Valuation Date:    As specified in Schedule I, subject to postponement in accordance with “Market Disruption Event” above.
Lock-Out Date:    As specified in Schedule I, subject to postponement in accordance with “Market Disruption Event” above.

SETTLEMENT TERMS:

  
Physical Settlement:    Applicable. On the Valuation Date (including the Acceleration Date, if applicable), the Calculation Agent shall calculate the Settlement Amount for the Transaction. The “Settlement Amount” is a number of Shares equal to (a) (i) the Prepayment Amount divided by (ii) the Forward Price minus (b) the Initial Shares, rounded to the nearest whole number of Shares.
   If the Settlement Amount is positive, Seller shall deliver to Buyer a number of Shares equal to the Settlement Amount on the Settlement Date. If the Settlement Amount is negative, the provisions of Buyer Settlement shall apply.
Settlement Currency:    USD
Settlement Date:    The date that falls one Settlement Cycle after the Valuation Date or Acceleration Date if prior to the Scheduled Valuation Date for the Transaction.
Buyer Settlement:    If the Settlement Amount is negative, the Buyer Share Settlement provisions shall apply unless Buyer elects by written notice to Seller (which notice shall contain a representation and warranty that, as of such date, Issuer is not in possession or otherwise aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Issuer or the Shares) that the Buyer Cash Settlement provisions shall instead apply, which notice shall be effective if received by Seller by the earlier of (i) the Scheduled Valuation Date and (ii) the Calculation Date immediately following the Acceleration Date (such date, the “Buyer Election Date”).
Buyer Cash Settlement:    If Buyer Cash Settlement is applicable, then Buyer shall pay to Seller the absolute value of the Buyer Cash Settlement Amount on the Buyer Cash Settlement Payment Date.
Buyer Cash Settlement Amount:    An amount equal to (a) the Settlement Amount, multiplied by (b) the Buyer Settlement Price.

 

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Buyer Settlement Price:    Subject to “Market Disruption Event” above, an amount equal to the arithmetic mean of the 10b-18 VWAPs for each Scheduled Trading Day that is a Calculation Date in the Buyer Settlement Valuation Period.
Buyer Settlement Valuation Period:    A number of Scheduled Trading Days (that are each Calculation Dates) selected by the Calculation Agent in its commercially reasonable discretion to be necessary for Seller to unwind its commercially reasonable hedge position in a commercially reasonable manner using commercially reasonable efforts, beginning on the first Scheduled Trading Day that is a Calculation Date immediately following the Buyer Election Date, subject to “Market Disruption Event” above. Dealer shall notify Buyer of the last Calculation Date of the Buyer Settlement Valuation Period on or prior to the Exchange Business Day immediately following such last Calculation Date.
Buyer Cash Settlement Payment Date:    The second Currency Business Day immediately following the last day of the Buyer Settlement Valuation Period.
Buyer Share Settlement:    If Buyer Share Settlement is applicable, on the Settlement Date, Buyer shall deliver to Seller a number of Shares equal to the Buyer Share Settlement Percentage multiplied by the absolute value of the Settlement Amount. Buyer’s obligation under this provision shall be netted against any obligations of Seller under “Physical Settlement” above on the Settlement Date.
Buyer Share Settlement Percentage:    As specified in Schedule I
Other Applicable Provisions:    The last sentence of Section 9.2, Sections 9.8, 9.9 and 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Buyer is the issuer of the Shares) and Section 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable to the Transaction.

SHARE ADJUSTMENTS:

  
Potential Adjustment Event:    In addition to the events described in Section 11.2(e) of the Equity Definitions, the occurrence of a Disrupted Day on a Calculation Date (including due to the occurrence of a Regulatory Disruption) that results in a postponement of the Scheduled Valuation Date shall constitute a Potential Adjustment Event. In the case of any event described in the preceding sentence, the Calculation Agent shall, in its commercially reasonable judgment, adjust any relevant terms of the Transaction as the Calculation Agent determines necessary to preserve as nearly as practicable the fair value of the Transaction prior to such postponement or Regulatory Disruption, as the case may be (taking into consideration any postponement pursuant to the language opposite the caption “Market Disruption Event” above).

 

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   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 11.2(e) of the Equity Definitions, (i) an Extraordinary Dividend shall not constitute a Potential Adjustment Event and (ii) no Other Specified Repurchase Agreement (as defined below) shall constitute a Potential Adjustment Event.
Different Dividend:    For any calendar quarter, any dividend or distribution on the Shares with an ex-dividend date occurring during such calendar quarter (other than any dividend or distribution of the type described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions) (a “Dividend”) the amount or value of which (as determined by the Calculation Agent), when aggregated with the amount or value (as determined by the Calculation Agent) of any and all previous Dividends with ex-dividend dates occurring in the same calendar quarter, with respect to the Scheduled Ex-Dividend Date for such calendar quarter, differs from the Ordinary Dividend Amount.
Ordinary Dividend Amount:    As specified in Schedule I. For the avoidance of doubt, the Transaction shall not be adjusted for any dividend or distribution on the Shares that equals the Ordinary Dividend Amount, subject to “Early/Late Ordinary Dividend Payment” below.
Extraordinary Dividend:    The per Share cash dividend or distribution, or a portion thereof, declared by Issuer on the Shares that is classified by the board of directors of Issuer as an “extraordinary” dividend.
Consequences of Different Dividend:    The declaration by Issuer of any Different Dividend, the ex-dividend date for which occurs or is scheduled to occur during the Relevant Dividend Period (as defined below) for the Transaction, shall constitute an Additional Termination Event in respect of such Transaction, with Buyer as the sole Affected Party and such Transaction as the sole Affected Transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, the settlement amount under an Additional Termination Event as a result of the declaration of any Different Dividend shall not take such Different Dividend into account.

 

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Early/Late Ordinary Dividend Payment:    If an ex-dividend date for any Dividend that is neither (x) a dividend or distribution of the type described in Section 11.2(e)(i) or Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions nor (y) an Extraordinary Dividend occurs during any calendar quarter occurring (in whole or in part) during the Relevant Dividend Period and such ex-dividend date is not on the Scheduled Ex-Dividend Date for such calendar quarter, the Calculation Agent shall in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner make such adjustment to the exercise, settlement, payment or any other terms of the Transaction as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate to account for the economic effect solely due to the timing of such dividend on the Transaction.
Scheduled Ex-Dividend Dates:    As specified in Schedule I.
Relevant Dividend Period:    The period from, and including, the Trade Date for the Transaction to, and including, the later of (i) the Scheduled Valuation Date for the Transaction and (ii) the last day of any Buyer Settlement Valuation Period for the Transaction.
Method of Adjustment:    Calculation Agent Adjustment

EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS:

Any adjustment to the terms of the Transaction and the determination of amounts due upon termination of the Transaction as a result of a Merger Event or a Tender Offer shall be made without duplication in respect of any prior adjustment hereunder.

 

Consequences of Merger Events:

  
Share-for-Share:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
Share-for-Other:    Cancellation and Payment
Share-for-Combined:    Component Adjustment
Tender Offer:    Applicable; provided that (x) Section 12.1(d) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by replacing (i) “10%” in the third line thereof with “25%” and (ii) “voting shares of the Issuer” in the fourth line thereof with “Shares”, (y) Section 12.1(e) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by replacing “voting shares” in the first line thereof with “Shares” and (z) Section 12.1(l) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by replacing “voting shares” in the fifth line thereof with “Shares”.

Consequences of Tender Offers:

  
Share-for-Share:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
Share-for-Other:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
Share-for-Combined:    Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

 

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New Shares:    In the definition of New Shares in Section 12.1(i) of the Equity Definitions, the text in clause (i) thereof shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with “publicly quoted, traded or listed on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Select Market or The Nasdaq Global Market (or their respective successors)”.
Composition of Combined Consideration:    Not Applicable
Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting:    Cancellation and Payment; provided that, in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Select Market or The Nasdaq Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange.

ADDITIONAL DISRUPTION EVENTS:

Change in Law:    Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation” and (ii) replacing the word “Shares” where it appears in clause (X) thereof with the words “Hedge Positions”; provided further that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing the parenthetical beginning after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof with the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, (x) any tax law or (y) adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)”. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, a Change in Law described in clause (Y) of Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions shall not constitute a Change in Law and instead shall constitute an Increased Cost of Hedging as described in Section 12.9(a)(vi) of the Equity Definitions.
Failure to Deliver:    Applicable
Insolvency Filing:    Applicable
Increased Cost of Hedging:    Applicable solely with respect to a “Change in Law” described in clause (Y) of Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions as set forth in the last sentence opposite the caption “Change in Law” above.

 

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Loss of Stock Borrow:    Applicable

Maximum Stock Loan Rate:

   As specified in Schedule I
Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:    Applicable

Initial Stock Loan Rate:

   As specified in Schedule I
Determining Party:    For all applicable events, Dealer; provided that when making any determination or calculation as “Determining Party,” Dealer shall be bound by the same obligations relating to required acts of the Calculation Agent as set forth in Section 1.40 of the Equity Definitions and this Confirmation as if the Determining Party were the Calculation Agent.
Hedging Party:    For all applicable events, Dealer; provided that when making any determination or calculation as “Hedging Party,” Dealer shall be bound by the same obligations relating to required acts of the Calculation Agent as set forth in Section 1.40 of the Equity Definitions and this Confirmation as if the Hedging Party were the Calculation Agent.
Non-Reliance:    Applicable
Agreements and Acknowledgments   
Regarding Hedging Activities:    Applicable
Additional Acknowledgments:    Applicable
Hedging Adjustments:    Whenever the Calculation Agent, Determining Party or Hedging Party, as the case may be, is called upon to make a determination, calculation or adjustment or exercise its discretion pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation or the Equity Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent, Determining Party or Hedging Party shall make such determination, calculation or adjustment in a commercially reasonable manner and by reference to the effect of such event on Dealer with the Calculation Agent, Determining Party or Hedging Party, as the case may be, assuming that Dealer maintains a commercially reasonable Hedge Position in respect of the Transaction.
3. Calculation Agent:    Dealer. Whenever the Calculation Agent or Determining Party is required to act or to exercise judgment in any way with respect to any Transaction hereunder, it will do so in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation, the Calculation Agent shall not adjust any Calculation Date to a date that, but for such adjustment, would not constitute a Calculation Date hereunder (as defined in Schedule I of this Confirmation). Following the

 

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   occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Dealer is the Defaulting Party, Buyer shall have the right to designate a nationally recognized third party dealer in over-the-counter corporate equity derivatives to act, during the period commencing on the date such Event of Default occurred and ending on the Early Termination Date with respect to such Event of Default (or, if earlier, the date on which such Event of Default is no longer continuing), as Calculation Agent, and the parties shall work in good faith to execute any appropriate documentation required by such replacement Calculation Agent.
   Following any determination, adjustment or calculation by the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party hereunder, the Calculation Agent, the Hedging Party or the Determining Party, as the case may be, will upon written request by Buyer and within five Exchange Business Days of such written request, provide to Buyer a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data without disclosing any proprietary or confidential models or other information that is proprietary or confidential) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination, adjustment or calculation, as the case may be.

4. Account Details and Notices:

 

(a)

Account for delivery of Shares to Issuer:

To be provided separately

 

(b)

Account for payments to Issuer:

To be provided separately

 

(c)

Account for payments and delivery of Shares to Dealer:

To be provided separately.

 

(d)

For purposes of this Confirmation:

 

  (i)

Address for notices or communications to Issuer:

Verisk Analytics, Inc.

545 Washington Boulevard

Jersey City, New Jersey 07310

Attention:       Thomas Wong

           Assistant General Counsel

Telephone No.:      +1 201 469-2964

Email Address:     thomas.wong@verisk.com

 

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  (ii)

Address for notices or communications to Dealer:

[Dealer to provide]

5. Amendments to the Equity Definitions.

 

(a)

Section 11.2(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “a material”; and adding the phrase “or such Transaction” at the end of the sentence.

 

(b)

Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (w) replacing the words “a diluting or concentrative” with “a material” in the fifth line thereof, (x) adding the phrase “or the Transaction” after the words “the relevant Shares” in the same sentence, (y) replacing the words “diluting or concentrative” in the sixth to last line thereof with the word “material” and (z) deleting the phrase “(provided that no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)” and replacing it with the phrase “(and, for the avoidance of doubt, except in the case of a Potential Adjustment Event as described in Section 11.2(e)(i), Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A), Section 11.2(e)(ii)(B), Section 11.2(e)(iv) or Section 11.2(e)(v), adjustments may be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares); in the case of a Potential Adjustment Event as described in Section 11.2(e)(i), Section 11.2(e)(ii)(A), Section 11.2(e)(ii)(B), Section 11.2(e)(iv) or Section 11.2(e)(v), no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares”.

 

(c)

Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “that may have a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “that is the result of a corporate event within the Issuer’s control involving Issuer or its securities that has a material economic”; and adding the phrase “or the relevant Transaction” at the end of the sentence.

 

(d)

Section 12.6(c)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing the words “the Transaction will be cancelled,” in the first line with the words “Dealer will have the right to cancel the Transaction,”.

 

(e)

Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) deleting (1) subsection (A) in its entirety, (2) the phrase “or (B)” following subsection (A) and (3) the phrase “in each case” in subsection (B); and (B) replacing the phrase “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares” with the phrase “such Lending Party does not lend Shares” in the penultimate sentence.

 

(f)

Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) adding the phrase “, provided that the Non-Hedging Party may not elect to terminate the Transaction unless concurrently with electing to terminate the Transaction, it represents and warrants to the Hedging Party that it is not in possession of any material non-public information with respect to the Issuer or the Shares” at the end of subsection (C); and (B) deleting clause (X) in the final sentence.

 

(g)

Section 12(a) of the Agreement is hereby amended by (1) deleting the phrase “or email” in the third line thereof and (2) deleting the phrase “or that communication is delivered (or attempted) or received, as applicable, after the close of business on a Local Business Day” in the final clause thereof.

 

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6. Alternative Termination Settlement.

In the event that (a) an Early Termination Date (whether as a result of an Event of Default or a Termination Event) occurs or is designated with respect to the Transaction or (b) the Transaction is cancelled or terminated upon the occurrence of an Extraordinary Event (except as a result of (i) a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event in which the consideration to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash, (ii) a Merger Event or Tender Offer that is within Issuer’s control, or (iii) an Event of Default in which Issuer is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Issuer is the Affected Party other than an Event of Default of the type described in Section 5(a)(iii), (v), (vi), (vii) or (viii) of the Agreement or a Termination Event of the type described in Section 5(b) of the Agreement, in each case that resulted from an event or events outside Issuer’s control), if either party would owe any amount to the other party pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement or any Cancellation Amount pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions (any such amount, a “Payment Amount”), then such payment shall be made in Alternative Delivery Units as specified in this paragraph, unless Issuer makes an election to the contrary (which election shall be effective only if Issuer represents in writing to Dealer that, as of the date of such election, Issuer is not in possession or otherwise aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Issuer or the Shares), in which case such amount shall be paid as set forth under the Agreement or Equity Definitions, as the case may be. Unless Issuer has made such election, no later than the Early Termination Date or the date on which such Transaction is terminated or cancelled, Issuer or Dealer, as the case may be, shall deliver to the other party a number of Shares (or a number of units, each comprising the number or amount of the securities or property that a hypothetical holder of one Share would receive in the case of a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event, as the case may be (each such unit, an “Alternative Delivery Unit”)), with a value equal to the Payment Amount. In determining the number of Shares (or Alternative Delivery Units) required to be delivered under this provision, the Calculation Agent may take into account a number of factors, including, without limitation, the market price of the Shares (or Alternative Delivery Units) on the Early Termination Date or the date of early cancellation or termination, as the case may be. Additionally, (x) if such delivery is made by Dealer, the Calculation Agent shall take into account the prices at which Dealer purchases Shares (or Alternative Delivery Units) to fulfill its delivery obligations under this Section 6 (provided that (a) such prices reflect the then-prevailing market prices of Shares (or Alternative Delivery Units) and (b) the parties hereby agree that such purchases shall be made solely on Calculation Dates), and (y) if such delivery is made by the Issuer, the Calculation Agent may apply a commercially reasonable illiquidity discount, if appropriate.

7. Special Provisions for Acquisition Transaction Announcements.

 

(a)

If an Acquisition Transaction Announcement occurs on or prior to the Valuation Date, the Calculation Agent shall in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner determine the economic effect on the Transaction of such Acquisition Transaction Announcement. If the Calculation Agent determines that such economic effect on the Transaction is material, then the Calculation Agent shall make such adjustments to the exercise, settlement, payment or any other terms of the Transaction as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate (including, without limitation and for the avoidance of doubt, adjustments that would allow the Settlement Amount to be less than zero), at such time or at multiple times as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate, to account for the economic effect on the Transaction of such event (including adjustments to account for changes in volatility, stock loan rate, value of any commercially reasonable Hedge Positions in connection with the Transaction and liquidity relevant to the Shares or to such Transaction), in each case whether within a commercially reasonable (as determined by the Calculation Agent in its good faith, commercially reasonable discretion) period of time prior to or after the Acquisition Transaction Announcement.

 

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(b)

“Acquisition Transaction Announcement” means (i) the announcement by Issuer or any of its subsidiaries or any other person that is party to such transaction, of an Acquisition Transaction, (ii) an announcement that Issuer or any of its subsidiaries has entered into an agreement, a letter of intent or an understanding that, if consummated, would result in an Acquisition Transaction, (iii) the announcement by Issuer of the intention to solicit or enter into, or to explore strategic alternatives or other similar undertaking that includes, an Acquisition Transaction, or (iv) any announcement subsequent to an Acquisition Transaction Announcement of an amendment, extension, withdrawal or other change to the subject matter of a prior Acquisition Transaction Announcement.

 

(c)

“Acquisition Transaction” means (i) any Merger Event (for purposes of this definition, the definition of Merger Event shall be read with the references therein to “100%” being replaced by “35%” and without reference to the clause beginning immediately following the definition of Reverse Merger therein to the end of such definition), Tender Offer or Merger Transaction (as defined below) or any other transaction involving the merger of Issuer with or into any third party, (ii) the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets or liabilities of Issuer, (iii) a recapitalization, reclassification, binding share exchange or other similar transaction, (iv) any acquisition, lease, exchange, transfer, disposition (including by way of spin-off or distribution) of assets or liabilities (including any capital stock or other ownership interests in subsidiaries) or other similar event by Issuer or any of its subsidiaries where the aggregate consideration transferable or receivable by or to Issuer or its subsidiaries exceeds 35% of the market capitalization of Issuer (other than a lease, exchange, transfer, disposition or similar event between and/or among solely Issuer and/or one or more subsidiaries of Issuer) and (v) any transaction with respect to which Issuer or its board of directors has a legal obligation to make a recommendation to its shareholders in respect of such transaction (whether pursuant to Rule 14e-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise).

8. Regulatory Disruption.

In the event that Dealer reasonably determines based on advice of counsel that it is appropriate with regard to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer, and including, without limitation, Rule 10b-18, Rule 10b-5, Regulations 13D-G and Regulations 14D-E, each under the Exchange Act, but so long as such requirements, policies or procedures are consistently applied across all transactions similar to the Transaction), for Dealer to refrain from purchasing Shares or engaging in other market activity or to purchase fewer than the number of Shares or to engage in fewer or smaller other market transactions than Dealer would otherwise purchase or engage in to maintain, establish or unwind a commercially reasonable hedge position (such determination, a “Regulatory Disruption”) on any Scheduled Trading Day(s) that, in each case, is a Calculation Date and is on or prior to the conclusion of the Potential Purchase Period (as defined below), then Dealer may, in its good faith, reasonable discretion, by written notice to Buyer elect that a Market Disruption Event shall be deemed to have occurred and will be continuing on any such Scheduled Trading Day(s) and each such Scheduled Trading Day shall be a Disrupted Day (subject to “Market Disruption Event” above). In such notice, Dealer shall include the anticipated duration of such Market Disruption Event, if reasonably known.

9. Covenants.

Issuer covenants and agrees that:

 

(a)

From and after the Calculation Period Start Date and until the end of the Potential Purchase Period (as defined below), neither it nor any of its affiliated purchasers (as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, “Rule 10b-18”) shall directly or indirectly (which shall be deemed to include the writing or purchase of any cash-settled or other derivative transaction which references Shares or structured Share repurchase or other derivative with a hedging period, calculation period or settlement valuation period or similar period that overlaps with the Transaction) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or

 

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  limit order relating to a purchase of or commence any tender offer relating to Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) without the prior written approval of Dealer, except pursuant to any Other Specified Repurchase Agreement (as defined below). “Potential Purchase Period” means the period from, and including, the Trade Date to, and including, the latest of (i) the last day of any Buyer Settlement Valuation Period, (ii) the earlier of (A) the last day of the Calculation Period and (B) the Scheduled Valuation Date and (iii) if an Early Termination Date occurs or the Transaction is cancelled pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions, a date determined by Dealer in its commercially reasonable discretion and communicated to Issuer no later than the Exchange Business Day immediately following such date (or, in the absence of such communication, the date that is five Exchange Business Days that are Calculation Dates immediately following such date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, on any Calculation Date, Issuer may purchase Shares during any such period through Dealer or an affiliate of Dealer pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 repurchase plan or Rule 10b-18 repurchase plan, so long as such purchases occur only on Specified Dates and do not in the aggregate exceed the Specified ADTV Percentage (as defined in Schedule I) of the ADTV (as defined in Rule 10b-18) for the Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall (i) limit Issuer’s ability, pursuant to its employee incentive plans, to re-acquire Shares in connection with the related equity transactions, (ii) limit Issuer’s ability to withhold shares to cover tax liabilities associated with such equity transactions or (iii) limit Issuer’s ability to grant stock, restricted stock units and options to “affiliated purchasers” (as defined in Rule 10b-18) or the ability of such affiliated purchasers to acquire such stock, restricted stock units or options, in connection with Issuer’s compensation policies for directors, officers and employees. Further, (i) an agent independent of Issuer may purchase Shares effected by or for an issuer plan of Issuer in accordance with the requirements of Section 10b-18(a)(13)(ii) under the Exchange Act (with “issuer plan” and “agent independent of the Issuer” each being used herein as defined in Rule 10b-18) and (ii) Issuer or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18) may purchase Shares in (x) unsolicited transactions or (y) privately negotiated (off-market) transactions, in each case, that are not “Rule 10b-18 purchases” (as defined in Rule 10b-18) and are not expected to result in market purchases, in each case, without Dealer’s consent. “Other Specified Repurchase Agreement” means (i) any other prepaid accelerated variable share repurchase transaction entered into on the Trade Date with non-overlapping calculation dates (however defined) with the Calculation Dates and (ii) any other Rule 10b5-1 or Rule 10b-18 repurchase plans with non-overlapping purchase dates (however defined) with the Calculation Dates, in the case of this clause (ii), so long as such purchases do not in the aggregate exceed the Specified ADTV Percentage (as defined in Schedule I) of the ADTV (as defined in Rule 10b-18) for the Shares.

 

(b)

Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, it is not relying, and has not relied, upon Dealer or any of its representatives or advisors with respect to the legal, accounting, tax or other implications of this Confirmation and that it has conducted its own analyses of the legal, accounting, tax and other implications of this Confirmation, and that Dealer and its affiliates may from time to time effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers and hold positions in securities or options on securities of Issuer and that Dealer and its affiliates may continue to conduct such transactions during the term of this Confirmation. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Issuer acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

 

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(c)

Neither it nor any affiliates shall take any action that would cause a restricted period (as defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”)) to be applicable to any purchases of Shares, or of any security for which Shares is a reference security (as defined in Regulation M), by Issuer or any affiliated purchasers (as defined in Regulation M) of Issuer during the Potential Purchase Period, unless Issuer has provided written notice to Dealer of such restricted period not later than the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the first day of such “restricted period.” Issuer acknowledges that any such notice may trigger the provision set forth in Section 8 above. Accordingly, Issuer acknowledges that its delivery of such notice must comply with the standards set forth in Section 10(c) below.

 

(d)

It will not during the term of the Transaction make, or, to the extent within its control, permit to be made, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) of any Merger Transaction or potential Merger Transaction (except to the extent required by any law, rule or regulation applicable to Issuer) unless such public announcement is made prior to the open or after the close of the regular trading session on the Exchange for the Shares. “Merger Transaction” means any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization of Issuer as contemplated by Rule 10b-18(a)(13)(iv) under the Exchange Act, other than any such transaction in which the consideration consists solely of cash and there is no valuation period. Issuer acknowledges that any such public announcement may trigger the provision set forth in Section 8 above.

 

(e)

Not later than 9:00 AM New York City time on the day following the public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of a Merger Transaction, Issuer shall use reasonable best efforts to provide Dealer with written notice, which notice shall specify (i) the nature of such announcement; (ii) Issuer’s average daily “Rule 10b-18 purchases” as defined in Rule 10b-18 during the three full calendar months immediately preceding such announcement that were not effected through Dealer or its affiliates and (iii) the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the block purchase proviso in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) under the Exchange Act for the three full calendar months preceding the date of such announcement. Such written notice shall be deemed to be a certification by Issuer to Dealer that such information is true and correct. Issuer understands that Dealer will use this information in calculating the trading volume for purposes of Rule 10b-18. In addition, Issuer shall promptly provide written notice to Dealer of the occurrence of the completion of such transaction or the completion of the vote by target shareholders related to such transaction. Issuer acknowledges that its delivery of such notices must comply with the standards set forth in Section 10(c) below.

 

(f)

(A) Any Shares or Alternative Delivery Units delivered to Dealer may be transferred by and among Dealer and its affiliates and Issuer shall effect such transfer without any further action by Dealer; and (B) after the period of 6 months from the date that Issuer elects to deliver any Shares or Alternative Delivery Units pursuant to the terms of this Transaction (or no later than 1 year from such date, if at the time of Dealer’s or its affiliate’s request, the informational requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act are not satisfied with respect to Issuer) has elapsed in respect of any such election to deliver Shares or Alternative Delivery Units to Dealer, Issuer shall use reasonable best efforts to promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for such Shares or Alternative Delivery Units to remove, any legends referring to any restrictions or requirements related to any applicable securities laws upon request by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer) to Issuer or such transfer agent, without any requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer), other than, following request by Issuer, a certification by Dealer (or such affiliate) that it is not, and has not been during the 90 days prior, an “affiliate” of Issuer or the relevant issuer for the Alternative Delivery Units, as the case may be, for purposes of Rule 144. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent the provisions of Rule 144 of the Securities Act or any successor rule are amended, or the applicable interpretation thereof by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any court change after the Trade Date, the agreements of Issuer herein shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary, as reasonably determined by Dealer upon the advice of counsel, to comply with Rule 144 of the Securities Act, as in effect at the time of delivery of the relevant Shares or Alternative Delivery Units.

 

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10. Representations, Warranties, Acknowledgments, and Agreements.

 

(a)

Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Dealer on the date hereof and on and as of the Initial Share Delivery Date that:

 

  (i)

Issuer is not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Issuer or the Shares, and it is entering into the Transaction in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of federal securities laws, including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act and (B) Issuer agrees not to alter or deviate from the terms of this Confirmation or enter into or alter a corresponding or hedging transaction or position with respect to the Shares (including, without limitation, with respect to any securities convertible or exchangeable into the Shares) during the term of this Confirmation. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties hereto acknowledge that the entry into any Other Specified Repurchase Agreement shall not fall within the ambit of the previous sentence.

 

  (ii)

The transactions contemplated by this Confirmation have been authorized under Issuer’s publicly announced program to repurchase Shares prior to the Trade Date.

 

  (iii)

Issuer is not entering into the Transaction or making any election hereunder to facilitate a distribution of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or in connection with a future issuance of securities.

 

  (iv)

Issuer is not entering into the Transaction or making any election hereunder to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) in violation of the federal securities laws.

 

  (v)

There have been no purchases of Shares in Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks pursuant to the once-a-week block exception contained in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) by or for Issuer or any of its affiliated purchasers during each of the four calendar weeks preceding the Trade Date and during the calendar week in which the Trade Date occurs (“Rule 10b-18 purchase”, “blocks” and “affiliated purchaser” each as defined in Rule 10b-18).

 

  (vi)

Issuer is as of the date hereof and will be as of the Prepayment Date Solvent. As used in this paragraph, the term “Solvent” means, with respect to a particular date, that on such date (A) the present fair market value (or present fair saleable value) of the assets of Issuer is not less than the total amount required to pay the liabilities of Issuer on its total existing debts and liabilities (including contingent liabilities) as they become absolute and matured, (B) Issuer is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, contingent obligations and commitments as they mature and become due in the normal course of business, (C) assuming consummation of the transactions as contemplated by this Confirmation, Issuer is not incurring debts or liabilities beyond its ability to pay as such debts and liabilities mature, (D) Issuer is not engaged in any business or transaction, and does not propose to engage in any business or transaction, for which its property

 

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  would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due consideration to the prevailing practice in the industry in which Issuer is engaged, (E) Issuer is not a defendant in any civil action that could reasonably be expected to result in a judgment that Issuer is or would become unable to satisfy, (F) Issuer is not “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)) and (G) Issuer would be able to purchase Shares with an aggregate purchase price equal to the Prepayment Amount in compliance with the corporate laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

 

  (vii)

Issuer is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

  (viii)

Issuer (A) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities; (B) will exercise independent judgment in evaluating the recommendations of any broker-dealer or its associated persons, unless it has otherwise notified the broker-dealer in writing; and (C) has total assets of at least USD 50,000,000 as of the date hereof.

 

(b)

Issuer acknowledges and agrees that the Initial Shares may be sold short to Issuer. Issuer further acknowledges and agrees that Dealer may purchase Shares in connection with the Transaction, which Shares may be used to cover all or a portion of such short sale or may be delivered to Issuer. Such purchases and any other market activity by Dealer will be conducted independently of Issuer by Dealer as principal for its own account. All of the actions to be taken by Dealer in connection with the Transaction shall be taken by Dealer independently and without any advance or subsequent consultation with Issuer.

 

(c)

It is the intent of the parties that the Transaction comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) of the Exchange Act, and the parties agree that this Confirmation shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of such rule, and Issuer shall not take any action that results in the Transaction not so complying with such requirements and shall act in good faith with respect to the Transaction for purposes of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(A). Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, Issuer acknowledges and agrees that (A) Issuer does not have, and shall not attempt to exercise, any influence over how, when or whether Dealer effects any market transactions in connection with the Transaction and (B) neither Issuer nor its officers or employees shall, directly or indirectly, communicate any information regarding Issuer or the Shares to any employee of Dealer or its Affiliates, other than [Dealer to provide] or any other designee confirmed in writing by Dealer. Issuer also acknowledges and agrees that any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of this Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the amendment or termination of a “plan” as defined in Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any such amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act, and no such amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made at any time at which Issuer is aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Issuer or the Shares.

 

(d)

Each of Issuer and Dealer represents and warrants to the other that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1a(18) of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.

 

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(e)

Each of Issuer and Dealer acknowledges that the offer and sale of the Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof. Accordingly, it represents and warrants to the other party that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act, (iii) it is entering into the Transaction for its own account and without a view to the distribution or resale thereof and (iv) the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and is restricted under this Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

11. Acknowledgements of Issuer Regarding Hedging and Market Activity.

Issuer agrees, understands and acknowledges that:

 

(a)

During the period from (and including) the Trade Date to (and including) the Settlement Date, Dealer and its Affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative transactions in order to establish, maintain or adjust its Hedge Position with respect to the Transaction.

 

(b)

Dealer and its Affiliates also may be active in the market for the Shares or options, futures contracts, swaps or other derivative transactions relating to the Shares other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to the Transaction.

 

(c)

Dealer shall make its own determination as to whether, when and in what manner any hedging or market activities in Issuer’s securities or other securities or transactions shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Transaction.

 

(d)

Any such market activities of Dealer and its Affiliates may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, including the 10b-18 VWAP, the Forward Price, and the Buyer Settlement Price, each in a manner that may be adverse to Issuer.

12. Other Provisions.

 

(a)

Issuer agrees and acknowledges that Dealer is a “financial institution,” “financial participant” and “swap participant” within the meaning of Sections 101(22), 101(22A) and 101(53C) of the Bankruptcy Code. The parties hereto further agree and acknowledge that it is the intent of the parties that (A) this Confirmation is a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount,” “offset or net out” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362(b) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment,” within the meaning of Section 546(e) of the Bankruptcy Code, (B) this Confirmation is a “swap agreement,” as such term is defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “transfer” within the meaning of Section 546(g) of the Bankruptcy Code, (C) the rights given to Dealer under this Confirmation and under the Agreement upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect Issuer constitute “contractual rights” to cause the liquidation, termination or acceleration of or the offset or net out termination values under or in connection with a “securities contract” and a “swap agreement”, (D) this Confirmation is a “master netting agreement” as defined in 101(38A) of the Bankruptcy Code and (E) Dealer is entitled to the protections afforded by, among other sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(o), 546(e), 546(g), 548(d)(2), 555, 560, and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

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(b)

Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to Dealer rights against Issuer with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders of Issuer in any United States bankruptcy proceedings of Issuer; provided that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Issuer of its obligations and agreements with respect to the Transaction; provided further that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s rights in respect of any transactions other than this Transaction.

 

(c)

Notwithstanding any provision of this Confirmation or any other agreement between the parties to the contrary, neither the obligations of Issuer nor the obligations of Dealer hereunder are secured by any collateral, security interest, pledge or lien.

 

(d)

Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set off obligations arising under the Agreement and the Transaction against other obligations between the parties, whether arising under any other agreement, applicable law or otherwise.

 

(e)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dealer may, by prior notice to Issuer, satisfy its obligation to deliver any Shares or other securities on any date due (an “Original Delivery Date”) by making separate deliveries of Shares or such securities, as the case may be, at more than one time on or prior to such Original Delivery Date, so long as the aggregate number of Shares and other securities so delivered on or prior to such Original Delivery Date is equal to the number required to be delivered on such Original Delivery Date. Any Shares delivered pursuant to this provision shall be included in the calculation of the Settlement Amount.

 

(f)

It shall constitute an Additional Termination Event with respect to which the Transaction is the sole Affected Transaction and Issuer is the sole Affected Party if, at any time on or prior to the Valuation Date, the Closing Price (as defined in Schedule I hereto) of the Shares on the Exchange for any two consecutive Exchange Business Days is below such Threshold Price (as specified in Schedule I).

13. Designation of an Early Termination Date upon Event of Default.

Upon receiving notice of an Event of Default under the Agreement, if the Non-defaulting Party does not designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6(a) of the Agreement prior to the earlier of (x) the date on which all applicable conditions precedent under Section 2(a)(iii) of the Agreement are satisfied and (y) the 30th calendar day immediately following the receipt of such notice (the earlier of clauses (x) and (y), the “Condition End Date”), the Non-defaulting Party shall irrevocably lose the right to invoke Section 2(a)(iii) of the Agreement in respect of such Event of Default. For the avoidance of doubt, any obligation of the Non-defaulting Party that would have become due under the Transaction but for Section 2(a)(iii) of the Agreement will become payable or deliverable on the Condition End Date.

14. Delivery of Cash.

For the avoidance of doubt, other than payment of the Prepayment Amount by Issuer, nothing in this Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Issuer to cash settle the Transaction, except in circumstances where cash settlement is within Issuer’s control or in those circumstances in which holders of the Shares would also receive cash.

15. Share Caps.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Confirmation or the Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Issuer be required to deliver to Dealer in the aggregate a number of Shares that exceeds the Share Cap as of the date of delivery (as specified in Schedule I). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation, in no event shall Dealer be required to deliver any Shares in excess of the Maximum Number of Shares (as specified in Schedule I).

 

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For the avoidance of doubt, if Buyer Share Settlement applies, the number of Shares comprising the absolute value of the Settlement Amount shall be subject to the Share Cap and the Buyer shall have no obligation to deliver cash with respect to the portion of the Settlement Amount that was undelivered in respect of the Share Cap. The Share Cap shall not be subject to adjustment except upon the occurrence of events that are within the control of the Buyer.

16. Transfer and Assignment.

Dealer may transfer or assign its rights and obligations hereunder and under this Confirmation, in whole or in part, to any of its Affiliates of equivalent credit quality (or whose obligations are guaranteed by an entity of equivalent credit quality) without the consent of Issuer; provided that such transfer and/or assignment shall be permitted only so long as (i) no Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event exists or will occur as a result of such transfer and assignment, (ii) no Additional Disruption Event or other event giving rise to a right or responsibility to terminate or cancel the Transaction or to make an adjustment to the terms of the Transaction would result therefrom, (iii) Issuer would not, at the time and as a result of such transfer or assignment, reasonably be expected to become subject to any law, regulation or similar requirement to which it would not otherwise have been subject absent such transfer or assignment and (iv) (A) as a result of such transfer and assignment, Issuer will not (x) be required to pay or deliver to the transferee on any payment date or delivery date an amount under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement or a number of Shares, as applicable, greater than the amount or the number of Shares, respectively, that Issuer would have been required to pay or deliver to Dealer in the absence of such transfer and assignment or (y) receive from the transferee on any payment date or delivery date an amount under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement or a number of Shares, as applicable, lesser than the amount or the number of Shares, respectively, that Dealer would have been required to pay or deliver, as the case may be, to Issuer in the absence of such transfer and assignment and (B) the transferee or assignee shall make such tax representations and shall provide such tax documentation as may be reasonably requested by Issuer to permit Issuer to make any necessary determinations pursuant to clause (A) above.

17. Dealer Agreement.

In addition to the covenants in the Agreement and herein, Dealer agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts, during the period from the Trade Date to the later of (i) the last day of any Buyer Settlement Valuation Period and (ii) the earlier of (A) the last day of the Calculation Period and (B) the Scheduled Valuation Date, to make all purchases of Shares in connection with the Transaction (other than any purchases made by Dealer or its affiliate in connection with dynamic hedge adjustments of Dealer’s exposure to the Transaction as a result of any equity optionality contained in the Transaction, including any timing optionality) in a manner that would comply with the limitations set forth in clauses (b)(2), (b)(3) and (b)(4) of Rule 10b-18, as if such rule was applicable to such purchases and taking into account any applicable Securities and Exchange Commission no-action letters as appropriate, and subject to any delays between the execution and reporting of a trade of the Shares on the Exchange and other circumstances beyond Dealer’s control; provided that, without limiting the generality of the first sentence of this paragraph 17, Dealer shall not be responsible for any failure to comply with Rule 10b-18(b)(3) to the extent any transaction that was executed (or deemed to be executed) by or on behalf of the Issuer or an affiliated purchaser pursuant to a separate agreement is not deemed to be an “independent bid” or an “independent transaction” for purposes of Rule 10b-18(b)(3).

18. Non-Confidentiality.

Dealer and Issuer hereby acknowledge and agree that, subject to Section 10(c) above, each is authorized to disclose every aspect of this Confirmation and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, and there are no express or implied agreements, arrangements or understandings to the contrary.

 

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19. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver.

THIS CONFIRMATION AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS CONFIRMATION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS. NOTHING IN THIS PROVISION SHALL PROHIBIT A PARTY FROM BRINGING AN ACTION TO ENFORCE A MONEY JUDGMENT IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF THE OTHER PARTY OR THE OTHER PARTY’S AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

20. [Principal Version of Incorporation by Reference Rider.

The parties agree that (i) to the extent that prior to the date hereof both parties have adhered to the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (the “Protocol”), the terms of the Protocol are incorporated into and form a part of this Agreement, and for such purposes this Agreement shall be deemed a Protocol Covered Agreement and each party shall be deemed to have the same status as Regulated Entity and/or Adhering Party as applicable to it under the Protocol; (ii) to the extent that prior to the date hereof the parties have executed a separate agreement the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between them to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules (the “Bilateral Agreement”), the terms of the Bilateral Agreement are incorporated into and form a part of this Agreement and each party shall be deemed to have the status of “Covered Entity” or “Counterparty Entity” (or other similar term) as applicable to it under the Bilateral Agreement; or (iii) if clause (i) and clause (ii) do not apply, the terms of Section 1 and Section 2 and the related defined terms (together, the “Bilateral Terms”) of the form of bilateral template entitled “Full-Length Omnibus (for use between U.S. G-SIBs and Corporate Groups)” published by ISDA on November 2, 2018 (currently available on the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol page at www.isda.org and, a copy of which is available upon request), the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between the parties thereto to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules, are hereby incorporated into and form a part of this Agreement, and for such purposes this Agreement shall be deemed a “Covered Agreement,” Dealer shall be deemed a “Covered Entity” and Issuer shall be deemed a “Counterparty Entity.” In the event that, after the date of this Agreement, both parties hereto become adhering parties to the Protocol, the terms of the Protocol will replace the terms of this paragraph 20. In the event of any inconsistencies between this Agreement and the terms of the Protocol, the Bilateral Agreement or the Bilateral Terms (each, the “QFC Stay Terms”), as applicable, the QFC Stay Terms will govern. Terms used in this paragraph without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them under the QFC Stay Rules. For purposes of this paragraph, references to “this Agreement” include any related credit enhancements entered into between the parties or provided by one to the other.

“QFC Stay Rules” means the regulations codified at 12 C.F.R. 252.2, 252.81–8, 12 C.F.R. 382.1-7 and 12 C.F.R. 47.1-8, which, subject to limited exceptions, require an express recognition of the stay-and-transfer powers of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Orderly Liquidation Authority under Title II of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the override of default rights related directly or indirectly to the entry of an affiliate into certain insolvency proceedings and any restrictions on the transfer of any covered affiliate credit enhancements.]1

 

NTD: To be revised based on Dealer.

 

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21. Designation by Dealer

Notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Issuer, Dealer (the “Designator”) may designate any of its affiliates (the “Designee”) to deliver or take delivery, as the case may be, and otherwise perform its obligations to deliver, if any, or take delivery of, as the case may be, any such Share or other securities in respect of any Transaction, and the Designee may assume such obligations, if any; provided that (x) Issuer will not be required, as a result of such designation, to pay or deliver to the Designee on any payment or delivery date any payment or delivery greater than an amount that Issuer would have been required to pay the Designator in the absence of such designation (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement), and (y) Issuer will not, as a result of such designation, receive from the Designee on any payment or delivery date any payment or delivery less than the amount that Issuer would have been entitled to receive from the Designator in the absence of such designation. Such designation shall not relieve the Designator of any of its obligations, if any, hereunder. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, if the Designee shall have performed the obligations, if any, of the Designator hereunder, then the Designator shall be discharged of its obligations, if any, to Issuer to the extent of such performance.

22. Counterparts

This Confirmation may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any party hereto may execute this Confirmation by signing and delivering one or more counterparts. Delivery of an executed signature page by facsimile or electronic transmission (e.g., “pdf” or “tif”), or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 200, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com, shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

23. Financial Assistance.

Issuer acknowledges that, pursuant to the provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), Issuer would be required to agree to certain time-bound restrictions on its ability to purchase its equity securities if it receives loans, loan guarantees or direct loans (as that term is defined in the CARES Act) under section 4003(b) of the CARES Act. Issuer further acknowledges that it may be required to agree to certain time-bound restrictions on its ability to purchase its equity securities if it receives loans, loan guarantees or direct loans (as that term is defined in the CARES Act) under programs or facilities established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the purpose of providing liquidity to the financial system (together with loans, loan guarantees or direct loans under section 4003(b) of the CARES Act, “Governmental Financial Assistance”). Accordingly, Issuer represents and warrants that it has not applied for, and has no present intention to apply, prior to the termination or settlement of this Transaction, for Governmental Financial Assistance under any governmental program or facility that (a) is established under the CARES Act or the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, and (b) requires, as a condition of such Governmental Financial Assistance, that Issuer agree, attest, certify or warrant that it has not, as of the date specified in such condition, repurchased, or will not repurchase, any equity security of Issuer. Issuer agrees, in applying for any such financial assistance, to the extent required or practicable in any applicable application, to disclose the Transaction to the relevant governmental authority and acknowledges that entering into the Transaction may limit its ability to receive such loan, loan guarantee or direct loan.

 

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Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank

 

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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing this Confirmation and returning it to us.

Confirmed as of the date first written above:

 

VERISK ANALYTICS, INC.     [DEALER]
By:  

    

    By:  

    

Name:       Name:  
Title:       Title:  

 

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SCHEDULE I

Defined Terms Set Forth in the Confirmation

 

- SCHEDULE I–Page 1

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SCHEDULE II

Specified Dates

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- SCHEDULE II–Page 1

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EX-99.1 4 d56543dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Verisk Analytics, Inc. Enters into $1.5 Billion Accelerated Share Repurchase Transaction

JERSEY CITY, N.J., February 23, 2026 — Verisk Analytics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSK) (“Verisk” or the “Company”), a leading strategic data analytics and technology partner to the global insurance industry, today announced that it has entered into accelerated share repurchase agreements (“ASR Agreements”) with each of HSBC Bank USA, National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “ASR Counterparties”) to repurchase an aggregate of $1.5 billion of the Company’s common stock. After giving effect to the ASR Agreements, approximately $1.0 billion will remain available for share repurchases under the Company’s previously announced authorized share repurchase program.

The ASR Counterparties are expected to make an aggregate initial delivery of approximately 7.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock to the Company at the inception of the ASR Agreements. The total number of shares ultimately to be purchased by the Company under the ASR Agreements will generally be based on the daily volume-weighted average share price of the Company’s common stock during the calculation period of each ASR Agreement, less an agreed discount and subject to adjustments pursuant to the terms and conditions of the respective ASR Agreement.

The final settlement of the transactions under the ASR Agreements are expected to occur no later than the Company’s third fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2026, with the settlement date for each ASR Agreement determined at the relevant ASR Counterparty’s option within an agreed range, subject to earlier termination under certain limited circumstances, as set forth in the respective ASR Agreement.

Verisk may continue to repurchase shares in the open market from time to time subject to market and other conditions.

About Verisk

Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK) is a leading strategic data analytics and technology partner to the global insurance industry. It empowers clients to strengthen operating efficiency, improve underwriting and claims outcomes, combat fraud and make informed decisions about global risks, including climate change, catastrophic events, sustainability and political issues. Through advanced data analytics, software, scientific research and deep industry knowledge, Verisk helps build global resilience for individuals, communities and businesses. With teams across more than 20 countries, Verisk consistently earns certification by Great Place to Work and fosters an inclusive culture where all team members feel they belong. For more, visit Verisk.com and the Verisk Newsroom.


Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “target,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements.

Other factors that could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements can be found in the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K and current reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize or if the Company’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from what the Company projected. Any forward-looking statement in this release reflects the Company’s current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties, and assumptions relating to the Company’s operations, results of operations, growth strategy, and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contact:

Investor Relations

Stacey Brodbar

Senior Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations

Verisk

201-469-4327

IR@verisk.com

Media

Alberto Canal

Verisk Public Relations

201-469-2618

Alberto.Canal@verisk.com