Execution Version
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of
April 10, 2026
among
CALCASIEU PASS FUNDING, LLC, as the Borrower,
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent
and
THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME
___________________________________________
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, BARCLAYS BANK PLC, NATIXIS, NEW YORK BRANCH and WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
__________________________________________________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SCHEDULES
1.01A Commitments
1.01B Collateral Documents
5.17 Certain Liabilities
7.01(b) Existing Liens
7.03(b) Existing Indebtedness
7.05(c) Dispositions
7.07 Transactions with Affiliates
7.08 Burdensome Agreements
10.02(a) Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS
Form of
A Committed Loan Notice
B [Reserved]
C Note
D-1 Compliance Certificate
D-2 Solvency Certificate
E Assignment and Assumption
F-1 Security Agreement
F-2 Pledge Agreement
G Perfection Certificate
H [Reserved]
I-1 First Lien Intercreditor Agreement
I-2 Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement
J-1 US Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Non-Partnership Lenders)
J-2 US Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Non-Partnership Participants)
J-3 US Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Partnership Lenders)
J-4 US Tax Compliance Certificate (Foreign Partnership Participants)
K [Reserved]
L-1 Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption
L-2 Affiliated Lender Notice
L-3 Acceptance and Prepayment Notice
L-4 Discount Range Prepayment Notice
L-5 Discount Range Prepayment Offer
L-6 Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice
L-7 Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer
L-8 Specified Discount Prepayment Notice
L-9 Specified Discount Prepayment Response
CREDIT AGREEMENT
This CREDIT AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, refinanced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”) is entered into as of April 10, 2026, among CALCASIEU PASS FUNDING, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Borrower”), Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent, and each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”).
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that, upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 4.01, the Lenders extend credit to the Borrower in the form of the Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date in an initial aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Initial Commitment of all of the Lenders;
WHEREAS, the proceeds of the Initial Term Loans will be used by the Borrower, directly or indirectly, to (a) redeem the preferred equity issued pursuant to the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Calcasieu Pass Funding, LLC, dated as of August 19, 2019, by and among Venture Global Calcasieu Pass Holding, LLC, Stonepeak Bayou Holdings II LP and the Borrower (as amended, the “Borrower LLCA”), (b) pay for costs, fees and expenses associated with the foregoing and this Agreement and (c) any remaining amounts not otherwise applied to clauses (a) or (b), to keep cash on the balance sheet of the Borrower or otherwise use for working capital and general corporate purposes, including for ongoing debt service (collectively, the “Transactions”); and
WHEREAS, the Lenders have indicated their willingness to lend on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
Section 1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement (including in the preliminary statements hereto), the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Acceptable Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(2).
“Acceptable Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).
“Acceptance and Prepayment Notice” means a notice of the Borrower’s acceptance of the Acceptable Discount in substantially the form of Exhibit L-3.
“Acceptance Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(2).
“Additional Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).
“Additional Refinancing Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(a).
“Administrative Agent” means Goldman Sachs Bank USA, in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and account as set forth on Schedule 10.02(a), or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in such form as may be supplied from time to time by the Administrative Agent.
“Affected Financial Institution” means (a) any EEA Financial Institution or (b) any UK Financial Institution.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.
“Affiliated Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that is (a) an Investor (including portfolio companies of the Investors notwithstanding the exclusion in the definition of “Investors”) (other than the Borrower or any Debt Fund Affiliate), (b) a Non-Debt Fund Affiliate or (c) a direct or indirect holding company of the Borrower (other than any Debt Fund Affiliate), at such time.
“Affiliated Lender Notice” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit L-2.
“Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(l)(i).
“Affiliated Lender Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(l)(iii).
“Agency Fee Letter” means that certain Agency Fee Letter, dated as of April 10, 2026, by and between Goldman Sachs Bank USA and the Borrower, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Agent-Related Persons” means the Agents, together with their respective Affiliates and the officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, advisors, attorneys-in-fact and other representatives of such Persons and Affiliates.
“Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Supplemental Agents (if any).
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“All-In Yield” means, as to any Indebtedness, the yield thereof, whether in the form of interest rate, margin, OID, upfront fees, a Benchmark Rate or Base Rate floor, or otherwise, in each case, incurred
or payable by the Borrower generally to all lenders of such Indebtedness; provided that OID and upfront fees shall be equated to an interest rate assuming a four (4)-year life to maturity on a straight-line basis (e.g., 100 basis points of original issue discount or upfront fees equals 25 basis points of interest margin for a four (4) year average life to maturity) or, if less, the stated life to maturity at the time of incurrence of the applicable Indebtedness; and provided, further, that “All-In Yield” shall not include amendment fees, consent fees, arrangement fees, structuring fees, commitment fees, underwriting fees, placement fees, advisory fees, success fees, ticking fees, undrawn commitment fees or other similar fees (regardless of whether any of the foregoing fees are paid to, or shared with, in whole or in part any or all lenders), any fees not paid or payable in the primary syndication of such Indebtedness or other fees not paid or payable generally to all lenders ratably (or, if there is only one Lender (or one affiliated group of Lenders), are of the type not customarily shared with Lenders generally).
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010, and any other similar laws or regulations concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.
“Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act, and any other similar laws or regulations concerning or relating to terrorism financing or money laundering.
“Applicable Benchmark” means,
(a) with respect to the Initial Term Loans, Term SOFR; and
(b) with respect to any Term Loans (other than Initial Term Loans) or any Incremental Facility, as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment, Extension Amendment or Refinancing Amendment;
provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to an Applicable Benchmark for a Loan, then the “Applicable Benchmark” for such Loan means the applicable Benchmark Replacement if such Benchmark Replacement has replaced the Applicable Benchmark for such Loan pursuant to Section 10.11.
“Applicable Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(2).
“Applicable Rate” means, with respect to the Initial Term Loans, a percentage per annum equal to (a) for Benchmark Rate Loans, 3.25% and (b) for Base Rate Loans, 2.25%.
“Appropriate Lender” means, at any time, with respect to Loans of any Class, the Lenders of such Class.
“Approved Fund” means, with respect to any Lender, any Fund that is administered, advised or managed by (a) such Lender, (b) an Affiliate of such Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers, advises or manages such Lender.
“Assignees” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(b)(i).
“Assignment and Assumption” means an Assignment and Assumption substantially in the form of Exhibit E.
“Assignment Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).
“Attorney Costs” means and includes all reasonable and documented fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm or other external legal counsel.
“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, 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.
“Auction Agent” means (a) the Administrative Agent or (b) any other financial institution or advisor employed by the Borrower (whether or not an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent) to act as an arranger in connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v); provided that the Borrower shall not designate the Administrative Agent as the Auction Agent without the written consent of the Administrative Agent (it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to agree to act as the Auction Agent); provided, further, that neither the Borrower nor any of its Affiliates may act as the Auction Agent.
“Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of any 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 for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, Part I of the United Kingdom Banking Act 2009 (as amended from time to time) and any other law, regulation or rule applicable in the United Kingdom relating to the resolution of unsound or failing banks, investment firms or other financial institutions or their affiliates (other than through liquidation, administration or other insolvency proceedings).
“Bankruptcy Code” means the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, being Title 11 of the U.S. Code.
“Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1.0%, (b) the Prime Rate in effect for such day and (c) the Applicable Benchmark for such Loan (or for any other Obligation, the Applicable Benchmark for the Initial Term Loans) on such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) for an Interest Period of one month plus 1.0%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Base Rate would be less than the Floor, the Base Rate will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. If the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal Funds Rate for any reason, including the inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof, the Base Rate shall be determined without regard to clause (a) of the preceding sentence until the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the Benchmark Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or the Benchmark Rate, respectively.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
“Benchmark” means, with respect to any Loan, the rate (other than Base Rate) to which the Applicable Rate is added when computing interest on the principal amount outstanding of such Loan.
“Benchmark Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to any Loan, and with respect to the then-current Applicable Benchmark for such Loan, as applicable,
(a) if such Applicable Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Applicable Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining the length of an interest period pursuant to this Agreement, or
(b) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Applicable Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated with reference to such Applicable Benchmark pursuant to this Agreement,
in each case, as of such date and not including, any tenor for such Applicable Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 10.11.
“Benchmark Government Authority” means the FRB and/or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the FRB and/or the NYFRB of any successor thereto.
“Benchmark Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at an Applicable Benchmark.
“Benchmark Replacement” means,
(a) with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event described in clauses (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event” the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Administrative Agent for the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date:
(i) in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars:
(A) if the Applicable Benchmark subject to the Benchmark Transition Event is not Term SOFR, the sum of: (1) Term SOFR and (2) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
(B) if the Applicable Benchmark subject to the Benchmark Transition Event is Term SOFR, the sum of: (1) Daily Simple SOFR and (2) related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; and
(C) otherwise, the sum of: (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (1) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Benchmark Government Authority or (2) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if such Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than the Floor, such Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
(b) with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event not described in clause (a) above, the sum of (i) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (A) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Benchmark Government Authority or (B) any
evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for syndicated credit facilities in the currency of the applicable Loan, and (ii) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if such Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than the Floor, such Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Applicable Benchmark for any Loan with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Applicable Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Benchmark Government Authority or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Applicable Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for syndicated credit facilities denominated in the currency of the applicable Loan at such time.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to either the use or administration of an Applicable Benchmark or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period” or any similar or analogous definition (or the addition of a concept of “interest period”), timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of Section 10.11 and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that the Administrative Agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Administrative Agent determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) in each case, that are reasonably approved by the Borrower..
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means, with respect to any Loan, the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Applicable Benchmark for such Loan:
(a) in the case of clause (a) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of, (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein, (ii) the date on which the administrator of such Applicable Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Benchmark Available Tenors of such Applicable Benchmark (or such component thereof), and (iii) the date the Borrower receives written notice from the Administrative Agent that is reasonably determined that the circumstances described in Section 3.03 have arisen with respect to such Applicable Benchmark and that such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary; or
(b) in the case of clause (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Applicable Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has
been determined and announced by the Benchmark Administrator of such Applicable Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative; provided that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (b) and even if any Benchmark Available Tenor of such Applicable Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.
The “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Applicable Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Benchmark Available Tenors of such Applicable Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).
“Benchmark Transition Event” means, with respect to any Loan, the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Applicable Benchmark for such Loan:
(a) either (i) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Applicable Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Applicable Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Applicable Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Applicable Benchmark (or such component), or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Applicable Benchmark (or such component) (each of the foregoing, a “Benchmark Administrator”), stating or announcing that the administrator of such Applicable Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease, to provide all Benchmark Available Tenors of such Applicable Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Benchmark Available Tenor of such Applicable Benchmark (or such component thereof) or (ii) the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that the circumstances described in Section 3.03 have arisen with respect to such Applicable Benchmark and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary;
(b) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of a Benchmark Administrator for such Applicable Benchmark that such Applicable Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) is no longer representative; or
(c) an event has occurred that would require such Applicable Benchmark set forth in any non-speculative interest rate Hedge Agreement related to such Loan to be amended by adherence to a final protocol published by, or other amendment promulgated by, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) to facilitate the replacement of such Applicable Benchmark or if any non-speculative interest rate Hedge Agreement related to such Loan is entered into after the Closing Date and is subject to ISDA definitions amended after the Closing Date that reflect a replacement of such Applicable Benchmark used in this Agreement on the Closing Date.
(d) [Reserved.]
“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, for any Loan, the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date for such Loan has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Applicable Benchmark for such Loan in accordance with Section 10.11 and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement for such Loan has replaced the then-current Applicable Benchmark for such Loan in accordance with Section 10.11.
“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding individual beneficial ownership solely to the extent required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230.
“Benefit Plan” means any of (a) an “employee benefit plan” (as defined in ERISA) that is subject to Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, (b) a “plan” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code to which Section 4975 of the Code applies or (c) any Person whose assets include (for purposes of or within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations) the assets of any such “employee benefit plan” or “plan.”
“Bona Fide Debt Fund” means any fund or investment vehicle that is primarily engaged in the making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and other similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.
“Borrower” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Borrower LLCA” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.
“Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment” means the offer by the Borrower to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at the Specified Discount pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(B).
“Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers” means the solicitation by the Borrower of offers for, and the subsequent acceptance, if any, by a Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a discount to par pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(D).
“Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers” means the solicitation by the Borrower of offers for, and the corresponding acceptance by a Lender of, a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a specified range of discounts to par pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(C).
“Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Class and Type and, in the case of Benchmark Rate 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 of New York and if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Benchmark Rate Loan, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in respect of any such Benchmark Rate Loan, or any other dealings to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Benchmark Rate Loan, shall exclude any such day which is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.
“Calcasieu Pass Project” means the approximately 10 MTPA nameplate LNG liquefaction and export project located alongside the Calcasieu Ship Channel in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, consisting of nine integrated single mixed refrigerant liquefaction blocks and supporting facilities, three natural gas pre-treatment units to remove water and acid gases from feed gas prior to liquefaction (each designed to support fifty percent (50%) of the nameplate capacity), two 200,000 cubic meter cryogenic LNG storage tanks, a marine terminal with two LNG berthing docks that can accommodate vessels up to at least 185,000 cubic meters in capacity, a 620 megawatt air-cooled combined-cycle gas-fired power plant with an additional 25 megawatt gas-fired turbine with selective catalyst reduction, in each case (i) with related
onsite utilities and supporting infrastructure and (ii) as such facilities may be improved, replaced, modified, changed or expanded.
“Capital Stock” means:
(a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and
(d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.
“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.
“Capitalized Leases” means all leases that have been or are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as financings or capital leases (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not a straight-line or operating lease) on both the balance sheet and income statement for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP; provided that for all purposes hereunder the amount of obligations under any Capitalized Lease shall be the amount thereof accounted for as a liability on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP; provided, further, that for purposes of calculations made pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or compliance with any covenant, GAAP will be deemed to treat leases in a manner consistent with its current treatment under GAAP as of the Closing Date, notwithstanding any modifications or interpretive changes thereto that may occur thereafter.
“Cash Collateral Accounts” has the meaning set forth in clause (B) of the definition of “Collateral Requirement”.
“Cash Equivalents” means
(a) United States dollars;
(b) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition;
(c) general obligations issued or fully guaranteed by any state or commonwealth of the United States of America or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody’s or S&P;
(d) certificates of deposit, demand deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any U.S. commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000;
(e) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven (7) days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (b), (c) and (d) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (d) above;
(f) commercial paper and variable or fixed rate notes rated at least P-2 by Moody’s or at least A-2 by S&P and in each case maturing within twelve (12) months after the date of creation thereof;
(g) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any foreign government or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof, in each case having at least a Baa3 rating from Moody’s or a BBB- rating from S&P with maturities of twelve (12) months or less from the date of acquisition;
(h) Investments with maturities of twelve (12) months or less from the date of acquisition in money market funds rated AAA- (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P or Aaa3 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by Moody’s; and
(i) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (a) through (h) of this definition.
“Cash Management Bank” means any Person that (a) is an Agent or a Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or a Lender or (b) was an Agent or a Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or a Lender at the time it entered into a Treasury Services Agreement in its capacity as a party thereto and (other than a Person already party hereto as a Lender) that delivers to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent a letter agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (a) appointing the Collateral Agent as its agent under the applicable Loan Documents and (b) agreeing to be bound by Sections 10.05, 10.16 and 10.17 and Article IX as if it were a Lender.
“Cash Management Obligations” means the obligations owed by the Borrower to any Cash Management Bank under any Treasury Services Agreements.
“Casualty Event” means any event that gives rise to the receipt by any Person of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards in respect of any equipment, fixed assets or real property (including any improvements thereon) to replace or repair such equipment, fixed assets or real property.
“Change of Control” means (i) the consummation of any transaction (including any merger, consolidation or other combination), the result of which is that the Permitted Holders as of the Closing Date (or, following a Permitted Change of Control, any subsequent Permitted Holders who own such Equity Interests in the Borrower) cease to directly or indirectly control the Borrower, (ii) that the Borrower loses the Minimum CPH Rights at any time or (iii) that CPH no longer owns, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Calcasieu Pass Project (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the TransCameron Pipeline or any ownership interests in TCP); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the occurrence of a Permitted Change of Control shall be deemed not to be a Change of Control.
“Class” (a) when used with respect to any Lender, refers to whether such Lender has a Loan or Commitment with respect to a particular Class of Loans or Commitments, (b) when used with respect to
Commitments, refers to whether such Commitments are Initial Commitments, Incremental Commitments, Refinancing Commitments of a given Refinancing Series or Extended Term Loans of a given Extension Series, and (c) when used with respect to Loans or a Borrowing, refers to whether such Loans, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Initial Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans of a given Refinancing Series or Extended Term Loans of a given Extension Series. Initial Commitments, Incremental Commitments or Refinancing Commitments (and in each case, the Loans made pursuant to such Commitments) that have different terms and conditions shall be construed to be in different Classes. Commitments (and, in each case, the Loans made pursuant to such Commitments) that have the same terms and conditions shall be construed to be in the same Class.
“Closing Date” means April 10, 2026, the first date on which all conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 4.01.
“Closing Date Balance Sheet” means the unaudited pro forma as adjusted balance sheet of the Borrower, dated as of December 31, 2025, and adjusted for accruals and distributions declared on (i) the preferred equity issued pursuant to the Borrower LLCA and (ii) the Class B Units (as defined in the Specified Governing Document) of CPH.
“Closing Date CPH Interests” means the CPH Interests on the Closing Date, which constitutes approximately 76.56% of the outstanding equity interests in CPH.
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Collateral” means (i) the “Collateral” as defined in the Security Agreement and the “Pledged Collateral” as defined in the Pledge Agreement and (ii) any other assets pledged or in which a Lien is granted, in each case, pursuant to any Collateral Document.
“Collateral Agent” means Goldman Sachs Bank USA, in its capacity as collateral agent or pledgee in its own name under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor collateral agent.
“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Pledge Agreement, the Security Agreement, each Intercreditor Agreement (to the extent entered into), each other security agreement, pledge agreement, deposit account control agreement, cash collateral account control agreement or other similar agreements delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 4.01, Section 6.11 or Section 6.13, and each of the other agreements, instruments or documents that creates, purports to create or perfects a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in each case, which is designated by the Borrower or its affiliated grantors and the applicable secured parties party thereto as a “Collateral Document”.
“Collateral Requirement” means, at any time, the requirement that:
(a) the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall have received each Collateral Document required to be delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(iii) or from time to time pursuant to Sections 6.11 and 6.13, subject to the limitations and exceptions of this Agreement, duly executed by the Borrower or the Pledgor party thereto;
(b) the Obligations shall have been secured pursuant to the Security Agreement by a first-priority security interest, subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01, in (i) all of the equity interests in the Borrower (which are owned by the Pledgor), (ii) all deposit and securities accounts of the Borrower and all funds and permitted investments deposited in such accounts, and (iii) substantially all of the present
and after-acquired assets of the Borrower (including the Closing Date CPH Interests), tangible or intangible, whether now existing or hereafter arising (other than the Excluded Assets);
(c) the Obligations shall have been secured pursuant to the Pledge Agreement by a first-priority security interest, subject to Liens permitted by Section 7.01, in all Equity Interests of the Borrower directly owned by the immediate parent(s) of the Borrower (and, to the extent required to be certificated and delivered in accordance with this Collateral Requirement, the Collateral Agent shall have received certificates or other instruments representing all such Equity Interests, together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank);
(d) all Pledged Debt owing to the Borrower that is evidenced by a promissory note with a principal amount in excess of $20,000,000 shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement and the Collateral Agent shall have received all such promissory notes, together with undated instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;
(e) [reserved];
(f) [reserved]; and
(g) except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or any Collateral Document, all certificates, agreements, documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and filings with the United States Copyright Office, required by the Collateral Documents, applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to be filed, delivered, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created by the Collateral Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by, and with the priority required by, the Collateral Documents and the other provisions of the term “Collateral Requirement”, shall have been filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent for filing, registration or recording.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition or anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary:
(A) the foregoing definition shall not require, unless otherwise stated in this clause (A), the creation or perfection of pledges of, security interests in or taking other actions with respect to the following (collectively, the “Excluded Assets”),
(i) any CPH Interests acquired following the Closing Date (other than any CPH Interests acquired with (x) proceeds of Incremental Facility pursuant to Section 2.14 or (y) proceeds of Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.03 hereunder if such Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis by the Collateral, which CPH Interests shall be deemed Collateral and pledged by the Borrower),
(ii) (x) commercial tort claims where the amount of damages claimed by the Borrower is less than $20,000,000 and (y) motor vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title,
(iii) except with respect to the pledge of CPH Interests, if the pledge thereof or the security interest therein is restricted or prohibited by applicable Law (including any requirement to obtain the consent of any governmental authority or third party) after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provision of the Uniform Commercial Code, other than proceeds and
receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code notwithstanding such prohibition or restriction,
(iv) [reserved],
(v) any governmental licenses or state or local franchises, charters and authorizations, to the extent a security interest in any such license, franchise, charter or authorization is prohibited or restricted thereby after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provision of the Uniform Commercial Code, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code notwithstanding such prohibition or restriction,
(vi) any property or assets, to the extent the creation or perfection of pledges thereof or security interests therein would result in material adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to the Borrower, any direct or indirect parent entity of the Borrower, as reasonably determined by the Borrower in consultation with the Administrative Agent,
(vii) letter of credit rights, except to the extent constituting a supporting obligation for other Collateral as to which perfection of the security interest in such other Collateral is accomplished by the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement,
(viii) any intent-to-use trademark application prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” or “Amendment to Allege Use” with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that, and solely during the period, if any, in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of such intent-to-use trademark application, or any registration issuing therefrom, under applicable federal Law,
(ix) any cash or Cash Equivalents, deposit accounts, securities accounts and any other similar accounts (including any securities entitlements or related assets), in each case, other than to the extent constituting proceeds from the Disposition of Collateral or deposited in accounts holding Distributed Cash,
(x) any lease, license, contract, agreement, asset or other general intangible or any property subject to a purchase money security interest, Capitalized Lease Obligation or similar arrangement, in each case permitted under this Agreement, to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license, contract, agreement, asset or other general intangible, Capitalized Lease Obligations or purchase money arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, other than proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code notwithstanding such prohibition,
(xi) any particular asset located in or governed by any non-U.S. jurisdiction or agreement,
(xii) [reserved],
(xiii) any deposit account (i) established (or otherwise maintained) by the Borrower that does not have a cash balance at any time exceeding (A) $5,000,000 individually or (B) $10,000,000 in the aggregate for all such accounts, (ii) primarily containing (A) funds used or
intended to be used for payroll and payroll taxes and other employee benefit payments to or for the benefit of employees of the Borrower, (B) funds used or intended to be used to pay taxes required to be collected, remitted or withheld (including, federal and state withholding taxes and any employer’s share thereof) and (C) funds which the Borrower (1) holds on behalf of another Person or (2) intends to hold as an escrow or fiduciary for another Person, (iii) used or intended to be used by the Borrower primarily for disbursements and payments in the ordinary course of business or payroll that is a zero balance account or otherwise swept into another account on a daily basis, or (iv) that is located outside of the United States (collectively, the “Excluded Accounts”),
(xiv) any particular assets if the Administrative Agent and the Borrower mutually agree in writing, including any assets in which the burden, cost or consequences (including any adverse tax consequences) of creating or perfecting such pledges or security interests therein is excessive in relation to the practical benefits to be obtained therefrom by the Lenders under the Loan Documents, or
(xv) all real estate and leases thereof.
(B) the foregoing definition of “Collateral Requirement” shall not require (i) control agreements, other control arrangements or perfection by “control” with respect to CPH Interests, cash, Cash Equivalents, Excluded Accounts or any other Collateral (other than in respect of (x) any deposit account or securities account, including such accounts holding proceeds from any Disposition of Collateral (such accounts holding such proceeds, the “Cash Collateral Accounts”) or (y) any CPH Interests or Equity Interests of the Borrower pledged by the Pledgor that are, or that become, “securities” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code or that are otherwise in certificated form), (ii) any actions in any non-U.S. jurisdiction or required by the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction in order to create any security interests in assets located or titled outside of the U.S., including any IP Rights registered in any non-U.S. jurisdiction, or to perfect such security interests (it being understood that there shall be no security agreements or pledge agreements governed under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction), (iii) any actions other than the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code with respect to the Borrower or any Pledgor to perfect security interests in any Collateral consisting of notes or other evidence of Indebtedness, except to the extent set forth in clause (d) to the first paragraph of this definition, (iv) any actions other than the filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and the entry into control agreements, other control arrangements or perfection by “control” to the extent set forth in clause (B)(i) of this definition, (v) any actions to perfect a security interest in letter of credit rights, other than the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement, (vi) any landlord waivers, bailee letters, estoppels, warehouseman waivers or other collateral access or similar letters or agreements, (vii) except to the extent that perfection and priority may be achieved by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code with respect to the Borrower or any Pledgor, that the Loan Documents contain any requirements as to perfection or priority with respect to any assets or property described in clause (ii) of this clause (B) and (viii) the certification of any Equity Interests constituting Collateral and the delivery of any associated instruments of transfer and stock powers (but, for the avoidance of doubt, instruments of transfer and stock powers shall be required to be delivered with respect to any Equity Interests constituting Collateral that are certificated and otherwise delivered in accordance with the Collateral Requirement); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any Cash Collateral Account is pledged to any Person other than a Secured Party and such security interest is perfected by “control” pursuant to a Control Agreement, the Term Loans hereunder shall be so secured on a pari passu basis in such account and subject to such Control Agreement;
(C) the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion may grant extensions of time for the creation or perfection of security interests in or taking other actions with respect to, particular assets (including extensions beyond the Closing Date) or any other compliance with the requirements of this definition where it reasonably determines, in consultation with the Borrower, that the creation or perfection of security interests or taking other actions, or any other compliance with the requirements of this definition cannot be accomplished without undue delay, burden or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or the Collateral Documents; provided that the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent shall have received on or prior to the Closing Date (i) Uniform Commercial Code financing statements in appropriate form for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code in the jurisdiction of organization of the Borrower and (ii) to the extent the Borrower or CPH has opted into Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code or if any Equity Interests constituting Collateral are otherwise certificated, any certificates or instruments representing or evidencing CPH Interests or Equity Interests of the Borrower accompanied by instruments of transfer and stock powers undated and endorsed in blank (or confirmation in lieu thereof reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or its counsel that such certificates, powers and instruments have been sent for overnight delivery to the Collateral Agent or its counsel); and
(D) Liens required to be granted from time to time pursuant to the Collateral Requirement shall be subject to exceptions and limitations set forth in this Agreement and the Collateral Documents.
“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make a Term Loan to the Borrower hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum principal amount of the Term Loan to be made by such Lender under this Agreement, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 and (b) established, reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (i) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, (ii) an Incremental Amendment, (iii) a Refinancing Amendment or (iv) an Extension.
“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Benchmark Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, 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 as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent), appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
“Commodity Exchange Act” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
“Compensation Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(c)(ii).
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1.
“Conforming Changes” shall mean, with respect to the use, administration of or any conventions associated with SOFR, Daily Simple SOFR or Term SOFR, as applicable, any conforming changes to the definitions of “Base Rate”, “SOFR”, “Term SOFR” 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, the applicability and length of lookback periods) as may be appropriate, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption and implementation of such applicable rate(s) and to permit
the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent determines is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Documents).
“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” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Affiliate”.
“Control Agreement” means one or more control agreements that may be entered into by the Borrower, the Collateral Agent and securities intermediary or depositary bank (as applicable), which (a) provides that the securities intermediary or depositary bank (as applicable) shall comply with any entitlement order or other instruction originated by the Borrower, and, upon delivery of written notice that an Event of Default has occurred, the Collateral Agent (but not, after such notice (unless rescinded), the Borrower) and (b) is otherwise sufficient to establish the Collateral Agent’s control per Section 9-104 or 9-106 (as applicable) of the UCC.
“Copyright” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.
“CP Pledgor” means Calcasieu Pass Pledgor, LLC.
“CPH” means Calcasieu Pass Holdings, LLC.
“CPH Interests” means the equity interests of CPH held by the Borrower.
“Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to the greater of,
(a) SOFR for the day (such day “i”) that is five U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website, and
(b) the Term SOFR floor specified in this Agreement.
If by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the second U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately following any day “i”, the SOFR in respect of such day “i” has not been published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Daily Simple SOFR has not occurred, then the SOFR for such day “i” will be the SOFR as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website; provided that any SOFR determined pursuant to this sentence shall be utilized for purposes of calculation of Daily Simple SOFR for no more than three consecutive SOFR Rate Days. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower.
“Debt Fund Affiliate” means any Affiliate of the Borrower (other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower) that is, in each case, a Bona Fide Debt Fund or an investment vehicle that is engaged in the making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code 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.
“Debt Service” means, for any period, the sum of all (a) scheduled cash interest and scheduled principal payable during such period in respect of all Indebtedness of the Borrower of the type described in clause (a) of the definition of “Indebtedness” (including the Term Loans) less any net payments received by the Borrower during such period pursuant to Interest Rate Hedge Agreements and (b) any net payments paid by the Borrower during such period pursuant to Interest Rate Hedge Agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, “Debt Service” shall not include any principal payments due on any maturity date, any voluntary prepayments and any mandatory prepayments (including any excess cash flow sweeps), in each case, payable in respect of such Indebtedness, nor shall “Debt Service” include any repayments of any revolving loans, letter of credit loans and letter of credit reimbursement obligations.
“Debt Service Coverage Ratio” means, for any Test Period, the ratio of (a) the Distributed Cash for such Test Period minus the aggregate administrative, overhead and operations costs and expenses in respect of the Borrower over such Test Period (deductions for which may not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year of the Borrower) to (b) Debt Service for such Test Period; provided that for any period ending prior to the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2026, (i) Distributed Cash for the four fiscal quarter period ending June 30, 2026 shall be deemed equal to Distributed Cash for such quarter plus the Distributed Cash for the quarter ending March 31, 2026 multiplied by 2, and (ii) Distributed Cash for the four fiscal quarter period ending September 30, 2026 shall be deemed equal to Distributed Cash for the most recent three fiscal quarter period ending September 30, 2026 multiplied by 4/3; provided, further, that Distributed Cash shall be calculated using the Distributed Cash for the quarter ending March 31, 2026 multiplied by 4 until the financial maintenance covenant is tested under Section 7.09 with the delivery of the compliance certificate for the quarter ending June 30, 2026.
“Declined Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b)(ix).
“Default” means any event or condition specified in Section 8.01 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, if any, applicable to Term Loans that are Base Rate Loans plus (c) two percent (2.0%) per annum.
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender whose acts or failure to act, whether directly or indirectly, cause it to meet any part of the definition of “Lender Default.”
“Designated Equity Contribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(a).
“Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(2).
“Discount Range” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).
“Discount Range Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).
“Discount Range Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of a Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(C) substantially in the form of Exhibit L-4.
“Discount Range Prepayment Offer” means the irrevocable written offer by a Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit L-5, submitted in response to an invitation to submit offers following the Auction Agent’s receipt of a Discount Range Prepayment Notice.
“Discount Range Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).
“Discount Range Proration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(3).
“Discounted Prepayment Determination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).
“Discounted Prepayment Effective Date” means in the case of a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment, Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offer or Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offer, five (5) Business Days following the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date or the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, as applicable, in accordance with Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1), Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1) or Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1), respectively, unless a shorter period is agreed to between the Borrower, the Auction Agent and the Administrative Agent, if the Administrative Agent is not the Auction Agent.
“Discounted Term Loan Prepayment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(A).
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction and any sale or other disposition of CPH Interests that constitute Collateral) 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; provided that “Disposition” and “Dispose” shall not be deemed to include any issuance by the Borrower of any of its Equity Interests to another Person.
“Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event or condition (a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control, event of loss, or asset sale or event of default so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control, event of loss, asset sale or event of default shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests and other than as a result of a change of control, event of loss, asset sale or event of default so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control, event of loss, asset sale or event of default shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments), in
whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash, or (d) is or becomes convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case, prior to the date that is ninety-one (91) days after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of issuance of such Equity Interests; provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of future, current or former employees, directors, officers, managers or consultants of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Borrower in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations.
“Disqualified Lenders” means (a) those Persons identified by the Borrower (or one of its Affiliates) or the Investors to the Administrative Agent in writing on or prior to March 10, 2026 (and such Persons’ Affiliates clearly identifiable as such solely on the basis of their names), (b) competitors (and such competitors’ sponsors and Affiliates identified in writing or clearly identifiable as such solely on the basis of their names) of the Sponsor separately identified by the Borrower or the Investors to the Administrative Agent in writing (x) from time to time prior to the initial syndication of the Loans and (y) with respect solely to competitors of the Sponsor thereafter (including after the Closing Date) from time to time and (c) any Affiliate of any competitor described in clause (b) that is identified by the Borrower or the Investors to the Administrative Agent in writing from time to time or reasonably identifiable solely by name as an Affiliate of such Person, other than an Affiliate of such Person that is a Bona Fide Debt Fund; provided that no updates to the Disqualified Lender list shall be deemed to retroactively disqualify any parties that have previously acquired an assignment or participation in respect of the Loans from continuing to hold or vote such previously acquired assignments and participations on the terms set forth herein for Lenders that are not Disqualified Lenders. Any supplement to the list of Disqualified Lenders pursuant to clause (b) or (c) above shall be made by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent in writing (including by email) and such supplement shall take effect the same Business Day such notice is received by the Administrative Agent. The list of Disqualified Lenders shall be made available to any Lender upon request to the Administrative Agent, subject to customary confidentiality requirements.
“Distributable ECF” means, for any fiscal quarter of the Borrower, an amount equal to the positive difference, if any, of the Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal quarter minus the amount of the mandatory prepayment required to be made with respect to such fiscal quarter pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i).
“Distributed Cash” means, with respect to any Test Period, (i) cash or cash equivalents actually distributed to the Borrower by CPH minus (ii) the amount of taxes, if any, owed by the Borrower with respect to such distributed cash; which such distributed cash amount shall be calculated using the Distributed Cash for the quarter ending March 31, 2026 multiplied by 4 until the financial maintenance covenant is tested under Section 7.09 with the delivery of the compliance certificate for the quarter ending June 30, 2026, and afterwards shall be calculated in the following manner: for purposes of determining such ratio for any period ending prior to the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2026, (i) Distributed Cash for the four fiscal quarter period ending June 30, 2026 shall be deemed equal to Distributed Cash for such quarter plus the Distributed Cash for the quarter ending March 31, 2026 multiplied by 2, and (ii) Distributed Cash for the four fiscal quarter period ending September 30, 2026 shall be deemed equal to Distributed Cash for the most recent three fiscal quarter period ending September 30, 2026 multiplied by 4/3.
“Distressed Person” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Lender-Related Distress Event”.
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“ECF Prepayment Percentage” means
(a) 50%, if the Total Net Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period exceeds 6.50 to 1.00;
(b) 25%, if the Total Net Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period is equal to or less than 6.50 to 1.00, but exceeds 5.50 to 1.00; and
(c) 0%, if the Total Net Leverage Ratio at the end of the most recently ended Test Period is equal to or less than 5.50 to 1.00.
In each case, the ECF Prepayment Percentage shall be calculated, at the election of the Borrower, to give Pro Forma Effect to all prepayments, amounts and expenditures that are made after the end of the applicable fiscal quarter but prior to the making of such prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i).
“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” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(a).
“Equity Interests” of any Person means (1) any and all Capital Stock of such Person and (2) all rights to purchase, warrants or options (whether or not currently exercisable), participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) such Capital Stock of such Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, Equity Interests, regardless of whether such debt securities include any right of participation with Equity Interests.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
“ERISA Affiliate” means (a) any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, or solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(m) or (o) of the Code or (b) any entity (whether or not incorporated) that is under common control within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA with the Borrower.
“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a
substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan; (d) the filing by the PBGC of a notice of intent to terminate any Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or Section 4041A of ERISA, respectively, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an 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; (f) with respect to a Pension Plan, the failure to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Pension Plan, whether or not waived; or (g) 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.
“Erroneous Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 9.16.
“Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment” has the meaning specified in Section 9.16.
“Erroneous Payment Impacted Class” has the meaning specified in Section 9.16.
“Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency” has the meaning specified in Section 9.16.
“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 set forth in Section 8.01.
“Excess Cash Flow” means, for each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, the positive difference, if any, of (1) all Distributed Cash for such fiscal quarter less (2) the sum of, without duplication and only to the extent such amounts are not funded with the proceeds of long-term Indebtedness of the Borrower (other than revolving Indebtedness): (a) the aggregate amount of all Debt Service, any premium, makewhole or penalty payments, and (with respect to Indebtedness other than the Term Loans) any mandatory prepayments which are payable with Distributed Cash, in each case, in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower and paid in cash by the Borrower during such fiscal quarter plus (b) the following permitted reserves: (I) an aggregate amount representing scheduled amortization payments of principal and interest payable by the Borrower over the four fiscal quarters immediately following such date of determination and (II) an amount up to $5,000,000 (as determined by the Borrower in its sole discretion) to be used solely to satisfy ordinary course company expenses of the Borrower and the Pledgor (including expenses related to the engagement of an independent engineer to review and examine the Calcasieu Pass Project (to the extent the Borrower or the Pledgor decides, in its sole discretion, to engage an independent engineer)) plus (c) cash payments by the Borrower in respect of long-term liabilities of the Borrower other than Indebtedness made during such fiscal quarter or, at the option of the Borrower, made after such fiscal quarter and prior to the date the relevant prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b) is due, or committed to be made during the fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter for which Excess Cash Flow is determined for purposes of making the prepayment contemplated by Section 2.05(b) (it being understood that to the extent such payments are not actually made as committed in such subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating the Excess Cash Flow prepayment contemplated by Section 2.05(b)), plus (d) the amount of Investments and acquisitions made by the Borrower (including Investments into subsidiaries of the Borrower) or committed to be made during such fiscal quarter or, at the option of the Borrower, made or committed to be made after such fiscal quarter and prior to the date
the relevant prepayment under Section 2.05(b) is due (it being understood that to the extent such Investments and acquisitions are not actually made as committed in such subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating the Excess Cash Flow prepayment contemplated by Section 2.05(b)), plus (e) the amount of Restricted Payments (excluding general Restricted Payments consisting of dividends or distributions accrued or paid on the common Equity Interests in the Borrower that are permitted pursuant to Section 7.06(c) or (h)) paid in cash during such fiscal quarter or, at the option of the Borrower, paid after such fiscal quarter and prior to the date the relevant prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b) is due, or committed to be paid during the fiscal quarter of the Borrower following the fiscal quarter for which Excess Cash Flow is determined for purposes of making the prepayment contemplated by Section 2.05(b) (it being understood that to the extent such payments are not actually paid as committed in such subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating the Excess Cash Flow prepayment contemplated by Section 2.05(b)), plus (f) the amount of distributions made in such fiscal quarter in accordance with Section 7.06(i)(ii) and (iii) or, at the option of the Borrower, made after such fiscal quarter and prior to the date the relevant prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b) is due, or committed to be paid during the fiscal quarter of the Borrower following the fiscal quarter for which Excess Cash Flow is determined for purposes of making the prepayment contemplated by Section 2.05(b) (it being understood that to the extent such taxes are not actually paid as committed in such subsequent period, such amount shall be added back in calculating the Excess Cash Flow prepayment contemplated by Section 2.05(b)), plus (g) the aggregate amount of payments made in cash by the Borrower pursuant to any Swap Contract during such fiscal quarter or, at the option of the Borrower, made after such fiscal quarter and prior to the date the relevant prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(b) is due. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent any amounts described in clauses (a) through (g) above that are attributable to a subsequent fiscal quarter are deducted in the calculation of Excess Cash Flow for the current fiscal quarter (whether by reason of being committed during such subsequent fiscal quarter or otherwise pulled forward into the current fiscal quarter’s calculation), such amounts shall not also be deducted in the calculation of Excess Cash Flow for such subsequent fiscal quarter. For the avoidance of doubt, Distributable ECF from any prior fiscal quarter of the Borrower will not be considered “Excess Cash Flow” hereunder (including for purposes of making the mandatory prepayment set forth in Section 2.05(b)).
“Excluded Accounts” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral Requirement.”
“Excluded Assets” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Collateral Requirement.”
“Excluded Contribution” means net cash proceeds, marketable securities or Qualified Proceeds received by the Borrower after the Closing Date from:
(a) contributions to its common equity capital; and
(b) the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests and preferred stock) of the Pledgor (or any direct or indirect parent of the Pledgor to the extent contributed as common Equity Interests by the Borrower);
but only to the extent not constituting Designated Equity Contributions.
“Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the Guarantee of such Person of, or the grant by such Person of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation, or order of the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) (i) by virtue of such Person’s failure to constitute an “eligible contract participant,” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder (determined after giving effect to any applicable keepwell, support, or other agreement for the benefit of such Person and any and all applicable Guarantees of such Person’s Swap Obligations by the Borrower), at the time the Guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Person becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (ii) in the case of a Swap Obligation that is subject to a clearing requirement pursuant to section 2(h) of the Commodity Exchange Act, because such Person is a “financial entity,” as defined in section 2(h)(7)(C) of the Commodity Exchange Act, at the time the Guarantee of (or grant of such security interest by, as applicable) such Person becomes or would become effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or (b) any other Swap Obligation designated as an “Excluded Swap Obligation” of such Person as specified in any agreement between the Borrower and the relevant Hedge Bank applicable to such Swap Obligations. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one Swap Contract, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to the Swap Contract for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes excluded in accordance with the first sentence of this definition.
“Executive Order” means Section 1 of Executive Order No. 13224 – Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism, 66 FR 49079 (2001).
“Extending Term Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(c).
“Extended Term Loans” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).
“Existing Term Loan Tranche” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).
“Extension” means the establishment of an Extension Series by amending a Loan pursuant to Section 2.16 and the applicable Extension Amendment.
“Extension Amendment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(d).
“Extension Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(c).
“Extension Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).
“Extension Series” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.16(a).
“FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code), as of the Closing Date (and any amended or successor version thereof that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future Treasury Regulations or other official administrative guidance promulgated thereunder, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement, treaty or convention among Governmental Authorities entered into in connection with the implementation of the foregoing.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the federal funds effective rate; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the
Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day for such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
“Financial Performance Covenant” means the covenants of the Borrower set forth in Section 7.09.
“First Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit I-1 hereto (or such other form as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), among the Borrower, the Pledgor, the Collateral Agent, and any Other Debt Representative that may from time to time become party thereto, as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
“Fixed Incremental Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d)(iv).
“Floor” means a rate of interest equal to 0.0%
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that (i) if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change in accounting principles or change as a result of the adoption or modification of accounting policies occurring after the Closing Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith and (ii) GAAP shall be construed, and all computations of amounts and ratios referred to herein shall be made, without giving effect to any election under FASB ASC Topic 825 (or any other Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of the Borrower at “fair value,” as defined therein, and Indebtedness shall be measured at the aggregate principal amount thereof.
“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
“Governmental Official” means any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing.
“Granting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(i).
“Guarantee” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise). When used as a verb, “Guarantee” has a correlative meaning.
“Hedge Bank” means any Person that (a) is an Agent or a Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or a Lender that enters into a Secured Loan Document Hedge Agreement, in its capacity as a party thereto, (b) was an Agent or a Lender or an Affiliate of an Agent or a Lender at the time it entered into a Secured Loan Document Hedge Agreement in its capacity as a party thereto or (c) is a counterparty to any Secured First Lien Hedge Agreement, in its capacity as a party thereto, and in each case (other than a Person already party hereto as a Lender) that delivers to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent a letter agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (i) appointing the Collateral Agent as its agent under the applicable Loan Documents and (ii) agreeing to be bound by Sections 10.05, 10.16 and 10.17 and Article IX as if it were a Lender.
“Identified Participating Lenders” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(3).
“Identified Qualifying Lenders” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).
“Incremental Amendment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(f).
“Incremental Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d)(iv).
“Incremental Commitments” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).
“Incremental Equivalent Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(p).
“Incremental Facility” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).
“Incremental Facility Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d).
“Incremental Lenders” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(c).
“Incremental Loan Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).
“Incremental Term Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).
“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following:
(a) all obligations of such Person in respect of debt for borrowed money, including (but not limited to) all such obligations evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
(b) all other obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments;
(c) all obligations of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances;
(d) all obligations of such Person representing Capitalized Lease Obligations or Attributable Indebtedness in respect of sale and leaseback transactions;
(e) all obligations of such Person representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services due more than six (6) months after such property is acquired or such services are completed; or
(f) all obligations of such Person representing any Swap Obligations,
if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Attributable Indebtedness) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.
“Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.
“Indemnified Taxes” means, with respect to any Agent or any Lender, all Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Loan Document other than (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income (however denominated) and franchise (and similar) Taxes, in each case, imposed by a jurisdiction as a result of such recipient being organized in or having its principal office (or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable Lending Office) in such jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof), or as a result of any other connection between such Lender or Agent and such jurisdiction other than any connections arising from executing, delivering, being a party to, engaging in any transactions pursuant to, performing its obligations under, receiving payments under, and/or enforcing, any Loan Document, (b) Taxes attributable to a Lender’s or the Administrative Agent’s failure to comply with Section 3.01(d) or Section 3.01(f), (c) any branch profits Taxes imposed under Section 884(a) of the Code, or any similar Tax, imposed by any jurisdiction described in clause (a) above, (d) in the case of any Lender, any U.S. federal withholding Tax that is 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 (y) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 3.07) or (z) such Lender changes its applicable Lending Office, except to the extent such Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled immediately prior to the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment) to receive additional amounts with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01, (e) any withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA, and (f) any U.S. federal backup withholding Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.
“Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.08.
“Initial Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make an Initial Term Loan to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name in Schedule 1.01A under the caption “Initial Commitment” 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 (including Section 2.14). The initial aggregate amount of the Initial Commitments is $1,750,000,000.
“Initial Quarterly Payment Date” means the last Business Day of the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date (i.e., September 30, 2026).
“Initial Term Borrowing” means the Borrowing of Initial Term Loans on the Closing Date.
“Initial Term Loans” means the term loans made by the Lenders on the Closing Date to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Intellectual Property Security Agreement” means, an Intellectual Property Security Agreement among the Borrower and the Collateral Agent in such form that is reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent.
“Intercreditor Agreements” means any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any supplement to any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any supplement to any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, collectively, in each case to the extent in effect, as amended, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Benchmark Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date of the Class to which such Loan belongs; provided that if any Interest Period for a Benchmark Rate Loan exceeds three (3) months, the respective dates that fall every three (3) months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date of the Class to which such Loan belongs; provided that, in each case of clauses (a) and (b), the first Interest Payment Date shall not occur earlier than the last Business Day of the first full fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date (i.e., September 30, 2026).
“Interest Period” means, as to each Benchmark Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Benchmark Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Benchmark Rate Loan and ending on the date one (1), three (3) or six (6) months thereafter (in each case subject to the availability thereof) (or, solely in the case of the first period commencing on the Closing Date, September 30, 2026, with interest calculated based on a 6-month Interest Period for a Benchmark Rate Loan), as selected by the Borrower in its Committed 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 (other than an Interest Period having a duration of less than one (1) month) that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Class to which such Loan belongs.
“Interest Rate Hedge Agreements” means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedging agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement, each of which is for the purpose of hedging the interest rate exposure associated with the Borrower’s operations and/or capital purposes and not for speculative purposes.
“Investment” means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including Guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that “Investment” shall not include any intercompany receivable or credit owed to the Borrower by any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower arising under or pursuant to the Tax Sharing Agreement (including any interest accrued thereon). Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value.
“Investment Company Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13(b).
“Investors” means the Sponsor and/or its Affiliates.
“IP Rights” means, collectively, all rights to license or possess the rights to use all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, licenses, technology, software, knowhow, database rights, design rights and other intellectual property rights of the Borrower.
“Joint Lead Arrangers” means Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Barclays Bank PLC, Natixis, New York Branch and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, each in its capacity as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner, and each Affiliate through or in conjunction with which any of the foregoing Persons performs services in its capacity as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner.
“Junior Financing” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10(a).
“Junior Financing Documentation” means any documentation governing any Junior Financing.
“Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement” means an intercreditor agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit I-2 hereto (or such other form as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), among the Collateral Agent and one or more collateral agents or representatives for the holders of Incremental Term Loans, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, Incremental Equivalent Debt, other Indebtedness permitted or not prohibited under Section 7.03 or Secured Other Hedge Agreements, that in each case are intended to be secured by the Collateral on a basis junior in right of priority to the Obligations. Wherever in this Agreement, an Other Debt Representative is required to become party to the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, if the related Indebtedness is the initial Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower to be secured by a Lien junior in right of priority to the Liens securing the Obligations, then the Borrower, the Pledgor, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Other Debt Representative for such Indebtedness shall execute and deliver the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.
“Latest Maturity Date” means, at any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date applicable to any Loan or Commitment hereunder at such time, including the latest maturity date of any Refinancing Term Loan, any Refinancing Commitment, any Extended Term Loan, or any Incremental Term Loans, in each case as extended in accordance with this Agreement from time to time.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents, orders, decrees, injunctions 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.
“LCT Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(h).
“LCT Test Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(h).
“Lender” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Agreement, and their respective successors and assigns as permitted hereunder, each of which is referred to herein as a “Lender”, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Disqualified Lender.
“Lender Default” means (a) the refusal (which may be given verbally or in writing and has not been retracted) or failure of any Lender to make available its portion of any incurrence of any loans or reimbursement obligations required to be made by it, which refusal or failure is not cured within one (1) Business Day after the date of such refusal or failure; (b) the failure of any Lender to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one (1) Business Day of the date when due, unless subject to a good faith dispute; (c) a Lender has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent 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, under any Class of Loans or under other agreements generally in which it commits to extend credit; (d) a Lender has failed, within three (3) Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm that it will comply with its funding obligations with respect to any Class of Loans or to deny that it is insolvent or (e) a Lender has admitted in writing that it is insolvent or such Lender becomes subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event or a Bail-In Action. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender Default has occurred under any one or more of clauses (a) through (e) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and the applicable Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.18(b) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Borrower and each Lender).
“Lender-Related Distress Event” means, with respect to any Lender or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender (each, a “Distressed Person”), as the case may be, a voluntary or involuntary case with respect to such Distressed Person under any Debtor Relief Law, or a custodian, conservator, receiver or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, or such Distressed Person or any person that directly or indirectly controls such Distressed Person is subject to a forced liquidation, or such Distressed Person makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Distressed Person or its assets to be, insolvent or bankrupt; provided that a Lender-Related Distress Event shall not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interests in any Lender or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof.
“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.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement 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 Capitalized Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
“Limited Condition Transaction” means (a) any Investment permitted hereunder by the Borrower whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third-party financing, (b) any Restricted Payment the declaration of which occurs in advance of such Restricted Payment and (c) any redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment of Indebtedness requiring irrevocable notice in advance of such redemption, repurchase, defeasance, satisfaction and discharge or repayment.
“Loan” or “Term Loan” means any Initial Term Loan, Incremental Term Loan, Refinancing Term Loan or Extended Term Loan, as the context may require.
“Loan Documents” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Notes, (c) the Collateral Documents, (d) each Intercreditor Agreement to the extent then in effect and (e) any Refinancing Amendment, Incremental Amendment or Extension Amendment.
“Margin Stock” has the meaning set forth in Regulation U issued by the FRB.
“Master Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Swap Contract”.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, operations, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent) or financial condition of the Borrower and CPH (taken as a whole), (ii) the ability of the Borrower and CPH (taken as a whole) to fully and timely perform its payment obligations under the Loan Documents, or (iii) the material rights and remedies available to the Lenders and Agents, taken as a whole under the Loan Documents.
“Maturity Date” means (a) with respect to the Initial Term Loans, April 10, 2033, (b) with respect to any tranche of Extended Term Loans, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Extension Request accepted by the respective Lender or Lenders, (c) with respect to any Refinancing Term Loans, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Refinancing Amendment and (d) with respect to any Incremental Term Loans, the final maturity date applicable thereto as specified in the applicable Incremental Amendment; provided, in each case, that if such date is not a Business Day, then the applicable Maturity Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.
“Maximum Rate” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.10.
“Minimum CPH Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.05(g).
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“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 (a) makes or is obligated to make contributions, or (b) during the preceding five (5) plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions and has any liability, whether absolute or contingent.
“Net Proceeds” means:
(a) one hundred percent (100%) of the cash proceeds actually received by the Borrower from any Disposition pursuant to Section 7.05(g), net of (i) attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title insurance premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in connection therewith, (ii) the principal amount, premium or penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien (other than a Lien that ranks pari passu with or subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations) on the asset subject to such Disposition and that is required to be repaid (and is timely repaid) in connection with such Disposition (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents), (iii) [reserved], (iv) taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (including any Permitted Tax Distributions), and (v) the amount of any reasonable reserve established in accordance with GAAP against any adjustment to the sale price or any liabilities (other than any taxes deducted pursuant to clause (i) above) (x) related to any of the applicable assets and (y) retained by the Borrower including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations (however, the amount of any subsequent reduction of such reserve (other than in connection with a payment in respect of any such liability) shall be deemed to be Net Proceeds of such Disposition occurring on the date of such reduction); and
(b) one hundred percent (100%) of the cash proceeds from the incurrence, issuance or sale by the Borrower of any Indebtedness, net of all taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (including any Permitted Tax Distributions) and fees (including investment banking fees and discounts), commissions, costs and other expenses, in each case incurred in connection with such incurrence, issuance or sale.
For purposes of calculating the amount of Net Proceeds, fees, commissions and other costs and expenses payable to the Borrower shall be disregarded.
“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(d).
“Non-Debt Fund Affiliate” means any Affiliate of the Borrower other than (a) any Debt Fund Affiliates and (b) any natural person.
“Non-Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, a Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender.
“Not Otherwise Applied” means, with reference to any amount of net proceeds of any transaction or event, that such amount was not previously (and is not concurrently being) applied in determining the permissibility of a transaction under the Loan Documents where such permissibility was or is (or may have been) contingent on receipt of such amount or utilization of such amount for a specified purpose. The Borrower shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any application of such amount as contemplated by the foregoing sentence.
“Note” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to any Lender or its registered assigns, in substantially the form of Exhibit C, evidencing the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Term Loans made by such Lender.
“NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
“Obligations” means all (x) advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, 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 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, (y) any Secured Hedge Obligations of the Borrower or (z) any Cash Management Obligations of the Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Secured Hedge Obligations or Cash Management Obligations shall be secured pursuant to the Collateral Documents only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Obligations are so secured.
“OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury.
“Offered Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).
“Offered Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).
“OID” means original issue discount.
“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.
“Other Applicable Indebtedness” means any senior Indebtedness of the Borrower outstanding at such time that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking pari passu with the Lien securing the Term Loans pursuant to the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness (or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred thereof that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations).
“Other Debt Representative” means, with respect to any (a) series of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or other Indebtedness which is secured by Liens on the Collateral, and which Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or other Indebtedness does not consist of any Class of Loans incurred under this Agreement which shares pari passu with the Initial Term Loans in the Liens on the Collateral, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent, as applicable, under the indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or other Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be or (b) Secured Other Hedge Agreement, the counterparty to such Secured Other Hedge Agreement or any agent acting on its behalf, and in the case of preceding clauses (a) and (b), each of their successors and assigns in such capacities.
“Other Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract (other than a Secured Loan Document Hedge Agreement) designed to hedge against the Borrower’s exposure to interest rates, foreign exchange rates or other commodity pricing risks, that is entered into by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes, in each case, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Other Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).
“Outstanding Amount” means the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.
“Overnight Bank Funding Rate” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurocurrency borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate (from and after such date as the NYFRB shall commence to publish such composite rate).
“Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(f).
“Participant Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(f).
“Participating Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(2).
“Payment in Full” means the payment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations (other than contingent reimbursement obligations, Cash Management Obligations or Secured Hedge Obligations) that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments.
“Payment Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 9.16.
“Payment or Bankruptcy Default” means an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (f) or (g).
“Payment Recipient” has the meaning specified in Section 9.16.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five (5) plan years and has any liability, whether absolute or contingent.
“Perfection Certificate” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit G hereto or any other form reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as the same shall be supplemented from time to time.
“Permitted Change of Control” means any transaction or series of related transactions which otherwise may constitute a Change of Control in which (a) a Permitted Holder acquires, either directly or indirectly, through one or more holding companies, beneficial ownership of Equity Interests representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the Equity Interests in the Borrower, (b) the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the most recently ended Test Period, determined on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Permitted Change of Control, is no greater than 6.00:1.00 and (c) a Ratings Event does not occur; provided that the Person acquiring a majority of the Equity Interests in the Borrower from the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all customary information and
documents required under applicable “know-your-customer” requirements under applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
“Permitted Holder” means the Sponsor, together with its Affiliates.
“Permitted Liens” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01.
“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means Indebtedness in the form of (a) Refinancing Term Loans (in one or more tranches and whether secured or unsecured), (b) one or more series of notes (whether secured or unsecured and whether issued in a public offering, private placement, offering in reliance on Rule 144A of the Securities Act or otherwise) and including any Registered Equivalent Notes, or (c) one or more additional term loan facilities (whether secured or unsecured), in each case, issued, incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace, repurchase, retire or refinance, in whole or part, existing Indebtedness (including any existing Term Loans) (such Indebtedness being refinanced, “Refinanced Debt”); provided that, whether incurred pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (c) of this definition, (i) such Indebtedness shall not mature earlier than the Refinanced Debt and shall not have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity shorter than the then-remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Refinanced Debt, (ii) the other terms and conditions of such Indebtedness shall either, at the option of the Borrower (A) reflect market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence or issuance (as determined by the Borrower); provided that, if any financial maintenance covenant is added for the benefit of the lenders holding such Indebtedness (regardless of whether such Indebtedness has terms and conditions consistent with market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence) which is more restrictive than any financial maintenance covenant set forth in this Agreement, such financial maintenance covenant shall also be added for the benefit of the Lenders of Term Loans until the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Loans outstanding immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness; provided, further, that, the foregoing proviso shall not apply to the extent that such financial maintenance covenant applies solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Facility), or (B) if not consistent with the terms of the Refinanced Debt being refinanced or replaced, not be materially more restrictive (taken as a whole) to the Borrower (as determined by the Borrower) than those applicable to the Refinanced Debt being refinanced or replaced (except for (x) pricing, premiums, fees, rate floors and prepayment and redemption terms, (y) covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Facility at the time immediately prior to incurrence of such Indebtedness and (z) terms and conditions (including any financial maintenance covenant) of such Indebtedness which are materially more restrictive to the Borrower than the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to the extent the Lenders of any Initial Term Loans remaining after the incurrence of such Indebtedness receive the benefit of such materially more restrictive terms and conditions until the Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans), (iii) no such Indebtedness that is in exchange for, extends, renews, replaces, repurchases, retires or refinances, the existing Term Loans or any Incremental Equivalent Debt (only to the extent pari passu in right of security with the Term Loans) in part only will be incurred or guaranteed by any Person that does not guarantee the Obligations and, to the extent secured, shall (A) be secured only by the Collateral or (B) not be secured by any assets not securing the Obligations (other than customary debt service reserve or other cash collateral accounts or any assets constituting Excluded Assets; provided that to the extent any such Indebtedness is secured by debt service reserve or other cash collateral accounts and such security interest is perfected by “control” pursuant to a Control Agreement, the remaining Term Loans shall be so secured on a pari passu or senior priority basis (depending on whether such Term Loans rank pari passu or senior in right of payment and security) with respect to such accounts in accordance with such Control Agreement(s)), (iv) the applicable Refinanced Debt shall be repaid, repurchased, retired, defeased or satisfied and discharged, all accrued interest, fees,
premiums (if any) and penalties in connection therewith shall be paid, and all commitments thereunder terminated, on the date such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or obtained, and (v) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral, the holders of Indebtedness shall have the priority in right of security with respect to the Collateral that is the same as or more junior than the Term Facility and, if applicable, the holders of such Indebtedness or their representative on their behalf shall become party to an Intercreditor Agreement depending on the ranking of such Indebtedness in right of payment and security.
“Permitted Tax Distribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.05(i)(iii).
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.
“Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) sponsored, maintained or contributed to by Borrower.
“Plan Asset Regulations” means the regulations issued by the United States Department of Labor at Section 2510.3-101 of Part 2510 of Chapter XXV, Title 29 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA, as the same may be amended from time to time.
“Platform” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.
“Pledge Agreement” means that Pledge Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F-2, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Pledgor and the Collateral Agent.
“Pledged Debt” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.
“Pledged Equity” has the meaning set forth in the applicable Collateral Documents.
“Pledgor” means Venture Global Calcasieu Pass Holding, LLC.
“Prime Rate” means, for any day, the rate of interest last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the U.S. for such day or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the FRB in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate for such day or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the FRB (as determined by the Administrative Agent), in each case, for such day. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective on the date that such change is publicly announced or quoted as being effective.
“Pro Forma Basis”, “Pro Forma Compliance” and “Pro Forma Effect” mean, with respect to compliance with any test hereunder, that all Specified Transactions and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test: (i) any retirement of Indebtedness, (ii) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination and (iii) any asset sale or other disposition; in each case, as determined by the Borrower in good faith.
“Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to each Lender, at any time a fraction (expressed as a percentage, carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the
Commitments and, if applicable and without duplication, Loans of such Lender under the applicable Class or Classes at such time and the denominator of which is the amount of the Aggregate Commitments under the applicable Class or Classes and, if applicable and without duplication, Loans under the applicable Class or Classes at such time.
“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.
“Public Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.
“Qualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interests that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.
“Qualified Proceeds” means the fair market value of assets that are used or useful in, or Equity Interests of any Person engaged in, a Similar Business.
“Qualifying Lender” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).
“Quarterly Payment Date” means (a) the Initial Quarterly Payment Date and (b) the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first full quarter after the Initial Quarterly Payment Date.
“Ratings Event” means, in the context of a Permitted Change of Control, the debt rating on the Term Loans or the corporate rating of the Borrower is downgraded to a lower level by any two (or one, if there is only one such rating agency) of the rating agencies which such agencies have been engaged by, or on behalf of the Borrower, to issue a debt rating on the Term Loans or a corporate rating of the Borrower, as applicable, on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the Term Loans or the Borrower is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the rating agencies) commencing on the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the intention of the Borrower to effect a Change of Control and ending sixty (60) days following consummation of such Change of Control.
“Ratio Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(d)(iv).
“Real Property” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold, mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned or leased by any Person, whether by lease, license or other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.
“Refinanced Debt” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness”.
“Refinancing Amendment” means an amendment to this Agreement executed by each of (a) the Borrower, (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) each Additional Refinancing Lender and (d) each Lender that agrees to provide any portion of Refinancing Term Loans incurred pursuant thereto, in accordance with Section 2.15.
“Refinancing Commitments” means one or more Classes of Commitments hereunder that are established to fund Refinancing Term Loans of the applicable Refinancing Series hereunder pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment.
“Refinancing Series” means all Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Commitments that are established pursuant to the same Refinancing Amendment (or any subsequent Refinancing Amendment to the extent such Refinancing Amendment expressly provides that the Refinancing Term Loans or Refinancing Commitments provided for therein are intended to be a part of any previously established Refinancing Series) and that provide for the same All-In Yield and amortization schedule.
“Refinancing Term Loans” means one or more Classes of Term Loans hereunder that result from a Refinancing Amendment.
“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(d).
“Registered Equivalent Notes” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in an offering pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act of 1933, substantially identical notes (having the same guarantees) issued in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.
“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Pension Plan, other than events for which the thirty (30) day notice period has been waived.
“Repricing Transaction” means the prepayment, refinancing, substitution or replacement of all or a portion of the Initial Term Loans with the incurrence by the Borrower of any broadly syndicated Dollar-denominated floating rate term loan financing (other than term A loans) secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans having an All-In Yield that is less than the All-In Yield (as determined by the Administrative Agent on the same basis) of such Initial Term Loans so repaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced, including, without limitation, as may be effected through any amendment, amendment or restatement or other modifications to this Agreement relating to the interest rate for, or weighted average yield of, such Initial Term Loans, in each case the primary purpose of which is to reduce such All-In Yield and which is not incurred in connection with a Change of Control, an initial public offering, dividend recapitalization, any material Investment permitted under Section 7.02 (or upsizing in connection therewith), material Disposition permitted under Section 7.05 or any transaction otherwise permitted under the Loan Documents.
“Required Class Lenders” means, with respect to any Class on any date of determination, Lenders having more than fifty percent (50%) of the sum of (i) the outstanding Loans under such Class and (ii) the aggregate unused Commitments under such Class; provided that the unused Commitments (if any) of, and the portion of the outstanding Loans under such Class held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the Required Class Lenders; provided, further, that, to the same extent set forth in Section 10.07(n) with respect to determination of Required Lenders, the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Class Lenders.
“Required Lenders” mean, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than fifty percent (50%) of the sum of (a) the Total Outstandings under such Class and (b) the aggregate unused Commitments; provided that the unused Commitments (if any) of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of the Required Lenders; provided, further, that, to the same extent set forth in Section 10.07(n) with respect to determination of Required Lenders, the Loans of any Affiliated Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“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, vice president, chief financial officer, chief legal officer, secretary, treasurer or assistant treasurer or other authorized officer or manager of the Borrower and, as to any document delivered on the Closing Date or any document similar to any such document, any secretary or assistant secretary or other authorized officer or manager of the Borrower and any officer or employee of the Borrower where the signature is included on an incumbency certificate or similar certificate reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. 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.
“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interest of the Borrower, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Persons thereof).
“Restricted Payment Conditions” means, (a) no Payment or Bankruptcy Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (b) all interest and amortization then due and payable on the Loans shall have been paid and (c) the Borrower shall be in compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 7.09.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a business unit of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, and any successor thereto.
“Same Day Funds” means immediately available funds.
“Sanctioned Person” means any Person: (a) identified on a Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by any Governmental Authority, including, the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by OFAC; (b) located, organized or ordinarily resident in any country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive country-wide or territory-wide Sanctions broadly restricting or prohibiting dealings with such country or territory (currently, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, the Crimea, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, and the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine, and the areas not controlled by the Ukrainian government in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine); or (c) 50% or more owned or controlled in the aggregate by, or acting for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any Person or Persons described in the foregoing clause (a) and/or (b).
“Sanctions” means any economic or financial sanction administered or enforced by the United States government (including OFAC), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, or the United Kingdom, including His Majesty’s Treasury.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Secured First Lien Hedge Agreement” means any Secured Other Hedge Agreement that, in each case, the Borrower shall elect to be secured by the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations.
“Secured Hedge Agreement” means any (a) Secured Loan Document Hedge Agreement and (b) Secured First Lien Hedge Agreement.
“Secured Hedge Obligations” means the obligations owed by the Borrower to any Hedge Bank under any Secured Loan Document Hedge Agreement (excluding, with respect to the Borrower, Excluded Swap Obligations of the Borrower).
“Secured Loan Document Hedge Agreement” means any Swap Contract permitted under Article VII that is entered into by and between the Borrower and any Hedge Bank that constitutes a Hedge Bank pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of the definition of “Hedge Bank”, as applicable.
“Secured Other Hedge Agreement” means any Other Hedge Agreement that, in each case, the Borrower shall elect to be secured by a security interest in the Collateral ranking pari passu with or junior to the Liens securing the Obligations that is entered into by and between the Borrower and any other Person; provided that, the Other Debt Representative with respect to each Secured Other Hedge Agreement shall become party to (a) if such Secured Other Hedge Agreement is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (if any) as a “Senior Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement), if applicable, and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (b) if such Secured Other Hedge Agreement is secured by the Collateral on a junior priority basis to the Liens securing the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement as a “Junior Lien Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement).
“Secured Parties” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, the Hedge Banks, Cash Management Banks, the Supplemental Agents and each co-agent or sub-agent appointed by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent from time to time pursuant to Section 9.02.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F-1, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Borrower and the Collateral Agent, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Similar Business” means (a) any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the Borrower and/or CPH on the Closing Date, and any reasonable extension thereof or (b) any business or other activities that are reasonably similar, ancillary, incidental, complementary or related to, or a reasonable extension, development or expansion of, the businesses in which the Borrower and/or CPH are engaged or propose to be engaged on the Closing Date.
“SOFR” means, with respect to any Business Day, a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate for such Business Day published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website at approximately 2:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the immediately succeeding Business Day.
“SOFR Administrator” means the NYFRB (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).
“SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the website of the NYFRB, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.
“Solicited Discount Proration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(3).
“Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).
“Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of the Borrower of Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(D) substantially in the form of Exhibit L-6.
“Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer” means the irrevocable written offer by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit L-7, submitted following the Administrative Agent’s receipt of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice.
“Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)(1).
“Solvent” and “Solvency” mean, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, that on such date (a) the fair value of the assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is 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) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such liabilities become absolute and matured and (d) such Person and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, are not engaged in, and are not about to engage in, business for which they have unreasonably small capital. 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.
“SPC” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(i).
“Specified Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1).
“Specified Discount Prepayment Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1).
“Specified Discount Prepayment Notice” means a written notice of the Borrower of a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1) substantially in the form of Exhibit L-8.
“Specified Discount Prepayment Response” means the irrevocable written response by each Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit L-9, to a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice.
“Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(1).
“Specified Discount Proration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)(3).
“Specified Equity Contribution” means any cash contribution to the common equity of the Borrower and/or any purchase or investment in an Equity Interest of the Borrower other than Disqualified Equity Interests.
“Specified Governing Document” means the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Calcasieu Pass Holdings, LLC, dated as of August 19, 2019, by and among the Borrower, Stonepeak Bayou Holdings LP and Calcasieu Pass Holdings, LLC, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, in each case subject to compliance with Section 7.12.
“Specified Representations” means those representations and warranties of the Borrower in Sections 5.01(a), 5.02(b)(ii), 5.02(a), 5.02(b)(i), 5.04, 5.13, 5.18, 5.20 (except for clauses (a) and (b)) and 5.21 (subject to customary “SunGuard” provisions with respect to delivery and perfection of acquired collateral).
“Specified Transaction” means any Investment, Disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment or Incremental Term Loan in respect of which the terms of this Agreement require any test to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis” or after giving “Pro Forma Effect”.
“Sponsor” means Venture Global LNG, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
“Submitted Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).
“Submitted Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)(1).
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which (a) 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, (b) more than half of the issued share capital is at the time beneficially owned or (c) 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 (if any).
“Supplemental Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(a) and “Supplemental Agents” shall have the corresponding meaning.
“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) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person to pay or perform under any Swap Contract.
“Tax Sharing Agreement” means that Tax Sharing Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2023, by and among Venture Global Holdings, Inc., the Sponsor, the Borrower, Venture Global Commodities, LLC and each subsidiary of Venture Global Holdings, Inc. party thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Taxes” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).
“TCP” means TransCameron Pipeline, LLC.
“Term Facility” means the Term Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, any Extended Term Loans, Incremental Term Loans, or any Refinancing Term Loans, as the context may require.
“Term Loan Increase” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(a).
“Term Loans” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Loans”.
“Term SOFR” means,
(a) for any calculation with respect to any Borrowing of Benchmark Rate Loans with respect to which interest is determined with reference to the Term SOFR, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable Interest Period has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has
not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Interest Period as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such Interest Period was published by the Term SOFR Administrator, 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 Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, and
(b) for any calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of one month on the day (such day, the “Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Base Rate Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such ABR SOFR Determination Day;
provided, further, that if Term SOFR determined as provided above (including pursuant to the proviso under clause (a) or clause (b) above) shall ever be less than the Floor, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.
“Term SOFR Administrator” means the CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion).
“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent as the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR published by the Term SOFR Administrator.
“Test Period” means for any date of determination under this Agreement, a period consisting of the latest four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters of the Borrower (or such shorter periods described in the definition of “Debt Service Coverage Ratio” or “Total Net Leverage Ratio”) for which financial statements have been delivered to the Administrative Agent following the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6.01 or, before the first delivery of financials pursuant to Section 6.01, the most recent period of four fiscal quarters at the end of which financial statements are available.
“Threshold Amount” means $200,000,000.
“Total Net Debt” means the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower in an amount that would be reflected on a combined balance sheet prepared as of such date for such Persons in accordance with GAAP (but excluding the effects of any discounting of Indebtedness resulting from the application of purchase accounting in connection with the Transactions or other Investments and excluding any Indebtedness incurred by any other Person), consisting of Indebtedness in respect of third party debt for borrowed money, Attributable Indebtedness or purchase money debt, debt obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments and all guarantees of the foregoing minus the aggregate amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Borrower; provided that Total Net Debt shall not include Indebtedness in respect of letters of credit, except to the extent of unreimbursed amounts thereunder (provided, that any unreimbursed amount under commercial
letters of credit shall not be counted as Total Net Debt until three (3) Business Days after such amount is drawn); it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that unused commitments and obligations under Swap Contracts do not constitute Total Net Debt.
“Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, as determined for the applicable measurement period, the ratio of (a) Total Net Debt (which, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be measured as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter) to (b) Distributed Cash.
“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.
“Transaction Expenses” means any costs, fees or expenses incurred or paid by the Investors, any parent entity of the Borrower, the Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions (including expenses in connection with hedging transactions related to the Obligations and any original issue discount or upfront fees), this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
“Transactions” has the meaning set forth in the preliminary statements to this Agreement.
“Treasury Services Agreement” means any agreement between the Borrower and any Cash Management Bank relating to treasury, depository, credit card, debit card, stored value cards, purchasing or procurement cards and cash management services or automated clearinghouse transfer of funds or any similar services.
“Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Benchmark Rate Loan.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment with respect thereto.
“Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.
“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” or “U.S.” means the United States of America.
“United States Tax Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibits J-1, J-2, J-3 and J-4 hereto, as applicable.
“USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Title III of Public Law 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001), as amended or modified from time to time.
“U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States Person” (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code).
“VGCP” means Venture Global Calcasieu Pass, LLC.
“VGCP Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of August 5, 2021, by and VGCP, TCP, any other guarantors that may become party thereto from time to time, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 22, 2021, and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 13, 2023.
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing: (a) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
“wholly owned” means, with respect to a Subsidiary of a Person, a Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Equity Interests of which (other than (x) director’s qualifying shares and (y) shares issued to foreign nationals to the extent required by applicable Law) are owned by such Person and/or by one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
“Withholding Agent” means the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, (a) with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule and (b) with respect to the United Kingdom, any powers of the applicable Resolution Authority under the Bail-In Legislation to cancel, reduce, modify or change the form of a liability of any UK Financial Institution or any contract or instrument under which that liability arises, to convert all or part of that liability into shares, securities or obligations of that person or any other person, to provide that any such contract or instrument is to have effect as if a right had been exercised under it or to suspend any obligation in respect of that liability or any of the powers under that Bail-In Legislation that are related to or ancillary to any of those powers.
Section 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 meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
(b) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document shall refer to such Loan Document as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.
(c) Article, Section, Exhibit and Schedule references are to the Loan Document in which such reference appears.
(d) The term “including” is by way of example and not limitation.
(e) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.
(f) 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.”
(g) 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.
(h) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, when (i) calculating any applicable ratio in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness, the issuance of Disqualified Equity Interests, the creation of Liens, the making of any Disposition, the making of an Investment, the making of a Restricted Payment or the repayment of Indebtedness or Disqualified Equity Interests, (ii) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires that no Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, (iii) determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires compliance with any representations and warranties set forth herein or (iv) determining the satisfaction of all other conditions precedent to the incurrence of Indebtedness, the issuance of Disqualified Equity Interests, the creation of Liens, the making of any Disposition, the making of an Investment, the making of a Restricted Payment or the repayment of Indebtedness or Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case in connection with a Limited Condition Transaction, the date of determination of such ratio or other provisions, determination of whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred, is continuing or would result therefrom, determination of compliance with any representations or warranties or the satisfaction of any other conditions shall, at the option of the Borrower (the Borrower’s election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction, an “LCT Election,” which LCT Election may be in respect of one or more of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements (or other relevant definitive documentation) for such Limited Condition Transaction are entered into (the “LCT Test Date”). If after giving effect (or giving Pro Forma Effect, as applicable) to such Limited Condition Transaction and the other transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness or Disqualified Equity Interests and the use of proceeds thereof), the Borrower could have taken such action on the relevant LCT Test Date in compliance with the applicable ratios or other provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with, unless an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01(a) or Section 8.01(f) shall be continuing on the date such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated. For the avoidance of doubt, (1) if, following the LCT Test Date, any of such ratios or other provisions are exceeded or breached as a result of fluctuations in such ratio or other provisions at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Transactions, such ratios and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded or failed to have been satisfied as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Transaction is permitted hereunder and (2) such ratios and compliance with such conditions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or related transactions, unless, other than if an Event of Default pursuant to Section 8.01(a), or Section 8.01(f), shall be continuing on such date, the Borrower elects, in its sole
discretion, to test such ratios and compliance with such conditions on the date such Limited Condition Transaction or related transactions is consummated. If the Borrower has made an LCT Election for any Limited Condition Transaction, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio, basket availability or compliance with any other provision hereunder (other than actual compliance with the Financial Performance Covenant) on or following the relevant LCT Test Date and prior to the earliest of the date on which such Limited Condition Transaction is consummated, the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Transaction is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Transaction or the date the Borrower makes an election pursuant to clause (2) of the immediately preceding sentence, any such ratio, basket or compliance with any other provision hereunder shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Transaction and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence or issuance of Indebtedness or Disqualified Equity Interests, and the use of proceeds thereof) had been consummated on the LCT Test Date. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, if the Borrower (x) incurs Indebtedness, issues Disqualified Equity Interests, creates Liens, makes Dispositions, makes Investments, makes Restricted Payments or repays any Indebtedness or Disqualified Equity Interests in connection with any Limited Condition Transaction under a ratio-based basket and (y) incurs Indebtedness, issues Disqualified Equity Interests, creates Liens, makes Dispositions, Investments or Restricted Payments or repays any Indebtedness or Disqualified Equity Interests in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction under a non-ratio-based basket, then the applicable ratio will be calculated with respect to any such action under the applicable ratio-based basket without regard to any such action under such non-ratio-based basket made in connection with such Limited Condition Transaction.
Section 1.03 Accounting Terms. 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, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
Section 1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement (or required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be permitted under 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).
Section 1.05 References to Agreements, Laws, Etc. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (a) references to Organization Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted by the Loan Documents; and (b) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.
Section 1.06 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
Section 1.07 Timing of Payment or Performance. When the payment of any obligation or the performance of any covenant, duty or obligation is stated to be due or performance required on a day which is not a Business Day, the date of such payment (other than as described in the definition of “Interest Period”) or performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.
Section 1.08 Negative Covenant Compliance. For purposes of determining whether the Borrower is in compliance with any exception to Article VII (other than the Financial Performance Covenant) where compliance with any such exception is based on a financial ratio or metric being satisfied as of a particular point in time, it is understood that (a) compliance shall be measured at the time when the relevant event is undertaken, as such financial ratios and metrics are intended to be “incurrence” tests and not “maintenance” tests and (b) correspondingly, any such ratio and metric shall only prohibit the Borrower from creating, incurring, assuming, suffering to exist or making, as the case may be, any new, for example, Liens, Indebtedness, Investments, Dispositions or Restricted Payments, but shall not result in any previously permitted, for example, Liens, Indebtedness, Investments, Dispositions or Restricted Payments ceasing to be permitted hereunder. For avoidance of doubt, with respect to determining whether the Borrower is in compliance with any negative covenant in Article VII (other than the Financial Performance Covenant), to the extent that any obligation or transaction could be attributable to more than one exception to any such negative covenant, the Borrower may elect to categorize all or any portion of such obligation or transaction to any one or more exceptions to such negative covenant that permit such obligation or transaction.
Section 1.09 Division. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (a) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (b) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time.
ARTICLE II
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS
Section 2.01 The Initial Term Borrowings. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make to the Borrower on the Closing Date term loans denominated in Dollars in an aggregate amount not to exceed the amount of such Lender’s Initial Commitment. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01 and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Initial Term Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Benchmark Rate Loans, as further provided herein.
Section 2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.
(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Benchmark Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone (confirmed by a written Committed Loan Notice). Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (i) 12:00 noon New York City time three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Benchmark Rate Loans or any conversion of Base Rate Loans to Benchmark Rate Loans, and (ii) 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans; provided that the notice referred to in subclause (i) above may be delivered no later than one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date in the case of the Initial Term Borrowing and may be conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing Date. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Benchmark Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000, or a whole multiple of $100,000, in excess thereof. Except as provided in the last sentence of this paragraph, each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal
amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Benchmark Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, converted to, or continued as, Benchmark Rate Loans with an Interest Period of one (1) month. Any such automatic conversion to, or continuation as, Benchmark Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Benchmark Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Benchmark Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one (1) month.
(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of the applicable Class of Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Benchmark Rate Loans or continuation described in Section 2.02(a). In the case of each Borrowing, each Appropriate Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Except as otherwise provided in the following sentence, 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 in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.
Except as otherwise provided herein, a Benchmark Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Benchmark Rate Loan unless the Borrower pays the amount due, if any, under Section 3.05 in connection therewith. During the existence of a Payment or Bankruptcy Default, the Administrative Agent shall, at the direction of the Required Lenders, require that no Loan may be converted to or continued as Benchmark Rate Loans.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Benchmark Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Benchmark Rate by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the Prime Rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the announcement of such change.
(d) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans, from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than fifteen (15) Interest Periods in effect; provided that after the establishment of any new Class of Loans pursuant to an Incremental Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Extension Amendment, the number of Interest Periods otherwise permitted by this Section 2.02(d) shall increase by three (3) Interest Periods for each applicable Class so established.
(e) The failure of any Lender to make the Loan to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Loan on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Loan to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing or make any other payment obligation under the Loan Documents.
Section 2.03 [Reserved].
Section 2.04 [Reserved].
Section 2.05 Prepayments.
(a) Voluntary. (i) The Borrower may, upon, subject to clause (iii) below, irrevocable written notice to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans of any Class in whole or in part without premium or penalty (subject to Section 2.05(a)(iv)); provided that (1) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. New York City time (A) three (3) Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Benchmark Rate Loans and (B) one (1) Business Day prior to the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (2) any prepayment of Benchmark Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000, or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof; and (3) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Class(es) and Type(s) of Loans and the order of Borrowing(s) to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share or other applicable share provided for under this Agreement of such prepayment. If such notice 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. Any prepayment of a Benchmark Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon to such date, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. In the case of each prepayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a), the Borrower may in its sole discretion select the Borrowing or Borrowings (and the order of maturity of principal payments) to be repaid (and in the absence of such direction, in direct order of maturity), and such payment shall be paid to the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares or other applicable share as provided for under this Agreement.
(ii) [Reserved].
(iii) Subject to the payment of any amounts owing pursuant to Section 3.05, the Borrower may rescind any notice of prepayment under Section 2.05(a)(i) if such prepayment would have resulted from a refinancing of all or a portion of the applicable Class, which refinancing shall not be consummated or shall otherwise be delayed. Each prepayment of any Class of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) shall be applied as directed by the Borrower (which may be applied to any specific Class, tranche or Class of Indebtedness) and, absent such direction, shall be applied in direct order of maturity to repayments thereof required pursuant to Section 2.07(a).
(iv) In the event that, prior to the date that is six (6) months following the Closing Date, the Borrower (x) prepays, refinances, substitutes or replaces any Initial Term Loans pursuant to a Repricing Transaction, or (y) effects any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, the Borrower shall
pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each of the applicable Lenders, (1) in the case of clause (x), a prepayment premium of one percent (1.0%) of the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loans so prepaid, refinanced, substituted or replaced and (2) in the case of clause (y), a fee equal to one percent (1.0%) of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Initial Term Loans amended or otherwise modified pursuant to such amendment. If, prior to the six (6)-month anniversary of the Closing Date, any Lender that is a Non-Consenting Lender and is replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a) in connection with any amendment, amendment and restatement or other modification of this Agreement resulting in a Repricing Transaction, such Lender (and not any Person who replaces such Lender pursuant to Section 3.07(a)) shall receive its Pro Rata Share (as determined immediately prior to it being so replaced) of the prepayment premium or fee described in the preceding sentence. Such amounts shall be due and payable on the date of effectiveness of such Repricing Transaction.
(v) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower may prepay the outstanding Term Loans (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be automatically and permanently canceled immediately upon such prepayment) (or the Borrower may purchase such outstanding Term Loans and immediately cancel them) on the following basis:
(A) The Borrower shall have the right to make a voluntary prepayment of Term Loans at a discount to par pursuant to a Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment, Borrower Solicitation of Discount Range Prepayment Offers or Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers (any such prepayment, the “Discounted Term Loan Prepayment”), in each case made in accordance with this Section 2.05(a)(v); provided that the Borrower shall not initiate any action under this Section 2.05(a)(v) in order to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment unless (I) at least ten (10) Business Days shall have passed since the consummation of the most recent Discounted Term Loan Prepayment as a result of a prepayment made by the Borrower on the applicable Discounted Prepayment Effective Date; or (II) at least three (3) Business Days shall have passed since the most recent Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, Discount Range Prepayment Response Date or Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date has occurred with no acceptance of any prepayment at the Specified Discount, offer to accept any prepayment at a discount within the Discount Range or at any discount to par value, as applicable, or in the case of Borrower Solicitation of Discounted Prepayment Offers, the date of the Borrower’s election not to accept any Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers.
(B) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, the Borrower may from time to time offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Specified Discount Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such offer shall be made available, at the sole discretion of the Borrower, to (x) each Lender and/or (y) each Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such offer shall specify the aggregate principal amount offered to be prepaid (the “Specified Discount Prepayment Amount”) with respect to each applicable tranche, the tranche or tranches of Term Loans subject to such offer and the specific percentage discount to par (the “Specified Discount”) of such Term Loans to be prepaid (it being understood that different Specified Discounts and/or Specified Discount Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be
treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(a)(v)(B)), (III) the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than, in the case of Benchmark Rate Loans, $1,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and, in the case of Base Rate Loans, $1,000,000 and whole increments of $250,000 in excess thereof, and (IV) each such offer shall remain outstanding through the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender for each applicable tranche with a copy of such Specified Discount Prepayment Notice and a form of the Specified Discount Prepayment Response to be completed and returned by each such Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Lenders (the “Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date”).
(2) Each Lender receiving such offer shall notify the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date whether or not it agrees to accept a prepayment of any of its applicable then outstanding Term Loans at the Specified Discount and, if so (such accepting Lender, a “Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender”), the amount and the tranches of such Lender’s Term Loans to be prepaid at such offered discount. Each acceptance of a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment by a Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender shall be irrevocable. Any Lender whose Specified Discount Prepayment Response is not received by the Auction Agent by the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept the applicable Borrower Offer of Specified Discount Prepayment.
(3) If there is at least one Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender, the Borrower will make a prepayment of outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this paragraph (B) to each Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender in accordance with the respective outstanding amount and tranches of Term Loans specified in such Lender’s Specified Discount Prepayment Response given pursuant to subsection (2) above; provided that, if the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans accepted for prepayment by all Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders exceeds the Specified Discount Prepayment Amount, such prepayment shall be made pro rata among the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts accepted to be prepaid by each such Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with the Borrower and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “Specified Discount Proration”). The Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within three (3) Business Days following the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) the Borrower of the respective Lenders’ responses to such offer, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid on such date, (II) each Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, and the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of Term Loans to be prepaid at the Specified Discount on such date and (III) each Discount Prepayment Accepting Lender of the Specified Discount Proration, if any, and confirmation of the principal amount, tranche and Type of Term Loans of such Lender to be prepaid at the Specified Discount on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date.
Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to the Borrower and such Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the Borrower shall be due and payable by the Borrower on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).
(C) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, the Borrower may from time to time solicit Discount Range Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Discount Range Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of the Borrower, to (x) each Lender and/or (y) each Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate principal amount of the relevant Term Loans (the “Discount Range Prepayment Amount”), the tranche or tranches of Term Loans subject to such offer and the maximum and minimum percentage discounts to par (the “Discount Range”) of the principal amount of such Term Loans with respect to each relevant tranche of Term Loans willing to be prepaid by the Borrower (it being understood that different Discount Ranges and/or Discount Range Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(a)(v)(C)), (III) the Discount Range Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than, in the case of Benchmark Rate Loans, $1,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and, in the case of Base Rate Loans, $1,000,000 and whole increments of $250,000 in excess thereof, and (IV) each such solicitation by the Borrower shall remain outstanding through the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender with a copy of such Discount Range Prepayment Notice and a form of the Discount Range Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m., on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Lenders (the “Discount Range Prepayment Response Date”). Each Lender’s Discount Range Prepayment Offer shall be irrevocable and shall specify a discount to par within the Discount Range (the “Submitted Discount”) at which such Lender is willing to allow prepayment of any or all of its then outstanding Term Loans of the applicable tranche or tranches and the maximum aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Lender’s Term Loans (the “Submitted Amount”) such Lender is willing to have prepaid at the Submitted Discount. Any Lender whose Discount Range Prepayment Offer is not received by the Auction Agent by the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined to accept or offer a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount to their par value within the Discount Range with respect to the relevant solicitation.
(2) The Auction Agent shall review all Discount Range Prepayment Offers received on or before the applicable Discount Range Prepayment Response Date and shall determine (in consultation with the Borrower and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the Applicable Discount and Term Loans to be prepaid at such Applicable Discount in accordance with this subsection (C). The Borrower agrees to accept on the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date all Discount
Range Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, in the order from the Submitted Discount that is the largest discount to par to the Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par, up to and including the Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the Discount Range (such Submitted Discount that is the smallest discount to par within the Discount Range being referred to as the “Applicable Discount”) which yields a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment in an aggregate principal amount equal to the lower of (I) the Discount Range Prepayment Amount and (II) the sum of all Submitted Amounts. Each Lender that has submitted a Discount Range Prepayment Offer to accept prepayment at a discount to par that is larger than or equal to the Applicable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its Submitted Amount (subject to any required proration pursuant to the following subsection (3)) at the Applicable Discount (each such Lender, a “Participating Lender”).
(3) If there is at least one Participating Lender, the Borrower will prepay the respective outstanding Term Loans of each Participating Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the tranches specified in such Lender’s Discount Range Prepayment Offer at the Applicable Discount; provided that if the Submitted Amount by all Participating Lenders offered at a discount to par greater than or equal to the Applicable Discount exceeds the Discount Range Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the relevant Term Loans for those Participating Lenders whose Submitted Discount is a discount to par greater than or equal to the Applicable Discount (the “Identified Participating Lenders”) shall be made pro rata among the Identified Participating Lenders in accordance with the Submitted Amount of each such Identified Participating Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with the Borrower and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “Discount Range Proration”). The Auction Agent shall promptly, and in any case within five (5) Business Days following the Discount Range Prepayment Response Date, notify (I) the Borrower of the respective Lenders’ responses to such solicitation, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount of the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid on such date, (II) each Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Applicable Discount, and the aggregate principal amount and tranches of Term Loans to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Participating Lender of the aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Lender to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, and (IV) if applicable, each Identified Participating Lender of the Discount Range Proration. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to the Borrower and Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the Borrower shall be due and payable by the Borrower on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).
(D) (1) Subject to the proviso to subsection (A) above, the Borrower may from time to time solicit Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers by providing the Auction Agent with five (5) Business Days’ notice in the form of a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice; provided that (I) any such solicitation shall be extended, at the sole discretion of the Borrower, to (x) each Lender and/or (y) each Lender with respect to any Class of Term Loans on an individual tranche basis, (II) any such notice shall specify the maximum aggregate amount of the Term Loans (the “Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount”) and the tranche or tranches of Term Loans the Borrower is willing to prepay at a discount (it being understood that different Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amounts may be offered with respect to different tranches of Term Loans and, in such event, each such offer will be treated as a separate offer pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.05(a)(v)(D)), (III) the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount shall be in an aggregate amount not less than, in the case of Benchmark Rate Loans, $1,000,000 and whole increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and, in the case of Base Rate Loans, $1,000,000 and whole increments of $250,000 in excess thereof, and (IV) each such solicitation by the Borrower shall remain outstanding through the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. The Auction Agent will promptly provide each Appropriate Lender with a copy of such Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice and a form of the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer to be submitted by a responding Lender to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) by no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time), on the third Business Day after the date of delivery of such notice to such Lenders (the “Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date”). Each Lender’s Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer shall (x) be irrevocable, (y) remain outstanding until the Acceptance Date and (z) specify both a discount to par (the “Offered Discount”) at which such Lender is willing to allow prepayment of its then outstanding Term Loan and the maximum aggregate principal amount and tranches of such Term Loans (the “Offered Amount”) such Lender is willing to have prepaid at the Offered Discount. Any Lender whose Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer is not received by the Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date shall be deemed to have declined accepting or offering prepayment of any of its Term Loans at any discount with respect to the relevant solicitation.
(2) The Auction Agent shall promptly provide the Borrower with a copy of all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received on or before the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date. The Borrower shall review all such Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers and select the smallest of the Offered Discounts specified by the relevant responding Lenders in the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers that is acceptable to the Borrower (the “Acceptable Discount”), if any. If the Borrower elects to accept any Offered Discount as the Acceptable Discount, then as soon as practicable after the determination of the Acceptable Discount, but in no event later than by the third Business Day after the date of receipt by the Borrower from the Auction Agent of a copy of all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers pursuant to the first sentence of this subsection (2) (the “Acceptance Date”), the Borrower shall submit an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice to the Auction Agent setting forth the Acceptable Discount. If the Auction Agent shall fail to receive an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice from the Borrower by the Acceptance Date, the Borrower shall be deemed to have rejected all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers with respect to the relevant solicitation.
(3) Based upon the Acceptable Discount and the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, within three (3) Business Days after receipt of an Acceptance and Prepayment Notice (the “Discounted Prepayment Determination Date”), the Auction Agent will determine (in consultation with the Borrower and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of Term Loans (the “Acceptable Prepayment Amount”) to be prepaid by the Borrower at the Acceptable Discount in accordance with this Section 2.05(a)(v)(D). If the Borrower elects to accept any Acceptable Discount, then the Borrower agrees to accept all Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers received by Auction Agent by the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Response Date, in the order from largest Offered Discount to smallest Offered Discount, up to and including the Acceptable Discount. Each Lender that has submitted a Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer with an Offered Discount that is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount shall be deemed to have irrevocably consented to prepayment of Term Loans equal to its Offered Amount (subject to any required pro-rata reduction pursuant to the following sentence) at the Acceptable Discount (each such Lender, a “Qualifying Lender”). The Borrower will prepay outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this subsection (D) to each Qualifying Lender in the aggregate principal amount and of the tranches specified in such Lender’s Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offer at the Acceptable Discount; provided that if the aggregate Offered Amount by all Qualifying Lenders whose Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount exceeds the Solicited Discounted Prepayment Amount, prepayment of the principal amount of the Term Loans for those Qualifying Lenders whose Offered Discount is greater than or equal to the Acceptable Discount (the “Identified Qualifying Lenders”) shall be made pro rata among the Identified Qualifying Lenders in accordance with the Offered Amount of each such Identified Qualifying Lender and the Auction Agent (in consultation with the Borrower and subject to rounding requirements of the Auction Agent made in its sole reasonable discretion) will calculate such proration (the “Solicited Discount Proration”). On or prior to the Discounted Prepayment Determination Date, the Auction Agent shall promptly notify (I) the Borrower of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and Acceptable Prepayment Amount comprising the Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and the tranches to be prepaid, (II) each Lender of the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, the Acceptable Discount, and the Acceptable Prepayment Amount of all Term Loans and the tranches to be prepaid at the Applicable Discount on such date, (III) each Qualifying Lender of the aggregate principal amount and the tranches of such Lender to be prepaid at the Acceptable Discount on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date, and (IV) if applicable, each Identified Qualifying Lender of the Solicited Discount Proration. Each determination by the Auction Agent of the amounts stated in the foregoing notices to the Borrower and Lenders shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The payment amount specified in such notice to the Borrower shall be due and payable by the Borrower on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in accordance with subsection (F) below (subject to subsection (J) below).
(E) In connection with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the Borrower and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Auction Agent may require as a condition to any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment, the payment of customary fees and expenses from the Borrower in connection therewith.
(F) If any Term Loan is prepaid in accordance with paragraphs (B) through (D) above, the Borrower shall prepay such Term Loans on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. The Borrower shall make such prepayment to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in immediately available funds not later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) (or such later time as reasonably agreed by the Administrative Agent) on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date and all such prepayments shall be applied to the remaining principal installments of the relevant tranche of Loans owing to the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, in direct order of maturity (unless otherwise specified by the Borrower). The Term Loans so prepaid shall be accompanied by all accrued and unpaid interest on the par principal amount so prepaid up to, but not including, the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date. Each prepayment of the outstanding Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v) shall be paid to the Discount Prepayment Accepting Lenders, Participating Lenders, or Qualifying Lenders, as applicable, and shall be applied to the relevant Loans of such Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share. The aggregate principal amount of the tranches and installments of the relevant Term Loans outstanding shall be deemed reduced by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the tranches of Term Loans prepaid on the Discounted Prepayment Effective Date in any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment. In connection with each prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v), the Borrower shall waive any right to bring any action against the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such, in connection with any such Discounted Term Loan Prepayment.
(G) To the extent not expressly provided for herein, each Discounted Term Loan Prepayment shall be consummated pursuant to procedures consistent with the provisions in this Section 2.05(a)(v), established by the Auction Agent acting in its reasonable discretion and as reasonably agreed by the Borrower.
(H) Notwithstanding anything in any Loan Document to the contrary, for purposes of this Section 2.05(a)(v), each notice or other communication required to be delivered or otherwise provided to the Auction Agent (or its delegate) shall be deemed to have been given upon Auction Agent’s (or its delegate’s) actual receipt during normal business hours of such notice or communication; provided that any notice or communication actually received outside of normal business hours shall be deemed to have been given as of the opening of business on the next Business Day.
(I) The Borrower and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Auction Agent may perform any and all of its duties under this Section 2.05(a)(v) by itself or through any Affiliate of the Auction Agent and expressly consents to any such delegation of duties by the Auction Agent to such Affiliate and the performance of such delegated duties by such Affiliate. The exculpatory provisions pursuant to this Agreement shall apply to each Affiliate of the Auction Agent and its respective activities in connection
with any Discounted Term Loan Prepayment provided for in this Section 2.05(a)(v) as well as activities of the Auction Agent.
(J) The Borrower shall have the right, by written notice to the Auction Agent, to revoke in full (but not in part) its offer to make a Discounted Term Loan Prepayment and rescind the applicable Specified Discount Prepayment Notice, Discount Range Prepayment Notice or Solicited Discounted Prepayment Notice therefor at its discretion at any time on or prior to the Specified Discount Prepayment Response Date, Discount Range Prepayment Response Date or, with respect to Solicited Discounted Prepayment Offers, the Borrower’s election to accept any Offered Discount, as applicable (and if such offer is revoked pursuant to the preceding clauses, any failure by the Borrower to make any prepayment to a Lender, as applicable, pursuant to this Section 2.05(a)(v) shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 8.01 or otherwise).
(b) Mandatory.
(i) Within ten (10) Business Days after financial statements have been delivered pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 6.01, as applicable, and the related Compliance Certificate has been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) for each fiscal quarter of the Borrower commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on or after September 30, 2026, the Borrower shall offer to prepay in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(vi) and (ix) below, an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans in an amount equal to the ECF Prepayment Percentage of Excess Cash Flow measured at the end of such fiscal quarter, if any; provided that, (I) all voluntary prepayments, redemption and repurchases of Term Loans (including permitted loan buy-backs, Dutch auctions, open market purchases and prepayments in connection with yank-a-bank provisions), in each case, in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount prepaid, redeemed or repurchased, of the loans under the Term Facility (including the Incremental Facilities), Incremental Equivalent Debt and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, and any other Indebtedness (and in the case of any revolving credit facilities, to the extent accompanied by a permanent reduction of the corresponding commitment) in each case, under this clause (I) made during such fiscal quarter (without duplication in the next fiscal quarter) or, at the Borrower’s election, after the end of such fiscal quarter and prior to the time such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due (in each case under this clause (I), except to the extent financed with indebtedness) and (II) all voluntary prepayments, repurchases and redemptions of Indebtedness secured by Liens on Excluded Assets (including those made through debt buybacks and in the case of below-par repurchases in an amount equal to the discounted amount actually paid in cash in respect of such below-par repurchase) and all amortization payments with respect to such Indebtedness during such fiscal quarter or after quarter-end and prior to when such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is due, in each case of the immediately preceding clauses (I) and (II), without duplication of any deduction from Excess Cash Flow in the definition thereof or in any prior period and to the extent not funded with Indebtedness of the Borrower, will reduce the amount of Excess Cash Flow prepayments required for such fiscal quarter on a dollar-for-dollar basis; provided that Distributable ECF from any prior fiscal quarter shall not be subject to the mandatory prepayment contemplated by this clause (i) in any future fiscal quarter.
(ii) If the Borrower receives Net Proceeds as described in clause (a)(a) of the definition thereof (other than Net Proceeds due to a Disposition of the Equity Interests in CP Pledgor) (to the extent such Disposition is not otherwise permitted under Section 7.05), then the
Borrower shall offer to prepay (or cause to be offered to be prepaid) in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(vi) and (ix) below, on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt by the Borrower of such Net Proceeds, an aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds realized or received; provided that no such payment shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii) if such amount is equal to or less than $25,000,000; provided, further, that, notwithstanding the immediately preceding clause, if at the time that any such prepayment would be required pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii), the Total Net Leverage Ratio, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, for the most recently ended Test Period is no greater than 3.85 to 1.00, then no such prepayment shall be required;
(iii) If the Borrower incurs or issues any Indebtedness after the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness not prohibited under Section 7.03 (excluding Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.03(r), which shall be used to prepay or redeem the applicable Refinanced Debt), the Borrower shall cause to be offered to be prepaid, on or prior to the date which is five (5) Business Days after the receipt by the Borrower of such Net Proceeds, in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(vi) and (ix) below an aggregate principal amount of Term Loans in an amount of the Net Proceeds received by the Borrower.
(iv) If the Borrower receives Net Proceeds due to a Disposition of the Equity Interests in CP Pledgor, in which, as a result of such Disposition, CPH no longer owns, directly or indirectly, 100% of CP Pledgor, then the Borrower shall offer to prepay (or cause to be offered to be prepaid) in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(vi) and (ix) below, on or prior to the date which is ten (10) Business Days after the date of the realization or receipt by the Borrower of such Net Proceeds, an aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds realized or received; provided that no such prepayment shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(iv) if the Total Net Leverage Ratio (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) does not exceed the Total Net Leverage Ratio with respect to the most recently ended Test Period immediately prior to such Disposition.
(v) If at the time that any prepayment pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 2.05(b) is required, the Borrower is required to prepay or repurchase (or offer to prepay or repurchase) any Other Applicable Indebtedness with cash or Cash Equivalents required to be applied towards any prepayment as set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 2.05(b), then the Borrower may apply such cash and Cash Equivalents on a pro rata basis to the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other Applicable Indebtedness at such time) and the amount of prepayment of the Term Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 2.05(b) shall be reduced accordingly; provided that (A) the portion of such cash and Cash Equivalents allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of such cash and Cash Equivalents required to be allocated to the Other Applicable Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof and (B) to the extent the holders of Other Applicable Indebtedness decline to have such Indebtedness repurchased or prepaid, the declined amount shall promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof.
(vi) Except with respect to Loans incurred in connection with any Refinancing Amendment, Term Loan Extension Request or any Incremental Amendment (which may be prepaid on a less than pro rata basis in accordance with its terms), (A) each prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied as between series, Classes or tranches of
Term Loans as directed by the Borrower (provided that any prepayment of Term Loans with the Net Proceeds of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall be applied solely to each applicable Class of refinanced Term Loans); (B) with respect to each Class of Term Loans, each prepayment pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 2.05(b) shall be applied to the scheduled installments of principal thereof following the date of prepayment pursuant to Section 2.07(a) as directed by the Borrower without premium or penalty (and in the absence of such direction, in direct order of maturity); and (C) each such prepayment shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares of such prepayment.
(vii) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any mandatory prepayment of Term Loans required to be made pursuant to clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 2.05(b) at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment (or such shorter time as the Administrative Agent may agree). Each such notice shall specify the date of such prepayment and provide a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such prepayment. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Appropriate Lender of the contents of the Borrower’s prepayment notice and of such Appropriate Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the prepayment.
(viii) Funding Losses, Etc. All prepayments under this Section 2.05 shall be made together with, in the case of any such prepayment of a Benchmark Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period therefor, any amounts owing in respect of such Benchmark Rate Loan pursuant to Section 3.05.
(ix) Term Opt-out of Prepayment. With respect to each prepayment of Term Loans required pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), (A) the Borrower will, not later than the date specified in Sections 2.05(b)(i), (ii),(iii) or (iv) for offering to make such prepayment, give the Administrative Agent telephonic notice (promptly confirmed in writing) requesting that the Administrative Agent provide notice of such offer of prepayment to each Lender of Term Loans, (B) the Administrative Agent shall provide notice of such offer of prepayment to each Lender of Term Loans, (C) each Lender of Term Loans will have the right to refuse such offer of prepayment by giving written notice of such refusal to the Administrative Agent within one (1) Business Day after such Lender’s receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent of such offer of prepayment (such refused amounts, the “Declined Proceeds”), and (D) the Borrower shall make all such prepayments (other than Declined Proceeds) promptly thereafter.
(x) In connection with any mandatory prepayments by the Borrower of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(b), such prepayments shall be applied on a pro rata basis to the then outstanding Term Loans of the applicable Class or Classes being prepaid irrespective of whether such outstanding Term Loans are Base Rate Loans or Benchmark Rate Loans; provided that if no Lenders exercise the right to waive a given mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(ix), then, with respect to such mandatory prepayment, the amount of such mandatory prepayment within any tranche of Term Loans shall be applied first to Term Loans of such tranche that are Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to Term Loans of such tranche that are Benchmark Rate Loans in a manner that minimizes the amount of any payments required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.05.
Section 2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.
(a) Optional. The Borrower may, upon irrevocable written notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the unused Commitments of any Class, or from time to time permanently reduce the
unused Commitments of any Class, in each case without premium or penalty; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent three (3) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, and (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in a minimum aggregate amount of $500,000, as applicable, or any whole multiple of $100,000, in excess thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may rescind or postpone any notice of termination of the Commitments if such termination would have resulted from a refinancing of all of the applicable Class, which refinancing shall not be consummated or otherwise shall be delayed.
(b) Mandatory. The Initial Commitment of each Lender shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 upon the funding of Initial Term Loans to be made by it on the Closing Date.
(c) Application of Commitment Reductions; Payment of Fees. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Appropriate Lenders of any termination or reduction of unused portions of the unused Commitments of any Class under this Section 2.06. Upon any reduction of unused Commitments of any Class, the Commitment of each Lender of such Class shall be reduced by such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount by which such Commitments are reduced (other than the termination of the Commitment of any Lender as provided in Section 3.07). All commitment fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
Section 2.07 Repayment of Loans.
(a) Term Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Appropriate Lenders (i) on each Quarterly Payment Date, beginning on the Initial Quarterly Payment Date, an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loans outstanding on the Closing Date and (ii) on the Maturity Date for the Initial Term Loans, the aggregate principal amount of all Initial Term Loans outstanding on such date; provided that payments required by Section 2.07(a)(i) above shall be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.05. In the event any Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans are made, such Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, as applicable, shall be repaid by the Borrower in the amounts and on the dates set forth in the Incremental Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Extension Amendment with respect thereto and on the applicable Maturity Date thereof.
(b) In the event that, prior to the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans, the Initial Term Loans or any existing Incremental Term Loans have scheduled amortization payments under Section 2.07(a)(i) (or other equivalent section) that are less than 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of such existing Term Loans when initially incurred, then at the Borrower’s option, (x) the scheduled amortization payments of such existing Term Loans on the effective date of such Incremental Term Loans shall be increased to be equal quarterly installments of principal equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of such existing Term Loans originally incurred or (y) the scheduled amortization payment of the Incremental Term Loans shall equal such smaller percentage applicable to the existing Term Loans on such scheduled amortization payment date(s) (reflected as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount of such Incremental Term Loans), so long as, in the event this clause (y) is applicable, and for the avoidance of doubt, such percentage is expressly set forth in the Incremental Amendment with respect to such Incremental Term Loans.
Section 2.08 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.08(b), (i) each Benchmark Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the applicable 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 date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) During the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), the Borrower shall pay interest on past due principal or interest owing by it hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws; provided that no interest at the Default Rate shall accrue or be payable to a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. Accrued and unpaid interest on such 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.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for any Benchmark Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. The determination of the Term SOFR by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. Promptly upon written request from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of any change in the "prime rate" used in determining the Base Rate .
Section 2.09 Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent all fees under the Agency Fee Letter that are payable pursuant to the terms thereof.
Section 2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by the Prime Rate shall be made on the basis of a year of three hundred sixty-five (365) days, or three hundred sixty-six (366) days, as applicable, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year and actual days elapsed. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid; provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one (1) 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.
Section 2.11 Evidence of Indebtedness.
(a) The Borrowings made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and evidenced by one or more entries in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent, acting solely for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 5f.103-1(c), as agent for the Borrower, in each case in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be prima facie evidence absent manifest error of the principal amounts of (and stated interest on) 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 and the corresponding accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the Register and the corresponding accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. 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, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and record thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) [Reserved].
(c) Entries made in good faith by the Administrative Agent in the Register pursuant to Section 2.11(a), and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to Section 2.11(a), shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, absent manifest error; provided that the failure of the Administrative Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Section 2.12 Payments Generally.
(a) 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 respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. New York City time on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Appropriate Lender its Pro Rata Share (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s applicable Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. New York City time shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day, in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue.
(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, 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; provided that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Benchmark Rate Loans to be made in the next succeeding calendar month, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day.
(c) Unless the Borrower or any Lender has notified the Administrative Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Administrative Agent hereunder, that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not in fact made to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds, then:
(i) if the Borrower failed to make such payment, each Lender shall forthwith on demand repay to the Administrative Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made
available to such Lender in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Overnight Bank Funding Rate, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing; and
(ii) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to the Administrative Agent the amount thereof in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon for the period from the date such amount was made available by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower to the date such amount is recovered by the Administrative Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at a rate per annum equal to the Overnight Bank Funding Rate, plus any reasonable administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing. When such Lender makes payment to the Administrative Agent (together with all accrued interest thereon), then such payment amount (excluding the amount of any interest which may have accrued and been paid in respect of such late payment) shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the applicable Borrowing. If such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Administrative Agent’s demand therefor, the Administrative Agent may make a demand therefor upon the Borrower, and the Borrower shall pay such amount to the Administrative Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest applicable to the applicable Borrowing. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment or to prejudice any rights which the Administrative Agent or the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this Section 2.12(c) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(d) 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 applicable Borrowing set forth in Article IV or in the applicable Incremental Amendment, Extension Amendment or Refinancing Amendment 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.
(e) The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to fund any such participation 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 purchase its participation.
(f) 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.
(g) Whenever any payment received by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents is insufficient to pay in full all amounts due and payable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under or in respect of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on any date, such payment shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent and applied by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in the order of priority set forth in Section 8.04. If the
Administrative Agent receives funds for application to the Obligations of the Borrower under or in respect of the Loan Documents under circumstances for which the Loan Documents do not specify the manner in which such funds are to be applied, the Administrative Agent may (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law), but shall not be obligated to, elect to distribute such funds to each of the Lenders in accordance with such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Outstanding Amount of all Loans outstanding at such time, in repayment or prepayment of such of the outstanding Loans or other Obligations then owing to such Lender.
Section 2.13 Sharing of Payments. If, other than as expressly provided elsewhere herein, any Lender shall obtain on account of the Loans made by it, or any security therefor, any payment or distribution (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of setoff, or otherwise) in excess of its ratable share (or other share contemplated hereunder) thereof, such Lender shall immediately (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans made by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment or distribution in respect of such Loans or such participations, as the case may be, pro rata with each of them; provided that if all or any portion of such excess payment or distribution is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the purchasing Lender in its discretion), such purchase shall to that extent be rescinded and each other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price paid therefor, together with an amount equal to such paying Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such paying Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered, without further interest thereon. For avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement as in effect from time to time (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (B) 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 permitted hereunder. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of setoff, but subject to Section 10.09) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. The Administrative Agent will keep records (which shall be conclusive and binding in the absence of manifest error) of participations purchased under this Section 2.13 and will in each case notify the Lenders following any such purchases or repayments. Each Lender that purchases a participation pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall from and after such purchase have the right to give all notices, requests, demands, directions and other communications under this Agreement with respect to the portion of the Obligations purchased to the same extent as though the purchasing Lender were the original owner of the Obligations purchased.
Section 2.14 Incremental Borrowings.
(a) Incremental Commitments. The Borrower may at any time or from time to time after the Closing Date, by notice to the Administrative Agent (an “Incremental Loan Request”), request one or more new commitments (each, an “Incremental Facility”) which may be in the same Class as any outstanding Term Loans of an existing Class of Term Loans (a “Term Loan Increase”) or a new Class of Term Loans (collectively with any Term Loan Increase, the “Incremental Commitments”), whereupon the Administrative Agent shall promptly deliver a copy of such Incremental Loan Request to each of the Lenders.
(b) Incremental Term Loans. Any Incremental Commitments effected through new Term Loans made on an Incremental Facility Closing Date shall be designated a separate Class of Incremental Commitments for all purposes of this Agreement, except in the case of a Term Loan Increase. On any Incremental Facility Closing Date on which any Incremental Commitments of any Class are effected (including through any Term Loan Increase), subject to the satisfaction of the terms and conditions in this Section 2.14, (i) each Incremental Lender of such Class shall make a Term Loan to the Borrower (an “Incremental Term Loan”) in an amount equal to its Incremental Commitment of such Class, and (ii) each Incremental Lender of such Class shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to the Incremental Commitment of such Class and the Incremental Term Loans of such Class made pursuant thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Incremental Term Loans may have identical terms to any of the Term Loans and be treated as the same Class as any of such Term Loans.
(c) Incremental Loan Request. Each Incremental Loan Request from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall set forth the requested amount and proposed terms of the relevant Incremental Term Loans. Incremental Term Loans may be made by any existing Lender (but each existing Lender will not have an obligation to make any Incremental Commitment, nor will the Borrower have any obligation to approach any existing Lenders to provide any Incremental Commitment) or by any other bank or other financial institution or other institutional lender (any such other bank or other financial institution or other institutional lender being called an “Additional Lender”) (each such existing Lender or Additional Lender providing such Incremental Commitment, an “Incremental Lender”, and, collectively, the “Incremental Lenders”); provided that (i) the Administrative Agent shall have consented (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to any Additional Lender’s making such Incremental Term Loans to the extent such consent, if any, would be required under Section 10.07(b) for an assignment of Loans to such Additional Lender and (ii) with respect to Incremental Commitments, any Affiliated Lender providing an Incremental Commitment shall be subject to the same restrictions set forth in Section 10.07(l) as they would otherwise be subject to with respect to any purchase by or assignment to such Affiliated Lender of Term Loans.
(d) Effectiveness of Incremental Amendment. The effectiveness of any Incremental Amendment, and the Incremental Commitments thereunder, shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof (the “Incremental Facility Closing Date”) of each of the following conditions:
(i) [reserved];
(ii) after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments, the following conditions shall be satisfied (it being understood that all references to “the date of such Borrowing” or similar language shall be deemed to refer to the effective date of such Incremental Amendment) (provided that if the proceeds of such Incremental Commitments are being used to finance an Investment, or irrevocable repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, there shall be no requirement to satisfy any or all such conditions except that (A) no Payment or Bankruptcy Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Incremental Commitments, which requirement in this clause (A) shall not be omitted or waived without the consent of the Required Lenders and (B) in the case of an Investment, (x) the accuracy of the representations and warranties shall refer to the accuracy of the representations and warranties that would constitute Specified Representations (conformed as necessary to apply only to such Investment), (y) the reference to “Material Adverse Effect” in the Specified Representations shall be understood for this purpose to refer to “Material Adverse Effect” or similar definition as defined in the main transaction agreement governing such Investment and
(z) the accuracy of such Specified Representations shall not be omitted or waived without the consent of the Required Lenders):
(A) the representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in Article V and in each other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects as so qualified) on and as of the effective date of such Incremental Amendment with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; and
(B) no Event of Default shall exist and be continuing or would immediately result from such proposed Incremental Commitment; provided that if the Incremental Term Loans are used to fund an Investment permitted under this Agreement, no Event of Default of the Borrower under Section 8.01(a) or Section 8.01(f) shall have occurred and be continuing;
(iii) each Incremental Commitment shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $5,000,000 and shall be in an increment of $1,000,000 (provided that such amount may be less than $5,000,000 if such amount represents all remaining availability under the limit set forth in the next sentence); and
(iv) the aggregate amount of the Incremental Term Loans, together with the aggregate amount of Incremental Equivalent Debt then outstanding, shall not (i) exceed the greater of (x) $300,000,000 and (y) an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Distributed Cash to the Borrower over the prior 12-month period (the “Fixed Incremental Amount”) or (ii) with respect to any Incremental Facilities solely for the purchase of additional CPH Interests after the Closing Date, result in the Total Net Leverage Ratio with respect to the most recently ended Test Period (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis) exceeding the greater of (x) 3.85:1.00 or (y) the Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such Incremental Commitments or Incremental Equivalent Debt, in each case as a result of the incurrence of such Incremental Commitments or Incremental Equivalent Debt (the “Ratio Amount”, and collectively with the Fixed Incremental Amount, the “Incremental Amount”).
(e) Required Terms. The terms, provisions and documentation of the Incremental Term Loans and Incremental Commitments of any Class shall be as agreed between the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Commitments, and except as otherwise set forth herein, to the extent not consistent with the terms of the Initial Term Loans existing on the Incremental Facility Closing Date or with market terms and conditions (taken as a whole) at the time of incurrence of such Incremental Facility (as reasonably determined by the Borrower in good faith), as the case may be, shall on terms and pursuant to documentation to be determined by the Borrower and the providers of such Incremental Facility; provided that, such terms shall not be materially less favorable (when taken as a whole) to the Borrower than the terms of the Term Loans; provided, further, that, the foregoing proviso shall not apply (i) to the extent that the covenants and terms apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Facility or (ii) to the extent such covenant or term is also made applicable to the Term Loans; provided, further, that, the operational and agency provisions applicable to each Incremental Facility secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. In any event:
(i) the Incremental Term Loans:
(A) shall be unsecured or shall rank pari passu or junior in right of payment or security with the Term Loans (and, if applicable and to the extent ranking pari passu in right of security with the Term Loans, shall be subject to the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, and to the extent ranking junior in right of payment or security with the Term Loans, shall be, if applicable, subject to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or an alternate intercreditor and subordination arrangement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower),
(B) shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans,
(C) shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Initial Term Loans (without giving effect to any prepayments of the Initial Term Loans prior to the time of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans that would otherwise modify the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Initial Term Loans),
(D) shall have an Applicable Rate, and subject to clauses 2.14(e)(i)(B) and 2.14(e)(i)(C) above and clause 2.14(e)(iii) below, amortization determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders,
(E) may not be incurred (or guaranteed) by any Person other than the Borrower or secured by assets that do not constitute Collateral,
(F) mandatory prepayments of the Incremental Term Loans shall be on a pro rata or less than pro rata basis with the other Term Loans, except that the Borrower shall be permitted to prepay any Class of Term Loans on a better than pro rata basis as compared to any other Class of Term Loans with a later maturity date than such Class; provided that, any Incremental Facility may provide for the ability to participate on a non-pro rata basis in any voluntary prepayments of the Incremental Term Loans, and
(G) the All-In Yield applicable to any Incremental Facility will be determined by the Borrower and the Lenders providing such Incremental Facility; provided that, other than in respect of (a) any Incremental Facility that has an outside maturity date of more than one year after the Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans or (b) any unsecured debt or debt secured on a junior lien basis under any Incremental Facility, in the event that the All-In Yield for any syndicated Incremental Facility incurred prior to the date that is twelve (12) months after the Closing Date is more than half of a percent (0.50%) per annum greater than the All-In Yield under the Term Facility, the All-In Yield under the Term Facility shall be increased to the extent necessary so that the All-In Yield under the Term Facility is equal to the All-In Yield for such Incremental Facility minus half of a percent (0.50%) per annum and
(ii) [reserved].
(iii) subject to Sections 2.14(e)(i)(B), 2.14(e)(i)(C) and 2.14(e)(i)(G) above, the amortization schedule applicable to any Incremental Term Loans and the All-In Yield applicable to the Incremental Term Loans of each Class shall be determined by the Borrower and the applicable Incremental Lenders and shall be set forth in each applicable Incremental Amendment.
(f) Incremental Amendment. Commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans shall become Commitments under this Agreement pursuant to an amendment (an “Incremental Amendment”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrower, each Incremental Lender providing such Commitments and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Amendment may, without the consent of any Agent or Lender, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.14. The Borrower may use the proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans for any purpose not prohibited by this Agreement; provided that any Incremental Facility incurred pursuant to the Ratio Amount shall be used solely for the purposes of acquiring additional CPH Interests after the Closing Date. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Term Loans, unless it so agrees.
(g) [Reserved].
(h) This Section 2.14 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.
Section 2.15 Refinancing Amendments.
(a) On one or more occasions after the Closing Date, the Borrower may obtain, from any Lender or any other bank, financial institution or other institutional lender or investor that agrees to provide any portion of any Term Loans pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment in accordance with this Section 2.15 (each, an “Additional Refinancing Lender”) (provided that with respect to Refinancing Term Loans, any Affiliated Lender providing any Refinancing Term Loans shall be subject to the same restrictions set forth in Section 10.07(l) as they would otherwise be subject to with respect to any purchase by, or assignment to, such Affiliated Lender of Term Loans), Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of all or any portion of any Class, as selected by the Borrower in its sole discretion, of Term Loans then outstanding under this Agreement, in the form of Refinancing Commitments pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment.
(b) The effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 2.14(d)(ii) and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) customary legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date other than changes to such legal opinion resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to ensure that such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents.
(c) [reserved].
(d) Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment, without the consent of any other Lenders, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred pursuant thereto and (ii) make such other changes to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents consistent with the provisions and intent of the third paragraph of Section 10.01 (without the consent of the Required Lenders called for therein) and (iii) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this
Section 2.15, and the Required Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any such Refinancing Amendment.
(e) This Section 2.15 shall supersede any provision in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.
Section 2.16 Extension of Term Loans.
(a) Extension of Term Loans. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion, request that all or a portion of the Term Loans of a given Class (or series or tranche thereof) (each, an “Existing Term Loan Tranche”) be amended to extend the scheduled maturity date(s) with respect to all or a portion of any principal amount of such Term Loans (any such Term Loans which have been so amended, “Extended Term Loans”) and to provide for other terms consistent with this Section 2.16. In order to establish any Extended Term Loans, the Borrower shall provide a notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall provide a copy of such notice to each of the Lenders under the applicable Existing Term Loan Tranche) (each, an “Extension Request”) setting forth the proposed terms of the Extended Term Loans to be established, which shall (x) be identical as offered to each Lender under such Existing Term Loan Tranche (including as to the proposed interest rates and fees payable) and offered pro rata to each Lender under such Existing Term Loan Tranche and (y) be identical to the Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which such Extended Term Loans are to be amended, except that: (i) all or any of the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Extended Term Loans may be delayed to later dates than the scheduled amortization payments of principal of the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (ii) the All-In Yield with respect to the Extended Term Loans (whether in the form of interest rate margin, upfront fees, OID or otherwise) may be different than the All-In Yield for the Term Loans of such Existing Term Loan Tranche, in each case, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment; (iii) the Extension Amendment may provide for other covenants and terms that apply solely to any period after the Latest Maturity Date that is in effect on the effective date of the Extension Amendment (immediately prior to the establishment of such Extended Term Loans); and (iv) Extended Term Loans may have call protection as may be agreed by the Borrower and the Lenders thereof; provided that no Extended Term Loans may be optionally prepaid prior to the date on which all Term Loans with an earlier final stated maturity (including Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche from which they were amended) are repaid in full, unless such optional prepayment is accompanied by at least a pro rata optional prepayment of such other Term Loans; provided, however, that (A) in no event shall the final maturity date of any Extended Term Loans of a given Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof be earlier than the then Latest Maturity Date of any existing Term Loans outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness of such Extension Series, (B) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Extended Term Loans of a given Extension Series at the time of establishment thereof shall be no shorter (other than by virtue of amortization or prepayment of such Indebtedness prior to the time of incurrence of such Extended Term Loans) than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of any Existing Term Loan Tranche, (C) any such Extended Term Loans (and the Liens securing the same) shall not be prohibited by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements (to the extent any Intercreditor Agreement is then in effect), (D) all documentation in respect of such Extension Amendment shall be consistent with the foregoing and (E) any Extended Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not greater than pro rata basis) in any mandatory repayments or prepayments hereunder, in each case as specified in the respective Extension Request. Any Extended Term Loans amended pursuant to any Extension Request shall be designated a series (each, an “Extension Series”) of Extended Term Loans for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that any Extended Term Loans amended from an Existing Term Loan Tranche may, to the extent provided in the applicable Extension Amendment, be designated as an increase in any previously established
Extension Series with respect to such Existing Term Loan Tranche. Each Extension Series of Extended Term Loans incurred under this Section 2.16 shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $10,000,000.
(b) [Reserved].
(c) Extension Request. The Borrower shall provide the applicable Extension Request at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date on which Lenders under the Existing Term Loan Tranche are requested to respond, and shall agree to such procedures, if any, as may be established by, or acceptable to, the Administrative Agent, in each case acting reasonably to accomplish the purposes of this Section 2.16. No Lender shall have any obligation to agree to have any of its Term Loans of any Existing Term Loan Tranche amended into Extended Term Loans pursuant to any Extension Request. Any Lender holding a Loan under an Existing Term Loan Tranche (each, an “Extending Term Lender”) wishing to have all or a portion of its Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche subject to such Extension Request amended into Extended Term Loans shall notify the Administrative Agent (each, an “Extension Election”) on or prior to the date specified in such Extension Request of the amount of its Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche, which it has elected to request be amended into Extended Term Loans (subject to any minimum denomination requirements imposed by the Administrative Agent). In the event that the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans under the Existing Term Loan Tranche in respect of which applicable Lenders shall have accepted the relevant Extension Request exceeds the amount of Extended Term Loans requested to be extended pursuant to the Extension Request, Term Loans subject to Extension Elections shall be amended to Extended Term Loans on a pro rata basis (subject to rounding by the Administrative Agent, which shall be conclusive) based on the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans included in each such Extension Election.
(d) Extension Amendment. Extended Term Loans shall be established pursuant to an amendment (each, an “Extension Amendment”) to this Agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Extending Term Lender providing an Extended Term Loan thereunder, which shall be consistent with the provisions set forth in Section 2.16(a) or (b) above, respectively (but which shall not require the consent of any other Lender). The effectiveness of any Extension Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in Section 2.14(d)(ii) and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, receipt by the Administrative Agent of (i) legal opinions, board resolutions and officers’ certificates consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date other than changes to such legal opinion resulting from a change in law, change in fact or change to counsel’s form of opinion reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) reaffirmation agreements and/or such amendments to the Collateral Documents as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in order to ensure that the Extended Term Loans are provided with the benefit of the applicable Loan Documents. The Borrower may, at its election, specify as a condition to consummating any Extension Amendment that a minimum amount (to be determined and specified in the relevant Extension Request in the Borrower’s sole discretion and as may be waived by the Borrower) of Term Loans of any or all applicable Classes be tendered. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Extension Amendment. Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be amended pursuant to an Extension Amendment, without the consent of any other Lenders, to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to (i) reflect the existence and terms of the Extended Term Loans incurred pursuant thereto, (ii) modify the scheduled repayments set forth in Section 2.07 with respect to any Existing Term Loan Tranche subject to an Extension Election to reflect a reduction in the principal amount of the Term Loans thereunder in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Extended Term Loans amended pursuant to the applicable Extension (with such amount to be applied ratably to reduce
scheduled repayments of such Term Loans required pursuant to Section 2.07), (iii) modify the prepayments set forth in Section 2.05 to reflect the existence of the Extended Term Loans and the application of prepayments with respect thereto, (iv) make such other changes to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents consistent with the provisions and intent of the second paragraph of Section 10.01 (without the consent of the Required Lenders called for therein) and (v) effect such other amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.16, and the Required Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any such Extension Amendment.
(e) No conversion of Loans pursuant to any Extension in accordance with this Section 2.16 shall constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement.
(f) This Section 2.16 shall supersede any provisions in Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.
Section 2.17 [Reserved].
Section 2.18 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 such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:
(i) Waivers and Amendments. Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in 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 such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; 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 such 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 such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, 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 such Defaulting Lender as a result of such 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 such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share 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. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to
pay amounts owed by such Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Section 2.18(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such 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, such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
ARTICLE III
TAXES, INCREASED COSTS PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
Section 3.01 Taxes.
(a) Any and all payments made by or on account of the Borrower under any Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any and all present or future taxes, duties, deductions, levies, imposts, fees, assessments or withholdings (including backup withholding) or similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority including any interest, penalties and additions to tax thereto (collectively “Taxes”), except as required by applicable Law. If the applicable Withholding Agent shall be required by any Laws (as determined in the good faith discretion of the applicable Withholding Agent) to deduct or withhold any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under any Loan Document to any Agent or any Lender, (i) to the extent the Tax in question is an Indemnified Tax, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions or withholdings (including deductions or withholding of an Indemnified Tax applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 3.01), each of such Agent and such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions or withholding been made, (ii) the applicable Withholding Agent shall make such deductions or withholding, (iii) the applicable Withholding Agent shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (iv) within thirty (30) days after the date of such payment (or, if receipts or evidence are not available within thirty (30) days, as soon as practicable thereafter), if the Borrower is the applicable Withholding Agent, shall furnish to the Administrative Agent the original or a copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or other evidence reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
(b) The Borrower agrees to pay any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar taxes, charges or levies of the same character, imposed by any Governmental Authority, which arise from any payment made under any Loan Document or 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 (including additions to tax, penalties and interest related thereto) excluding, in each case, such amounts that result from an Agent or Lender’s Assignment and Assumption, grant of a participation, transfer or assignment to or designation of a new applicable Lending Office or other office for receiving payments under any Loan Document (collectively, “Assignment Taxes”) to the extent such Assignment Taxes result from a connection that the Agent or Lender has with the taxing jurisdiction other than the connection arising out of the Loan Documents or the transactions therein, except for such Assignment Taxes resulting from assignment or
participation that is requested or required in writing by the Borrower under Section 3.07 (all such non-excluded Taxes described in this Section 3.01(b) being hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).
(c) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Agent and each Lender for (i) the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes and, without duplication, Other Taxes payable by such Agent or such Lender (including Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes imposed on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 3.01) or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Agent or such Lender and (ii) any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case 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 prepared in good faith by such Agent or Lender (or by an Agent on behalf of such Lender), accompanied by a written statement thereof setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of such amounts shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Each Lender shall, at such times as are reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, provide the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with any documentation prescribed by Law certifying as to any entitlement of such Lender to an exemption from, or reduction in, withholding Tax with respect to any payments to be made to such Lender under the Loan Documents. 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 any other provision of this clause (d), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this clause (d) that such Lender is not legally eligible to deliver or any form pursuant to this clause (d) (other than any such documentation set forth in any of Section 3.01(d)(i), Section 3.01(d)(ii) and Section 3.01(d)(iii) below) that may subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender. Without limiting the foregoing:
(i) Each Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form) certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding.
(ii) Each Lender that is not a U.S. Person shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent on or before the date on which it becomes a party to 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:
(A) in the case of a Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party, two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms);
(B) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any successor forms);
(C) in the case of a Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (a) a United States Tax Compliance
Certificate and (b) two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or any successor forms); or
(D) to the extent a Lender is not the beneficial owner (for example, where the Lender is a partnership), two properly completed and duly signed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY (or any successor forms) of the Lender, accompanied by Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8IMY, W-9, United States Tax Compliance Certificate, or any other required information from each beneficial owner, as applicable (or any successor forms) (provided that, if the Lender is a partnership, and one or more direct or indirect beneficial partners of such Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, the United States Tax Compliance Certificate may be provided by such Lender on behalf of each such partner);
(iii) 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 and 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, to determine whether such Lender has or has not complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA and, as necessary, to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (iii), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the Closing Date.
Each such Lender shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders any such documentation described in this Section 3.01(d) obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, deliver promptly to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its inability to do so.
(e) If the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 3.01 to any Lender, or to any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender, any such Lender shall, if requested by the Borrower, use its reasonable efforts to change the jurisdiction of its Lending Office (or take any other measures reasonably requested by the Borrower) if such a change or other measures would reduce any such additional amounts (including any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue) and would not, in the sole determination of such Lender, result in any unreimbursed cost or expense or be otherwise materially disadvantageous to such Lender.
(f) If the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof, if applicable) is not a U.S. Person, the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof, if applicable) shall deliver to the Borrower on or before the date on which it becomes the Administrative Agent (or sub-agent) under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower) (i) an accurate and complete signed copy of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI with respect to any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent (or sub-agent) for its own account and (ii) an accurate and complete signed copy of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY with respect to any amounts payable to the Administrative Agent (or sub-agent) for the account of others, certifying that it is a “U.S. branch,” and that it is using
such form as evidence of its agreement with the Borrower to be treated as a U.S. Person with respect to such payments (and the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent) agree to so treat the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof, if applicable) as a U.S. Person with respect to such payments as contemplated by, and in accordance with, Sections 1.1441-1(b)(2)(iv) of the United States Treasury Regulations). If the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof, if applicable) is a U.S. Person, it shall deliver to the Borrower on or before the date on which it becomes the Administrative Agent (or sub-agent) under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower) an accurate and complete Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 setting forth an exemption from backup withholding. The Administrative Agent shall, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders any such documentation described in this Section 3.01(f) obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, deliver promptly to the Borrower updated or other appropriate documentation (including any new documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower) or promptly notify the Borrower in writing of its inability to do so.
(g) If any Lender or Agent determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund in respect of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which indemnification or additional amounts have been paid to it by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall promptly remit such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnification or additional amounts paid by the Borrower under this Section 3.01 with respect to Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including any Taxes) of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant taxing authority with respect to such refund, net of any Taxes payable by any Agent or Lender on such interest); provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Lender or Agent, as the case may be, agrees promptly to return such refund (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant taxing authority) to such party in the event such party is required to repay such refund to the relevant taxing authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will a Lender or Agent be required to pay any amount to the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph (g), the payment of which would place such Lender or Agent in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Lender or Agent 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 section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to Taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other person.
(h) For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Law” for purposes of this Section 3.01 includes FATCA.
(i) Each party’s obligations under this Section 3.01 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.
Section 3.02 Illegality. If any Lender reasonably 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 Benchmark Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Benchmark Rate, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (a) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Benchmark Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Benchmark Rate Loans shall be suspended and (b) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is
determined by reference to the Benchmark Rate component of Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, to be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Benchmark Rate component of 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 (it being understood that such Lender agrees to so advise the Administrative Agent once the relevant circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exists). Upon receipt of such notice, (i) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all applicable Benchmark Rate 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 Benchmark Rate component of Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Benchmark Rate Loans to such day, or promptly, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Benchmark Rate Loans and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Benchmark Rate, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Benchmark Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Benchmark Rate (it being understood that such Lender agrees to so advise the Administrative Agent once such illegality no longer exists). Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted and all amounts due, if any, in connection with such prepayment or conversion under Section 3.05. Each Lender agrees to designate a different Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for such notice and will not, in the good faith judgment of such Lender, otherwise be materially disadvantageous to such Lender.
Section 3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Benchmark Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Benchmark Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Benchmark Rate Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan or (b) the Benchmark Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Benchmark Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (i) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Benchmark Rate Loans shall be suspended, and (ii) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Benchmark Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Benchmark Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Benchmark Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein; provided, however, that if the Borrower and the applicable Lenders cannot agree within a reasonable time on an alternative rate for such Loans, the Borrower may, at its discretion, either (A) prepay such Loans or (B) maintain such Loans outstanding, in which case, the interest rate payable to the applicable Lender on such Loans will be the rate determined by the Administrative Agent as its cost of funds to fund a Borrowing of such Loans with maturities comparable to the Interest Period applicable thereto plus the Applicable Rate.
Section 3.04 Increased Cost and Reduced Return; Capital Adequacy; Reserves on Benchmark Rate Loans.
(a) If any Lender reasonably determines that as a result of the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any Law, in each case after the Closing Date, or such Lender’s compliance therewith, there shall be any increase in the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining any Benchmark Rate Loans (or, in the case of a change in law with respect to Taxes, any Loan) or a reduction in the amount received or receivable by such Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (excluding for purposes of this Section 3.04(a) any such increased costs or reduction in amount resulting from (i) Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, or any Taxes excluded from the definition of Indemnified Taxes under exceptions (a) through (f) thereof or (ii) reserve requirements contemplated by Section 3.04(c)) and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining the Benchmark Rate Loan (or of making or maintaining its obligations to make any Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender, in each case, by an amount which such Lender deems to be material, then from time to time within fifteen (15) days (or such longer period as reasonably agreed by such Lender) after demand by such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent given in accordance with Section 3.06), the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduction actually suffered. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for all purposes under this Agreement, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a change in law, regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued; provided that to the extent any increased costs or reductions are incurred by any Lender as a result of any requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or pursuant to Basel III after the Closing Date, then such Lender shall be compensated pursuant to this Section 3.04 only if such Lender imposes such charges under other syndicated credit facilities involving similarly situated borrowers that such Lender is a lender under.
(b) [Reserved].
(c) [Reserved].
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation.
(e) If any Lender requests compensation under this Section 3.04, then such Lender will, if requested by the Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts to designate another Lending Office for any Loan affected by such event; provided that such efforts are made on terms that, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its Lending Office(s) to suffer no material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided further that nothing in this Section 3.04(e) shall affect or postpone any of the Obligations of the Borrower or the rights of such Lender pursuant to Section 3.04(a), (b), (c) or (d).
Section 3.05 Funding Losses. Upon written 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 actually incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Benchmark Rate Loan of the Borrower on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan; or
(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 Benchmark Rate Loan of the Borrower on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; including any loss or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) 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.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Benchmark Rate Loan made by it at the Benchmark Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Benchmark Rate Loan was in fact so funded.
Section 3.06 Matters Applicable to All Requests for Compensation.
(a) Any Agent or any Lender claiming compensation under this Article III shall deliver a certificate to the Borrower setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder which shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Agent or such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods.
(b) With respect to any Lender’s claim for compensation under Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04, the Borrower shall not be required to compensate such Lender for any amount incurred more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the event that gives rise to such claim; provided that, if the circumstance giving rise to such claim is retroactive, then such one hundred eighty (180)-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. If any Lender requests compensation by the Borrower under Section 3.04, the Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), suspend the obligation of such Lender to make or continue from one Interest Period to another applicable Benchmark Rate Loan, or, if applicable, to convert Base Rate Loans into Benchmark Rate Loans, until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in effect (in which case the provisions of Section 3.06(c) shall be applicable); provided that such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.
(c) If the obligation of any Lender to make or continue any Benchmark Rate Loan, or to convert Base Rate Loans into Benchmark Rate Loans shall be suspended pursuant to Section 3.06(b) hereof, such Lender’s applicable Benchmark Rate Loans shall be automatically converted into Base Rate Loans (or, if such conversion is not possible, repaid) on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for such Benchmark Rate Loans (or, in the case of an immediate conversion required by Section 3.02, on such earlier date as required by Law) and, unless and until such Lender gives notice as provided below that the circumstances specified in Section 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to such conversion no longer exist:
(i) to the extent that such Lender’s Benchmark Rate Loans have been so converted, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise be applied to such Lender’s applicable Benchmark Rate Loans shall be applied instead to its Base Rate Loans; and
(ii) all Loans that would otherwise be made or continued from one Interest Period to another by such Lender as Benchmark Rate Loans shall be made or continued instead as Base Rate Loans (if possible), and all Base Rate Loans of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Benchmark Rate Loans shall remain as Base Rate Loans.
(d) If any Lender gives notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) that the circumstances specified in Section 3.02, 3.03 or 3.04 hereof that gave rise to the conversion of any of such Lender’s Benchmark Rate Loans pursuant to this Section 3.06 no longer exist (which such Lender agrees to do promptly upon such circumstances ceasing to exist) at a time when Benchmark Rate Loans made by other Lenders under the applicable Class are outstanding, if applicable, such Lender’s Base Rate Loans shall be automatically converted, on the first day(s) of the next succeeding Interest Period(s) for such outstanding Benchmark Rate Loans, to the extent necessary so that, after giving effect thereto, all Loans held by the Lenders holding Benchmark Rate Loans under such Class and by such Lender are held pro rata (as to principal amounts, interest rate basis, and Interest Periods) in accordance with their respective Commitments for the applicable Class.
Section 3.07 Replacement of Lenders under Certain Circumstances.
(a) If at any time (i) the Borrower becomes obligated to pay additional amounts or indemnity payments described in Section 3.01 or 3.04 as a result of any condition described in such Sections or any Lender ceases to make any Benchmark Rate Loans as a result of any condition described in Section 3.02 or Section 3.04, (ii) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or (iii) any Lender becomes a Non-Consenting Lender, then the Borrower may so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at its sole cost and expense, on five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice (or such shorter time as the Administrative Agent may agree) to the Administrative Agent and such Lender, (x) replace such Lender by causing such Lender to (and such Lender shall be obligated to) assign pursuant to Section 10.07(b) (with the assignment fee to be paid by the Borrower in such instance) its outstanding Loans and Commitments with respect to any Class and associated rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Eligible Assignees (which such replacement may be effected with respect to any Class in the case of clauses (i) or (iii) of this Section 3.07(a)); provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to the Borrower to find a replacement Lender or other such Person; and provided further that (A) 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 and (B) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Consenting Lender, the applicable Eligible Assignees shall have agreed to, and shall be sufficient (together with all other consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of, the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents; or (y) terminate the Commitment of such Lender, as the case may be, and repay all Obligations of the Borrower owing to such Lender relating to the Loans and participations held by such Lender as of such termination date; provided that in the case of any such termination of a Non-Consenting Lender such termination shall be sufficient (together with all other consenting Lenders) to cause the adoption of the applicable departure, waiver or amendment of the Loan Documents and such termination may be effected with respect to any applicable Class in the case of clause (i) or (iii) of this Section 3.07(a).
(b) Any Lender being replaced pursuant to Section 3.07(a)(x) above shall (i) execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption with respect to such Lender’s applicable Commitment and outstanding Loans, and (ii) deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or Administrative Agent. Pursuant to such Assignment and Assumption, (A) the assignee Lender shall acquire all or a portion, as the case may be, of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and outstanding Loans, (B) all obligations of the Borrower owing to the assigning Lender relating to the Loans, Commitments and participations so assigned shall be paid in full by the assignee Lender to such assigning Lender concurrently with such Assignment and Assumption and (C) upon such payment and, if so requested by the assignee Lender, delivery to the assignee Lender of the appropriate Note or Notes executed by the Borrower, the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder and the assigning Lender shall cease to
constitute a Lender hereunder with respect to such assigned Loans, Commitments and participations, except with respect to indemnification provisions under this Agreement, which shall survive as to such assigning Lender. In connection with any such replacement, if any such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such replacement within five (5) Business Days of the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption to such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender, then such Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption without any action on the part of the Non-Consenting Lender or Defaulting Lender.
(c) [Reserved].
(d) In the event that (i) the Borrower or the Administrative Agent has requested that the Lenders consent to a departure or waiver of any provisions of the Loan Documents or agree to any amendment thereto, (ii) the consent, waiver or amendment in question requires the agreement of each Lender, each affected Lender or each affected Lender of a certain Class in accordance with the terms of Section 10.01 or all the Lenders with respect to a certain Class of the Loans and (iii) the Required Lenders (or, in the case of a consent, waiver or amendment involving all affected Lenders of a certain Class, the Required Class Lenders as applicable) have agreed to such consent, waiver or amendment, then any Lender who does not agree to such consent, waiver or amendment shall be deemed a “Non-Consenting Lender”.
Section 3.08 Survival. Each of the obligations of the parties hereto under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS
Section 4.01 Conditions to Initial Term Borrowing. The obligation of each Lender to fund the Initial Term Borrowing hereunder on the Closing Date is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent, except as otherwise agreed between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent:
(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or pdf copies or other facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or Pledgor, as applicable, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel:
(i) a Committed Loan Notice in accordance with the requirements hereof;
(ii) executed counterparts of this Agreement;
(iii) each Collateral Document set forth on Schedule 1.01B required to be executed on the Closing Date as indicated on such schedule, duly executed by the Borrower or the Pledgor, as applicable, together with:
(A) certificates, if any, representing the Pledged Equity (other than the CPH Interests) referred to therein accompanied by undated stock or membership interest powers executed in blank and instruments evidencing the Pledged Debt, if any, indorsed in blank (or confirmation in lieu thereof reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent or its counsel that such certificates, powers and instruments have been sent for overnight delivery to the Collateral Agent or its counsel);
(B) copies of proper financing statements, filed or duly prepared for filing under the Uniform Commercial Code in all United States jurisdictions that the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary in order to perfect and protect the Liens created under the Collateral Documents with respect to the Collateral described in clause (a) of the definition thereof; and
(C) evidence that all other actions, recordings and filings required by the Collateral Documents as of the Closing Date that the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary to satisfy the Collateral Requirement shall have been taken, completed or otherwise provided for in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood that the Borrower providing authorization to the Administrative Agent to take such actions or make such recordings and filings that can be taken or made by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent and to the extent agreed to be taken or made by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent);
(iv) copies of a recent Lien and judgment search in each jurisdiction reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent with respect to the Borrower;
(v) (i) such certificates of good standing (to the extent such concept exists) of the Borrower and the Pledgor, each from the applicable secretary of state of the state of its organization, (ii) Organizational Documents of the Borrower and the Pledgor, (iii) certificates of resolutions or other action from each of the Borrower and Pledgor authorizing the execution, performance and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party or is to be a party on the Closing Date, and (iv) incumbency certificates evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party or is to be a party on the Closing Date;
(vi) an opinion from Latham & Watkins LLP, New York counsel to the Borrower and Pledgor;
(vii) a solvency certificate from a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (after giving effect to the Transactions) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D-2; and
(viii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, confirming satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 4.01(e) and 4.01(f).
(b) All fees and expenses due to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers and their Affiliates required to be paid on the Closing Date and (in the case of expenses) invoiced at least three (3) Business Days before the Closing Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower) shall have been paid from the proceeds of the Initial Term Borrowing.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received the Closing Date Balance Sheet.
(d) The Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a notice of redemption dated as of April 2, 2026, notifying delivered to Stonepeak Bayou Holdings II LP that the preferred equity
issued pursuant to the Borrower LLCA shall be redeemed or, substantially concurrently with the initial borrowing under this Agreement, shall be redeemed in full.
(e) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in Article V and in each other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date (or, to the extent qualified by materiality, true and correct in all respects); provided that, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date or period, they shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date or period (or, to the extent qualified by materiality, true and correct in all respects) for purposes of making or deemed making such representation on, or as of, the Closing Date.
(f) No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the Closing Date, both immediately before and after giving effect to the Loans to be made on the Closing Date.
(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Perfection Certificate, duly executed by the Borrower.
(h) The Administrative Agent shall have received at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information about the Borrower required under applicable “know your customer” and Anti-Money Laundering Laws that has been requested by the Administrative Agent in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. At least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, if the Borrower qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, then the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a Beneficial Ownership Certification in relation to the Borrower.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.03(d), 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 written notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Agents and the Lenders at the time of each Borrowing that:
Section 5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. The Borrower (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, (b) has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business as currently conducted and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where the conduct of its business requires such qualification, (d) is in compliance with all Laws, orders, writs and injunctions, except in such instances in which such requirement of Law or order, writ or injunction is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and (e) has all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to operate its business as currently conducted; except in each case, referred to in clauses (b)(i), (c), (d) or (e), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document to which it is a party, and the consummation of the Transactions, are within the Borrower’s corporate or other powers, (a) have been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action, and (b) do not (i) contravene the terms of the Borrower’s Organization Documents, (ii) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under (other than as permitted by Section 7.01), or require any payment to be made under (x) any Contractual Obligation to which it is a party or affecting it or its properties or (y) any material order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which the Borrower or its property is subject; or (iii) violate any Law binding on the Borrower; to the extent that such violation, conflict, breach, contravention or payment could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.03 Governmental Authorization. No material approval, consent, exemption, authorization or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is necessary or required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document to which it is a party, or for the consummation of the Transactions, (b) the grant by the Borrower of the Liens granted by it pursuant to the Collateral Documents, (c) the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Collateral Documents (including the priority thereof) or (d) the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to the Collateral Documents, except for (i) filings, recordings and registrations with Governmental Authorities necessary to perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Borrower in favor of the Secured Parties, (ii) the approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices and filings which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect (except to the extent not required to be obtained, taken, given or made or to be in full force and effect pursuant to the Collateral Requirement) and (iii) those approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations or other actions, notices or filings, the failure of which to obtain or make could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement and each other Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement and each other Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party constitutes, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) Debtor Relief Laws and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (ii) the need for filings, recordations and registrations necessary to create or perfect the Liens on the Collateral granted by the Borrower in favor of the Secured Parties.
Section 5.05 No Material Adverse Effect. Since the Closing Date, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has occurred and is continuing.
Section 5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or against any of its properties or revenues that either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.07 [Reserved]
Section 5.08 No Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Section 5.09 [Reserved]
Section 5.10 Taxes. The Borrower has filed all federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and has paid all Taxes levied or imposed upon it or its properties that are due and payable, except (a) those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP or (b) those for which the failure to file or pay, as applicable, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no proposed Tax deficiency or assessment known to the Borrower against the Borrower that would, if made, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.11 ERISA Compliance
(a) Except as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Plan maintained by the Borrower is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder and other federal or state Laws.
(b) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred during the five (5) year period prior to the date on which this representation is made or deemed made or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability, whether absolute or contingent, under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability, whether absolute or contingent (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that would reasonably be expected to be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA, except, with respect to each of the preceding clauses of this Section 5.11(b), as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.12 Anti-Bribery Laws.
(a) (i) To the Borrower’s knowledge, the Borrower has not, within the last five years, directly or indirectly offered, promised, given, paid or authorized the offer, promise, giving or payment of anything of value to a Governmental Official for the purposes of: (A) influencing any act, decision or failure to act by such Government Official in his or her official capacity, (B) inducing a Governmental Official to do or omit to do any act in violation of the Governmental Official’s lawful duty, or (C) inducing a Governmental Official to use his or her influence with a government or instrumentality to affect any act or decision of such government or entity; in each case in order to obtain, retain or direct business or to otherwise secure an improper advantage. (ii) No part of the Loan proceeds hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for any improper payments, including bribes, to any Governmental Official in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage. (iii) The Borrower has established procedures and controls which it reasonably believes are adequate (and otherwise comply with applicable Laws) to ensure that the Borrower is and will continue to be in compliance with all applicable current Anti-Corruption Laws.
Section 5.13 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a) The Borrower is not engaged nor will it engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, or extending credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, in either case in violation of Regulation U, and no proceeds of any Borrowings will be used for any purpose that violates Regulation U.
(b) The Borrower is not nor is it required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Investment Company Act”).
Section 5.14 Financial Statements; Disclosure.
(a) As of the Closing Date, no report, financial statement, certificate or other written information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower (other than projected financial information and information of a general economic or industry nature) to any 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 (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), when taken as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein (when taken as a whole), in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading. With respect to projected financial information and pro forma financial information, the Borrower represents, as of the Closing Date, that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that such forecasts are as to future events and not to be viewed as facts, such forecasts are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Borrower’s control, that no assurance can be given that any particular projections will be realized and actual results may vary from such forecasts and that such variations may be material.
(b) As of the Closing Date, in relation to the Initial Term Loans incurred by the Borrower on such date, the information included in the Beneficial Ownership Certification, if applicable, is, to the knowledge of the Borrower, true and correct in all respects.
Section 5.15 Ownership of Closing Date CPH Interests. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower owns, directly, the Closing Date CPH Interests and has good and marketable title to such Closing Date CPH Interests, free and clear of any Liens (other than “Permitted Liens” as defined herein).
Section 5.16 Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Term Loans borrowed on the Closing Date for (i) the Transactions and (ii) working capital and general corporate purposes, including for ongoing debt service.
Section 5.17 Debt; Liens.
(a) As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has no Indebtedness or other obligations or liabilities, direct or contingent (other than (i) the liabilities reflected on Schedule 5.17, (ii) obligations arising under the Loan Documents, (iii) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iv) liabilities disclosed in the Closing Date Balance Sheet) that, either individually or in the aggregate, have had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) As of the Closing Date, except for Permitted Liens, the Borrower has not agreed or consented to cause or permit any of the Collateral to be subject to a Lien that secures Indebtedness or to cause or permit in the future (upon the happening of a contingency or otherwise) any of the Collateral pledged by the Borrower to be subject to a Lien that secures Indebtedness.
Section 5.18 Solvency. On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the Transactions, the Borrower is Solvent.
Section 5.19 [Reserved].
Section 5.20 Anti-Corruption; Sanctions; Anti-Money Laundering.
(a) To the extent applicable, the Borrower is in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Sanctions, and (ii) applicable Anti-Corruption Laws.
(b) Neither the Borrower nor any of its directors, officers, or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, employees, agents or Affiliates in their capacity as such on behalf of the Borrower, is a Sanctioned Person.
(c) No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower (i) in violation of applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of financing any activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person in violation of applicable Sanctions, or in any other manner that would constitute or give rise to a violation of applicable Sanctions by any Person, including any Lenders.
Section 5.21 Security Documents.
(a) Valid Liens. Each Collateral Document delivered pursuant to Section 4.01, 6.11 and 6.13 will, upon execution and delivery thereof, be effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the Collateral described therein to the extent intended to be created thereby and (i) when financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 4 to the Perfection Certificate and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent possession or control by the Collateral Agent is required by the Security Agreement), the Liens created by the Collateral Documents shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in (to the extent intended to be created thereby), all right, title and interest of the grantors in such Collateral to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing financing statements, possession or control, in each case subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted under this Agreement.
(b) Copyright Office Filing. If any Intellectual Property Security Agreement or a short form thereof is properly filed in the United States Copyright Office the Liens created by such Intellectual Property Security Agreement shall, to the extent such filings may perfect such interests, constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in Copyrights (as defined in such Intellectual Property Security Agreement) registered or applied for with the United States Copyright Office, subject to no Liens other than Liens permitted under this Agreement (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to establish a Lien on certain registrations and applications for Copyrights acquired by the grantors thereof after the Closing Date).
ARTICLE VI
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Until Payment in Full, from and after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall:
Section 6.01 Financial Statements.
(a) Commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year, a balance sheet of the Borrower and the related statements of income or operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent registered public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not contain any qualifications or exceptions as to the scope of such audit or any “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like qualification (other than resulting from (x) the impending maturity of any Indebtedness or (y) any actual or prospective breach of any financial covenant contained in any Indebtedness); and
(b) Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender, within sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2026, a balance sheet (without footnotes) of the Borrower as at the end of such fiscal quarter and the related statements of income or operations and stockholders’ equity for such fiscal quarter, and statement of cash flows for the year to date period ending on such fiscal quarter, all in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 6.01 and Sections 6.02(b) and (c) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the website on the Internet at the Borrower’s website; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on Datasite, Debtdomain, Roadshow Access (if applicable) or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) upon written request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent for further distribution to each Lender until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent 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. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for timely accessing posted documents or requesting delivery of paper copies of such documents from the Administrative Agent and maintaining its copies of such documents.
Section 6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent for prompt further distribution to each Lender:
(a) no later than five (5) Business Days after the actual delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 6.01(a) and 6.01(b), commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2026, a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower; provided that the Compliance Certificate with respect to the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2026 shall include the amount of Distributed Cash for such quarter and the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2026;
(b) [Reserved];
(c) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material requests or material notices received by the Borrower (other than in the ordinary course of business) or material statements or material
reports furnished to any holder of debt securities (other than in connection with any board observer rights) of the Borrower pursuant to the terms of any Junior Financing Documentation, if any, and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred thereof, in each case in a principal amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to any other clause of this Section 6.02;
(d) together with the delivery of the Compliance Certificate pursuant to Section 6.02(a), to the extent there are any changes following the Closing Date, a report setting forth the information required by sections describing the legal name and the jurisdiction of formation of the Borrower and the location of the chief executive office of the Borrower of the Perfection Certificate or confirming that there has been no change in such information since the later of the Closing Date or the date of the last such report; and
(e) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, legal, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents (including information provided under Section 4.03 of the VGCP Indenture and notices of default or event of default with respect to any material third party debt for borrowed money of CPH or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of the Threshold Amount (provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, this requirement may be satisfied so long as such information is publicly available on the SEC’s EDGAR website without any further action by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates), as the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Joint Lead Arrangers will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on Debtdomain, Roadshow Access (if applicable) or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its respective securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). At the request of the Joint Lead Arrangers, the Borrower hereby agrees to make all Borrower Materials that the Borrower intends to be made available to Public Lenders clearly and conspicuously designated as “PUBLIC”. By designating Borrower Materials as “PUBLIC”, the Borrower authorizes the Borrower Materials to be made available to a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor,” which is intended to contain only information that is publicly available or not material information (though it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws or is of a type that would be publicly available if the Borrower were a public reporting company (in each case, as reasonably determined by the Borrower). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be under any obligation to mark any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”. The Borrower agrees that (i) any Loan Documents, (ii) any financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 and (iii) any Compliance Certificates delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) and (iv) notices delivered pursuant to Section 6.03(a) will be deemed to be “public-side” Borrower Materials and may be made available to Public Lenders. Each of the parties hereto agrees that the Borrower is not permitted to disclose any material non-public information on CPH and/or its Subsidiaries, and shall not be required to disclose or be responsible for disclosing any such material non-public information, nor shall the Borrower be responsible for correcting or supplementing the Borrower Materials for information on CPH and/or its Subsidiaries, regardless of whether or not the Borrower possesses material non-public information on CPH and/or its subsidiaries.
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 communications 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 or its securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws.
The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agent-Related Persons do not warrant the adequacy of the Platform. 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-Related Person in connection with the Platform.
Section 6.03 Notices. Promptly after a Responsible Officer of the Borrower has obtained knowledge thereof with respect to CPH or its subsidiaries, notify the Administrative Agent:
(a) of the occurrence of any Events of Default;
(b) of any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) of the filing or commencement of any action, suit, litigation or proceeding, whether at law or in equity by or before any Governmental Authority, (i) against the Borrower that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) with respect to any Loan Document; and
(d) of Default or Event of Default with respect to any third party Indebtedness for borrowed money of CPH or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of the Threshold Amount; provided any 8-K filing in respect of the same shall satisfy the requirements under this section (d) without any further action by the Borrower or any of its affiliates).
Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (x) that such notice is being delivered pursuant to Section 6.03(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as applicable) and (y) setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 6.04 Payment of Tax Obligations. Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable in the normal conduct of its business, all its obligations and liabilities in respect of Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its property, except, in each case, (i) to the extent any such Tax is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP or (ii) if such failure to pay or discharge such obligations and liabilities would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.
(a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or Section 7.05; and
(b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges (including its good standing where applicable in the relevant jurisdiction), permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business,
except, in the case of clause (b), (i) to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) pursuant to a transaction permitted by Article VII.
Section 6.06 Maintenance of Properties. Except if the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and fire, casualty or condemnation excepted.
Section 6.07 [Reserved]
Section 6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except if the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 6.09 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects and are in conformity with GAAP consistently applied and which reflect all material financial transactions and matters involving the material assets and business of the Borrower, as the case may be.
Section 6.10 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 (subject to such accountants’ customary policies and procedures), all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of an Event of Default, only the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders may exercise rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under this Section 6.10 and the Administrative Agent shall not exercise such rights more often than two (2) times during any calendar year and only one (1) such time shall be at the Borrower’s expense; provided, further, 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 upon reasonable advance notice. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.10, the Borrower shall not be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter that (i) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (ii) in respect of which disclosure to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Law or any binding confidentiality agreement or (iii) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work-product.
Section 6.11 Additional Collateral. At the Borrower’s expense, take all action necessary or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to ensure that the Collateral Requirement continues to be satisfied and to otherwise comply with the requirements of the Collateral Requirement.
Section 6.12 [Reserved].
Section 6.13 Further Assurances. Promptly upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (a) correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in the execution, acknowledgment, filing or recordation of any Intercreditor Agreement or any Collateral Document or other document or instrument relating to any Collateral, and (b) do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to carry out more effectively the purposes of any Intercreditor Agreement or the Collateral Documents, to the extent required pursuant to the Collateral Requirement and (c) provide information and documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for purposes of compliance with applicable “know your customer” requirements under applicable Anti-Money-Laundering Laws and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.
Section 6.14 [Reserved].
Section 6.15 Maintenance of Ratings. Use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Initial Term Loans in existence on the Closing Date to be continuously rated (but not any specific rating) by any two of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch.
Section 6.16 [Reserved].
Section 6.17 [Reserved].
Section 6.18 [Reserved].
Section 6.19 [Reserved].
Section 6.20 Accounting Changes. Continue to use the same fiscal year; provided, however, that the Borrower may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, change its fiscal year to any other fiscal year reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in which case, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent will, and are hereby authorized by the Lenders to, make any adjustments to this Agreement that are necessary to reflect such change in fiscal year.
Section 6.21 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Initial Term Loans received on the Closing Date shall be used for the Transactions and for working capital and general corporate purposes, including for ongoing debt service. Any other Term Loans borrowed hereunder will be used for general corporate purposes of the Borrower or any other purpose specifically allowed for by this Agreement. The proceeds of the Term Loans will not, in each case, be used, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower (i) in violation of applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) for the purpose of financing any activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person or (iii) in any other manner that would constitute or give rise to a violation of applicable Sanctions by any Person, including any Lender.
ARTICLE VII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Until Payment in Full, from and after the Closing Date:
Section 7.01 Liens. The Borrower shall not create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than (each of the following, “Permitted Liens”):
(a) (i) Liens securing Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.03(a) including under any Loan Document and (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness in respect of Secured Other Hedge Agreements permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(e);
(b) (i) Liens existing on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.01(b), and (ii) any modifications, replacements, renewals, refinancings, or extensions of any of the foregoing; provided that (A) the Lien does not extend to any additional property other than (x) after-acquired property that is affixed or incorporated into the property covered by such Lien, and (y) proceeds and products thereof, and (B) the replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of the obligations secured or benefited by such Liens, to the extent constituting Indebtedness, is permitted by Section 7.03;
(c) Liens for Taxes that are not overdue for a period of more than thirty (30) days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate actions, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person to the extent required in accordance with GAAP;
(d) [Reserved];
(e) pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, liability or casualty insurance to the Borrower;
(f) [Reserved];
(g) Liens (i) securing judgments or orders for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h) or (ii) securing appeal or other surety bonds related to such judgments;
(h) [Reserved];
(i) Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection and (ii) in favor of a banking or other financial institution arising as a matter of Law or under customary general terms and conditions encumbering deposits or other funds maintained with a financial institution (including the right of set-off) and that are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry or arising pursuant to such banking institution’s general terms and conditions;
(j) Liens (i) on cash advances or Cash Equivalents in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Sections 7.02(c) to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment, and (ii) consisting of an agreement to Dispose of any property in a Disposition
permitted under Section 7.05, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Disposition, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;
(k) Liens in favor of the Borrower;
(l) [Reserved];
(m) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off or rights of pledge (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness or (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Borrower to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower;
(n) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
(o) Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or similar filings;
(p) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the premiums with respect thereto;
(q) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(k)(i) and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that if such Indebtedness is secured by Liens on the Collateral, at the election of the Borrower, such Indebtedness may be secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans or on a junior basis relative to the Initial Term Loans; provided, further, that to the extent such Indebtedness is secured by Liens on the Collateral, any Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of any such Indebtedness shall become party to (I) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or alternate intercreditor and subordination arrangement then in effect as a “Senior Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such alternate arrangement), and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (II) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a second priority (or other junior priority) basis to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or an alternate intercreditor and subordination arrangement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such alternate arrangement);
(r) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(k)(ii) and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that, if such Indebtedness is secured by Liens on the Collateral, such Indebtedness (i) may be secured on a pari passu basis with the Initial Term Loans on the conditions that (A) the Indebtedness so secured by the Collateral was used by the Borrower to acquire additional CPH Interests and (B) the CPH Interests described in the foregoing clause (A) are directed by the Borrower to be included within the Collateral and (ii) shall otherwise be secured on a junior basis relative to the Initial Term Loans; provided, further, that to the extent such Indebtedness is secured by Liens on the Collateral, any Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of any such Indebtedness shall become party to (I) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or alternate intercreditor and subordination arrangement then in effect as a “Senior Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such alternate arrangement), and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (II) if such Indebtedness is
secured by the Collateral on a second priority (or other junior priority) basis to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or an alternate intercreditor and subordination arrangement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such alternate arrangement);
(s) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(p) and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that, if any Indebtedness described in this clause (s) is secured by Liens on the Collateral, any Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of any such Indebtedness shall become party to (I) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or alternate intercreditor and subordination arrangement then in effect as a “Senior Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such alternate arrangement), and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (II) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a second priority (or other junior priority) basis to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or an alternate intercreditor and subordination arrangement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such alternate arrangement);
(t) Liens securing obligations in respect of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clauses (a), (b), and (r) of Section 7.03; provided that if any Indebtedness described in this clause (t) is secured by Liens on the Collateral, any Other Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of any such Indebtedness shall become party to (x) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis (but without regard to the control of remedies) with the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or alternate intercreditor and subordination arrangement then in effect as a “Senior Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such alternate arrangement), and the First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (y) if such Indebtedness is secured by the Collateral on a second priority (or other junior priority) basis to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations, the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or an alternate intercreditor and subordination arrangement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as a “Junior Priority Representative” (or similar term, in each case, as defined in the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or such alternate arrangement);
(u) [Reserved]; and
(v) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than Liens securing Indebtedness for borrowed money).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consensual Liens shall exist on Equity Interests that constitute Collateral other than pursuant to clauses (a), (c), (g), (k),(o), (q), (r), (r) and (s) above.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01, (A) Liens need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Liens permitted by this Section 7.01 but are permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption and (B) in the event that such Lien (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Liens permitted by this Section 7.01, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify such Lien (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 7.01 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Lien in one or more of the above clauses.
Section 7.02 Investments. The Borrower shall not make or hold any Investments, except:
(a) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;
(b) Investments in the CPH (in cash or in kind) and/or purchases of additional CPH Interests (and any accretion of the CPH Interests);
(c) Investments consisting of transactions permitted under Sections 7.01, 7.03, 7.04 (other than Section 7.04(b)), Section 7.05 (other than 7.05(b) and (b)), 7.06 (other than 7.06(e)) and 7.10, respectively;
(d) Investments in Swap Contracts permitted under Section 7.03; and
(e) promissory notes and other non-cash consideration received in connection with Dispositions permitted by Section 7.05.
Section 7.03 Indebtedness. The Borrower shall not create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness of the Borrower under (i) the Loan Documents (including, for the avoidance of doubt, all Incremental Term Loans, Term Loans pursuant to any Refinancing Amendment and Extended Term Loans) and/or (ii) pursuant to the Ratio Amount;
(b) Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.03(b) and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred thereof;
(c) Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money);
(d) [Reserved];
(e) Indebtedness in respect of Swap Contracts designed to hedge against the Borrower’s exposure to interest rates, foreign exchange rates or other commodity pricing risks incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;
(f) [Reserved];
(g) [Reserved];
(h) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower in connection with an Investment expressly permitted hereunder or any Disposition, in each case, constituting indemnification obligations or obligations in respect of purchase price (including earnouts) or other similar adjustments;
(i) [Reserved];
(j) Cash Management Obligations and other Indebtedness in respect of netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections and similar arrangements in each case in connection with deposit accounts;
(k) (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that at the time of, and after giving effect to, the incurrence thereof, would not exceed
$100,000,000 and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (and each successive incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness) in respect thereof; plus (ii) additional Indebtedness of the Borrower in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not greater than one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the aggregate net cash and Cash Equivalent proceeds and contributions received by the Borrower and Not Otherwise Applied up to such time from (A) the issuance or sale of its Qualified Equity Interests and/or (B) a contribution to its common equity with the net cash and Cash Equivalent proceeds from the issuance and sale by the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) of its Qualified Equity Interests or a contribution to its common equity (in each case of (A) and (B), other than proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests to, or contributions from, the Borrower) and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (and each successive incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness) in respect thereof;
(l) [Reserved];
(m) Indebtedness consisting of the financing of insurance premiums;
(n) [Reserved];
(o) [Reserved];
(p) Indebtedness of the Borrower in respect of one or more series of senior or subordinated loans, “mezzanine” loans or notes (whether issued in a public offering, under Rule 144A of the Securities Act or in another private placement or otherwise), junior secured or unsecured “mezzanine” loans or notes or senior unsecured or subordinated loans or notes (and including any bridge financings in lieu of the foregoing), in each case, which may rank pari passu with or junior to the Class in right of payment and may be secured on a pari passu lien or junior lien or unsecured and pursuant to an indenture, interim agreement, loan agreement, note purchase agreement or otherwise and any extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements thereof, including in the case of any such notes, any Registered Equivalent Notes and Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (and each successive incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness) in respect thereof (the “Incremental Equivalent Debt”); provided that (i) such Incremental Equivalent Debt shall not mature earlier than the Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans, except that the condition set forth in this clause (i) shall not apply to any Incremental Equivalent Debt consisting of a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the condition set forth in this clause (i); (ii) such Incremental Equivalent Debt shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity not shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Initial Term Loans (without giving effect to any prepayments of the Initial Term Loans prior to the time of incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans that would otherwise modify the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Initial Term Loans), except that the condition set forth in this clause (ii) shall not apply to any Incremental Equivalent Debt consisting of a customary bridge facility, so long as the long-term Indebtedness into which such customary bridge facility is to be converted or exchanged satisfies the condition set forth in this clause (ii); (iii) subject to the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) and the succeeding clause (iv) of this proviso, such Incremental Equivalent Debt shall have an interest rate and amortization determined by the Borrower and the applicable holders of such Incremental Equivalent Debt; (iv) subject to clauses (i) and (ii) of this proviso, such Incremental Equivalent Debt shall have an All-In Yield determined by the Borrower and the applicable holders of such Incremental Equivalent Debt; provided that, other than in respect of (a) any Incremental Equivalent Debt that has an outside maturity date of more than one year after the Maturity Date of the Initial Term Loans or (b) any unsecured debt or debt secured on a junior lien basis under any Incremental Equivalent Debt, in the event that the All-In Yield for any syndicated Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred prior to the date that is twelve (12) months after the Closing Date is more than half of a
percent (0.50%) per annum greater than the All-In Yield under the Term Facility, the All-In Yield under the Term Facility shall be increased to the extent necessary so that the All-In Yield under the Term Facility is equal to the All-In Yield for such Incremental Equivalent Debt minus half of a percent (0.50%) per annum; (v) such Incremental Equivalent Debt shall provide for mandatory prepayments of such Incremental Equivalent Debt to be on a pro rata or less than pro rata basis as compared to any Term Loans, except that (A) the Borrower shall be permitted to prepay such Incremental Equivalent Debt on a better than pro rata basis as compared to any Class of Term Loans with a later maturity date than such Incremental Equivalent Debt and (B) such Incremental Equivalent Debt may provide for the ability to participate on a non-pro rata basis in any voluntary prepayments thereof; (vi) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Incremental Equivalent Debt incurred in accordance with this Section 7.03(p), together with the aggregate principal amount of all Incremental Commitments and Incremental Term Loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed the Incremental Amount as a result of the incurrence of any Incremental Equivalent Debt or Incremental Commitments; and (vii) such Incremental Equivalent Debt, to the extent secured, shall (A) be secured only by the Collateral or (B) not be secured by any assets not securing the Obligations (other than customary debt service reserve or other cash collateral accounts or any assets constituting Excluded Assets; provided that, to the extent any such Indebtedness is secured by debt service reserve or other cash collateral accounts and such security interest is perfected by “control” pursuant to a Control Agreement, the remaining Term Loans shall be so secured on a pari passu or junior basis with respect to such accounts in accordance with such Control Agreement(s));
(q) Indebtedness supported by a letter of credit with respect to which the Borrower has any reimbursement obligations, so long as such reimbursement obligations constitute Indebtedness permitted pursuant to any other clause of this Section 7.03;
(r) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness incurred or permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (a) of this Section 7.03, and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance or replace Indebtedness incurred or permitted to be incurred pursuant to this clause (r); and
(s) all premiums (if any), interest (including post-petition interest), fees, expenses, charges and additional or contingent interest on obligations described in clauses (a) through (r) above.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.03, (A) Indebtedness need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Indebtedness permitted by this Section 7.03 but are permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption and (B) in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Indebtedness permitted by this Section 7.03, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify such Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 7.03 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one or more of the above clauses; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents and, in each case, any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness thereof, will at all times be deemed to be outstanding in reliance only on the exception in Section 7.03(a).
Section 7.04 Fundamental Changes. The Borrower shall not merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that the Borrower may:
(a) change its legal form if the Borrower determines in good faith that such action is in the best interest of the Borrower and if not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;
(b) engage in a Permitted Change of Control; and
(c) so long as no Event of Default exists or would immediately result therefrom, the Borrower may merge into or consolidate with any other Person; provided that (i) the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not the Borrower (any such Person, the “Successor Company”), (A) the Successor Company shall be an entity organized or existing under the Laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof, (B) the Successor Company shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (C) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Responsible Officer and if requested by the Administrative Agent, a customary opinion of counsel in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and all documentation and other information as may be reasonably required by the Administrative Agent’s regulatory authorities with respect to such Person under applicable “know your customer” and Anti-Money Laundering Laws and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation; provided, further, that if the foregoing are satisfied, the Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this Agreement.
Section 7.05 Dispositions. The Borrower shall not make any Disposition, except:
(a) Dispositions of property (other than the Closing Date CPH Interests), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;
(b) to the extent constituting Dispositions, transactions permitted by Sections 7.01, 7.02 (other than Sections 7.02(c)), 7.04 and 7.06; provided that this Section 7.05(b) shall not be available for any Disposition of the CPH Interests;
(c) Dispositions contemplated as of the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.05(c);
(d) Dispositions, liquidations or use of Cash Equivalents (which, to the extent constituting Investments, are otherwise permitted by clauses (a), (b), (d), or (e) of Section 7.02;
(e) [Reserved];
(f) transfers of property (other than the Closing Date CPH Interests) subject to Casualty Events;
(g) Dispositions of property (including the CPH Interests constituting Collateral and the Equity Interests of CP Pledgor) that are not otherwise permitted under this Section 7.05; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition (other than any such Disposition made pursuant to a legally binding commitment entered into at a time when no Event of Default exists), no Event of Default shall exist or would immediately result from such Disposition and (ii) with respect to any Disposition pursuant to this clause (g) the Borrower shall receive seventy-five percent (75%) of consideration therefor in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided, however, that for the purposes of this clause (g)(ii), any securities, including debt, received by the Borrower from such transferee that are converted into cash or Cash Equivalents (to the extent of the cash or Cash Equivalents received) within one hundred and eighty (180) days following the closing of the applicable Disposition shall be deemed to be cash; (iii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio with respect to the most recently ended Test Period, (calculated on a Pro Forma Basis)
shall not exceed the Total Net Leverage Ratio immediately prior to such Disposition and (iv) after giving effect to such Disposition, the Borrower retains the material governance rights held by the Borrower as of the Closing Date with respect to CPH (such minimum ownership and rights of the Borrower in this clause (iv) being referred to herein as the “Minimum CPH Rights”);
(h) the unwinding of any Swap Contract;
(i) [Reserved];
(j) [Reserved];
(k) to the extent not constituting Collateral, dispositions of any CPH interests that are not Closing Date CPH Interests;
(l) Dispositions of any property (other than CPH Interests constituting Collateral) in any transaction or series of transactions with an aggregate fair market value of less than $10,000,000; and
(m) any sale of property or assets (other than CPH Interests constituting Collateral), if the acquisition of such property or assets was financed solely with Distributable ECF or with Excluded Contributions made following the Closing Date.
provided that any Disposition of any property pursuant to Section 7.05(g) shall be for no less than the fair market value of such property at the time of such Disposition as determined by the Borrower in good faith. To the extent any Collateral is Disposed of as expressly permitted by this Section 7.05 to any Person other than the Borrower, such Collateral shall be sold free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, shall be authorized to take any actions deemed appropriate in order to effect the foregoing.
Section 7.06 Restricted Payments. The Borrower shall not declare or make any Restricted Payment, except:
(a) [reserved];
(b) the Borrower may declare and make Restricted Payments payable solely in the Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests not otherwise permitted by Section 7.03) of the Borrower;
(c) any Restricted Payments; provided the Restricted Payment Conditions are satisfied at the time such Restricted Payments are made;
(d) Subject to no Payment or Bankruptcy Default having occurred and being continuing, Restricted Payments that are made (i) in an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions previously received and the Borrower elects to apply under this clause (d) or (ii) without duplication with the preceding clause (i), an amount equal to the proceeds distributed by CPH to the Borrower from a Disposition in respect of property or assets acquired by CPH after the Closing Date by means of an Excluded Contribution, in each case, to the extent Not Otherwise Applied;
(e) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower may enter into and consummate transactions expressly permitted by any provision of Sections 7.02 (other than Sections 7.02(c)), 7.04 or 7.07 (other than Sections 7.07(c), 7.07(e) or 7.07(i));
(f) repurchases of Equity Interests in the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof), with respect to which no cash or other consideration is paid by the Borrower, deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;
(g) the Borrower may pay (or make Restricted Payments to allow any other direct or indirect parent thereof to pay) for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests of the Borrower (or of any direct or indirect parent thereof) from any future, present or former employee, officer, director, manager or consultant of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) upon the death, disability, retirement or termination of employment of any such Person or pursuant to any employee or director equity plan, employee, manager or director stock option plan or any other employee or director benefit plan or any agreement (including any stock subscription or shareholder agreement) with any employee, manager, director, officer or consultant of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent thereof); provided that the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (g) shall not exceed $10,000,000 in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being carried over to succeeding calendar years); provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:
(i) to the extent contributed to the Borrower, the net cash proceeds from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests or Designated Equity Contributions) of any of the Borrower’s direct or indirect parent companies, in each case to members of management, managers, directors or consultants of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parent companies that occurs after the Closing Date, to the extent net cash proceeds from the sale of such Equity Interests have been Not Otherwise Applied; plus
(ii) the net cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Borrower; less
(iii) the amount of any Restricted Payments previously made with the cash proceeds described in clause (i) and (ii) of this Section 7.06(g);
(h) Subject to no Payment or Bankruptcy Default having occurred and being continuing, Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed, when combined with prepayment of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 7.10(a)(iii), $200,000,000;
(i) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower:
(i) [reserved];
(ii) subject to no Payment or Bankruptcy Default having occurred and being continuing, the proceeds which shall be used by such parent to pay franchise and similar Taxes, and other fees and expenses, required to maintain its (or any of its direct or indirect parents’) corporate existence;
(iii) (A) subject to no Payment or Bankruptcy Default having occurred and being continuing, with respect to each taxable year ending after the Closing Date for which the Borrower is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the payment of distributions to the Borrower’s direct or indirect equity owners in an aggregate amount equal to the product of (x) the amount of taxable income of the Borrower or attributable to the Borrower if the Borrower is a disregarded entity (calculated as if the Borrower were a
partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) allocated to the direct or indirect equity owners of the Borrower for such taxable year and (y) the highest maximum combined marginal U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate (including any tax rate imposed on “net investment income” by Section 1411 of the Code) applicable to an individual or corporation that is resident in New York City (whichever is higher) for such taxable year (taking into account the character of the taxable income in question (long-term capital gain, qualified dividend income, etc. and the deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and any applicable limitation thereon))); provided that any distributions under this clause (iii) with respect to any such taxable year may be made in installments during the course of the taxable year using reasonable estimates of the anticipated aggregate amount of distributions for such taxable year, with (a) any excess of aggregate installments with respect to any such taxable year over the actual amount of distributions permitted for such taxable year reducing any distributions under this clause (iii) with respect to the immediately subsequent taxable year (and, to the extent such excess is not fully absorbed in the immediately subsequent taxable year, the following year(s)) and (b) any excess of the actual amounts of distributions permitted for such taxable year over the aggregate installments with respect to any such taxable year increasing any distributions under this clause (iii) with respect to the immediately subsequent taxable year (and, to the extent such excess is not fully absorbed in the immediately subsequent taxable year, the following years) and (B) without duplication with respect to clause (A), any payments contemplated pursuant to the Tax Sharing Agreement (any such Restricted Payment permitted under this clause (iii), a “Permitted Tax Distribution”);
(iv) [reserved];
(v) [reserved]; and
(vi) the proceeds of which shall be used by any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower to pay fees and expenses (other than to Affiliates) related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering by such parent (or any direct or indirect parent thereof) that is directly attributable to the operations of the Borrower; and
(j) the Borrower may (i) pay cash in lieu of fractional Equity Interests in connection with any dividend, split or combination thereof or any Investment permitted under Section 7.02 and (ii) honor any conversion request by a holder of convertible Indebtedness and make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with any such conversion and may make payments on convertible Indebtedness in accordance with its terms.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.06, (A) Restricted Payments need not be incurred solely by reference to one category of Restricted Payments permitted by this Section 7.06 but are permitted to be incurred in part under any combination thereof and of any other available exemption and (B) in the event that such Restricted Payment (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Restricted Payment permitted by this Section 7.06, the Borrower shall, in its sole discretion, classify or later divide, classify or reclassify such Restricted Payment (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 7.06 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Restricted Payment in one or more of the above clauses.
Section 7.07 Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower shall not, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $50,000,000, other than (a) on terms
substantially as favorable to the Borrower as would be obtainable by the Borrower at the time in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, (b) the Transactions and the payment of Transaction Expenses as part of or in connection with the Transactions, (c) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 7.06, and Investments permitted under Section 7.02, (d) the payment of customary fees and reasonable out of pocket costs to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, directors, managers, officers, employees and consultants of the Borrower (or any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower) in the ordinary course of business to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower, (e) transactions pursuant to agreements in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 7.07 or any amendment thereto to the extent such an amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect, (f) customary payments by the Borrower made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities (including in connection with acquisitions or divestitures), which payments are approved by the majority of the members of the board of directors or managers or a majority of the disinterested members of the board of directors or managers of the Borrower, in good faith and (g) payments by the Borrower pursuant to any tax sharing agreements, including the Tax Sharing Agreement, with any direct or indirect parent of the Borrower to the extent attributable to the ownership or operation of the Borrower, but only to the extent permitted by Section 7.06(i)(iii).
Section 7.08 Burdensome Agreements. The Borrower shall not enter into or permit to exist any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any agreements or documents governing, evidencing and/or securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, Incremental Commitments or Incremental Equivalent Debt and any requirements of Law that are memorialized as Contractual Obligations) that prohibits the Borrower to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on the Collateral for the benefit of the Lenders with respect to the Obligations or under the Loan Documents; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to Contractual Obligations which (i)(x) exist on the Closing Date and (to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.08) are listed on Schedule 7.08 hereto and (y) to the extent Contractual Obligations permitted by clause (i)(x) are set forth in an agreement evidencing Indebtedness, are set forth in any agreement evidencing any permitted modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing of such Indebtedness so long as such modification, replacement, renewal, extension or refinancing does not expand the scope of such Contractual Obligation, (ii) are binding on a Person at the time such Person merges with or into the Borrower, so long as such Contractual Obligations were not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person merging with or into the Borrower, (iii) arise in connection with any Disposition permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05 and relate solely to the assets or Person subject to such Disposition, (iv) [reserved], (v) are negative pledges and restrictions on Liens in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 but solely to the extent any negative pledge relates to the property financed by such Indebtedness, (vi) are customary restrictions on asset sale or similar agreements otherwise permitted hereby so long as such restrictions relate to the assets subject thereto, (vii) to the extent not otherwise permitted by this Section 7.08, comprise restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to or evidencing secured Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (k), (p), or (r) of Section 7.03, (viii) are customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business, (ix) are restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, (x) customary restrictions on Liens in Indebtedness permitted hereunder so long as such Indebtedness permits the first-priority Liens of the Secured Parties on the Collateral or (xi) arise in connection with cash or other deposits permitted under Sections 7.01 and 7.02 and limited to such cash or deposit.
Section 7.09 Financial Covenant. The Borrower will not permit the Debt Service Coverage Ratio to be less than 1.10:1.00 as of the last day of a Test Period (commencing with the Test Period ending September 30, 2026). Compliance with this financial covenant shall be tested on the date that the
Compliance Certificate for the applicable Test Period is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) and not prior to such date.
Section 7.10 Prepayments, Etc. of Indebtedness.
(a) The Borrower shall not prepay, redeem, purchase, defease or otherwise satisfy prior to the scheduled maturity thereof in any manner (it being understood that payments of regularly scheduled principal and interest shall be permitted) any Indebtedness that is or is required to be contractually subordinated, in right of payment and in right of security, to the Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents (collectively, “Junior Financing”) or make any payment in violation of any subordination terms of any Junior Financing Documentation, except (i) the refinancing thereof with the Net Proceeds of, or in exchange for, any Indebtedness (to the extent such Indebtedness constitutes a Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), to the extent not required to prepay any Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(b), (ii) the conversion of any Junior Financing to, or the exchange of any Junior Financing for, Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Borrower or any of its direct or indirect parents, (iii) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments in respect of Junior Financings prior to their scheduled maturity in an aggregate amount not to exceed, when combined with the amount of Restricted Payments pursuant to Section 7.06(h), $200,000,000, (iv) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances or other payments of, or with respect to, Junior Financings or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance or replace any Junior Financings and which constitutes a Junior Financing; provided the Restricted Payment Conditions are satisfied, (v) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances and other payments of Junior Financings or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance or replace any Junior Financings and which constitutes a Junior Financing thereof with Declined Proceeds as required thereby, and (vi) (A) prepayments, redemptions, purchases, defeasances, and other payments of Junior Financings in an amount equal to the amount of Excluded Contributions previously received and the Borrower elects to apply under this clause (vi) or (B) without duplication with clause (A), an amount equal to the proceeds distributed by CPH to the Borrower from a Disposition in respect of property or assets acquired by CPH after the Closing Date by means of an Excluded Contribution, in each case, to the extent Not Otherwise Applied.
Section 7.11 Change in Nature of Business. The Borrower shall not (i) engage in any business other than owning the CPH Interests and activities reasonably related thereto or (ii) form or have any subsidiary or joint venture or own any capital stock in any entity other than the CPH Interests); and no amendment, waiver, consent, supplement or modification to the Specified Governing Document that has a Material Adverse Effect (it being acknowledged that the exercise by another member of rights in effect as of the Closing Date, if any, without any further amendment, waiver, consent, supplement or modification to the Specified Governing Document shall not be restricted).
Section 7.12 Amendments to Specified Governing Document. The Borrower shall not amend, waive, modify or supplement or consent to any amendment, waiver, modification or supplement of the Specified Governing Document except as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (it being acknowledged that the exercise by another member of rights in effect as of the Closing Date, if any, without any further amendment, waiver, consent, supplement or modification to the Specified Governing Document, shall not be restricted).
Section 7.13 Anti-Layering. The Borrower shall cause CPH, CP Pledgor, and any other direct or indirect Subsidiaries of the Borrower that are formed or acquired after the Closing Date and of which VGCP is a direct or indirect Subsidiary (which for the avoidance of any doubt shall exclude each of VGCP, TCP and any future Subsidiaries that either VGCP or TCP may form or acquire from time to
time) to not incur any additional third party debt for borrowed money at, other than the Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date and any extensions, renewals, refinancings and replacements thereof; provided that this Section 7.13 shall not prohibit any Indebtedness that is incurred solely for the purchase of additional CPH Interests after the Closing Date and the payment of transaction fees thereof.
ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Section 8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following from and after the Closing Date shall constitute an event of default (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 (5) Business Days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or fees payable hereunder or with respect to any other Loan Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Sections 6.03(a) or 6.05(a) or Article VII; provided that a Default as a result of a breach of Section 7.09 is subject to cure pursuant to Section 8.05 and such Default will not become an Event of Default for purposes of exercising remedies under Section 8.02 until such cure is no longer available with respect to such Default; or
(c) Other Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in Section 8.01(a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for thirty (30) days after written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower; provided that, (i) if such failure does not involve the payment of money to any Person and is not susceptible to cure within such thirty (30) days or (ii) such Person is proceeding with diligence and good faith to cure such Default and such Default is susceptible to cure and (iii) in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), the existence of such failure has not resulted in a Material Adverse Effect, such thirty (30)-day period shall be extended as may be necessary to cure such failure, such extended period not to exceed ninety (90) days in the aggregate (inclusive of the original thirty (30)-day period); or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower, in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate required to be delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made provided that, if (i) the Borrower was not aware that such representation or warranty was incorrect at the time such representation or warranty was made, (ii) the fact, event or circumstance resulting in such incorrect representation or warranty is capable of being cured, corrected or otherwise remedied (including through the receipt and application of indemnification proceeds received from the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof), and (iii) such fact, event or circumstance resulting in such incorrect representation or warranty shall have been cured, corrected or otherwise remedied within thirty (30) days (or if such incorrect representation or warranty is not susceptible to cure within thirty (30) days, and the Borrower is proceeding with diligence and in good faith to cure such default and such default is susceptible to cure, such thirty (30)-day cure period shall be extended as may be necessary to cure such incorrect representation or warranty, such extended period not to exceed ninety (90) days in the aggregate (inclusive of the original thirty (30)-day period)) from the date a Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtains knowledge thereof, such false or incorrect representation or warranty shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default for purposes of the Loan Documents; or
(e) Cross-Default; Cross-Acceleration. The Borrower (A) fails to make any payment beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any, (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money hereunder) having an aggregate principal amount of not less than the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness, or any other event occurs, and, in each case, continues beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity; provided that this clause (e)(i)(B) shall not apply to: (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness; (ii) with respect to Indebtedness consisting of any Swap Contracts, termination events or equivalent events pursuant to the terms of such Swap Contracts and (iii) any event requiring a prepayment or offer to purchase pursuant to customary asset sale or change of control provisions
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or the Pledgor 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, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for sixty (60) days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for sixty (60) days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of the Borrower, taken as a whole, and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within sixty (60) days after its issue or levy; or
(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment or order and has not denied coverage) and such judgment or order shall not have been satisfied, vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending an appeal for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or
(i) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any material 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 (including as a result of a transaction permitted under Sections 7.04 or 7.05) or as a result of acts or omissions by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent or any Lender or the satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or the Borrower or the Pledgor contests in writing the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document or the validity or priority of a Lien as required by the Collateral Documents on a material portion of the Collateral; or the Borrower or the Pledgor denies in writing that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document
(other than as a result of repayment in full of the Obligations and termination of the Aggregate Commitments), or purports in writing to revoke or rescind any Loan Document; or
(j) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control; or
(k) Collateral Documents. Any Collateral Document after delivery thereof pursuant to Sections 4.01, 6.11 or 6.13 shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the terms thereof including as a result of a transaction not prohibited under this Agreement) cease to create a valid and perfected Lien, with the priority required by the Collateral Documents and the Intercreditor Agreements on and security interest in any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, subject to Liens permitted under Section 7.01, except to the extent that any such perfection or priority is not required pursuant to the Collateral Requirement or any loss thereof results from the failure of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent or any Other Debt Representative to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Collateral Documents, to file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements or to the extent resulting acts or omissions of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Other Debt Representative in contravention of such Person’s duties under the applicable Loan Document; or
(l) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower 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 which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or
(m) Calcasieu Pass Project. The Borrower abandons the Calcasieu Pass Project or an event of total loss with respect to the Calcasieu Pass Project occurs.
Section 8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may and, at the request of the Required Lenders, shall take any or all of the following actions:
(i) [reserved];
(ii) 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
(iii) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law;
provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
Section 8.03 Reserved.
Section 8.04 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 as set forth in the proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts or other distributions received on account of the Obligations, including any proceeds of Collateral, shall be applied in the manner set forth in the Intercreditor Agreements.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amounts received from the Borrower shall be applied to any Excluded Swap Obligations of the Borrower.
Section 8.05 Borrower’s Right to Cure.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 8.01 or 8.02, if the Borrower determines that an Event of Default under the covenant set forth in Section 7.09 has occurred or may occur, during the period commencing after the beginning of the last fiscal quarter included in such Test Period and ending ten (10) Business Days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered hereunder with respect to such fiscal quarter, the Investors may make a Specified Equity Contribution to the Borrower (a “Designated Equity Contribution”), and the amount of the net cash proceeds thereof shall, at the request of the Borrower, be deemed to increase clause (a) of the definition of Debt Service Coverage Ratio with respect to such applicable quarter for the purpose of determining compliance with the covenant set forth in Section 7.09 at the end of such quarter and applicable subsequent periods; provided that such net cash proceeds (i) are actually received by the Borrower as cash common equity (including through capital contribution of such net cash proceeds to the Borrower) during the period commencing after the beginning of the last fiscal quarter included in such Test Period by the Borrower and ending ten (10) Business Days after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered with respect to such fiscal quarter hereunder and (ii) are Not Otherwise Applied. The parties hereby acknowledge that this Section 8.05(a) may not be relied on for purposes of calculating any financial ratios other than as applicable to Section 7.09 and shall not result in any adjustment to any baskets or other amounts other than the amount calculated in clause (a) of the definition of Debt Service Coverage Ratio for the purpose of Section 7.09.
(b) (i) In each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, there shall be at least two fiscal quarters in which no Designated Equity Contribution is made, (ii) no more than five Designated Equity Contributions may be made in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement (provided, the Borrower shall be entitled to one additional Designated Equity Contribution for each Extension), (iii) the amount of any Designated Equity Contribution shall be no more than the amount required to cause the Borrower to be in Pro Forma Compliance with Section 7.09 for any applicable period and (iv) there shall be no pro forma reduction in Indebtedness with the proceeds of any Designated Equity Contribution for determining compliance with Section 7.09 for the fiscal quarter with respect to which such Designated Equity Contribution was made; provided that, to the extent such net cash proceeds are actually applied to prepay Indebtedness, such reduction may be credited in any subsequent fiscal quarter.
ARTICLE IX
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND OTHER AGENTS
Section 9.01 Appointment and Authorization of Agents.
(a) Each Lender (in its capacities as a Lender and on behalf of itself and its Affiliates as potential counterparts to Secured Loan Document Hedge Agreements and Treasury Services Agreements) hereby irrevocably appoints, designates and authorizes each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other
Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lenders hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to execute any and all documents (including releases) with respect to the Collateral and the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto, as contemplated by and in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents and acknowledge and agree that any such action by any Agent shall bind the Lenders. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or Participant, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to any Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting parties.
(b) [Reserved].
(c) Each of the Secured Parties hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent to act as the agent of (and to hold any security interest created by the Collateral Documents for and on behalf of or on trust for) such Secured Party for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by the Borrower to secure any of the Obligations, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. In this connection, the Collateral Agent (and any co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact appointed by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 9.02 for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents, or for exercising any rights and remedies thereunder at the direction of the Collateral Agent), shall be entitled to the benefits of all provisions of this Article IX (including Section 9.07, as though such co-agents, sub-agents and attorneys-in-fact were the Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents) as if set forth in full herein with respect thereto.
(d) Each Lender (in its capacities as a Lender and on behalf of itself and its Affiliates as potential counterparts to Secured Loan Document Hedge Agreements and Treasury Services Agreements) hereby (i) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Intercreditor Agreements (if any), (ii) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements to the extent then in effect, and (iii) authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent to enter into each Intercreditor Agreement as Collateral Agent and on behalf of such Lender.
(e) Except as provided in Sections 9.09 and 9.11, the provisions of this Article IX are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall have no rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
Section 9.02 Delegation of Duties. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may execute any of its respective duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including for purposes of holding or enforcing any Lien on the Collateral (or any portion thereof) granted under the Collateral Documents or of exercising any rights and remedies thereunder) by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants or experts
concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral 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 Agent-Related Persons. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Agent-Related Persons of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the Loans as well as activities as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or sub-agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct (as determined in the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).
Section 9.03 Liability of Agents. No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), (b) except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity, (c) be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than that the Administrative Agent shall confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or (d) be responsible in any manner to any Lender or Participant for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by the Borrower or any officer thereof, contained herein or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, any failure to monitor or maintain any part of the Collateral, any loss or diminution in the value of the Collateral, or the perfection or priority of any Lien or security interest created or purported to be created under the Collateral Documents, or for any failure of the Borrower or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender or Participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall 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 or Collateral Agent (as applicable) is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (as applicable) shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent (as applicable) to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable Law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law.
Section 9.04 Reliance by Agents. Each Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to
have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by such Agent. Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice, direction or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Each Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.
Section 9.05 Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default.” The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to any Event of Default as may be directed by the Required Lenders in accordance with Article VIII; provided that unless and until the Administrative Agent has received any such direction, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.
Section 9.06 Credit Decision; Disclosure of Information by Agents. Each Lender acknowledges that no Agent-Related Person has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by any Agent hereafter taken, including any consent to and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender as to any matter, including whether Agent-Related Persons have disclosed material information in their possession. Each Lender represents to each Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of, and investigation into, the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower, 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 represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by any Agent herein, such Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with 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 which may come into the possession of any Agent-Related Person.
Section 9.07 Indemnification of Agents. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do
so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that no action taken or not taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be required by the Loan Documents) shall be deemed to constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 9.07. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this Section 9.07 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrower and without limiting their obligation to do so. The undertaking in this Section 9.07 shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be.
Section 9.08 Agents in Their Individual Capacities. Goldman Sachs Bank USA and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire Equity Interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business with the Borrower and its respective Affiliates as though Goldman Sachs Bank USA were not the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Goldman Sachs Bank USA or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Borrower or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Borrower or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall be under any obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to its Loans (if any), Goldman Sachs Bank USA and its Affiliates shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though it were not the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include Goldman Sachs Bank USA in its individual capacity. Any successor to Goldman Sachs Bank USA as the Administrative Agent or as the Collateral Agent shall also have the rights attributed to Goldman Sachs Bank USA under this Section 9.08.
Section 9.09 Successor Agents. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may resign as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lenders, the Borrower and each other Agent and if either the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is a Defaulting Lender, the Borrower may remove such Defaulting Lender from such role upon ten (10) days’ notice to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable, the Lenders and each other Agent. If the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent resigns or is removed by the Borrower, the Required Lenders shall appoint a successor agent, which successor agent shall (a) in the case of the Administrative Agent, be selected from among the Lenders and (b) be consented to by the Borrower at all times other than during the existence of an Event of Default under Section 8.01(a), (f) or (g) (which consent of the Borrower shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that in no event shall any such successor Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent be a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Lender. If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation or
removal of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, in the case of a resignation, and the Borrower, in the case of a removal may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Borrower (in the case of a resignation), a successor agent which, in the case of the Administrative Agent, shall be from among the Lenders (subject to the proviso at the end of the immediately preceding sentence). Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent, the Person acting as such successor agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent or retiring Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents and the term “Administrative Agent” or “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor administrative agent or collateral agent, as the case may be, and the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be terminated. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s resignation or removal in accordance herewith as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Article IX and the provisions of Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent in respect of the Loan Documents. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days following the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s notice of resignation or ten (10) days following the Borrower’s notice of removal, the retiring Administrative Agent’s or the retiring Collateral Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent in accordance herewith by a successor and upon the execution and filing or recording of such financing statements, or amendments thereto, and such other instruments or notices, as may be necessary or desirable, or as the Required Lenders may request, in order to (x) continue the perfection of the Liens granted or purported to be granted by the Collateral Documents or (y) otherwise ensure that Section 6.11 is satisfied, the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges, and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents, and the retiring Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan Documents. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, the provisions of this Article IX and Sections 10.04 and 10.05 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.
Section 9.10 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to 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 (to the fullest extent permitted by mandatory provisions of applicable Law) 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, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and the
Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09, 9.07, 10.04 and 10.05) 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, curator, 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 or the Collateral 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 or the Collateral Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agents and their respective agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under Sections 2.09, 10.04 and 10.05.
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 or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
Section 9.11 Collateral Matters. Each Lender (including in its capacity as a counterparty to a Secured Loan Document Hedge Agreement or Treasury Services Agreement) and each other Secured Party by its acceptance of the Collateral Documents irrevocably agrees:
(a) that any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any Loan Document shall be automatically released (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than (x) obligations under Secured Hedge Agreements and Treasury Services Agreements not yet due and payable and (y) contingent indemnification obligations not yet accrued and payable), (ii) [reserved], (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if the release of such Lien is approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, (iv) to the extent (and only for so long as) such property constitutes an “Excluded Asset” or (v) if the release of such Lien on such property is permitted under the terms of each applicable Collateral Document;
(b) [reserved];
(c) [reserved];
(d) [reserved]; and
(e) the Collateral Agent may, without any further consent of any Lender, enter into (or enter into any supplement or amendment thereto, or an amendment and restatement or replacement thereof) (i) a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the applicable Other Debt Representatives with respect to Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 where such Indebtedness is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01 that the Borrower elects to secure on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations and/or (ii) a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the applicable Other Debt Representatives with respect to Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 where such Indebtedness is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01 that the Borrower elects to secure on a junior basis to the Liens securing the Obligations. The Collateral Agent may rely exclusively on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as to whether any such other Liens are permitted. Any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement (or any supplement or amendment thereto, or amendment and restatement or replacement thereof) entered into by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be binding on the Secured Parties.
Upon request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property pursuant to this Section 9.11. In each case as specified in this Section 9.11, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent will promptly upon the request of the Borrower (and each Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to), at the Borrower’s expense, execute and deliver to the Borrower such documents as the Borrower may reasonably request to evidence the release or subordination of such item of Collateral from the assignment and security interest granted under the Collateral Documents in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents and this Section 9.11 (and the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to that effect provided to it by the Borrower upon its reasonable request without further inquiry). Any execution and delivery of documents pursuant to this Section shall be without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. For the avoidance of doubt, no release of Collateral effected in the manner permitted by this shall require the consent of any holder of obligations under any Secured Hedge Agreement or any Treasury Services Agreements.
Section 9.12 Other Agents; Joint Lead Arrangers and Managers. None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “joint bookrunner”, “joint lead arranger”, “co-syndication agent”, “co-manager” or “co-documentation agent” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.
Section 9.13 Appointment of Supplemental Agents.
(a) It is the purpose of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents that there shall be no violation of any Law of any jurisdiction denying or restricting the right of banking corporations or associations to transact business as agent or trustee in such jurisdiction. It is recognized that in case of litigation under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and in particular in case of the enforcement of any of the Loan Documents, or in case the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent deems that by reason of any present or future Law of any jurisdiction it may not exercise any of the rights, powers or remedies granted herein or in any of the other Loan Documents or take any other action which may be desirable or necessary in connection therewith, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent are hereby authorized to appoint an additional individual or institution selected by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion as a separate trustee, co-trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, administrative sub-agent or administrative co-agent (any such additional individual or institution being referred to herein individually as a “Supplemental Agent” and collectively as “Supplemental Agents”).
(b) [Reserved].
(c) Should any instrument in writing from the Borrower be required by any Supplemental Agent so appointed by the Administrative Agent for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or it such rights, powers, privileges and duties, the Borrower shall execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all such instruments promptly upon request by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. In case any Supplemental Agent, or a successor thereto, shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of such Supplemental Agent, to the extent
permitted by Law, shall vest in and be exercised by the Administrative Agent until the appointment of a new Supplemental Agent.
Section 9.14 Withholding Tax Indemnity. To the extent required by any applicable law, the Administrative Agent may withhold from any payment to any Lender an amount equivalent to any applicable withholding Tax. If the Internal Revenue Service or any other authority of the United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that the Administrative Agent did not properly withhold Tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender for any reason (including because the appropriate form was not delivered or not properly executed, or because such Lender failed to notify the Administrative Agent of a change in circumstance that rendered the exemption from, or reduction of withholding Tax ineffective), such Lender shall, within ten (10) days after written demand therefor, indemnify and hold harmless the Administrative Agent (to the extent that the Administrative Agent has not already been reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.01 and Section 3.04 and without limiting or expanding the obligation of the Borrower to do so) for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by the Administrative Agent as Taxes or otherwise, together with all expenses incurred, including legal expenses and any other out-of-pocket expenses, whether or not such Tax was correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender 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 the Administrative Agent under this Section 9.14. The agreements in this Section 9.14 shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
Section 9.15 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, the Lead Arranger and their respective Affiliates, and, for the avoidance of doubt, not to or for the benefit of 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 the Plan Asset Regulations or otherwise) of one or more Benefit Plans in connection with the Term Loans 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), and the conditions for exemptive relief thereunder will be satisfied in connection with respect to, such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Term Loans,
(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 Term Loans and this Agreement, (C) the entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Term Loans and this Agreement satisfies the requirements of (and is not disqualified under) sub-sections (b) through (h) 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, and the conditions for exemptive relief under PTE 84-14 will be satisfied in connection with, such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Term Loans 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 to the effect that such Lender’s entrance into, participation in, administration of and performance of the Term Loans and this Agreement will not give rise to a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
In addition, unless either (x) sub-clause (i) in the immediately preceding clause (a) is true with respect to a Lender or (y) a Lender has provided another representation, warranty and covenant in accordance with sub-clause (iv) in the immediately preceding clause (a), such Lender further (x) represents and warrants, as of the date such Person became a Lender party hereto, to, and (y) covenants, from the date such Person became a Lender party hereto to the date such Person ceases being a Lender party hereto that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Joint Lead Arrangers are 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 Term Loans and this Agreement (including in connection with the reservation or exercise of any rights by the Administrative Agent or Joint Lead Arrangers under this Agreement, any Loan Document or any documents related hereto or thereto).
Section 9.16 Return of Certain Payments.
(a) If the Administrative Agent notifies a Lender or Secured Party, or any Person who has received funds on behalf of a Lender or Secured Party (any such Lender, Secured Party or other recipient, a “Payment Recipient”) that the Administrative Agent has determined in its sole discretion (whether or not after receipt of any notice under immediately succeeding clause (b)) that any funds received by such Payment Recipient from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Payment Recipient (whether or not known to such Lender, Secured Party or other Payment Recipient on its behalf) (any such funds, whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise, individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”) and demands the return of such Erroneous Payment (or a portion thereof), such Erroneous Payment shall at all times remain the property of the Administrative Agent, and such Lender or Secured Party shall (or, with respect to any Payment Recipient who received such funds on its behalf, shall cause such Payment Recipient to) promptly, but in no event later than two Business Days thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent the amount of any such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) as to which such a demand was made, in same day funds (in the currency so received), together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and including the date such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) was received by such Payment Recipient to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in same day funds at the greater of the Overnight Bank Funding Rate and Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect. A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Payment Recipient under this clause (a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(b) Without limiting immediately preceding clause (a), each Payment Recipient hereby further agrees that if it receives a payment, prepayment or repayment (whether received as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees, distribution or otherwise) from the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment, prepayment or repayment sent by the Administrative Agent (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment (a “Payment Notice”), (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by a Payment Notice, or (z) that such Payment Recipient otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part) in each case:
(i) (A) in the case of immediately preceding clauses (x) or (y), an error shall be presumed to have been made (absent written confirmation from the Administrative Agent to the contrary) or (B) an error has been made (in the case of immediately preceding clause (z)), in each case, with respect to such payment, prepayment or repayment; and
(ii) such Payment Recipient shall promptly (and, in all events, within one Business Day of its knowledge of such error) notify the Administrative Agent of its receipt of such payment, prepayment or repayment, the details thereof (in reasonable detail) and that it is so notifying the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 9.16(b).
(c) Each Lender or Secured Party hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off, net and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or Secured Party under any Loan Document, or otherwise payable or distributable by the Administrative Agent to such Lender or Secured Party from any source, against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under immediately preceding clause (a) or under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement.
(d) In the event that an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered by the Administrative Agent for any reason, after demand therefor by the Administrative Agent in accordance with immediately preceding clause (a), from any Lender that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) (and/or from any Payment Recipient who received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) on its respective behalf) (such unrecovered amount, an “Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency”), upon the Administrative Agent’s request to such Lender at any time, (i) such Lender shall be deemed to have assigned its Loans (but not its Commitments) of the relevant Class with respect to which such Erroneous Payment was made (the “Erroneous Payment Impacted Class”) in an amount equal to the Erroneous Payment Return Deficiency (or such lesser amount as the Administrative Agent may specify) (such assignment of the Loans (but not Commitments) of the Erroneous Payment Impacted Class, the “Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment”) at par plus any accrued and unpaid interest (with the assignment fee to be waived by the Administrative Agent in such instance), and is hereby (together with the Borrower) deemed to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption (or, to the extent applicable, an agreement incorporating an Assignment and Assumption by reference pursuant to a Platform as to which the Administrative Agent and such parties are participants) with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, and such Lender shall deliver any Notes evidencing such Loans to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (ii) the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall be deemed to acquire the Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and (iii) upon such deemed acquisition, the Administrative Agent as the assignee Lender shall become a Lender hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment and the assigning Lender shall cease to be a Lender hereunder with respect to such Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment, excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, its obligations under the indemnification provisions of this Agreement and its applicable Commitments which shall survive as to such assigning Lender. For the avoidance of doubt, no
Erroneous Payment Deficiency Assignment will reduce the Commitments of any Lender and such Commitments shall remain available in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Payment Recipient shall assert any right or claim to an Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives, and is deemed to waive, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payment received, including, without limitation, waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar doctrine.
(f) Each party’s obligations, agreements and waivers under this Section 9.16 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent, the termination of the Commitments and/or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, this Section 9.16 will not create any additional Obligations of the Borrower under the Loan Documents or otherwise increase or alter such Obligations
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.01 Amendments, Etc. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, 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, or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders, and the Borrower (with an executed copy thereof promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent if not otherwise a party thereto) and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that any amendment or waiver contemplated in Section 10.01(i) below, shall only require the consent of the Borrower and the Required Lenders under the applicable Class, as applicable; provided, further, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of each Lender holding such Commitment (it being understood that a waiver of any condition precedent or of any Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall not constitute an extension or increase of any Commitment of any Lender);
(b) postpone any date scheduled for, or reduce or forgive the amount of, any payment of principal or interest under Sections 2.07 or 2.08 without the written consent of each Lender holding the applicable Obligation (it being understood that the waiver of (or amendment to the terms of) any mandatory prepayment of the Term Loans shall not constitute a postponement of any date scheduled for the payment of principal or interest);
(c) subject to Section 3.03, reduce or forgive the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or (subject to clause (i) of the second proviso to Section 10.01(i)) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document (or change the timing of payments of such fees or other amounts) without the written consent of each Lender holding such Loan or to whom such fee or other amount is owed; provided 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 any provision of Sections 8.04 or 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders,” “Required Class Lenders” or any other provision specifying the number of Lenders or portion of the Loans or Commitments required to take any action under the Loan Documents, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender directly and adversely affected thereby;
(e) other than in connection with a transaction permitted under Sections 7.04 or 7.05, release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions, without the written consent of each Lender;
(f) subordinate, or have the effect of subordinating, any of the Obligations in right of payment to any other Indebtedness for borrowed money or (y) subordinate, or have the effect of subordinating, the Lien securing any of the Obligations on all or substantially all of the Collateral to any other Lien securing any other Indebtedness (except as provided in Section 9.11 (without giving effect to any amendment the primary purpose of which is to permit the subordination of the Lien securing any of the Obligations on all or substantially all of the Collateral)), in each case, without the consent of each Lender affected thereby; provided that no such Lender’s consent shall be required pursuant to this Section 10.01(f) with respect to any debtor in possession financing.
(g) [Reserved];
(h) amend, waive or otherwise modify the portion of the definition of “Interest Period” that provides for one (1), two (2), three (3) or six (6) month intervals to automatically allow intervals in excess of six (6) months, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby; or
(i) amend, waive or otherwise modify any term or provision (including the availability and conditions to funding under Section 2.14 (but not the conditions to implementing Incremental Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.14(d)(v)) with respect to Incremental Term Loans, under Section 2.15 with respect to Refinancing Term Loans and under Section 2.16 with respect to Extended Term Loans and, in each case, the rate of interest applicable thereto) which directly affects Lenders of one or more Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans and does not directly affect Lenders under any other Class, in each case, without the written consent of the Required Lenders under such applicable Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans (and in the case of multiple Facilities which are affected, with respect to any such Class, such consent shall be effected by the Required Lenders of such Class); provided, however, that the waivers described in this Section 10.01(i) shall not require the consent of any Lenders other than the Required Lenders under such applicable Incremental Term Loans, Refinancing Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, as the case may be; and provided, further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and (ii) the consent of the Required Class Lenders of any Class of Commitments or Loans shall be required with respect to any amendment that by its terms adversely affects the rights of such Class in respect of payments or Collateral hereunder in a manner different than such amendment affects other Classes.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such
Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms materially and adversely affects any Defaulting Lender (if such Lender were not a Defaulting Lender) to a greater extent than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.01, no Lender consent is required in connection with the execution and delivery by the Collateral Agent of any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement or arrangement permitted under this Agreement (or any supplement or amendment thereto, or an amendment and restatement thereof) that is for the purpose of adding (i) the Other Debt Representative with respect to any Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 where such Indebtedness is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01 that the Borrower elects to secure on a pari passu basis with the Liens securing the Obligations or (ii) the Other Debt Representative with respect to Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03 where such Indebtedness is secured by Liens permitted under Section 7.01 that the Borrower elects to secure on a junior basis to the Liens securing the Obligations (it being understood that the Borrower may make such other changes to the applicable Intercreditor Agreement (including in connection with any supplement or amendment thereto, or amendment and restatement thereof) as, in the good faith determination of the Borrower, are required to effectuate the foregoing and provided that such other changes are not adverse, in any material respect, to the interests of the Lenders (as determined by the Borrower)); provided, further, that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.01, this Agreement and any other Loan Document may be amended solely with the consent of the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent (if applicable) and the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment is delivered in order (A) to correct or cure ambiguities, errors, omissions or defects, (B) to effect administrative changes of a technical or immaterial nature, (C) to fix incorrect cross references or similar inaccuracies in this Agreement or the applicable Loan Document, (D) [reserved], (E) add any financial covenant or other terms for the benefit of all Lenders or any Class of Lenders pursuant to the conditions imposed on the incurrence of any Indebtedness set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, or (F) to implement amendments permitted by the Intercreditor Agreements, this Agreement or the other Collateral Documents that do not by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreements or other Collateral Documents require lender consent, and, in each case of clauses (A), (B) and (C), such amendment shall become effective without any further action or the consent of any other party to any Loan Document. The Collateral Documents and related documents in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents may be in a form reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent and may be, together with this Agreement, amended, supplemented and waived with the consent of the Administrative Agent and/ or the Collateral Agent (if applicable) at the request of the Borrower without the need to obtain the consent of any other Lender if such amendment, supplement or waiver is delivered in order (i) to comply with local Law or advice of local counsel, (ii) to correct or cure ambiguities, omissions, mistakes or defects or (iii) to cause such Collateral Documents or other document to be consistent with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, in each case, such amendment shall become effective without any further action or the consent of any other party to any Loan Document.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may enter into any Incremental Amendment in accordance with Section 2.14, any Refinancing Amendment in accordance with Section 2.15 and any Extension
Amendment in accordance with Section 2.16 and such Incremental Amendments, Refinancing Amendments and Extension Amendments shall be effective to amend the terms of this Agreement and the other applicable Loan Documents, in each case, without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document. In addition, upon the initial incurrence of any Loans intended to be secured on a basis junior in right of priority to the Obligations or intended to be unsecured pursuant to any Incremental Amendment or Refinancing Amendment, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent may, without the need to obtain consent of any other Lender, make changes to the Loan Documents reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent that are necessary to reflect the junior Lien status or unsecured status of such Loans, including, but not limited to, (i) entering into the Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the holders of such junior lien Loans, (ii) including such Loans in the definition of “Latest Maturity Date” or Weighted Average Life to Maturity limitations but only with respect to future Indebtedness secured on a junior lien basis to the Lien securing the Initial Term Loans or unsecured (or not secured by the Collateral) and (iii) amending the Collateral Documents to exclude unsecured Loans from “Obligations” secured thereby.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, at any time and from time to time, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall promptly notify the applicable Lenders) specifying in reasonable detail the proposed terms thereof, the Borrower may make one or more loan modification offers to all the Lenders of any Class that would, if and to the extent accepted by any such Lender, (a) change the Applicable Rate and/or fees payable with respect to the Loans and Commitments under such Class (in each case solely with respect to the Loans and Commitments of accepting Lenders in respect of which an acceptance is delivered) and (b) treat the Loans and Commitments so modified as a new “Class” and a new “Class” for all purposes under this Agreement; provided that (i) such loan modification offer is made to each Lender under the applicable Class on the same terms and subject to the same procedures as are applicable to all other Lenders under such Class (which procedures in any case shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) and (ii) no loan modification shall affect the rights or duties of, or any fees or other amounts payable to, the Administrative Agent without its prior written consent.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any Lender that, as a result of a total return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract (other than any such total return swap, credit default swap or other derivative contract entered into pursuant to bona fide market making activities), has a net short position with respect to Term Loans or Commitments under this Agreement shall have no right to vote any of its interest with respect to such Term Loans or Commitments, with a customary exception for regulated banks. In connection with any such amendment or waiver, or at any time at the request of the Borrower or the Sponsors, each Lender will either be required to notify the Administrative Agent that it has such a net short position with respect to the Term Loans and Commitments under this Agreement or otherwise be deemed to have represented to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that it does not have such a net short position.
In connection with any such loan modification, the Borrower and each accepting Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such agreements and other documentation as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably specify to evidence the acceptance of the applicable loan modification offer and the terms and conditions thereof, and this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended in a writing (which may be executed and delivered by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and shall be effective only with respect to the applicable Loans and Commitments of Lenders that shall have accepted the relevant loan modification offer (and only with respect to Loans and Commitments as to which any such Lender has accepted the loan modification offer)) to the extent necessary or appropriate, in the judgment of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the existence of, and to
give effect to the terms and conditions of, the applicable loan modification (including the addition of such modified Loans and/or Commitments as a “Class” or a “Class” hereunder). No Lender shall have any obligation whatsoever to accept any loan modification offer, and may reject any such offer in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no modification referred to above shall become effective unless the Administrative Agent, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, shall have received legal opinions, board resolutions, officers’ certificates and/or reaffirmation agreements substantially consistent with those delivered on the Closing Date under Section 4.01 with respect to the Borrower.
Section 10.02 Notices and Other Communications; Facsimile Copies.
(a) General. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission or electronic mail). All such written notices shall be mailed, faxed or delivered to the applicable address, facsimile number or electronic mail address, 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 or the Collateral Agent, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02(a) or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire or to such other address, facsimile number, electronic mail address or telephone number as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.
All such notices and other communications shall be deemed to be given or made upon the earlier to occur of (i) actual receipt by the relevant party hereto and (ii) (A) if delivered by hand or by courier, when signed for by or on behalf of the relevant party hereto; (B) if delivered by mail, four (4) Business Days after deposit in the mails, postage prepaid; (C) if delivered by facsimile, when sent and receipt has been confirmed by telephone; and (D) if delivered by electronic mail (which form of delivery is subject to the provisions of Section 10.02(d)), when delivered; provided that notices and other communications to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until actually received by such Person. In no event shall a voice mail message be effective as a notice, communication or confirmation hereunder. Any notice not given during normal business hours for the recipient shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.
(b) Effectiveness of Facsimile Documents and Signatures. Loan Documents may be transmitted and/or signed by facsimile or other electronic communication. The effectiveness of any such documents and signatures shall, subject to applicable Law, have the same force and effect as manually signed originals and shall be binding on the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders.
(c) Reliance by Agents and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan Notices) 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 each Agent-Related Person and each Lender 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 in the absence of bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined in a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(d) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by FpML messaging and Internet or intranet websites pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent acting reasonably; 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 communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may each, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by FpML messaging and Internet or intranet websites pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, 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 of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
Section 10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by Law.
Section 10.04 Attorney Costs and Expenses. The Borrower agrees (a) if the Closing Date occurs, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, syndication and execution of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and any amendment, waiver, consent or other modification of the provisions hereof and thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated thereby are consummated), and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including all Attorney Costs, which shall be limited to one primary counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers (which shall be Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP for any and all of the foregoing in connection with the Transactions and other matters, including primary syndication, to occur on or prior to or otherwise in connection with the Closing Date) and one local counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger as reasonably necessary in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the Lenders taken as a whole (and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to each group of similarly situated affected Indemnitees) and (b) from and after the Closing Date, to pay or reimburse the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers and each Lender for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of any rights or remedies under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including all such costs and expenses incurred during any legal proceeding, including any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law), and including all respective Attorney Costs which shall be limited to Attorney Costs of one counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers (and one local counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger as reasonably necessary in each relevant jurisdiction material to the interests of the
Lenders taken as a whole (and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to each group of similarly situated affected Indemnitees)). The foregoing costs and expenses shall include all reasonable search, filing, recording and title insurance charges and fees related thereto, and other reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any Agent. The agreements in this Section 10.04 shall survive the termination of the Aggregate Commitments, the repayment of all other Obligations and the resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent. All amounts due under this Section 10.04 shall be paid within thirty (30) days of receipt by the Borrower of an invoice relating thereto setting forth such expenses in reasonable detail including, if requested by the Borrower and to the extent reasonably available, backup documentation supporting such reimbursement request. If the Borrower fails to pay when due any costs, expenses or other amounts payable by it hereunder or under any Loan Document, such amount may be paid on behalf of the Borrower by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.
For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.04 shall not apply to Taxes.
Section 10.05 Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person, each Lender and their respective Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, partners, agents, advisors and other representatives of each of the foregoing (collectively the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs but limited in the case of legal fees and expenses to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel to all Indemnitees taken as a whole and, if reasonably necessary, one local counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole in each relevant jurisdiction that is material to the interests of the Lenders, and solely in the case of a conflict of interest, one additional counsel in each relevant material jurisdiction for all affected Indemnitees that are similarly situated taken as a whole) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Indemnitee in any way arising out of or in connection with (a) the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance or administration of any Loan Document or any other agreement, letter or instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) any Commitment or Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, or (c) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory (including any investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding), whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified Liabilities”) in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements (x) resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any of its Affiliates or Controlling Persons or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, agents, advisors or other representatives, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, (y) arising from a material breach of any obligations under any Loan Document by such Indemnitee or of any of its Affiliates or Controlling Persons or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, agents, advisors or other representatives, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (z) arising from any dispute solely among Indemnitees (other than any claims against an Indemnitee in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as the Administrative Agent or Joint Lead Arranger or any similar role under any Class and other than any claims arising out of any act or omission of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates). No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any
information or other materials obtained through Debtdomain, Roadshow Access (if applicable) or other similar information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except to the extent such damages have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or of any of its Affiliates or Controlling Persons or their respective directors, officers, employees, partners, agents, advisors or other representatives, as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, nor, to the extent permissible under applicable Law, shall (A) any Indemnitee or (B) the Borrower, Investor or any of their respective Affiliates or Subsidiaries have any liability for any special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of its activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date) (other than, in the case of the preceding clause (B), in respect of any such damages incurred or paid by an Indemnitee to a third party and for any out-of-pocket expenses in each case subject to the indemnification provisions of this Section 10.05); it being agreed that this sentence shall not limit the indemnification obligations of the Borrower. In the case of an investigation, litigation or other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 10.05 applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Borrower, its directors, stockholders or creditors or an Indemnitee or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnitee is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any of the transactions contemplated hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents are consummated. All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be paid within thirty (30) days after written demand therefor (together with backup documentation supporting such reimbursement request); provided, however, that such Indemnitee shall promptly refund the amount of any payment to the extent that there is a final judicial or arbitral determination that such Indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification rights with respect to such payment pursuant to the express terms of this Section 10.05.
The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 10.05 shall not apply to Taxes, except any Taxes that represent liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, demands, actions, prepayments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements arising from any non-Tax claims.
Section 10.06 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to any Agent or any Lender, or any 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 such 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, to the fullest extent possible under provisions of applicable Law, 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 of any amount so recovered from or repaid by any 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 Overnight Bank Funding Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment.
Section 10.07 Successors and Assigns.
(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may
not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (except as permitted by Section 7.04) and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Assignee pursuant to an assignment made in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(b) (such an assignee, an “Eligible Assignee”) and (A) in the case of any Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is an Affiliated Lender, Section 10.07(l), (B) in the case of any Assignee that is the Borrower, Section 2.05(a)(v) or Section 10.07(m), or (C) in the case of any Assignee that, immediately prior to or upon giving effect to such assignment, is a Debt Fund Affiliate, Section 10.07(p), (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(f), (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of Section 10.07(h), or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of Section 10.07(i) (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void); provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no Lender may assign or transfer by participation any of its rights or obligations hereunder to (i) any Person that is a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Lender (so long as the Administrative Agent may make a schedule thereof available to any Lender upon request, in each case, subject to the confidentiality provisions of Section 10.08) (and any failure of the Borrower to respond to any request for consent of assignment shall not cause such Person to cease to constitute a Disqualified Lender), (ii) a natural Person or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of a natural Person or (iii) the Borrower (except pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(v) or Section 10.07(m)). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in Section 10.07(f) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Indemnitees) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
Any assignment or participation of a Loan or Commitment by a Lender without the Borrower’s consent to (A) a Disqualified Lender or (B) to the extent the Borrower’s consent is required under this Section 10.07, to any other Person, shall be null and void, and, in the event of any assignment or participation of any Loan or Commitment by a Lender in breach of the foregoing, the Borrower shall be entitled to seek specific performance to unwind any such assignment or participation in addition to any other remedies available to the Borrower at law or in equity. In addition, the Borrower may (i) terminate any Commitment of such Person and prepay any applicable outstanding Loans at a price equal to the lesser of par and the amount such Person paid to acquire such Loans, without premium, penalty, prepayment fee or breakage, and/or (ii) require such person to assign its rights and obligations to one or more Eligible Assignees at the price indicated above (which assignment shall not be subject to any processing and recordation fee) and if such Person does not execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly executed Assignment and Assumption reflecting such assignment within five (5) Business Days of the date on which the assignee Lender executes and delivers such Assignment and Assumption to such Person, then such Person shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Assumption without any action on its part, (b) no such person shall receive any information or reporting provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender, (c) for purposes of voting, any Loans or Commitments held by such Person shall be deemed not to be outstanding, and such Person shall have no voting or consent rights with respect to “Required Lender” or class votes or consents, (d) for purposes of any matter requiring the vote or consent of each Lender affected by any amendment or waiver, such Person shall be deemed to have voted or consented to approve such amendment or waiver if a majority of the affected class (giving effect to clause (c) above) so approves and (e) such Person shall not be entitled to any expense reimbursement or indemnification rights and shall be treated in all other respects as a Defaulting Lender; it being understood and agreed that the foregoing provisions shall only apply to the Person specified in clauses (A), (B) or (C) of the first sentence of this paragraph and not to any assignee of such Person that becomes a Lender so long as such assignee
becomes an assignee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.07. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to prejudice any right or remedy that the Borrower may otherwise have at law or equity. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the Borrower will suffer irreparable harm if such Lender breaches any obligation under this Section 10.07. Additionally, each Lender agrees that the Borrower may seek to obtain specific performance or other equitable or injunctive relief to enforce this paragraph against such Lender with respect to such breach without posting a bond or presenting evidence of irreparable harm.
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 hereof relating to Disqualified Lenders. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (a) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or participant or prospective Lender or participant is a Disqualified Lender or (b) have any liability with respect to any assignment or participation of loans, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, nothing in the foregoing shall prejudice any right or remedy that the Borrower may have at law or in equity against any Lender who enters into an assignment, participation or other transaction (including the disclosure of confidential information) with a Disqualified Lender in contravention of the terms of this Agreement.
To the extent consent of the Borrower shall be required with respect to any assignment or participation described in this Section 10.07, a copy of the request for such consent shall be delivered to a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and any other officer or person employed by the Borrower (if any) designated by the Borrower to receive such requests.
(b) (i) Subject to Section 10.07(a) and the conditions set forth in paragraph 10.07(b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (“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) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) of:
(A) the Borrower; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment of any Term Loans unless it shall have objected thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within fifteen (15) Business Days after having received request for consent thereof by a Responsible Officer (or any other officer or person employed by the Borrower (if any) designated by the Borrower to receive such requests) of the Borrower; provided, further, that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for (i) an assignment of all or any portion of the Term Loans to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, (ii) if a Payment or Bankruptcy Default has occurred and is continuing, (iii) an assignment of all or a portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(l) or Section 10.07(m) or (iv) any assignments made in connection with initial syndication of the Loans;
(B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment (i) of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or (ii) all or any portion of the Loans pursuant to Section 10.07(l) or Section 10.07(m); and
(C) [Reserved].
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $1,000,000 and shall be in increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (provided that simultaneous assignments to or from two or more Approved Funds shall be aggregated for purposes of determining compliance with this Section 10.07(b)(ii)(A)), unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consents; provided that such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds, if any;
(B) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent (or if previously agreed with the Administrative Agent, manually), together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent); provided that only one such fee shall be payable in the event of simultaneous assignments to or from two or more Approved Funds; and
(C) other than in the case of assignments pursuant to Section 10.07(m), the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire (in which the Assignee shall designate one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its Affiliates or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including federal and state securities laws) and all applicable tax forms required pursuant to Section 3.01(d).
This paragraph (b) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis among such Facilities.
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 Pro Rata Share. 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.
(c) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Sections 10.07(d) and (e), from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, (1) other than in connection with an assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(m), the Eligible 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 (2) 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, 10.04 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, and the surrender by the assigning Lender of its Note, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this clause (c) shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 10.07(f).
(d) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in the United States a copy of each Assignment and Assumption, each Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption delivered to it, and each notice of cancellation of any Loans delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 10.07(m) and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and related interest amounts) of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, any Agent and, with respect to such Lender’s own interest only, any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section 10.07(d) and Section 2.11 shall be construed so that all Loans are at all times maintained in “registered form” within the meaning of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Code and any related Treasury Regulations (or any other relevant or successor provisions of the Code or of such Treasury Regulations). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender is an Affiliated Lender nor shall the Administrative Agent be obligated to monitor the aggregate amount of Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders. Upon request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall (i) promptly (and in any case, not less than five (5) Business Days (or shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior to the proposed effective date of any amendment, consent or waiver pursuant to Section 10.01) provide to the Administrative Agent, a complete list of all Affiliated Lenders holding Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans at such time and (ii) not less than five (5) Business Days (or shorter period as agreed to by the Administrative Agent) prior to the proposed effective date of any amendment, consent or waiver pursuant to Section 10.01, provide to the Administrative Agent, a complete list of all Debt Fund Affiliates holding Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans at such time.
(e) Upon its receipt of, and consent to, a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, an Administrative Questionnaire completed in respect of the assignee (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) above, if applicable, and the written consent of the Administrative Agent, if required, and, if required, the Borrower to such assignment and any applicable tax forms required pursuant to Section 3.01(d), the Administrative Agent shall promptly (i) accept such Assignment and
Assumption and (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (e).
(f) Any Lender may at any time sell participations to any Person, subject to the proviso in the first paragraph of Section 10.07(a) (each, a “Participant”), in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Agents and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. 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 the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; 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 second proviso to Section 10.01(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) that requires the affirmative vote of such Lender, in each case, to the extent the Participant is directly and adversely affected thereby. Subject to Section 10.07(g), the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and limitations of such Sections, including the requirements under Section 3.01(d)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.07(c). To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender and Section 3.07 as though it were an Assignee. Each Participant will provide any applicable tax forms required pursuant to Section 3.01(d) solely to the participating Lender. 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 related interest amounts) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under this Agreement (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register to any Person (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any Commitments or Loans or its other obligations under any Loan Document) except to the extent that (x) such disclosure is necessary in connection with an audit or other proceeding to establish that such Commitment, Loan, or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations or (y) upon request of the Borrower, to confirm no Participant of Term Loans is a Disqualified Lender. The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive and such Lender shall treat each person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.
(g) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 3.01, 3.04 or 3.05 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, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed (for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall have reasonable basis for withholding consent if the participation would result in increased gross-up or indemnification obligations by the Borrower at such time).
(h) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or any central bank having jurisdiction over
such Lender; 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.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof and (iii) such SPC and the applicable Loan or any applicable part thereof, shall be appropriately reflected in the Participant Register. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) an SPC shall be entitled to the benefit of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 (subject to the requirements and the limitations of such Sections and it being understood that the documentation required under Section 3.01(d) shall be delivered to the Granting Lender), but neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement except in the case of Sections 3.01 or 3.04, to the extent that the grant to the SPC was made with the prior written consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrower shall have reasonable basis for withholding consent if an exercise by SPC immediately after the grant would result in increased gross-up or indemnification obligations by the Borrower at such time), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee of $3,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.
(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, (1) any Lender may in accordance with applicable Law create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it and (2) any Lender that is a Fund may create a security interest in all or any portion of the Loans owing to it and the Note, if any, held by it to the trustee for holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Fund as security for such obligations or securities; provided that unless and until such trustee actually becomes a Lender in compliance with the other provisions of this Section 10.07, (i) no such pledge shall release the pledging Lender from any of its obligations under the Loan Documents and (ii) such trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any of the rights of a Lender under the Loan Documents even though such trustee may have acquired ownership rights with respect to the pledged interest through foreclosure or otherwise.
(k) [Reserved].
(l) Any Lender may at any time, assign on a non-pro rata basis all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Term Loans under this Agreement to a Person who is or will become, after such assignment, an Affiliated Lender or any Debt Fund Affiliate through (x) Dutch auctions open to all Lenders of the applicable Class on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures analogous to those
described in Section 2.05(a)(v) or (y) open market purchases on a pro rata or non-pro rata basis, in each case subject to the following limitations applicable to Affiliated Lenders:
(i) the assigning Lender and the Affiliated Lender purchasing such Lender’s Term Loans shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an assignment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit L-1 hereto (an “Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption”);
(ii) Affiliated Lenders will not receive information provided solely to Lenders by the Administrative Agent or any Lender and will not be permitted to attend or participate in conference calls or meetings attended solely by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, other than the right to receive notices of prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Loans or Commitments required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to Article II, and shall not be permitted to challenge the Administrative Agent’s or any Lender’s attorney-client privilege;
(iii) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans held at any one time by Affiliated Lenders shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the principal amount of all Term Loans at such time outstanding (measured at the time of purchase) (such percentage, the “Affiliated Lender Cap”); provided that to the extent any assignment to an Affiliated Lender would result in the aggregate principal amount of all Loans held by Affiliated Lenders exceeding the Affiliated Lender Cap, the assignment of such excess amount will be void ab initio; and
(iv) as a condition to each assignment pursuant to this clause (l), the Administrative Agent shall have been provided an Affiliated Lender Notice in the form of Exhibit L-2 to this Agreement in connection with each assignment to an Affiliated Lender or a Person that upon effectiveness of such assignment would constitute an Affiliated Lender pursuant to which such Affiliated Lender shall waive any right to bring any action in connection with such Term Loans against the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as such.
Each Affiliated Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it acquires any Person who is also a Lender, and each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent promptly (and in any event within ten (10) Business Days) if it becomes an Affiliated Lender. Such notice shall contain the type of information required and be delivered to the same addressee as set forth in Exhibit L-2.
(m) Any Lender may, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at any time, assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations with respect to Term Loans under this Agreement to the Borrower through (x) Dutch auctions open to all Lenders on a pro rata basis in accordance with procedures of the type described in Section 2.05(a)(v) or (y) notwithstanding Sections 2.12 and 2.13 or any other provision in this Agreement, open market purchase on a pro rata or non-pro rata basis; provided that, in connection with assignments pursuant to clauses (x) and (y) above, (i) the principal amount of such Term Loans, along with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, so contributed, assigned or transferred to the Borrower shall be deemed automatically cancelled and extinguished on the date of such contribution, assignment or transfer, (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans of the remaining Lenders shall reflect such cancellation and extinguishing of the Term Loans then held by the Borrower, and (iii) the Borrower shall promptly provide notice to the Administrative Agent of such contribution, assignment or transfer of such Term Loans, and the Administrative Agent, upon receipt of such notice, shall reflect the cancellation of the applicable Term Loans in the Register.
(n) Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders,” or “Required Class Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders or the Required Class Lenders (in respect of a Class of Term Loans) have (i) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by the Borrower therefrom, or subject to Section 10.07(o), any plan of reorganization pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document or (iii) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, no Affiliated Lender shall have any right to consent (or not consent), otherwise act or direct or require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to take (or refrain from taking) any such action and all Term Loans held by any Affiliated Lenders shall be deemed to be not outstanding for all purposes of calculating whether the Required Lenders, the Required Class Lenders (in respect of a Class of Term Loans) or all applicable Lenders, as applicable, have taken (or refrained from taking) any actions, unless the action in question affects such Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner than its effect on other Lenders.
(o) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary, each Affiliated Lender hereby agrees that and each Affiliated Lender Assignment and Assumption shall provide a confirmation that, if a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law shall be commenced by or against the Borrower at a time when such Lender is an Affiliated Lender, such Affiliated Lender irrevocably authorizes and empowers the Administrative Agent to vote on behalf of such Affiliated Lender with respect to the Term Loans held by such Affiliated Lender in any manner in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, unless the Administrative Agent instructs such Affiliated Lender to vote, in which case such Affiliated Lender shall vote with respect to the Term Loans held by it as the Administrative Agent directs; provided that such Affiliated Lender shall be entitled to vote in accordance with its sole discretion (and not in accordance with the direction of the Administrative Agent) in connection with any plan of reorganization to the extent any such plan of reorganization proposes to treat any Obligations held by such Affiliated Lender in a disproportionately adverse manner to such Affiliated Lender than the proposed treatment of similar Obligations held by Lenders that are not Affiliated Lenders.
(p) Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders have (i) consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by the Borrower therefrom, (ii) otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document or (iii) directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document, all Term Loans held by Debt Fund Affiliates may not account for more than 49.9% (pro rata among such Debt Fund Affiliates) of the Term Loans of consenting Lenders included in determining whether the Required Lenders have consented to any action pursuant to Section 10.01.
Section 10.08 Confidentiality. Each of the Agents and the Lenders severally (and not jointly) agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information and not to disclose such information, except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and its and its Affiliates’ managers, administrators, directors, officers, employees, trustees, partners, investors, investment advisors and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (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 requested by any Governmental Authority or self-regulatory authority having or asserting jurisdiction over such Person (including any Governmental Authority or examiner (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other
similar organization) regulating any Lender or its Affiliates); provided that the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority or examiner) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (c) to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Facilities or market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry and service providers to the Administrative Agent in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the Loan Documents; (d) to the extent required by applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; provided that the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, agrees that it will notify the Borrower as soon as practicable in the event of any such disclosure by such Person (other than at the request of a regulatory authority or examiner) unless such notification is prohibited by law, rule or regulation; (e) to any other party to this Agreement; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions at least as restrictive as those set forth in this Section 10.08 (or as may otherwise be reasonably acceptable to the Borrower), to any pledgee referred to in Section 10.07(h), counterparty to a Swap Contract, Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement (provided that the disclosure of any such Information to any Lenders or Eligible Assignees or Participants shall be made subject to the acknowledgement and acceptance by such Lender, Eligible Assignee or Participant that such Information is being disseminated on a confidential basis) (on substantially the terms set forth in this Section 10.08 or as otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Borrower, including, without limitation, as agreed in any Borrower Materials) in accordance with the standard processes of the Administrative Agent or customary market standards for dissemination of such type of Information; (g) with the written consent of the Borrower; (h) to the extent such Information becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08 or becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Joint Lead Arranger, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any Investor or their respective Affiliates (so long as such source is not known to the Administrative Agent, such Joint Lead Arranger, such Lender or any of their respective Affiliates to be bound by confidentiality obligations to the Borrower); (i) to any Governmental Authority or examiner (including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any other similar organization) regulating any Lender; (j) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Information relating to the Borrower received by it from such Lender) or to the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar organization; (k) in connection with establishing a “due diligence” defense or (l) to the extent such Information is independently developed by the Administrative Agent, such Joint Lead Arranger, such Lender or any of their respective Affiliates; provided that no disclosure shall be made to any Disqualified Lender. In addition, the Agents and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this Agreement and publicly available information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments, and the Borrowings. For the purposes of this Section 10.08, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower, its Affiliates or its Affiliates’ directors, managers, officers, employees, trustees, investment advisors or agents, or its business, other than any such information that is publicly available to any Agent or any Lender prior to disclosure by the Borrower other than as a result of a breach of this Section 10.08; provided that all information received after the Closing Date from the Borrower shall be deemed confidential unless such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as not being confidential.
Section 10.09 Setoff. In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender and its Affiliates is
authorized at any time and from time to time, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being waived by the Borrower (on its own behalf) 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) at any time held by, and other Indebtedness at any time owing by, such Lender and its Affiliates to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all Obligations owing to such Lender and its Affiliates hereunder or under any other Loan Document, now or hereafter existing, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender or Affiliate shall have made demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or denominated in a currency different from that of the applicable deposit or Indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.18 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 (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set off and application made by such Lender; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent and each Lender under this Section 10.09 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Administrative Agent and such Lender may have.
Section 10.10 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If any 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 an 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.
Section 10.11 Benchmark Replacement.
(a) Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10.01 if a Benchmark Transition Event occurs with respect to the Applicable Benchmark for any Loan, then
(i) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” and its related Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of such Applicable Benchmark setting and subsequent Applicable Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and
(ii) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with any other clause of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Applicable Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in respect of any Applicable Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark
Replacement is provided to the Lenders without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document so long as the Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such Benchmark Replacement from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders for such Class of Loans.
(b) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes that are reasonably approved by the Borrower, from time to time, and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
(c) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of (A) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, (B) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (C) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of an Applicable Benchmark and (D) the commencement of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 10.11, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required by this Agreement.
(d) Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document, at any time, including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement,
(i) if the then-current Applicable Benchmark for a facility is a term rate and either (1) any tenor for such Applicable Benchmark is not displayed on the screen or other information service that publishes such rate from time to time that is customarily used by market participants or (2) a Benchmark Administrator for an Applicable Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Applicable Benchmark is not or will not be representative, then the Administrative Agent may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for such Applicable Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable or non-representative tenor, and
(ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (A) above either (1) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for the Applicable Benchmark or (2) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative for such Applicable Benchmark, then the Administrative Agent shall modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Applicable Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.
(e) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of Loans with an interest rate determined with reference to the Applicable Benchmark subject to the Benchmark Unavailability Period, or a conversion to or continuation of such Loans to be
made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans. During a Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Applicable Benchmark is not a Benchmark Available Tenor, the component of the Base Rate based upon the then-current Applicable Benchmark or such tenor for such Applicable Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of the Base Rate.
(f) Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent does not warrant nor accept any responsibility nor shall the Administrative Agent have any liability with respect to (A) any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, (B) the administration, submission or any matter relating to the rates in the definition of Applicable Benchmark or with respect to any rate that is an alternative, comparable or successor rate thereto or (C) the effect of any of the foregoing.
(g) Good Faith Cooperation. The Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall cooperate in good faith and use commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy any applicable requirements under proposed or final U.S. Treasury Regulations or other Internal Revenue Service guidance such that the use of an alternative rate of interest pursuant to this Section 10.11 shall not result in a deemed exchange of any Loan under Section 1001 of the Code.
(h) Definitions. Any Swap Obligation shall not be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 10.11.
Section 10.12 Counterparts. This Agreement and each other Loan Document may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic transmission of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement and each other Loan Document shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement and such other Loan Document. The Agents may also require that any such documents and signatures delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission be confirmed by an original thereof; provided that the failure to request or deliver the same shall not limit the effectiveness of any document or signature delivered by telecopier or other electronic transmission.
Section 10.13 Integration; Termination. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Agents or the Lenders in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.
Section 10.14 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or
knowledge of any Default at the time of any Borrowing, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.
Section 10.15 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby. 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 10.15, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provision 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.
Section 10.16 GOVERNING LAW.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS AND AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT COMMENCE OR SUPPORT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER, EACH AGENT AND EACH LENDER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES (OTHER THAN TELECOPIER OR OTHER ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION) IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE ANY AWARD OR JUDGMENT OR EXERCISE ANY RIGHT UNDER THE COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR ANY OTHER PROPERTY OF THE BORROWER IN ANY OTHER FORUM IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH COLLATERAL IS LOCATED.
Section 10.17 WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES
ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION 10.17 WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 10.18 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall have been notified by each Lender that each Lender has executed it and thereafter this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, in each case in accordance with Section 10.07 (if applicable) and except that the Borrower shall have no right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders except as permitted by Section 7.04.
Section 10.19 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and/or the Beneficial Ownership Regulation 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, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name, address and tax identification number of the Borrower and other information regarding the Borrower that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act and/or the Beneficial Ownership Regulation. This notice is given in accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act and/or the Beneficial Ownership Regulation and is effective as to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent.
Section 10.20 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
(a) In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that (i) the facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers and the Lenders, on the other hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof), (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers (and their respective Affiliates) and the Lenders is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person, (iii) none of the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers (or their respective Affiliates) or the Lenders has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether any Agent or Lender has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of
its Affiliates on other matters) and none of the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers (or their respective Affiliates) or the Lenders has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the financing transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, (iv) the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers (and their respective Affiliates) and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from, and may conflict with, those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and none of the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers or the Lenders has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship and (v) the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers (and their respective Affiliates) and the Lenders have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Borrower has consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate. The Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Joint Lead Arrangers (and their respective Affiliates) and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty under applicable law relating to agency and fiduciary obligations.
(b) The Borrower acknowledges and agrees that each Lender, Joint Lead Arranger and any Affiliate thereof may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any of the Borrower, any Investor, any Affiliate thereof or any other person or entity that may do business with or own securities of any of the foregoing, all as if such Lender, Joint Lead Arranger or Affiliate thereof were not a Lender, Joint Lead Arranger or an Affiliate thereof (or an agent or any other person with any similar role under the Loans) and without any duty to account therefor to any other Lender, Joint Lead Arranger, the Borrower, any Investor or any Affiliate of the foregoing. Each Lender, Joint Lead Arranger and any Affiliate thereof may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower, any Investor or any Affiliate thereof for services in connection with this Agreement, the Facilities or otherwise without having to account for the same to any other Lender, Joint Lead Arranger, the Borrower, any Investor or any Affiliate of the foregoing. Some or all of the Lenders and the Joint Lead Arrangers may have directly or indirectly acquired certain equity interests (including warrants) in the Borrower, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof or may have directly or indirectly extended credit on a subordinated basis to the Borrower, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof. Each party hereto, on its behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates, acknowledges and waives the potential conflict of interest resulting from any such Lender, such Joint Lead Arranger or an Affiliate thereof holding disproportionate interests in the extensions of credit under the Facilities or otherwise acting as arranger or agent thereunder and such Lender, such Joint Lead Arranger or any Affiliate thereof directly or indirectly holding equity interests in or subordinated debt issued by the Borrower, an Investor or an Affiliate thereof.
Section 10.21 Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures 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 record keeping 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.
Section 10.22 Intercreditor Agreements. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Obligations of the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement and all other Loan Documents, the Liens on the
Collateral granted to the Collateral Agent and the exercise of any right or remedy by any Lender or Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document are each subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements then in effect. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements and this Agreement, the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreements shall govern and control.
Section 10.23 Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from the Borrower hereunder in the currency expressed to be payable herein (the “specified currency”) into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures any Lender could purchase the specified currency with such other currency at such Lender’s New York office on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligations of the Borrower in respect of any sum due to any Lender hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Lender may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the specified currency with such other currency; if the amount of the specified currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Lender in the specified currency, the Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Lender against such loss, and if the amount of the specified currency so purchased exceeds the sum originally due to such Lender in the specified currency, such Lender agrees to remit such excess to the Borrower.
Section 10.24 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA 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 Lender that is an EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of an EEA 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 an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto to any Lender that is an EEA Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or
(iii) the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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.
CALCASIEU PASS FUNDING, LLC,
as Borrower
By: /s/ Jonathan W. Thayer
Name: Jonathan W. Thayer
Title: Chief Financial Officer
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent
By: /s/ Sid Subramanian
Name: Sid Subramanian
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
as Initial Lender
By: /s/ Thomas Manning
Name: Thomas Manning
Title: Authorized Signatory
[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]
SCHEDULE 1.01A
Commitments
[Omitted]
SCHEDULE 1.01B
Collateral Documents
[Omitted]
SCHEDULE 5.17
Certain Liabilities
[Omitted]
SCHEDULE 7.01(b)
Existing Liens
[Omitted]
SCHEDULE 7.03(b)
Existing Indebtedness
[Omitted]
SCHEDULE 7.05(c)
Dispositions
[Omitted]
SCHEDULE 7.07
Transactions with Affiliates
[Omitted]
SCHEDULE 7.08
Burdensome Agreements
[Omitted]
SCHEDULE 10.02(a)
Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF] COMMITTED LOAN NOTICE
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT B
[RESERVED]
EXHIBIT C
[FORM OF] NOTE
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT D-1
[FORM OF]
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT D-2
[FORM OF]
SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE OF CALCASIEU PASS FUNDING, LLC
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT E
[FORM OF]
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT F-1
[FORM OF]
SECURITY AGREEMENT
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT F-2
[FORM OF]
PLEDGE AGREEMENT
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT G
[FORM OF]
PERFECTION CERTIFICATE
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT H
[RESERVED]
EXHIBIT I-1
[FORM OF]
FIRST LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT I-2
[FORM OF]
JUNIOR LIEN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT J-1
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(FOR FOREIGN LENDERS THAT ARE NOT PARTNERSHIPS FOR
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES)
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT J-2
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(FOR FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE NOT PARTNERSHIPS
FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES)
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT J-3
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(FOR FOREIGN LENDERS THAT ARE PARTNERSHIPS FOR
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES)
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT J-4
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(FOR FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE PARTNERSHIPS
FOR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES)
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT K
[RESERVED]
EXHIBIT L-1
[FORM OF] AFFILIATED LENDER ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT L-2
[FORM OF] AFFILIATED LENDER NOTICE
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT L-3
[FORM OF] ACCEPTANCE AND PREPAYMENT NOTICE
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT L-4
[FORM OF] DISCOUNT RANGE PREPAYMENT NOTICE
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT L-5
[FORM OF] DISCOUNT RANGE PREPAYMENT OFFER
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT L-6
[FORM OF] SOLICITED DISCOUNTED PREPAYMENT NOTICE
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT L-7
[FORM OF] SOLICITED DISCOUNTED PREPAYMENT OFFER
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT L-8
[FORM OF] SPECIFIED DISCOUNT PREPAYMENT NOTICE
[Omitted]
EXHIBIT L-9
[FORM OF] SPECIFIED DISCOUNT PREPAYMENT RESPONSE
[Omitted]