REGIS CORP false 0000716643 0000716643 2024-12-19 2024-12-19 0000716643 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2024-12-19 2024-12-19 0000716643 us-gaap:SeriesAPreferredStockMember 2024-12-19 2024-12-19

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 19, 2024

 

 

REGIS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

 

Minnesota   1-12725   41-0749934

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

3701 Wayzata Boulevard

Minneapolis, MN 55416

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(952) 947-7777

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Not applicable)

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.05 per share   RGS   The Nasdaq Global Market
Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $0.05 par value   RGS   The Nasdaq Global Market

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

Emerging growth company 

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

 

 

 


Regis Corporation

Current Report on Form 8-K

 

ITEM 1.01

ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

Acquisition of Alline Membership Interests

On December 19, 2024, Regis Corporation (the “Company”) entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) with Super C Group, LLC d/b/a Alline Salon Group (“Alline”), ASG Holdings, LLC (“Holdco”), and Vision Cuts, LLC, SAAW Project, LLC, and VGP II LLC (each, a “Holder” and together, the “Holders”) for the Company to acquire all membership interests of Alline from Holdco and indirectly from the Holders (the “Acquired Interests”). The transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement were completed on December 19, 2024.

Alline owns and operates 314 stores under the Cost Cutters, Holiday Hair, and Supercuts brand names of the Company pursuant to franchise agreements by and between certain subsidiaries of the Company and Alline for each such store. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company has entered into a mutual termination agreement terminating all such franchise agreements.

The aggregate purchase price paid for the Acquired Interests under the Purchase Agreement at the closing of the transaction consisted of (a) $19 million in cash payable at closing, subject to certain adjustments and (b) an aggregate of 140,552 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.05 par value per share (“Common Stock”) issued to certain individuals as set forth in the Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Recipients”) valued at $3 million (the “Stock Consideration”). The number of shares of Common Stock issued as the Stock Consideration was determined by dividing $3 million by the 30-trading day volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market as of and including December 17, 2024. The Stock Consideration is subject to a one-year lock-up following the Closing.

As additional post-closing consideration, Holdco is eligible to receive certain cash payments from the Company in an aggregate amount not to exceed $3 million if certain financial performance metrics are met for each of the 2025, 2026 and 2027 calendar years, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including certain indemnification and confidentiality obligations and other restrictive covenants.

The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Amendment of Financing Agreement and Related Warrant Issuance

On June 24, 2024, the Company entered into a Financing Agreement (the “Existing Financing Agreement”) among the Company, as borrower, and certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries, as guarantors (the “Guarantors”) the lender parties thereto (the “Lenders”), TCW Asset Management Company LLC as administrative and collateral agent for the lender parties (in such capacities, the “Administrative Agent”), and MidCap Financial Trust as revolving agent for the Revolving Loan Lenders (as defined in the Existing Financing Agreement) (in such capacity, the “Revolving Agent” and, together with the Administrative Agent, the “Agents”). The Existing Financing Agreement provided for a first lien senior secured credit facility consisting of term loans in the aggregate principal amount of $105 million (the “Existing Term Loan Facility”) and revolving credit commitments in the amount of $25 million.

On December 19, 2024 (the “Closing Date”), the Company, the Guarantors the Lenders and the Agents, entered into that certain Amendment No. 1 to Financing Agreement (the “Amendment”), pursuant to which the Lenders provided to the Company incremental first lien term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $15 million (the “First Amendment Term Loans”). The proceeds of the First Amendment Term Loans will be used to finance the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement. The First Amendment Term Loans have been provided on the same terms, including with respect to maturity and interest rate margins, as the Existing Term Loan Facility.


In connection with the transactions contemplated by the Amendment and in consideration of the matters described therein, the Company issued warrants (each, a “Warrant” and together, the “Warrants”) to affiliates of TCW Asset Management Company LLC and Asilia Investments (each, a “Warrant Holder” and together, the “Warrant Holders”). Pursuant to the Warrants, the Warrant Holders can purchase up to an aggregate 64,372 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price equal to $23.86 per share. The Warrants are exercisable for a seven-year period beginning December 19, 2024 (the “Issue Date”). The Warrants may also be exercised on a cashless basis if, at the time of exercise, there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus therein is not available for, the issuance of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants. Prior to the second anniversary of the Issue Date, the Company may call for cancellation up to an aggregate 32,186 shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants for consideration equal to $51.13 per share; provided, that the VWAP (as defined in the Warrants) on the trading day immediately preceding the date the Company delivers a written call notice to a Warrant Holder exceeds $68.17.

In the event of any Change of Control (as defined in the Warrants), the Warrants will be deemed automatically exchanged immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control, for the same per share consideration paid to the holders of Common Stock to which the Warrant Holders would have been entitled upon such Change in Control had the Warrants been exercised in full immediately prior to such consummation, net of the then-applicable exercise price. The Warrants contain anti-dilution provisions customary for a transaction of this type.

In addition, in connection with the issuance of the Warrants, the Company has granted an exemption in favor of each Warrant Holder pursuant to Section 36 of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, dated January 29, 2024, among the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (the “Plan”), such that neither Warrant Holder was deemed to be an “Acquiring Person” (as defined in the Plan) solely in connection with (i) the issuance of the Warrants nor (ii) the acquisition of beneficial ownership of securities of the Company pursuant to the exercise of the Warrants.

The foregoing descriptions of the Amendment and the Warrants do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Amendment or the Warrants, as applicable, each of which is attached as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

ITEM 2.01

COMPLETION OF ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 2.03

CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT.

The description of the Amendment set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 3.02

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated herein by reference. The Common Stock issued as the Stock Consideration, the Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Warrants have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be sold absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Based in part upon the representations of the Stock Recipients and each Warrant Holder in each Warrant, the offering and sale of the Stock Consideration and each Warrant is exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.


ITEM 7.01

REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

On December 19, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing its entry into the Agreement and closing of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The information furnished pursuant to this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and it shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

ITEM 9.01

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(a) Financial Statements of Businesses or Funds Acquired.

The financial statements required by Item 9.01(a) of Form 8-K will be filed by an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K not later than 71 days after the date on which this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.

The pro forma financial information required by Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K will be filed by an amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K not later than 71 days after the date on which this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

    
 2.1*    Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated December 19, 2024, by and among Regis Corporation, Super C Group, LLC d/b/a Alline Salon Group, ASG Holdings, LLC, Vision Cuts, LLC, SAAW Project, LLC, and VGP II LLC.
10.1    First Amendment to Financing Agreement, among Regis Corporation, the Lenders party thereto, TCW Asset Management Company LLC as administrative and collateral agent, and MidCap Financial Trust as Revolving Agent.
10.2    Form of Warrant.
99.1    Press Release, dated December 19, 2024.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

*

Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally to the SEC a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit upon request.


SIGNATURE

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

 

    REGIS CORPORATION
Dated: December 19, 2024       By:  

/s/ Kersten D. Zupfer

        Kersten D. Zupfer
        Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 2.1

EXECUTION VERSION

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

REGIS CORPORATION,

SUPER C GROUP, LLC,

ASG HOLDINGS, LLC,

AND

VISION CUTS, LLC,

SAAW PROJECT, LLC,

AND

VGP II LLC

DECEMBER 19, 2024


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I THE TRANSACTIONS

     1  

1.1

  Purchase and Sale      1  

1.2

  Closing Payments      2  

1.3

  Post-Closing Adjustment      3  

1.4

  Earnout      5  

1.5

  Further Action      10  

ARTICLE II CLOSING DELIVERABLES AND CLOSING PAYMENTS

     10  

2.1

  The Closing      10  

2.2

  Holdco Closing Deliverables      10  

2.3

  Buyer Closing Deliverables      11  

2.4

  Further Action      12  

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     12  

3.1

  Organization, Good Standing, Power      12  

3.2

  Authority and Enforceability      13  

3.3

  Restrictions on Business Activities      13  

3.4

  Compliance with Laws; Governmental Permits      14  

3.5

  Company Capital Structure      14  

3.6

  Company Financial Statements; No Undisclosed Liabilities; Absence of Changes      15  

3.7

  Tax Matters      20  

3.8

  Title to, Condition and Sufficiency of Assets      23  

3.9

  Intellectual Property      24  

3.10

  Material Contracts      29  

3.11

  Employee Benefit Plans and Employee Matters      32  

3.12

  Anti-Corruption Compliance      36  

3.13

  Litigation      36  

3.14

  Insurance      37  

3.15

  Environmental, Health and Safety Matters      37  

3.16

  Stores; Vendors      37  

3.17

  Interested Party Transactions      38  

3.18

  Books and Records      38  

3.19

  Transaction Fees      38  

3.20

  Trade Control Laws      38  

3.21

  Products Liability; Recalls      39  

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Continued)

 

     Page  

3.22

  No Other Representations or Warranties      39  

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS

     39  

4.1

  Authority and Enforceability      39  

4.2

  No Conflict      40  

4.3

  Litigation      40  

4.4

  Ownership of Company Interests; No Operations      40  

4.5

  Transaction Fees      40  

4.6

  No Other Representations or Warranties      41  

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

     41  

5.1

  Organization and Standing      41  

5.2

  Authority and Enforceability      41  

5.3

  No Conflict      41  

5.4

  Litigation      41  

5.5

  Transaction Fees      41  

5.6

  Issuance of Stock Consideration; SEC Filings      42  

5.7

  No Other Representations; Buyer Acknowledgment      42  

ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

     43  

6.1

  Confidentiality; Public Disclosure      43  

6.2

  Expenses      43  

6.3

  Tax Matters      44  

6.4

  Director, Manager, and Officer Indemnification      47  

6.5

  Seller Release      48  

6.6

  Buyer Release      48  

6.7

  No Dissolution      49  

6.8

  Legend Removal      49  

6.9

  RWI Policy      49  

6.10

  Preservation of Records; Access to Employees      49  

6.11

  Employee Benefit Arrangements      50  

6.12

  Form 8-K      50  

ARTICLE VII POST-CLOSING INDEMNIFICATION

     51  

7.1

  Survival Periods      51  

7.2

  Indemnification      52  

7.3

  Limitations on Indemnification      53  

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(Continued)

 

     Page  

7.4

  Indemnification Claim Procedures      55  

7.5

  Third Party Claims      56  

7.6

  Indemnity Escrow Amount      57  

ARTICLE VIII GENERAL PROVISIONS

     57  

8.1

  Certain Interpretations      57  

8.2

  Notices      57  

8.3

  Amendment      58  

8.4

  Extension and Waiver      58  

8.5

  Assignment      59  

8.6

  Severability      59  

8.7

  Specific Performance and Other Remedies      59  

8.8

  Governing Law      59  

8.9

  Exclusive Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial      59  

8.10

  Entire Agreement      60  

8.11

  Non-Recourse      60  

8.12

  Third Party Beneficiaries      61  

8.13

  Conflicts, Privilege and Holdco Communications      61  

8.14

  Counterparts      62  

8.15

  Terms Defined Elsewhere      62  

 

-iii-


INDEX OF ANNEXES, EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

 

Annex    Description
Annex A    Certain Defined Terms
Exhibit    Description
Exhibit A    Accounting Principles
Exhibit B    Earnout Accounting Principles
Exhibit B-1    EBITDA Illustrative Calculation
Schedules    Description
Disclosure Schedules   
Schedule A    Indebtedness
Schedule B    Franchise Agreements
Schedule C    Joinder Parties
Schedule D    Specified Matter
Schedule E    Stock Recipients
Schedule 1.3    Closing Spreadsheet
Schedule 2.2(a)(i)    Terminated Agreements
Schedule 6.3    Allocation Principles

 

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MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 19, 2024 (the “Agreement Date”) by and among Regis Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (“Buyer”), Super C Group, LLC d/b/a Alline Salon Group, a Michigan limited liability company (the “Company”), ASG Holdings, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (“Holdco”), Vision Cuts, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, SAAW Project, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, and VGP II LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (each, a “Holder” and together, the “Holders”, and together with Holdco, the “Sellers”). All capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in Annex A.

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, Holdco is the sole member and manager of the Company and owns all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of the Company (the “Company Interests”), each Holder owns issued and outstanding membership interests of Holdco and beneficially owns the Company Interests through its ownership of Holdco and will directly benefit from the sale of the Company Interests and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Transactions”);

WHEREAS, Buyer desires to acquire all of the Company Interests (the “Acquired Interests”) from Holdco and indirectly from the Holders, and Holdco (and indirectly, the Holders) desire to sell the Acquired Interests to Buyer, in each case, upon the terms and subject to conditions set forth in this Agreement;

WHEREAS, the board of managers of Holdco (the “Holdco Board”) has unanimously (a) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company, and (b) approved, adopted and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the execution of this Agreement and as an inducement for Buyer to enter into this Agreement, (a) each Restricted Party has executed a Restrictive Covenant Agreement (the “Restrictive Covenant Agreements”), (b) each Stock Recipient has executed a Lock-Up Agreement, and (c) each Joinder Party has executed a Support Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants and other premises set forth herein, the mutual benefits to be gained by the performance thereof, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and accepted, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

THE TRANSACTIONS

1.1 Purchase and Sale. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, (a) at the Closing, Buyer shall purchase from Holdco, and Holdco shall sell, assign, convey and transfer to Buyer, all of the Acquired Interests, free and clear of any Encumbrances (other than any Encumbrances created by Buyer or any restrictions under applicable federal or state securities laws), options, warrants, calls, commitments, proxies or other contract rights; and (b) in consideration of the sale of the Acquired Interests by Holdco to Buyer, Buyer shall make, or shall cause to be made, the payments set forth in Section 1.2 and shall make, or shall cause to be made, the other payments required to be made to Holdco under this Agreement at the times, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.


1.2 Closing Payments.

(a) Closing Consideration. The aggregate purchase price paid for the Acquired Interests at the Closing will be (i) an amount in cash equal to (A) $19,000,000 plus (B) the Estimated Closing Cash, minus (C) the Estimated Indebtedness, minus (D) the Estimated Third-Party Expenses, plus (E) the amount, if any, by which the Estimated Closing Working Capital is greater than the Target Working Capital, minus (F) the amount, if any, by which the Estimated Closing Working Capital is less than the Target Working Capital, minus (G) the Escrow Amounts (collectively, the “Closing Cash Consideration”); and (ii) the Stock Consideration (together with the Closing Cash Consideration, the “Closing Consideration”).

(b) Payments. At the Closing, Buyer shall transfer by wire transfer of immediately available funds:

(i) to Holdco, an amount in cash equal to the Closing Cash Consideration;

(ii) to each Person (if any) identified on the Closing Spreadsheet, the amount of the Third-Party Expenses set forth opposite such Person’s name on the Closing Spreadsheet;

(iii) to each Person (if any) identified on the Closing Spreadsheet, the amount of the Indebtedness set forth opposite such Person’s name on the Closing Spreadsheet; and

(iv) to the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Amounts, which shall be held in trust in a separate account pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement.

(c) Stock Consideration. Buyer will deliver an instruction letter to its transfer agent, instructing the transfer agent to book-entry to each Stock Recipient a number of shares of Buyer Stock that equals the Stock Consideration. The shares of Buyer Stock issued as Stock Consideration pursuant to this Agreement will not have been registered under the Securities Act and will be deemed “restricted securities” under U.S. federal securities Laws and may not be resold without registration under or exemption from the Securities Act and each book-entry of such shares of Buyer Stock will bear the following legend:

THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”). SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION WITHOUT EXEMPTION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

(d) No Interest. Other than as may be set forth in the Escrow Agreement or otherwise in this Agreement, no interest will be paid or will accrue for the benefit of Holdco or the Company’s lenders, service providers or other creditors on any Closing Consideration or any other amounts payable under this Agreement.

(e) Escrow Amounts. Buyer shall deposit (i) the Adjustment Escrow Amount with the Escrow Agent on the Closing Date for the purpose of securing, in whole or part, any obligations of Holdco and the Holders pursuant to Section 1.3 and (ii) the Indemnity Escrow Amount with the Escrow Agent on the Closing Date for the purpose of securing, in whole or in part, any indemnification obligations of Holdco and the Holders under Article VII. For the avoidance of doubt, the Escrow Amounts shall be reported as having been paid to Holdco only to the extent and at such time such cash is released from the Escrow Agent to Holdco.

 

-2-


(f) Third-Party Expenses and Indebtedness. As promptly as practicable following the Closing (but in no event later than one Business Day following the Closing), Buyer shall pay, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, on behalf of the Company and the Sellers, as the case may be, and as accounted for in the calculation of Closing Consideration, (i) to each lender designated by the Company in the Closing Spreadsheet, to an account designated in the applicable Payoff Letter, the amount of Indebtedness due at the Closing, if any, to such lender; and (ii) all Third-Party Expenses payable to an advisor or other service provider to the Company (other than any Employee, director or officer) that remain outstanding as of the Closing to such account or accounts as are designated in the applicable Invoices and by the Company in the Closing Spreadsheet.

(g) Withholding. Buyer, the Company, the Escrow Agent, and their respective Affiliates and agents shall each be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration payable or otherwise deliverable pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Stock Consideration) such amounts as may be required to be deducted or withheld therefrom under any provision of federal, local or foreign Tax or other Laws or Orders; provided, however, that, except with respect to any amounts required to be deducted or withheld as a result of a Person’s failure to deliver an IRS Form W-9 under Section 2.2(c) or with respect to any amounts treated as compensation for Tax purposes, each of Buyer and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide at least five Business Days’ written notice to Holdco if such Person intends to deduct or withhold any amounts under this Section 1.2(g), and such notice shall include reasonable details regarding the authority, basis and method of calculation for the proposed deduction or withholding, so that the applicable payee has an opportunity to obtain reduction of, or relief from, such deduction or withholding to the extent allowed under Law. To the extent that any such deducted or withheld amounts are remitted to the applicable Tax Authority on behalf of the Person in respect of which such deduction or withholding was made, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement and the Related Agreements as having been paid to such Person.

(h) Tax Consequences. Notwithstanding any statement or inference to the contrary in any provision of this Agreement or any other agreement, neither Buyer nor any other Person on behalf of Buyer makes any representations or warranties to the Company or the Sellers regarding the Tax treatment of the Transactions, or any of the Tax consequences to the Company or the Sellers of this Agreement, the Transactions or the other agreements contemplated by this Agreement. Each of the Company and the Sellers acknowledges that they are relying solely on their own Tax advisors in connection with this Agreement, the Transactions and the other agreements contemplated by this Agreement.

1.3 Post-Closing Adjustment.

(a) Estimated Closing Statement. Holdco has prepared and delivered to Buyer (i) a statement that is reasonably acceptable to Buyer (the “Estimated Closing Statement”) setting forth in reasonable detail the Company’s good faith calculation of (A) the estimated Indebtedness, the estimated Third-Party Expenses, the estimated Closing Cash, the estimated Closing Working Capital, and the estimated Closing Working Capital Adjustment (such estimates, the “Estimated Indebtedness,” “Estimated Third-Party Expenses” and “Estimated Closing Cash”, “Estimated Closing Working Capital”, and “Estimated Closing Working Capital Adjustment”, respectively), in each case, calculated as of the applicable Measurement Time and accompanied by reasonably detailed back-up documentation for such calculations; and (B) the Cash Consideration calculated based on such estimated amounts (including the component pieces thereof) (such estimate, the “Estimated Cash Consideration”); and (ii) a spreadsheet (the “Closing Spreadsheet”) with the information set forth on Schedule 1.3, as of immediately prior to the Closing, in each case, accompanied by reasonably detailed back-up documentation for such calculations. Holdco prepared the Estimated Closing Statement in accordance with the accounting principles forth on Exhibit A (the “Accounting Principles”). In no event will any of Buyer’s rights be considered waived, impaired, or otherwise limited as a result of Buyer not making an objection prior to the Closing or its making an objection that is not fully implemented in a revised Estimated Closing Statement, as applicable.

 

-3-


(b) Post-Closing Statement. As promptly as practicable, but in no event later than 90 calendar days after the Closing Date, Buyer shall prepare and deliver, or shall cause to be prepared and delivered, to Holdco, a statement (the “Post-Closing Statement”) setting forth in reasonable detail Buyer’s good faith calculations of the Indebtedness, Third-Party Expenses, Closing Cash, Closing Working Capital, Closing Working Capital Adjustment and the Cash Consideration calculated based on such amounts (including the component pieces thereof), in each case, calculated as of the applicable Measurement Time and accompanied by reasonably detailed back-up documentation for such calculations and prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles.

(c) Review of Post-Closing Statement. Holdco shall have 45 calendar days following its receipt of any Post-Closing Statement (the “Review Period”) to review the Post-Closing Statement. During the Review Period, the Resolutions Period and any additional period until all items in the Dispute Statement are finally resolved as provided in Section 1.3(d), Buyer and the Company shall make available to Holdco and its Representatives the work papers (subject to the execution of customary work paper access letters, if requested) and other books and records used in preparing the Post-Closing Statement and reasonable access (on prior notice and during business hours) to employees of the Company as Holdco (or its Representatives) may reasonably request in connection with its review of such statements. On or before the expiration of the Review Period, Holdco shall deliver to Buyer a written statement accepting or disputing each item set forth on the Post-Closing Statement. In the event that Holdco disputes an item on the Post-Closing Statement, Holdco shall deliver to Buyer a statement (a “Dispute Statement”) that includes (i) a reasonably detailed itemization of Holdco’s objections and the reasons therefore, together with supporting documentation, information and calculations and (ii) Holdco’s alternative calculation of each disputed item. Any component of the Post-Closing Statement that is not disputed in a Dispute Statement during the Review Period shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and not subject to appeal. If Holdco does not deliver a Dispute Statement to Buyer within the Review Period or delivers a statement accepting all items detailed on the Post-Closing Statement, such Post-Closing Statement shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and not subject to appeal.

(d) Dispute Resolution. If Holdco delivers a Dispute Statement during the Review Period, Buyer and Holdco shall promptly attempt in good faith to resolve their differences with respect to the disputed items set forth in the Dispute Statement during the 30 calendar day period immediately following Buyer’s receipt of the Dispute Statement, or such longer period as Buyer and Holdco may mutually agree (such period, the “Resolution Period”). Any such disputed items that are resolved by Buyer and Holdco during the Resolution Period shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and not subject to appeal. If Buyer and Holdco do not resolve all such disputed items by the end of the Resolution Period, Buyer and Holdco shall submit all items remaining in dispute with respect to the Dispute Statement to a mutually agreeable, regionally recognized accounting firm (the “Accounting Firm”) for review and resolution. The Accounting Firm shall act as an expert and not an arbitrator. The Accounting Firm shall make all calculations in accordance with the Accounting Principles, shall determine only those items remaining in dispute between Buyer and Holdco, and shall not be permitted or authorized to assign a dollar amount to any item in dispute greater than the greatest value for such item claimed by either party or less than the smallest value for such item claimed by either party. Each of Buyer and Holdco shall (i) enter into a customary engagement letter with the Accounting Firm at the time such dispute is submitted to the Accounting Firm and otherwise reasonably cooperate with the Accounting Firm, and (ii) have the opportunity to submit a written statement in support of their respective positions with respect to such disputed items, to provide supporting material to the Accounting Firm in defense of their respective positions with respect to such disputed items and to submit a written statement responding to the other party’s position with respect to such disputed items. The Accounting Firm shall be instructed to deliver to

 

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Buyer and Holdco a written determination (such determination to include a worksheet setting forth all material calculations used in arriving at such determination and to be based solely on information provided to the Accounting Firm by Buyer and Holdco) of the disputed items within 30 calendar days of receipt of the disputed items, which determination shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and not subject to appeal, absent manifest error or fraud. The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne by Buyer, on the one hand, and Holdco, on the other hand, based on a percentage equal to (x) the portion of the total amounts disputed not awarded to each such party divided by (y) the total amounts disputed. For example, if Holdco challenges the calculation of the Indebtedness by an amount of $100,000, but the Accounting Firm determines that Holdco has a valid claim for only $60,000, Holdco will bear 40% of the fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm and Buyer will bear the other 60% of such fees and expenses.

(e) Post-Closing Payments.

(i) If the Final Cash Consideration is less than the Estimated Cash Consideration (such difference, the “Post-Closing Deficit”), then Buyer and Holdco shall deliver, and in no event later than two Business Days following the date of determination of the Post-Closing Deficit, joint written instructions to the Escrow Agent instructing the Escrow Agent to release (A) to Buyer, the Post-Closing Deficit, unless the Post-Closing Deficit is equal to or greater than the Adjustment Escrow Amount, in which case such joint written instructions will instruct the Escrow Agent to release the full Adjustment Escrow Amount to Buyer, and (B) to Holdco, any remaining Adjustment Escrow Funds after first distributing the Post-Closing Deficit to Buyer in accordance with Subsection (A) hereof (such remaining amount, the “Post-Closing Deficit Shortfall”), and the Sellers shall not be entitled to receive, and hereby automatically, and with no further action required on their part forever waive and discharge any rights in or to, all or a portion, as applicable, of the Adjustment Escrow Amount with an aggregate value equal to the Post-Closing Deficit. If the Adjustment Escrow Amount is insufficient to cover the entire Post-Closing Deficit, then each Holder shall promptly, and in no event later than five Business Days following the date of determination of the Post-Closing Deficit, pay such Holder’s Pro Rata Portion of the amount of the shortfall to Buyer in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Buyer. Buyer may recover any such Post-Closing Deficit Shortfall by withholding or setting off against the any Earnout Payment due to be paid pursuant to Section 1.4.

(ii) If the Final Cash Consideration is greater than the Estimated Cash Consideration (such difference, the “Post-Closing Increase”), then Buyer shall promptly, and in no event later than two Business Days following the date of determination of the Post-Closing Increase, (A) pay the Post-Closing Increase to Holdco and (B) simultaneously therewith, Buyer and Holdco shall deliver joint written instructions to the Escrow Agent instructing the Escrow Agent to release the full Adjustment Escrow Funds to Holdco, and Buyer shall not be entitled to receive, and hereby automatically, and with no further action required on its part, forever waives and discharges any rights in or to, all of the Adjustment Escrow Funds.

(f) Any payment made under this Section 1.3 or Article VII, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, shall be treated, including for all Tax purposes, as an adjustment to the Total Consideration.

1.4 Earnout.

(a) Calculation of Earnout Payment. As additional consideration, at such time and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 1.4, Holdco shall be eligible to receive and Buyer shall pay to Holdco, an amount, if any, determined as follows (each, an “Earnout Payment”):

(i) With respect to the First Earnout Period:

 

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(A) (i) if the 4-Wall EBITDA is less than the Annual Earnout Target and (ii) the Adjusted EBITDA is less than $5,250,000, an amount equal to zero; or

(B) (i) if the 4-Wall EBITDA is equal to or greater than the Annual Earnout Target, or (ii) if the Adjusted EBITDA is equal to or greater than $5,250,000, an amount equal to $1,000,000.

(ii) With respect to the Second Earnout Period:

THRESHOLD 1:

(A) (i) if the 4-Wall EBITDA is less than the Annual Earnout Target and (ii) the Adjusted EBITDA is less than $5,500,000, an amount equal to zero; or

(B) (i) if the 4-Wall EBITDA is equal to or greater than the Annual Earnout Target, or (ii) if the Adjusted EBITDA is equal to or greater than $5,500,000, an amount equal to $1,000,000; plus

THRESHOLD 2:

(C) (i) if the cumulative 4-Wall EBITDA of the First Earnout Period and the Second Earnout Period is equal to or greater than two times the Annual Earnout Target, or (ii) if the cumulative Adjusted EBITDA of the First Earnout Period and the Second Earnout Period is equal to or greater than $10,750,000, an amount equal to $2,000,000, less any other Earnout Payments made to Holdco under Section 1.4(a)(i) or Section 1.4(a)(ii).

(iii) With respect to the Third Earnout Period:

THRESHOLD 1:

(A) (i) if the 4-Wall EBITDA is less than the Annual Earnout Target and (ii) the Adjusted EBITDA is less than $5,750,000, an amount equal to zero; or

(B) (i) if the 4-Wall EBITDA is equal to or greater than the Annual Earnout Target, or (ii) if the Adjusted EBITDA is equal to or greater than $5,750,000, an amount equal to $1,000,000; plus

THRESHOLD 2:

(C) (i) if the cumulative 4-Wall EBITDA of the First Earnout Period, the Second Earnout Period and the Third Earnout Period is equal to or greater than three times the Annual Earnout Target, or (ii) if the cumulative Adjusted EBITDA of the First Earnout Period, the Second Earnout Period and the Third Earnout Period is equal to or greater than $16,500,000, an amount equal to $3,000,000, less any other Earnout Payments made to Holdco under Section 1.4(a)(i), Section 1.4(a)(ii) or Section 1.4(a)(iii).

In no event shall the aggregate Earnout Payments paid by Buyer exceed $3,000,000.

 

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(b) Earnout Definitions.

(i) “4-Wall EBITDA” has the meaning set forth in the Earnout Accounting Principles.

(ii) “Adjusted EBITDA” has the meaning set forth in the Earnout Accounting Principles.

(iii) “Annual Earnout Target” means $11,119,000.

(iv) “Default Rate” means the lower of eighteen (18%) per annum and the maximum rate permitted by applicable Law.

(v) “Earnout Accounting Principles” means the accounting principles set forth on Exhibit B.

(vi) “Earnout Period” means each of the First Earnout Period, the Second Earnout Period, and the Third Earnout Period.

(vii) “First Earnout Period” means the period beginning on January 1, 2025 and ending on December 31, 2025.

(viii) “Second Earnout Period” means the period beginning on January 1, 2026 and ending on December 31, 2026.

(ix) “Third Earnout Period” means the period beginning on January 1, 2027 and ending on December 31, 2027.

(c) Acknowledgements and Agreements.

(i) Each Seller acknowledges that (A) the achievement of any Earnout Payment is uncertain and it is therefore not assured that Buyer will be required to make or cause to be made any payment at all in respect of any Earnout Payment; and (B) neither Buyer nor its Affiliates makes any representations or warranties of any kind or nature, express or implied or otherwise, relating to the future financial results of the Company or the achievement of any Earnout Payment and no Seller has relied on any such representations or warranties entering into this Agreement.

(ii) Each Seller acknowledges that after the Closing: (A) Buyer and its Affiliates shall have sole and absolute discretion regarding all matters relating to the management and operation of the Company; provided that Buyer shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates (including the Company) not to take or omit to take any actions with the primary intention to reduce any Earnout Payment; (B) Buyer and its Affiliates may act in their own best interests and are not required to take into account the interests of the Sellers; and (C) Buyer and its Affiliates owe no fiduciary duty to the Sellers in connection with its operation of the Company after the Closing.

(iii) Each Seller acknowledges and agrees that (A) the contingent rights to receive any Earnout Payment shall not be represented by any form of certificate or other instrument, are not transferable except by operation of Laws relating to descent and distribution, divorce and community property, and do not constitute an equity or ownership interest in Buyer or its Affiliates, (B) no Seller has any rights as a securityholder of Buyer or its Affiliates as a result of such Seller’s contingent right to receive any Earnout Payment hereunder, and (C) no interest is payable with respect to any Earnout Payment, except pursuant to Section 1.4(c)(vii) and Section 1.4(c)(viii).

 

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(iv) Each Seller acknowledges and agrees that Buyer shall have the right to withhold and set off against any Earnout Payment due to be paid pursuant to this Section 1.4, any Post-Closing Deficit to which Buyer may be entitled under Section 1.3, and any Losses determined to be due and owing to any Buyer Indemnified Party by Holdco under Article VII.

(v) To the extent the Earnout Payments are not paid in full in the event of any direct or indirect sale, transfer, merger or disposition of a controlling interest in the Company or Buyer (or any of its parent companies, if any), or any sale of a material portion of the assets of the Company or any direct or indirect sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Buyer (or any of its parent companies, if any), the Earnout Payment obligations shall survive and Buyer shall ensure that the purchaser in any such transaction assumes any obligations for the Earnout Payments in accordance with this Agreement.

(vi) Buyer hereby agrees that all Earnout Payments shall be calculated in accordance with the Earnout Accounting Principles and further agrees to the following:

(A) Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to leverage its existing resources to support the business of the Company; and

(B) From the Closing through the end of the Third Earnout Period, Buyer and the Company shall (A) maintain reasonably adequate records and documentation to calculate the Adjusted EBITDA and the 4-Wall EBITDA (and the various subparts and components thereof), and (B) within 45 days following the end of each of the first three quarters of each Earnout Period, provide Holdco with a copy of the Company’s profit and loss statement and shall provide Holdco with reasonable access to such records and documentation used to calculate Adjusted EBITDA and the 4-Wall EBITDA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, for purposes of tracking and calculating the Adjusted EBITDA or the 4-Wall EBITDA, from and after the Closing Date and until the end of the Third Earnout Period, Buyer shall, and shall cause its Affiliates (including the Company) as applicable, to cause the business activities and operations of the Company to be accounted for separately from any other business activities and operations of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries and Affiliates (other than the Company) and to maintain such reasonably detailed books and records with respect thereto as shall be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.

(vii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if at any time between Closing and the end of the Third Earnout Period, the following occur: (A) any direct or indirect sale, transfer, merger or disposition of a controlling interest in the Company occurs, or any sale of a material portion of the assets of the Company occurs, in each case with an aggregate value in excess of $25,000,000, (B) any direct or indirect sale, transfer, merger or disposition of a controlling interest in Buyer (or any of its parent companies, if any) occurs, or any direct or indirect sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Buyer (or any of its parent companies, if any) occurs, or (C) the imminent bankruptcy, insolvency, assignment for the benefit of creditors, or other similar event under similar Laws of general application with respect to Buyer or its Affiliates or the Company, then in each case, the maximum amount of the Earnout Payments, less the aggregate amount of any Earnout Payments already paid, shall be paid by Buyer upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by clauses (A) and (B) or immediately by Buyer in the case of clause (C), regardless of the actual Adjusted EBITDA or 4-Wall EBITDA during any applicable Earnout Period or any portion thereof and, if not paid within 10 Business Days after the date of such event, shall accrue interest daily thereafter at the Default Rate. The parties intend that the amount paid under this Section 1.4(c)(vii) constitutes liquidated damages, and not a penalty.

(viii) If Buyer is delinquent paying any undisputed Earnout Payment (or any undisputed portion thereof) for more than 15 days, then such amount shall accrue interest daily thereafter at the Default Rate.

 

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(d) Earnout Statement. As promptly as practicable, but in no event later than 90 calendar days after the end of each Earnout Period, Buyer and the Company shall prepare and deliver, or shall cause to be prepared and delivered, to Holdco, the calculation of the Adjusted EBITDA or 4-Wall EBITDA with respect to such Earnout Period and its calculation of the resulting Earnout Payment with respect to such Earnout Period (the “Earnout Statement”), and Buyer and the Company shall provide Holdco with reasonable access to such records and documentation used to calculate Adjusted EBITDA and the 4-Wall EBITDA, as and when reasonably requested by Holdco. Holdco will have 45 calendar days following receipt of such calculations to review (the “Earnout Review Period”) and deliver a written statement accepting or disputing such calculations. In the event that Holdco disputes the Earnout Statement (an “Earnout Dispute Statement”) that includes (i) a reasonably detailed itemization of Holdco’s objections and the reasons therefore, together with supporting documentation, information and calculations and (ii) Holdco’s alternative calculation of each disputed item. Any component of the Earnout Statement that is not disputed in the Earnout Dispute Statement during the Earnout Review Period shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and not subject to appeal with respect to such Earnout Period. If Holdco does not deliver an Earnout Dispute Statement to Buyer within the Earnout Review Period or delivers a statement accepting all items detailed on the Earnout Statement, such Earnout Statement shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and not subject to appeal with respect to such Earnout Period.

(e) Dispute Resolution. If Holdco delivers an Earnout Dispute Statement with respect to any Earnout Period during the Earnout Review Period, Buyer and Holdco shall promptly attempt in good faith to resolve their differences with respect to the disputed items set forth in the Earnout Dispute Statement during the 30 calendar day period immediately following Buyer’s receipt of the Earnout Dispute Statement, or such longer period as Buyer and Holdco may mutually agree (such period, the “Earnout Resolution Period”). Any such disputed items that are resolved by Buyer and Holdco during the Earnout Resolution Period shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and not subject to appeal. If Buyer and Holdco do not resolve all such disputed items by the end of the Earnout Resolution Period, Buyer and Holdco shall submit all items remaining in dispute with respect to the Earnout Dispute Statement to the Accounting Firm for review and resolution. The Accounting Firm shall act as an expert and not an arbitrator. The Accounting Firm shall make all calculations in accordance with the Earnout Accounting Principles, shall determine only those items remaining in dispute between Buyer and Holdco, and shall not be permitted or authorized to assign a dollar amount to any item in dispute greater than the greatest value for such item claimed by either party or less than the smallest value for such item claimed by either party. Each of Buyer and Holdco shall (i) enter into a customary engagement letter with the Accounting Firm at the time such dispute is submitted to the Accounting Firm and otherwise reasonably cooperate with the Accounting Firm, and (ii) have the opportunity to submit a written statement in support of their respective positions with respect to such disputed items, to provide supporting material to the Accounting Firm in defense of their respective positions with respect to such disputed items and to submit a written statement responding to the other party’s position with respect to such disputed items. The Accounting Firm shall be instructed to deliver to Buyer and Holdco a written determination (such determination to include a worksheet setting forth all material calculations used in arriving at such determination and to be based solely on information provided to the Accounting Firm by Buyer and Holdco) of the disputed items within 30 calendar days of receipt of the disputed items, which determination shall be final and binding on the parties hereto and not subject to appeal, absent manifest error or fraud. The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne by Buyer, on the one hand, and Holdco, on the other hand, based on a percentage equal to (x) the portion of the total amounts disputed not awarded to each such party divided by (y) the total amounts disputed. For example, if Holdco challenges the calculation of any collection by an amount of $100,000, but the Accounting Firm determines that Holdco has a valid claim for only $60,000, Holdco will bear 40% of the fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm and Buyer will bear the other 60% of such fees and expenses.

 

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(f) Earnout Payment.

(i) To the extent any Earnout Payment with respect to an Earnout Period becomes payable to Holdco (as finally determined in accordance with this Section 1.4), then Buyer shall promptly pay to Holdco (within five Business Days), by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the wire instructions set forth on the Closing Statement or as otherwise directed by Holdco in writing.

(ii) Any payment made under this Section 1.4, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, shall be treated, including for all Tax purposes, as an adjustment to the Total Consideration.

1.5 Further Action. If at any time from and after the Closing, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest Buyer with full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company, each of the parties hereto shall take such further action (including the execution, acknowledgment and delivery of such further instruments and other documents) as any other party may reasonably request from time to time on or after the Closing in order to effectuate, evidence, record or confirm any of the provisions of this Agreement or any of the other transactional documents related to this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

CLOSING DELIVERABLES AND CLOSING PAYMENTS

2.1 The Closing. The closing of the Transactions (the “Closing”) shall take place concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the date of the Closing is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date”).

2.2 Holdco Closing Deliverables. At or prior to the Closing, Holdco shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to, Buyer each of the following:

(a) Terminations.

(i) Buyer shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to Buyer that each of the related party Contracts set forth on Schedule 2.2(a)(i) has been terminated (or will be terminated as of the Closing) and is of no further force or effect (or will be of no further force or effect as of the Closing).

(ii) Buyer shall have received the Mutual Termination Agreement, duly executed by the Company and Holdco.

(b) Resignation of Managers & Officers. Unless otherwise directed by Buyer in writing prior to Closing, the Holdco shall cause each officer, director, or manager of the Company to execute a resignation letter with respect to such role, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Buyer.

(c) Payoff Letters; Invoices; Tax Forms. Buyer shall have received (i) an executed payoff letter, dated no more than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, with respect to all Estimated Indebtedness of the Company for borrowed money, if any, owed to such lender and the amounts payable to the lender thereof (A) to satisfy such Indebtedness as of the Closing Date and (B) terminate and release any Encumbrances related thereto (the “Payoff Letters”), (ii) an invoice from each advisor or other service provider to the Company (other than any employee, manager, director or officer of the Company), in each

 

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case dated no more than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, with respect to all Estimated Third-Party Expenses estimated to be due and payable to such advisor or other service provider as of the Closing Date, and an acknowledgment from such advisor or other service provider that such Estimated Third-Party Expenses are the only amounts owed to such advisor or other service provider by the Company (each, an “Invoice”); (iii) an original and duly executed IRS Form W-9 from Holdco, in each case, on which all certifications contemplated by Part II thereof have been made; and (iv) a properly completed IRS Form W-9, or the appropriate version of IRS Form(s) W-8 (together with required attachments thereto), if applicable, from each Person entitled to receive any payment of Estimated Indebtedness or Estimated Third-Party Expenses (in each case, other than Taxes) in connection with the Closing.

(d) Company Closing Certificates.

(i) Secretarys Certificate. Buyer shall have received a certificate from the Company, validly executed by the Secretary of the Company for and on the Company’s behalf, certifying as to the terms and effectiveness of the Company’s Organizational Documents.

(ii) Good Standing Certificates. Buyer shall have received a certificate of good standing from each of the Secretary of State of the State of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey, and Maryland dated within five Business Days prior to the Closing with respect to the Company.

(e) Transfer of Acquired Interests. Holdco shall deliver to Buyer an assignment of the Acquired Interests duly executed by Holdco for the transfer of the Acquired Interests to Buyer.

(f) D&O Tail Policy. Buyer shall have received a copy of the D&O Tail Policy, along with written confirmation from the insurance provider that the D&O Tail Policy will be bound at the Closing.

(g) Lock-up Agreement. Buyer shall have received a copy of the Lock-Up Agreement, duly executed by each Stock Recipient.

(h) Accredited Investor Questionnaire. Buyer shall have received a copy of the Accredited Investor Questionnaire, properly completed and duly executed by each Stock Recipient.

(i) Escrow Agreement. Buyer shall have received the Escrow Agreement, duly executed by Holdco.

(j) Support Agreement. Buyer shall have received the Support Agreement, duly executed by Holdco and each Joinder Party.

2.3 Buyer Closing Deliverables. At or prior to the Closing, Buyer shall deliver or cause to be delivered the payments contemplated by Section 1.2(b) and shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to, Holdco each of the following:

(a) Closing Consideration. (i) Buyer shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, the Closing Cash Consideration contemplated by Section 1.2(a); and (ii) Buyer shall have delivered the instructions to its transfer agent regarding issuance of the Stock Consideration contemplated by Section 1.2(c).

(b) Escrow Agreement. Holdco shall have received the Escrow Agreement, duly executed by Buyer.

 

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(c) Mutual Termination Agreement. Holdco shall have received the Mutual Termination Agreement, duly executed by Buyer.

2.4 Further Action. From and after the Closing, each party to this Agreement shall take, or cause to be taken, any further action that is reasonably necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest Buyer with full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company. The officers and directors of the Company and Buyer, are fully authorized in the name of their respective corporations or otherwise to take, and shall take, all such lawful and necessary action.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

For purposes of this Article III, references to the “Company” shall refer to the Company and each corporation, limited liability company, or other entity that has been merged into or that otherwise is a predecessor to the Company, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Subject to the disclosures set forth in the disclosure schedules dated as of the Agreement Date and delivered to Buyer concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the “Disclosure Schedules”) each of which disclosures, in order to be effective, shall clearly indicate the Section and, if applicable, the Subsection of this Article III to which it relates (unless the relevance to other representations and warranties or other Disclosure Schedules is readily apparent from the actual text of the disclosures without any reference to extrinsic documentation or any independent knowledge on the part of the reader regarding the matter disclosed and in which case, such disclosures shall also be deemed to have been disclosed on each other item or section of the Disclosure Schedules, or deemed an exception to any other representation and warranty hereunder, as applicable), the Company represents and warrants to Buyer as follows:

3.1 Organization, Good Standing, Power.

(a) The Company is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Michigan. The Company has the limited liability company power to own, operate, distribute and lease its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as currently proposed by it to be conducted and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the Company has current Employees or facilities or otherwise conducts its business (which jurisdictions are listed on Schedule 3.1(a) of the Disclosure Schedules), except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not in violation of any of the provisions of its Organizational Documents.

(b) The Company has made available true, correct and complete copies of its Organizational Documents, as amended and/or restated, each in full force and effect as of the Agreement Date. Holdco has not approved or proposed, nor has any Person proposed, any amendment to any of the Organizational Documents.

(c) Schedule 3.1(c) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true, correct and complete list of the names and titles of the officers of the Company and the managers of the Company as of the Agreement Date.

 

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3.2 Authority and Enforceability.

(a) The Company has all requisite limited liability power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Company has all requisite limited liability power and authority to enter into any Related Agreement to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and any Related Agreement to which the Company is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transactions, have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability action on the part of the Company and no further limited liability company action is required on the part of the Company to authorize this Agreement and any Related Agreements to which the Company is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transactions. This Agreement and each of the Related Agreements to which the Company is a party have been, or, as of the Closing shall be, duly executed and delivered by the Company and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitute, or shall constitute when executed and delivered, the valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, subject to (i) laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (the “Enforceability Exceptions”). Subject to the foregoing, no other votes, approvals or consents on the part of the Company or Holdco are necessary under applicable Law or any of the Company’s Organizational Documents to adopt this Agreement and approve the Transactions.

(b) No consent, approval, Order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Entity or any other Person is required by or with respect to the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, except for (i) as may be required under antitrust Laws and (ii) such consents, approvals, Orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, filings and notices that, if not obtained or made, would not adversely affect, and would not reasonably be expected to adversely affect, in any material respect, the Company’s ability to perform or comply with the covenants, agreements or obligations of the Company herein or to consummate the Transactions in accordance with this Agreement and applicable Law.

(c) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and any Related Agreement to which the Company is a party, and the consummation of the Transactions, will not conflict with or result in any violation of or default under (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) or give rise to, any payment obligation, or a right of termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any material benefit under, or require any consent, approval or waiver from any Person pursuant to, (i) any provision of the Organizational Documents of the Company, (ii) any Contract, or (iii) any Law or Order applicable to the Company or its properties or assets (whether tangible or intangible).

(d) The Company has taken all actions such that the restrictive provisions of any “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination,” “interested shareholder” or other similar anti-takeover statute or regulation, and any anti-takeover provision in the Company’s Organizational Documents will not be applicable to either of Buyer or Holdco or to the execution, delivery or performance of the Transactions.

3.3 Restrictions on Business Activities. There is no Contract or Order binding upon the Company that restricts or prohibits, purports to restrict or prohibit, has or would reasonably be expected to have, whether before or immediately after the Closing, the effect of prohibiting, restricting or impairing any current or presently proposed business practice of the Company, any acquisition of property by the Company or the conduct or operation of the business or limiting the freedom of the Company to (a) engage or participate, or compete with any other Person, in any line of business, market or geographic area with respect to the Company Intellectual Property, or to make use of any Company Intellectual Property, including any grants by the Company of exclusive rights or licenses or (b) sell, distribute or manufacture any products or services or to purchase or otherwise obtain any software, components, parts or services.

 

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3.4 Compliance with Laws; Governmental Permits.

(a) The Company has complied in all material respects with, is not now (and in the last five years has not been) in violation in any material respect of, and has not received any notices of material violation with respect to, any applicable Law. To the Knowledge of the Company, no condition or state of facts exists that is reasonably likely to give rise to a material violation by the Company of, or a material Liability or default of the Company under, any applicable Law or Order. During the five-year period preceding the Agreement Date, the Company has not received any written or to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice to the effect that a Governmental Entity claimed or alleged that the Company was not in compliance in all material respects with all Laws or Orders applicable to the Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company is not under investigation by any Governmental Entity with respect to the material violation of any Laws applicable to the Company.

(b) The Company has obtained each material federal, state, county, local or foreign governmental consent, license, permit, grant or other authorization of a Governmental Entity required in order for the Company to lawfully operate its business as presently conducted and to operate or hold any interest in any of its assets or properties as presently owned and operated (all of the foregoing consents, licenses, permits, grants and other authorizations, collectively, the “Company Authorizations”), and all of the Company Authorizations are in full force and effect. The Company has not received any written notice or, to the Knowledge of the Company, other communication from any Governmental Entity regarding (A) any actual or probable violation of any Company Authorization or any failure to comply with any term or requirement of any Company Authorization or (B) any pending or threatened revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, termination or modification of any Company Authorization, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no such notice or other communication is forthcoming. In the last five years, the Company has materially complied with all of the terms of the Company Authorizations and none of the Company Authorizations will be terminated or impaired, or will become terminable, in whole or in part, as a result of the consummation of the Transactions.

3.5 Company Capital Structure.

(a) The only outstanding equity interests of the Company are the Acquired Interests, which constitute 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests of the Company and are held of record by Holdco and beneficially owned by the Holders, free and clear of any Encumbrances other than Encumbrances or restrictions on transferability arising under any federal or state securities laws. The Company Interests have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. There are no existing options, restricted share units, share appreciation rights, performance shares, “phantom” shares, warrants, calls, rights or Contracts to which the Company is a party requiring, and there are no securities of the Company outstanding which upon conversion or exchange would require, the issuance, sale or transfer of any additional membership interests or other Equity Interests of the Company or other securities convertible into, exchangeable or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase Equity Interests of the Company. Other than the Company’s Organizational Documents, the Company is not party to any voting trust, proxy, member agreement or other similar Contract with respect to the voting, registration, redemption, sale, transfer or other disposition of any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase other Equity Interests of the Company. Other than as set forth in the Company’s Organizational Documents, there are no outstanding (i) units of membership interest or other Equity Interests of the Company subject to any vesting, transfer or other restrictions or (ii) rights or obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any units of membership interest or other Equity Interest of the Company or other securities convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for or purchase equity interests of the Company.

 

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(b) The Company is not under any obligation to register under the Securities Act or any other Law the Company Interests, whether currently outstanding or that may subsequently be issued. All issued and outstanding Company Interests were issued in compliance with Law and all requirements set forth in the Organizational Documents and any applicable Contracts to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its assets is bound.

(c) Other than the Organizational Documents, there are no Contracts relating to the voting, purchase, sale or transfer of the Company Interests or any Equity Interests of the Company between or among the Company, on one hand, and any Seller or other holder of Equity Interests of the Company, on the other hand, other than written Contracts granting the Company the right to purchase unvested shares upon termination of employment or service.

(d) The Company has no, nor has it ever had any, Subsidiaries. The Company does not own any capital stock of, or any equity interest of any nature in, any other Entity. The Company has not agreed to make, nor is it obligated to make, nor is it otherwise bound by any Contract under which it may become obligated to make, any future investment in or capital contribution to any other Entity. The Company has not, at any time, been a general partner of, or has otherwise been liable for any of the debts or other obligations of, any general partnership, limited partnership or other Entity.

3.6 Company Financial Statements; No Undisclosed Liabilities; Absence of Changes.

(a) The Company has delivered to Buyer its reviewed or audited financial statements, as applicable, for the years ended December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021 and the unaudited financial statements as of and for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024 (the “Company Balance Sheet”), including, in each case, balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows (collectively, the “Financial Statements”), which are attached to Schedule 3.6(a)(i) of the Disclosure Schedules. The Financial Statements (A) are derived from and in accordance with the books and records of the Company, (B) complied as to form with applicable accounting requirements with respect thereto as of their respective dates, (C) fairly and accurately present the financial condition of the Company in all material respects at the dates therein indicated and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the periods therein specified (subject, in the case of unaudited interim period financial statements, to normal recurring year-end audit adjustments, none of which individually or in the aggregate are or will be material in amount), (D) are true, correct and complete in all material respects, and (E) were prepared in accordance with GAAP (as modified by the Accounting Principles), except for the absence of footnotes in the Financial Statements, applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby. The date of the Company Balance Sheet is referred to in this Agreement as the “Company Balance Sheet Date”.

(b) The Company has no Liabilities that would be required to be disclosed in a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP other than (i) those set forth on or adequately provided for in the balance sheet included in the Financial Statements as of the Company Balance Sheet Date, (ii) those incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business after the Company Balance Sheet Date that do not result from any material breach of Contract, warranty, infringement, tort or violation of applicable Law, (iii) those incurred by the Company in connection with the execution of this Agreement, (iv) executory obligations under Material Contracts or under Contracts entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business which are not required to be disclosed on Schedule 3.10 of the Disclosure Schedules (none of which is an obligation or liability for any breach of any such Contract), (v) Liabilities to be included in the calculation of Indebtedness, Third-Party Expenses, or the Closing Cash Consideration, and (vi) those Liabilities set forth on Schedule 3.6(b)(A) of the Disclosure Schedules. Except for Liabilities reflected in the Financial Statements, the Company has no off-balance sheet Liability of any nature to, or any financial interest in, any third parties or entities, the purpose or effect of which is to defer, postpone, reduce or otherwise avoid

 

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or adjust the recording of expenses incurred by the Company. The Company is not, and in the past five years has not been, a guarantor of any debt or other obligation of any other Person. All reserves that are set forth in or reflected in the Company Balance Sheet have been established in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied by the Company for pre-Closing periods, subject to any exceptions set forth in the Accounting Principles. The Company does not have any deferred repair or maintenance costs or capital expenditures.

(c) Schedule 3.6(c) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company as of the Agreement Date that will be paid in connection with the Closing in accordance with the applicable Payoff Letter.

(d) Schedule 3.6(d) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth the names and locations of all banks and other financial institutions at which the Company maintains accounts and the names of all Persons authorized to make withdrawals therefrom.

(e) The Company has established and maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances in all material respects (i) that transactions, receipts and expenditures of the Company are being executed and made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations of management and (ii) that transactions are recorded as necessary (A) to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and (B) to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the assets of Company and (iv) that the assets of the Company have been recorded in conformity with GAAP, subject to any exceptions in the Accounting Principles. Neither the Company nor to the Knowledge of the Company, any Employee, has identified or been made aware of any fraud with respect to the Company, whether or not material, that involves the Company’s management or other Employee of the Company who have a role in the preparation of financial statements of the Company or the internal accounting controls utilized by the Company, or any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing. Neither the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Representative of the Company is aware of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, in each case, regarding any significant deficient accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of the Company or its internal accounting controls or any material inaccuracy in the Company’s financial statements. No attorney representing the Company has reported to Holdco or the Holdco Board or any committee thereof or to any director or officer of the Company evidence of a material violation of securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company or its Representatives. In the last five years here have been no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of the Company’s internal controls that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data. At the Company Balance Sheet Date, there were no material loss contingencies (as such term is used in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5 (“Statement No. 5”)) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in March 1975 that are not adequately provided for in the Company Balance Sheet as required by Statement No. 5. There has been no material change in the Company accounting policies since the Company’s inception, except as described in the Financial Statements. All accounts receivable reflected on the Financial Statements are valid receivables and represent arm’s length transactions in the Ordinary Course of Business. The reserve for doubtful accounts with respect to such accounts receivable has been determined in accordance with GAAP, as modified by the Accounting Principles. There is no contest, claim, defense, or right of setoff with any account debtor of the Company relating to the amount or validity of such accounts receivable.

 

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(f) The Inventory of the Company reflected in the Financial Statements consists of items held for resale that are of a quality and quantity usable and saleable (without discount or price reduction) and are of the type, nature, and quantity that the Company has sold or utilized within the one-year period prior to the date of this Agreement. The method of valuing such Inventories, and the reserves with respect thereto, is consistent with the Ordinary Course of Business in accordance with GAAP subject to any exceptions set forth in the Accounting Principles. The values of Inventory known to the Company to be obsolete or be below standard quality have been written down on the Company’s books (except to the extent adequate reserves have been established). All such Inventory is owned by the Company free and clear of any and all Encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances. The quantities of each item of Inventory held by the Company as of the Agreement Date are consistent with the Company’s Ordinary Course of Business.

(g) Since January 1, 2024, (i) there has not occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company and (ii) except as set forth in Schedule 3.6(g) of the Disclosure Schedules, (A) the Company has conducted its business only in the Ordinary Course of Business and (B) the Company has not taken any of the following actions:

(i) Organizational Documents. Amended its Organizational Documents;

(ii) Merger, Reorganization. Merged or consolidated itself with any other Person or adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization;

(iii) Dividends; Changes in Capitalization. Declared or paid any dividends on or made any other distributions (other than cash distributions) in respect of any of its Equity Interests, or split, combined or reclassified any of its Equity Interests or issued or authorized the issuance of any Equity Interests or other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for its Equity Interests, or repurchased or otherwise acquired, directly or indirectly, any of its Equity Interests other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(iv) Material Contracts. (A) Entered into, amended, renewed or modified any Material Contract (or any Contract that would be a Material Contract if in existence), except in the Ordinary Course of Business, (B) violated, terminated, renewed, amended, or modified or waived any of the terms of any of its Material Contracts, or (C) entered into, amended, renewed, modified or terminated any Contract or waived, released or assigned any rights or claims thereunder, which if such entering into, modification, amendment, termination, waiver, release or assignment would be reasonably likely to (1) adversely affect the Company (or, following consummation of the Closing, Buyer or any of its Affiliates) in any material respect, (2) impair the ability of the Company or Holdco to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement or (3) prevent or materially delay or impair the consummation of the Transactions;

(v) Issuance of Equity Interests. Issued, delivered, granted or sold or authorized or proposed the issuance, delivery, grant or sale of, or purchased or proposed the purchase of, any Equity Interests, or entered into or authorized or proposed to enter into any Contracts of any character obligating it to issue any Equity Interests;

(vi) Employees; Consultants; Independent Contractors. (A) Hired, or offered to hire, any additional officers or any consultants or independent contractors, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, which will receive annual base compensation or consulting fees in excess of $100,000; (B) terminated the employment, changed the title, office or position, or materially reduced the responsibilities or terms and conditions of employment of any executive level Employee; (C) entered into, amended or extended the term of any employment or consulting agreement, bonus arrangement, severance agreement, retention bonus, or change of control agreement with, or Equity Interest held by, any officer, executive level Employee, consultant or independent contractor; or (D) entered into any Contract with a labor union or collective bargaining agreement (unless required by Law);

 

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(vii) Loans and Investments. Made any loans or advances (other than routine payroll or expense advances to Employees in the Ordinary Course of Business) to, or any investments in or capital contributions to, any officers, directors, managers, Employees, or independent contractors, or forgave or discharged in whole or in part any outstanding loans or advances, or prepaid any indebtedness for borrowed money;

(viii) Intellectual Property; Privacy. Entered into, amended, renewed or modified any Company Intellectual Property Agreement (except for (A) non-exclusive licenses in connection with the provision of the Company’s products and services in the Ordinary Course of Business or (B) any Franchise Agreements) or materially amended or replaced any Company Privacy Policy;

(ix) Intellectual Property Registrations. Taken any action regarding an application or registrations for an Intellectual Property right, other than filing continuations for existing applications or completing or renewing existing registrations patents, domain names, trademarks or service marks in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(x) Dispositions. Sold, leased, licensed or otherwise disposed of or encumbered (other than Permitted Encumbrances) any of its properties or assets having a book value in excess of $100,000, or entered into any Contract with respect to the foregoing;

(xi) Leases. Entered into any Capital Lease or operating lease in excess of $100,000;

(xii) Indebtedness. Incurred any Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than borrowings under the Company’s existing line of credit) or guaranteed any such Indebtedness, issued or sold any debt securities, or guaranteed any debt securities of a third party;

(xiii) Payment of Certain Obligations. Paid, discharged or satisfied (A) any material Liability owed to any Person who is an officer, manager, director or securityholder of the Company, other than compensation due for services as an officer, manager or director, or (B) any material claim or material Liability arising outside of the Ordinary Course of Business, other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction of Liabilities reflected or reserved against on the face of the Financial Statements;

(xiv) Capital Expenditures. Made any capital expenditures, capital additions or capital improvements in excess of $25,000 individually or $1,000,000 in the aggregate on a store by store basis;

(xv) Insurance. Materially changed the amount of, or terminated, any insurance coverage maintained by the Company in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(xvi) Termination or Waiver. Cancelled, released or waived any material claims or rights held by the Company;

(xvii) Employee Benefit Plans; Pay Increases. (A) Adopted, terminated or amended any Company Employee Plan or any compensation benefit plan, including any stock issuance or stock option plan, or amended any compensation, benefit, entitlement, grant or award provided or made under any such plan, except in each case as required under ERISA, applicable Law or as necessary to maintain the qualified status of such plan under the Code, (B) materially amended any deferred compensation plan within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder, (C) paid any bonus or other incentive compensation to any Employee or non-employee director or consultant in excess of $25,000 other than as required by a Company Employee Plan, or (D) increased the salaries, wage rates or fees of its Employees or consultants other than base pay increases of Employees in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

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(xviii) Severance Arrangements. Granted or paid, or entered into any Contract providing for the granting of any severance, change of control benefits, retention or termination pay, or the acceleration of vesting or other benefits, to any Person;

(xix) Lawsuits; Settlements. (A) Commenced a lawsuit other than (1) for the routine collection of bills; (2) in such cases where the Company in good faith determined that failure to commence suit would result in the material impairment of a valuable aspect of its business; (3) in excess of $25,000 with respect to the amount in controversy; (4) for a breach of this Agreement; or (B) settled or agreed to settle any material pending or threatened lawsuit or other material dispute;

(xx) Acquisitions. Acquired or agreed to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof, or otherwise acquired or agreed to acquire any assets that are material, individually or in the aggregate, to its business (other than inventory purchased in the Ordinary Course of Business), or enter into any Contract with respect to a joint venture, strategic alliance or partnership;

(xxi) Taxes. Made, changed, rescinded or revoked any Tax election , adopted or changed (or requested to adopt or change) any Tax accounting method or period, filed any amended Tax Return or taken any position on a Tax Return inconsistent with past practices or procedures, entered into any closing agreement within the meaning of Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of applicable state, local or non-U.S. Law), initiated any voluntary disclosure application or agreement or similar process with respect to Taxes or Tax Returns, applied for any Tax ruling, settled or compromised any Tax claim or assessment, consented to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any Tax claim or assessment, entered into any Tax allocation agreement, Tax sharing agreement, Tax assumption agreement, or Tax indemnity agreement or similar agreement (other than any commercial agreement, such as a lease or loan, entered into in the Ordinary Course Business the principal purpose of which is unrelated to Taxes), or surrendered any right to a claim of refund of Taxes;

(xxii) Accounting. Changed or taken any material action with respect to accounting methods, policies or practices (including policies with respect to any material change in depreciation or amortization policies, any material increase or decrease of Inventory levels, the delay in payment of accounts payable, the acceleration of accounts receivable or any other material procedures with respect to the payment of accounts payable and collection of accounts receivable) or revalued any of its assets (including materially writing down the value of inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable other than in the Ordinary Course of Business);

(xxiii) Real Property. Entered into any agreement for the purchase, sale or lease of any real property;

(xxiv) Encumbrances. Placed or allowed the creation of any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) on any of its properties in excess of $25,000; or

(xxv) Other. Taken or agreed in writing or otherwise to take, any of the actions described in clauses (i) through (xxiii) of this section.

 

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(h) The accounts receivable as reflected on the Company Balance Sheet arose in the Ordinary Course of Business and represented bona fide claims against debtors for sales and other charges. Allowances for doubtful accounts have been prepared in accordance with GAAP as consistently applied by the Company for pre-Closing periods and in accordance with the Company’s past practice, subject to any exceptions set forth in the Accounting Principles. The accounts receivable of the Company arising after the Company Balance Sheet Date and before the Closing Date arose in the Ordinary Course of Business and represented bona fide claims against debtors for sales and other charges. None of the accounts receivable of the Company is subject to any claim of offset, recoupment, setoff or counter-claim, and to the Company’s Knowledge, there are no specific facts or circumstances (whether asserted or unasserted) that could give rise to any such claim. No material amount of accounts receivable is contingent upon the performance by the Company of any obligation or Contract other than normal warranty repair and replacement. No Person has any Encumbrance, other than a Permitted Encumbrance, on any of such accounts receivable and no agreement for deduction or discount has been made with respect to any of such accounts receivable.

3.7 Tax Matters.

(a) The Company has properly completed and duly and timely filed with the appropriate Tax Authority, or caused to be properly completed and duly and timely filed with the appropriate Tax Authority on its behalf, all income Tax Returns and all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it on or prior to the Closing Date, and the Company has timely and fully paid all Taxes due and owing, required to be paid by it or for which it is otherwise liable (whether or not shown on any Tax Return). All such Tax Returns were and continue to be true, complete and accurate in all material respects and have been prepared in material compliance with Law. There is no claim for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable for which adequate reserves have been set aside in accordance with GAAP on the Financial Statements) that has resulted in an Encumbrance against any of the assets of the Company.

(b) Holdco has delivered or made available to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of all income, sales and use and other material Tax Returns of the Company filed since December 31, 2021, and all examination reports and statements of deficiencies, adjustments and proposed deficiencies and adjustments in respect of Taxes and Tax Returns of the Company received since December 31, 2021. No claim has ever been made by any Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction where the Company does not file a particular type of Tax Return or pay a particular type of Tax that such Tax Return or Tax was, or may be, required to be filed or paid by the Company in such jurisdiction. The Company has neither received nor requested any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, or any similar agreement or ruling from the IRS (or any comparable Tax agreement or ruling from any other Governmental Entity). No power of attorney with respect to Taxes or Tax Returns has been granted with respect to the Company that will remain in effect after the Closing.

(c) The aggregate amount of unpaid Taxes of the Company (i) did not, as of the Balance Sheet Date, exceed the reserve for Tax Liability (excluding any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the face of the Company Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes thereto), and (ii) do not exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date. The Company has no Liability for Taxes accruing or incurred after the Company Balance Sheet Date except for Taxes arising in the Ordinary Course of Business. The aggregate amount of the Company’s Tax overpayments for all periods covered by the Financial Statements is not less than the amount of accrued Tax refunds included on the Financial Statements.

 

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(d) No Tax Authority is conducting an ongoing or pending Action with respect to any Taxes or Tax Returns of the Company, and no such Action has been threatened or proposed. The Company has not received from any Tax Authority (including in jurisdictions where the Company has not filed Tax Returns or paid Taxes) any written (i) notice indicating an intent to open an audit, Action or other review, (ii) request for information related to Tax matters, or (iii) notice of deficiency or proposed adjustment for any amount of Tax proposed, asserted, or assessed by any Tax Authority against the Company. There is no waiver or extension of any statute of limitations on the assessment of any Taxes granted (or requested) with respect to any Tax Return or Tax of the Company currently in effect, and no agreement to (or request for) any extension of time for filing any Tax Return of the Company that has not been filed. No deficiency for or claim or assessment of any Taxes has been proposed, asserted or assessed against the Company that has not been paid in full or otherwise resolved so that no amount is owing.

(e) The Company has disclosed on its Tax Returns any Tax reporting position taken in any Tax Return that could result in the imposition of penalties under Section 6662 of the Code or any comparable provisions of state, local or foreign Law. The Company has not consummated or participated in, nor is it currently participating in, any transaction that was or is a “tax shelter” transaction as defined in Sections 6662 of the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company has not engaged in, participated in, been a party to, or a promoter of (i) a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c) of the Code or Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b), (ii) a transaction that would be reasonably likely to require the filing of an IRS Schedule UTP (determined without regard to any asset threshold that may avoid the requirement of filing such schedule), or (iii) or any transaction requiring disclosure under a corresponding or similar provision of state, local, or foreign Law.

(f) None of the Company or any of its predecessors has (i) ever been a member of a group of entities that filed or was required to file an affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or similar Tax Return, (ii) ever been a party to or bound by any Tax sharing, Tax indemnity, Tax allocation or similar agreement or Contract (other than any commercial agreement, such as a lease or loan, entered into in the Ordinary Course Business the principal purpose of which is unrelated to Taxes), (iii) any Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company) under Section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), including any arrangement for group or consortium relief or similar arrangement, as a transferee or successor, by Contract (other than any commercial agreement, such as a lease or loan, entered into in the Ordinary Course Business the principal purpose of which is unrelated to Taxes) or otherwise by operation of Law, or (iv) ever been a party to any joint venture, partnership or other Contract or arrangement that could be treated as a partnership for Tax purposes.

(g) The Company does not have, and never has had, any direct or indirect interest in any trust, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other “business entity” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-2 (or corresponding provisions of state and local applicable Laws). The Company has at all times since the date of its formation been, and is, properly classified as either a partnership or an entity that is disregarded as separate from Holdco within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3(b)(1)(ii) for U.S. federal income (and applicable state and local) Tax purposes.

(h) The Company (and the Buyer (and/or its owners) as a result of its ownership of the Company) will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, Taxable income for any Taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any (i) adjustment required as a result of the use of an improper method of account or a change in method of accounting for a Taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date, including under Section 481 or 263A of the Code (or any comparable provision of state, local or foreign applicable Law), (ii) “closing agreement” as described in section 7121 of the Code or other agreement with a Governmental Entity (or any similar provision of any applicable Law) executed on or before the Closing Date, (iii) intercompany transaction or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any similar provision of any applicable Law) which intercompany transaction was entered into, or which excess loss account was created or increased, in a Pre-Closing Tax Period, (iv) cancellation of indebtedness income in a Pre-Closing Tax Period pursuant to section 108 of the Code, (v) transaction entered into on or before the Closing Date accounted for under the installment sale, long-term contract method, cash method or open transaction method, (vi) prepaid amount, deferred revenue or advance payment received on or before the Closing Date, or (vii) Pandemic Response Laws.

 

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(i) The Company has never (i) been a “United States real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code, or (ii) constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution of stock intended to be governed, in whole or in part, by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.

(j) The Company has never (i) had a permanent establishment in any country other than the United States, as defined in any applicable treaty or convention between the United States and another country, or (ii) engaged in any activities in any country other than the United States (including through an agent or branch) that would subject the Company to taxation by such jurisdiction. The Company has not participated in or cooperated with, nor has it agreed to participate in or cooperate with, an international boycott within the meaning of Section 999 of the Code. The Company has made available to Buyer all documentation relating to any applicable Tax holidays or incentives that have current applicability to the Company. The Company is in compliance with the requirements for any such Tax holidays or incentives and has been in compliance since such holiday or incentive was originally claimed by the Company, and none of such Tax holidays or incentives will be jeopardized by the Transactions.

(k) The Company has complied with all Laws relating to the payment, reporting and withholding of Taxes (including, without limitation, the withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 1445, 1446, 1471, 1472 and 3406 of the Code or similar provisions under any state, local or foreign Law) and maintained all required records with respect thereto, for all periods through and including the Closing Date.

(l) Holdco is not a foreign person within the meaning of Sections 1445 or 1446(f) of the Code.

(m) The Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable “escheat,” “abandoned property,” “unclaimed property,” and other similar Laws.

(n) The Company has collected, remitted and reported to the appropriate Tax Authority all sales, use and value added Taxes required to be so collected, remitted or reported pursuant to all applicable Laws. The Company has complied in all respects with all applicable Laws relating to record retention (including, without limitation, to the extent necessary to claim any exemption from sales or value added Tax collection and maintaining adequate and current resale certificates to support any such claimed exemption).

(o) The Company has not been a party to any Contract, arrangement or plan that is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) that has not been at all times in documentary and operational compliance with Section 409A of the Code and all applicable IRS guidance promulgated thereunder in all respects. No additional Tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code has been or is reasonably expected to be incurred by a participant in any such Company Employee Plan or other Contract, plan, program, agreement, or arrangement. The Company is not a party to, or otherwise obligated under, any Contract that provides for the gross-up of Taxes imposed by Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code. No event has occurred that would be treated by Section 409A(b) as a transfer of property by the Company for purposes of Section 83 of the Code. The Company is under no obligation to gross up any Taxes under Section 409A of the Code.

(p) Section 280G of the Code does not apply to the Company or the Transactions.

 

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(q) The Company has not availed itself of any Tax relief pursuant to any Pandemic Response Laws. The Company has not claimed an employee retention credit or other credit against applicable Taxes under any Pandemic Response Laws, including (but not limited to) under Section 3131, 3132, 3133 or 3134 of the Code.

(r) The Company has not entered into any closing agreement pursuant to section 7121 of the Code (or any predecessor provision or any similar provision of any applicable Law) with any Tax Authority. The Company is not party to or bound by any offer in compromise or voluntary disclosure agreement with any Governmental Entity regarding Taxes.

3.8 Title to, Condition and Sufficiency of Assets.

(a) The Company does not own any real property and has never owned any real property.

(b) Schedule 3.8(b)(1) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of (i) all real property currently leased, subleased, licensed or otherwise occupied by the Company (or that the Company has the right to occupy) (the “Leased Real Property”), and (ii) all leases, lease guaranties, subleases, license agreements or other Contracts for the occupancy of the Leased Real Property, including all amendments, terminations and modifications thereof (the “Lease Agreements”). The Company has made available to Buyer true, complete, and correct copies of all Lease Agreements, and none of the Lease Agreements have been modified in any material respect, except to the extent that such modifications are disclosed by the copies made available to Buyer. To the extent in the possession or control of the Company, the Company has made available to Buyer copies of all material documents or correspondence that affect or may affect the tenancy at any Leased Real Property, including memoranda of lease, estoppel certificates, landlord consents, commencement date letters, letters of extensions, subordination, and non-disturbance and attornment agreements. All of the land, buildings, structures and other improvements used by the Company in the conduct of its business are included in the Leased Real Property. The Company has not subleased, licensed or otherwise granted any Person any right to use or occupy any of the Leased Real Property. With respect to the Lease Agreements, no event has occurred which (with notice, lapse of time or both) would constitute a material breach or default by the Company party thereto. The Lease Agreements are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.8(b)(2) of the Disclosure Schedules, (y) the Company has not received any written notice of a default, alleged failure to perform, or any offset or counterclaim and there are no disputes with respect to any such Lease Agreement, which has not been fully remedied and withdrawn and (z) the Company has a good and valid leasehold interest in all Leased Real Property and has not assigned (collaterally or otherwise), transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in trust or encumbered or granted any other Encumbrance in any Lease, and to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no option to purchase, right of first refusal, right of first offer, or other agreement granting any Person any right to acquire, sublease or use the applicable Leased Real Property. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.8(b)(3) of the Disclosure Schedules, the other party to each Lease Agreement is not an Affiliate of, and otherwise does not have any economic interest in, the Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, the use, occupancy and operation of the Leased Real Property in the conduct of the Company’s business does not violate in any material respect any Law, covenant, condition, restriction, easement, license, permit or agreement. There are no material Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Leased Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein (including without limitation any condemnation or eminent domain proceedings). The Company has not received any written notice of violation of any insurance requirements applicable to the Leased Real Property and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no basis for the issuance of any such written notice or the taking of any action for such violation. To the Knowledge of the Company, there are no unpaid brokerage commissions or finder’s fees with respect to any Lease Agreement. There are no unsatisfied capital expenditure requirements or remodeling

 

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obligations of any party to a Lease Agreement that are required or mandated by such Lease Agreement, other than ordinary maintenance and repair obligations.

(c) All buildings, structures, improvements, fixtures, building systems and equipment (including HVAC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems), and all components thereof, included in the Leased Real Property are in good condition and repair and sufficient for the operation of the Company’s business as currently conducted in all material respects. All utilities currently servicing the Leased Real Property are properly installed, connected and operating, with all outstanding charges paid in full (as and when due), and are sufficient in all material respects for the operation of the Company’s business in the applicable premises. There are no structural deficiencies or latent defects affecting any of the improvements comprising any of the Leased Real Property, and to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no facts or conditions affecting any of such Leased Real Property or improvements that would, individually or in the aggregate, interfere in any material respect with the use or occupancy of the Leased Real Property in the operation of the Company’s business.

(d) The Company has sole and exclusive title to all of its material tangible and intangible properties used or held in the operation of the Company’s business, or, with respect to leased or licensed properties and assets, valid leasehold interests or licenses in such properties and assets that, to the Knowledge of the Company, afford the Company valid leasehold possession of, or licenses to, the properties and assets that are the subject of such leases and licenses (the “Company Assets”), in each case, free and clear of all Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances.

(e) The Company Assets constitute in all material respects all of the assets and properties that are necessary for the Company to conduct and operate the Company’s business by the Company in the Ordinary Course of Business in all material respects and to sell and otherwise enjoy full rights to exploitation of its assets, properties, and all products and services that are provided in connection with the Company’s assets and properties as currently exists.

3.9 Intellectual Property.

(a) Definitions. As used herein, the following terms have the meanings indicated below:

(i) “Company Data” means all confidential, proprietary and sensitive data (including but not limited to Personal Data) of the Company.

(ii) “Company Intellectual Property” means any and all Company-Owned Intellectual Property and any and all Third-Party Intellectual Property that is used or held for use by the Company.

(iii) “Company Intellectual Property Agreements” means any Contract relating to any Company Intellectual Property to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, including any licenses or other rights granted in connection with a Franchise Agreement, except for Contracts for Third-Party Intellectual Property that is generally, commercially available software and (A) is not material to the Company, (B) has not been modified or customized for the Company and (C) has a total replacement cost of less than $50,000.

(iv) “Company-Owned Intellectual Property” means any and all Intellectual Property that is owned or purported to be owned by the Company.

 

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(v) “Company Privacy Policies” means, collectively, any and all of the Company’s internal and external policies, procedures, and representations regarding information security, the Processing of Personal Data or otherwise relating to the privacy of any individual.

(vi) “Company Registered Intellectual Property” means United States, international and foreign: (A) patents and patent applications (including provisional applications), (B) registered trademarks and service marks, applications to register trademarks and service marks, intent-to-use applications, or other registrations or applications related to trademarks and service marks, (C) registered Internet domain names and (D) registered copyrights and applications for copyright registration, in each case registered or filed in the name of, or owned or purported to be owned by, the Company.

(vii) “Data Protection Requirements” means, regarding the Processing of Personal Information, all applicable (A) Privacy Laws, (B) Company Privacy Policies, and (C) contractual obligations of the Company.

(viii) “ICT Infrastructure” means the information and communications technology infrastructure and systems (including software, hardware, firmware, networks, and any websites) that is used by the Company in the operation of the business of the Company as currently conducted by the Company.

(ix) “Intellectual Property” means (A) Intellectual Property Rights and (B) Proprietary Information and Technology.

(x) “Intellectual Property Rights” means any and all intellectual property and proprietary rights throughout the world, including all rights in, arising out of, or associated therewith with any of the following: patents, utility models, and applications therefor and all reissues, divisions, re-examinations, renewals, extensions, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof and equivalent or similar rights in inventions and discoveries anywhere in the world, including invention disclosures, common law and statutory rights associated with trade secrets, confidential and proprietary information and know-how, industrial designs and any registrations and applications therefor, trade names, logos, trade dress, trademarks and service marks, trademark and service mark registrations, trademark and service mark applications and any and all goodwill associated with and symbolized by the foregoing items, Internet domain name applications and registrations, Internet and World Wide Web URLs or addresses, social media handles and accounts, designs, works of authorship, copyrights, copyright registrations and applications therefor and all other rights corresponding thereto, database rights, rights of publicity, moral and economic rights of authors and inventors, however denominated and any similar or equivalent rights to any of the foregoing, and all tangible embodiments of the foregoing.

(xi) “Open Source Materials” means software or other documents or material that is distributed as (with respect to software) “free software,” “open source software” or under similar licensing or distribution terms with respect to documents or other materials, including the GNU General Public License (GPL), GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), Mozilla Public License (MPL), BSD licenses, the Artistic License, the Netscape Public License, the Sun Community Source License (SCSL), the Sun Industry Standards License (SISL), the MIT License, and the Apache Licenses.

(xii) “Personal Data” means (A) any information that relates, indirectly or directly, to an identified or identifiable natural person, device or household, including name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number, driver’s license number, passport number, government-issued ID number, customer or account number, health information, financial information, consumer report information, device identifier, transaction identifier, IP address, physiological and behavioral biometric identifier, or any other piece of information that alone or in combination with

 

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other information directly or indirectly allows the identification of or contact with a natural person, device or household; and (B) any other information that is otherwise considered “personal information,” “individually identifiable health information,” “personally identifiable information” or “personal data” under applicable Law or information of a similar character that is covered under Privacy Laws. For the avoidance of doubt, Personal Data includes information of Company’s prospective, current and former personnel, business contacts and customers, and information provided to or obtained by the Company in connection with the performance of its services to its customers.

(xiii) “Privacy Laws” means each applicable Law and mandatory industry self-regulatory principle concerning the data privacy, security, protection, disposal, international transfer or other processing of Personal Data; incident reporting and Security Incident notifying requirements; direct marketing and any other initiation, transmission, monitoring, recording, or receipt of communications (in any format, including voice, video, email, phone, text messaging, or otherwise); or consumer protection, including but not limited to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation) (the “GDPR”), the Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive 2002/58/EC as amended by Directive 2009/136/EC (“ePrivacy Directive”), any national legislation of any EU Member State or the United Kingdom implementing or transposing the GDPR or ePrivacy Directive, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020) and all regulations adopted pursuant thereto, Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation, Australia’s Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000, as amended by the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Gramm Leach Bliley Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Video Privacy Protection Act, state privacy Laws and state data security Laws and state social security number protection Laws.

(xiv) “Process” or “Processing” means, with respect to Personal Data, the use, collection, processing, storage, retention, recording, organization, adaption, alteration, transfer (including cross border), retrieval, consultation, security, protection, disclosure, dissemination, combination, erasure, disposal, or destruction of such data, or any other operation that is otherwise considered “processing” under applicable Privacy Laws.

(xv) “Proprietary Information and Technology” means any and all of the following: works of authorship, computer programs, source code and executable code, whether embodied in software, firmware or otherwise, assemblers, applets, compilers, user interfaces, application programming interfaces, protocols, architectures, documentation, annotations, comments, designs, files, records, schematics, test methodologies, test vectors, emulation and simulation tools and reports, hardware development tools, models, tooling, prototypes, devices, data, data structures, databases, data compilations and collections, inventions (whether or not patentable), invention disclosures, discoveries, improvements, technology, proprietary and confidential ideas and information, know-how and information maintained as trade secrets, tools, concepts, techniques, methods, processes, formulae, patterns, algorithms and specifications, customer lists and supplier lists and any and all instantiations or embodiments of the foregoing or any Intellectual Property Rights in any form and embodied in any media.

(xvi) “Third-Party Intellectual Property” means any and all Intellectual Property owned by a third party.

 

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(b) Status; Sufficiency. The Company has full and sole title and ownership of all Company-Owned Intellectual Property, free and clear of any Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances). The Company has not transferred ownership of, or granted any exclusive rights in, any Company-Owned Intellectual Property to any third party. The Company Intellectual Property collectively constitutes all of the Intellectual Property necessary for Buyer’s conduct of, or that are used in or held for use for, the Company’s current business without: (i) the need for Buyer to acquire or license any other intangible asset, intangible property or Intellectual Property Right and (ii) the breach of violation of any Contract.

(c) Company Registered Intellectual Property. Schedule 3.9(c) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all Company Registered Intellectual Property, the jurisdictions in which it has been issued or registered or in which any application for such issuance and registration has been filed or the jurisdictions in which any other filing or recordation has been made. Each item of Company Registered Intellectual Property is valid (or in the case of applications, applied for), subsisting, and enforceable. All registration, maintenance and renewal fees currently due in connection with such Company Registered Intellectual Property have been paid and all documents, recordations and certificates in connection with such Company Registered Intellectual Property currently required to be filed have been filed with the relevant patent, copyright, trademark or other authorities in the United States or foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the purposes of prosecuting, maintaining and perfecting such Company Registered Intellectual Property and recording the Company’s ownership interests therein.

(d) Confidential Information. The Company has taken commercially reasonable steps to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all confidential or non-public information of the Company (including trade secrets) or provided by any third party to the Company (collectively, “Confidential Information”). All current and former Employees, consultants, advisors and independent contractors of the Company, and any third party, which has or had access to Confidential Information, have executed and delivered to the Company a written legally binding Contract regarding the protection of such Confidential Information. The Company has implemented and maintained reasonable security, disaster recovery and business continuity plans consistent with industry practices of companies offering similar services, and acts in compliance therewith and has tested such plans on a periodic basis, and such plans have proven effective upon testing. The Company has not experienced any breach of security or other unauthorized access by third parties to the Confidential Information, including any Personal Data in the Company’s possession, custody or control. There has been no Company, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, breach of any third party’s obligations to the Company under any Contract relating to any Confidential Information.

(e) Non-Infringement. To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no unauthorized use, unauthorized disclosure, infringement, misappropriation or other violation of any Company-Owned Intellectual Property by any third party. The Company has not brought any Action or sent any notices to any third party regarding the foregoing. The Company has no Liability for infringement, misappropriation, or other violation of any Third-Party Intellectual Property. The operation of the Company’s business, including (i) the design, development, manufacturing, reproduction, marketing, licensing, sale, offer for sale, importation, distribution, provision or use of any Company-Owned Intellectual Property and (ii) the Company’s use of any product, device, process or service used in the Company’s business as previously conducted, currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted by the Company, has not, does not and will not infringe (directly or indirectly, including via contribution or inducement), misappropriate or otherwise violate any Third-Party Intellectual Property, breach any terms of service, click-through agreement or any other agreement or rules, policies or guidelines applicable to use of such Third-Party Intellectual Property, and does not constitute unfair competition or unfair trade practices under the Law of any jurisdiction in which Company conducts its business (and there is no basis for any such claim). The Company has not been sued in any Action or received any written communications (including any third-party reports by users) alleging that the Company has infringed, misappropriated, or otherwise violated or,

 

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by conducting its business, would infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any other Person or entity, or has breached any such terms of service, click-through agreement or any other agreement or rules, policies or guidelines. No Company Intellectual Property is subject to any Action, Order, settlement agreement or right that restricts in any manner the use, transfer or licensing thereof by the Company, or that may affect the validity, use or enforceability of any Company Intellectual Property.

(f) Non-Contravention. The execution and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions will not result in: (i) Buyer or any of its Affiliates granting to any third party any right to or with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights owned or purported to be owned by, or licensed to, Buyer or any of its Affiliates, (ii) Buyer or any of its Affiliates, being bound by or subject to, any exclusivity obligations, non-compete or other restriction on the operation or scope of their respective businesses, (iii) Buyer or the Company being obligated to pay any royalties or other material amounts to any third party in excess of those payable by any of them, respectively, in the absence of this Agreement or the Transactions or (iv) any termination of, or other material impact to, any Company Intellectual Property.

(g) Open Source Materials. The Company has not (A) incorporated Open Source Materials into, or combined Open Source Materials with, the Company Intellectual Property, (B) distributed Open Source Materials in conjunction with any Company Intellectual Property or (C) used Open Source Materials, in such a way that, with respect to clauses (A), (B) or (C), creates, or purports to create, material obligations for the Company with respect to any Company Intellectual Property or grants, or purports to grant, to any third party any rights or immunities under any Company Intellectual Property (including using any Open Source Materials that require, as a condition of use, modification and/or distribution of such Open Source Materials that other software incorporated into, derived from or distributed with such Open Source Materials be (x) disclosed or distributed in source code form, (y) be licensed for the purpose of making derivative works or (z) be redistributable at no charge).

(h) Information Technology. The Company has sufficient rights to use all ICT Infrastructure. The ICT Infrastructure operates and performs in all material respects in accordance with their documentation and functional specifications and are sufficient or configurable to effectively perform all operations necessary for the current operation of the Company’s business. The ICT Infrastructure will continue to be available for use by the Company and Buyer immediately following the consummation of the Transactions and thereafter on substantially the same terms and conditions as prevailed immediately before the Closing, without further action or payment by Buyer. In the last five years, the Company has not experienced, and no circumstances exist that are likely or expected to give rise to, any disruption in or to the operation of the Company’s business as a result of: (i) any substandard performance or defect in any part of the ICT Infrastructure whether caused by any viruses, bugs, worms, software bombs, lack of capacity, or other devices or effects that reasonably would be expected to materially impair the operation of the ICT Infrastructure by the Company, or (ii) a breach of security in relation to any part of the ICT Infrastructure.

(i) Privacy.

(i) The Company has made available to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of all current Company Privacy Policies. The Processing of Company Data by or on behalf of the Company and the Company’s data privacy and information security practices comply, and, at all times have complied, with the Data Protection Requirements. None of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, the consummation of the Transactions, the transfer to and use by Buyer of the Company Data and other information relating to the Company’s customers, or the contemplated Processing of Company Data by Buyer will cause, constitute, or result in a breach or violation of, or be inconsistent with, any Data Protection Requirements. The Company (A) has taken appropriate steps to regularly train its personnel on security awareness and all applicable aspects of Privacy Laws and other Company Privacy Policies and (B) has required that all Persons who Process Personal Data on Company’s behalf Process and protect such Personal Data in compliance with applicable Privacy Laws and Privacy Policies.

 

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(ii) In the last five years, the Company has not suffered, discovered, or been notified of any actual or reasonably suspected accidental, unauthorized or unlawful access, loss, destruction, acquisition, use, alteration, disclosure, or other Processing of Company Data nor any security breach, intrusion into, or unauthorized or unlawful access or use of the Company’s information technology systems (any, a “Security Incident”), including with respect to any Company Data Processed by Persons performing services for the Company. To the Company’s Knowledge, no circumstance currently exists or has arisen that would reasonably be expected to give rise to the foregoing or in which the Company would be required to notify a Governmental Entity or other Person, including but not limited to an affected individual or customer, of a Security Incident based on Data Protection Requirements. The Company has (A) performed an annual security risk assessment, (B) created and maintained documentation in accordance with applicable Privacy Laws, and (C) addressed and remediated any high or critical vulnerabilities or threats identified in such risk assessments.

(iii) The Company has maintained commercially reasonable and necessary administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Company Data in its possession or control, and to prevent the loss and unauthorized use, access, alteration, destruction or disclosure of such Company Data.

(iv) The Company has not received or experienced any Action, Order, Claim, notice, inquiry, communication, warrant, subpoena, regulatory opinion, audit, allegation or similar from a Governmental Entity or any other Person relating to an actual or alleged violation of Privacy Laws or Company Privacy Policy or otherwise pertaining to the data privacy or information security practices of the Company and to the Knowledge of the Company, no such Action or Order is threatened against the Company. The Company is not subject to any resolution agreement, settlement agreement, corrective action plan or any similar agreement with any Governmental Entity or Person in connection with any breach or alleged breach of Data Protection Requirements.

3.10 Material Contracts.

(a) Except for this Contracts specifically identified in Schedule 3.10 of the Disclosure Schedules (with each of such Contracts specifically identified under subsection(s) of such Schedule 3.10 that correspond to the Subsection or Subsections of this Section 3.10(a) applicable to such Contract), the Company is not a party to or bound by any of the following active Contracts (each, a “Material Contract”):

(i) (A) any management service, partnership or joint venture Contract, (B) any Contract that involves a sharing of revenues, profits, cash flows, expenses or losses with other Persons and (C) any Contract that involves the payment of royalties to any other Person;

(ii) any Contract with respect to a (A) Significant Store (other than a Lease Agreement) or (B) Significant Vendor;

(iii) any continuing Contract for the purchase, sale or license of materials, supplies, equipment, services, products, or other assets involving, in the case of any such Contract, payments to the Company of more than $15,000 per year, or by the Company of more than $15,000 per year;

(iv) any Contract that expires or may be renewed at the option of any Person other than the Company so as to expire more than one year after the Agreement Date (excluding Lease Agreements or any agreement with which Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer is a party) for which payment due to any party during such one year period is in excess of $50,000;

 

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(v) any distributor, original manufacturer, reseller, value added reseller, sales, advertising, agency or manufacturer’s representative Contract in excess of $50,000;

(vi) any Contract, other than Franchise Agreements, (A) pursuant to which any other party is granted exclusive rights or “most favored party” rights of any type or scope with respect to the Company’s products or services, (B) containing any non-competition covenants or other restrictions relating to the Company, or (C) that limits the freedom of the to (1) engage or participate, or compete with any other Person, in any line of business, market or geographic area or (2) sell, distribute or manufacture any products or services or to purchase or otherwise obtain any products or services;

(vii) all Intellectual Property Agreements;

(viii) all Franchise Agreements;

(ix) any confidentiality, secrecy or non-disclosure Contract other than any such Contract entered into by the Company in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with the Company’s standard unmodified form (a copy of which has been made available to Buyer);

(x) any agreement of indemnification or warranty or any Contract containing any support, maintenance or service obligation or cost on the part of the Company;

(xi) any settlement agreement that has ongoing obligations with respect to any Action;

(xii) any Contract or plan (including any stock option, merger and/or stock bonus plan) relating to the sale, issuance, grant, exercise, award, purchase, repurchase or redemption of any Company Interests or any other securities of the Company or any options, warrants, convertible notes or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any such shares of stock, other securities or options, warrants or other rights therefor relating to the Company;

(xiii) any Contract with any labor union or any collective bargaining agreement or similar Contract with its Employees;

(xiv) any separation agreement or settlement agreement with any Employee, under which the Company has any current actual or potential Liability, as well as any settlement agreement, consent decree, or other similar agreement with any Governmental Entity pursuant to which the Company has any current Liability;

(xv) any employment Contract or offer letter with any Employee, or beneficial owner of more than 5% of the total Company Interests that is not immediately terminable at-will by the Company without notice, severance, or other cost or Liability;

(xvi) any Contract providing for retention payments, change of control payments, severance, accelerated vesting or any other payment or benefit that may or will become due as a result of the Transactions;

(xvii) any trust indenture, mortgage, promissory note, loan agreement or other Contract for the borrowing of money, any currency exchange, commodities or other hedging arrangement or any leasing transaction of the type required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP (other than Capital Leases);

 

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(xviii) any Contract of guarantee, support, indemnification, assumption or endorsement of, or any similar commitment with respect to, the Liabilities or indebtedness of any other Person, including any Contract mortgaging, pledging or otherwise placing an Encumbrance (other than Permitted Encumbrances) on any material portion of the assets of the Company;

(xix) any Contract for capital expenditures in excess of $60,000 in the aggregate;

(xx) any Contract pursuant to which the Company is a lessor or lessee of any real property (including without limitation any Lease Agreement) and any Contract pursuant to which the Company is a lessor or lessee of any machinery, equipment, motor vehicles, office furniture, fixtures or other tangible personal property involving expenditures in excess of $50,000 per annum;

(xxi) any Contract with any investment banker, broker, advisor or similar Person engaged in sales or promotional activities on behalf of the Company in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions, in each case, for consideration in excess of $50,000;

(xxii) any Contract within the last five years pursuant to which the Company has acquired a business or entity, or all of the assets of a business or entity, whether by way of merger, consolidation, purchase of stock, purchase of assets, exclusive license or otherwise, or any Contract pursuant to which it has any material ownership interest in any other Person; and

(xxiii) any Contract with any Governmental Entity, any Company Authorization, or any Contract with a government prime contractor, or higher-tier government subcontractor, including any indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, firm-fixed-price contract, schedule contract, blanket purchase agreement, or task or delivery order.

(b) All Material Contracts are in written form. The Company has performed all of the obligations required to be performed by it and is entitled to all benefits under, and is not alleged to be in default in respect of, any Material Contract. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, (i) each Material Contract is in full force and effect, is valid and enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by Enforceability Exceptions), (ii) the Company has not received any written notice from any party to a Material Contract of such party’s intention or desire to terminate or modify any such Material Contract in any material respect, (iii) the Company is not, nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, is any other party thereto, in breach of or default under, in any material respect, any Material Contract, and (iv) the Company has not received any written or, to the Company’s Knowledge, other notice of any default or event that with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default by the Company under any Material Contract. The Company has made available to Buyer (1) correct and complete copies of each written Material Contract (other than such Material Contracts to which Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer is a party thereto) and (2) summaries of each oral Material Contract, together with any and all material amendments and supplements thereto and “side letters” and similar documentation relating thereto. The Company is not currently negotiating any Contract that would be considered a Material Contract if entered into as of the Agreement Date, nor is it in the process of amending or modifying any existing Contract that would be considered a Material Contract if entered into as of the Agreement Date.

 

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3.11 Employee Benefit Plans and Employee Matters.

(a) Schedule 3.11(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all (i) employee benefit plans within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA; and (ii) stock option plans, stock purchase plans, “phantom” equity or other equity-based arrangements, bonus or incentive award plans, severance pay plans, programs or arrangements, deferred compensation arrangements or agreements, employment agreements, executive compensation plans, programs, agreements or arrangements, change in control plans, programs or arrangements, supplemental income arrangements, vacation or other paid time off plans, fringe benefits, and all other employee benefit plans, agreements, and arrangements not described in (i) above; in each case whether written, unwritten or otherwise, funded or unfunded, that is or has been maintained, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, under which any Employee (or any dependent or beneficiary thereof) is eligible to receive benefits or otherwise participate, and/or with respect to which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of the Company has or may have any Liability or obligation (each, a “Company Employee Plan”). The Company has not made any commitment (whether written or oral) to establish or enter into any new Company Employee Plan or to modify the terms of any Company Employee Plan. No Company Employee Plan is a plan, program, practice, or Contract that is sponsored by a professional employer organization or co-employer organization (each, a “PEO”) under which an Employee may be eligible to receive compensation and/or benefits in connection with the Company’s engagement of a PEO.

(b) The Company has delivered or made available to Buyer: (i) an accurate and complete copy of all material documents setting forth the terms of each Company Employee Plan, including all amendments thereto and all related trust documents (or, if such Company Employee Plan is not in writing, a summary of material terms of such Company Employee Plan); (ii) a complete and accurate copy of the annual report (Form Series 5500 and all schedules and financial statements attached thereto), if any, required under ERISA or the Code with respect to such Company Employee Plan for the three most recent plan years; (iii) if such Company Employee Plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA, the most recent annual and periodic accounting of such Company Employee Plan’s assets; (iv) the most recent summary plan description together with the summaries of material modifications thereto, if any, with respect to such Company Employee Plan; (v) if such Company Employee Plan is funded through a trust or any third party funding vehicle, an accurate and complete copy of the trust or other funding agreement (including all amendments thereto) and accurate and complete copies of the most recent financial statements thereof; (vi) accurate and complete copies of all material Contracts relating to such Company Employee Plan, including service provider agreements, insurance contracts, minimum premium contracts, stop-loss agreements, investment management agreements, subscription and participation agreements and recordkeeping agreements; (vii) all material written materials provided to Employees or participants relating to such Company Employee Plan and any proposed Company Employee Plan, in each case, relating to any amendments, terminations, establishments, increases or decreases in benefits, acceleration of payments or vesting schedules or other events that would result in any Liability to the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of the Company; (viii) all material correspondence, if any, to or from any Governmental Entity relating to such Company Employee Plan; (ix) all insurance policies, if any, in the possession of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate pertaining to fiduciary liability insurance covering the fiduciaries for such Company Employee Plan; (x) if such Company Employee Plan is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, all discrimination tests, if any, required under the Code for such Company Employee Plan for the three most recent plan years; and (xi) if such Company Employee Plan is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, the most recent IRS determination letter (or opinion letter, if applicable) received with respect to such Company Employee Plan.

 

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(c) Any Company Employee Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and has either obtained from the IRS a current favorable determination letter as to its qualified status under the Code (or has applied to the IRS for such a determination letter prior to the expiration of the requisite period under applicable Treasury Regulations) or has been established under a pre-approved plan for which a current IRS opinion letter has been obtained by the pre-approved plan sponsor and is valid as to the adopting employer, and there is not any event, condition or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to result in disqualification under the Code.

(d) Each Company Employee Plan has been administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms and in compliance with the requirements prescribed by any and all statutes, rules and regulations (including ERISA and the Code), and the Company and each ERISA Affiliate has, in all material respects, performed all material obligations required to be performed by it under, is not in default under or in violation of, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no default or violation by any other party to, any of the Company Employee Plans has occurred. There has been no “prohibited transaction” within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code that are not exempt under Section 408 of ERISA and regulatory guidance thereunder with respect to any Company Employee Plan. Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate is subject to any Liability or penalty under Sections 4975 through 4980 of the Code or Title I of ERISA with respect to any Company Employee Plans. No suit, administrative proceeding, action, audit, investigation, litigation or claim is pending or reasonably anticipated, or to the Knowledge of the Company, is threatened, against or with respect to any such Company Employee Plan or against the assets of any Company Employee Plan, including any audit or inquiry by any Governmental Entity, including, without limitation, the IRS or United States Department of Labor.

(e) None of the Company Employee Plans promises or provides medical or other retiree or post-termination welfare benefits to any Person for any reason following their termination of employment or service other than as required under COBRA or similar state Law (and solely at the premium expense of the covered individual), and the Company has never represented, promised or contracted (whether in oral or written form) to any Employee (either individually or to Employees as a group) or any other Person that such Employee(s) or other Person would be provided with life insurance, health or other employee welfare benefits post-termination, except to the extent required by Law.

(f) All contributions required to be made by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to any Company Employee Plan have been made on or before their due dates and a reasonable amount has been accrued for contributions to each Company Employee Plan for the current plan year (and no further contributions will be due or will have accrued thereunder as of the Closing Date, other than contributions accrued in the Ordinary Course of Business after the Company Balance Sheet Date as a result of the operations of the Company after the Company Balance Sheet Date). There has been no amendment to, interpretation or announcement (whether or not written) by the Company or other ERISA Affiliate relating to, or change in participation or coverage under any Company Employee Plan that would materially increase the expense of maintaining such Company Employee Plan above the level of expense incurred with respect to such Company Employee Plan for the most recent full fiscal year included in the Financial Statements.

(g) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliates has ever maintained, established, sponsored, participated in, had any Liability with respect to or had any obligation to contribute to any: (i) plan that is or was subject to Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code; (ii) “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA; (iii) “multiple employer plan” (within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code); or (iv) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA. No Company Employee Plan has ever held employer real property or employer securities as a plan asset, within the meaning of ERISA.

(h) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever maintained, established, sponsored, participated in or contributed to any self-insured plan that provides group health benefits to Employees (including any such plan pursuant to which a stop loss policy or Contract applies).

 

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(i) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate sponsors or maintains or has any Liability with respect to any Company Employee Plan for the benefit of Employees who perform services primarily outside the United States.

(j) The Company is, and during the last five years has been, in material compliance with all applicable Laws respecting employment, including, but not limited to: discrimination, harassment and retaliation in employment, terms and conditions of employment, the WARN Act (or similar state Law), leaves of absence, disability accommodation, immigration, employee benefits, worker classification (including the proper classification of workers as independent contractors and consultants, and employees as exempt or non-exempt), wages, hours, occupational safety and health, and employment practices, and all orders issued under applicable occupational health and safety Laws. The Company is not liable for any arrears of wages, compensation, Taxes, penalties or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing, nor has the Company experienced any union organization attempts, material labor disputes or material work stoppage or material slowdowns due to labor disagreements. The Company has paid in full to all current and former Employees, workers and consultants (including independent contractors) all wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, benefits, and other compensation that are due and owing to such Persons. The Company has never had any temporary or leased employees that were not treated and accounted for in all respects as employees of the Company. The Company has in its files a Form I-9 that is validly and properly completed in accordance with applicable Law for each current Employee and for each former Employee with respect to whom such form is required under applicable Law.

(k) The Company is not a party to, nor bound by, any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a labor organization, trade or labor union, employees’ association or similar organization representing any of its Employees (collectively, “Labor Agreements”), nor is any such Labor Agreement presently being negotiated, nor is there any duty on the part of the Company to bargain with any labor organization or representative, and there are no labor organizations representing, purporting to represent or, to the Knowledge of the Company, seeking to represent any Employees. To the Company’s Knowledge, of the Company has not received any correspondence, charges, complaints, grievances, notices or orders from the National Labor Relations Board or any state labor relations agency or any labor organization during the period from the date five years prior to the Agreement Date, and there are no arbitration opinions interpreting and enforcing any Labor Agreement to which the Company is a party, or by which the Company is bound. The Company is not and has never been engaged in any unfair labor practice of any nature. The Company has not had any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, boycott, picketing, lockout, job action, labor dispute or threat of any of the foregoing, or union organizing activity (of unrepresented Employees) or question concerning representation, by or with respect to any of its Employees. No event has occurred, and no condition or circumstance exists, that might directly or indirectly give rise to or provide a basis for the commencement of any such strike, slowdown, work stoppage, boycott, picketing, lockout, job action, labor dispute, union organizing activity (of unrepresented Employees), question concerning representation, or any similar activity or dispute.

(l) The Company is not liable for any payment to any trust or other fund or to any Governmental Entity, with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for Employees (other than routine payments to be made in the normal course of business and consistent with past practice). There are no pending claims against the Company under any workers’ compensation plan or policy or for long-term disability. There are no controversies pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, between the Company and any of its Employees, which controversies have or would reasonably be expected to result in any Action before any Governmental Entity or material Liability.

 

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(m) The Company has made available to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of the standard forms that the Company uses for each of the following: (i) offer letters, (ii) employment, severance, retention, or change of control agreements, (iii) independent contractor agreements for individual independent contractors or consultants (including without limitation any individual independent contractors or consultants engaged or contracted through any other party), (iv) confidentiality, non-competition or inventions agreements used with Employees, (v) the most current management organization chart(s), (vi) bonus plans and any form award agreement thereunder, and a schedule of bonus commitments made to Employees, (vii) commission plans or other incentive compensative agreements, (viii) employee handbooks or other written policies applicable to Employees or individual independent contractors or consultants, and (ix) any such document in clauses (i)-(viii) that deviate materially from such form document.

(n) The Company has made available to Buyer a true, correct and complete, list identifying all current officers and Employees of the Company and each Subsidiary, and showing each such individual’s name, employing entity, position, status as exempt/non-exempt, city/country of employment, date of hire, non-U.S. citizen employment authorization, as applicable, annual remuneration, and accrued but unused vacation and other paid-time-off entitlements as of the most recent pay date. The Company has made available to Buyer a true, correct and complete list identifying all of its current independent contractors or consultants and advisory board members, and, for each, (i) such individual’s compensation for the current fiscal year and, if applicable, for the most recently completed fiscal year, (ii) such individual’s dates of engagement, (iii) a brief description of the type of services provided, (iv) whether such engagement has been terminated by written notice by either party thereto, and (v) the notice or termination provisions applicable to the services provided by such individual, the number of vacation days available to such employee, and any unused vacation and other paid time-off entitlements as of the Agreement Date.

(o) To the Company’s Knowledge, no Employee is in violation of any material term of any employment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, or any restrictive covenant to a former employer or other entity relating to the right of any such Person to be employed by or perform services to the Company or the applicable Subsidiary. The Company has correctly classified all current and former Employees pursuant to applicable Law (including the proper classification of workers as independent contractors and consultants, and employees as exempt or non-exempt), and there is no pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened Action before any Governmental Entity that would reasonably be expected to result in any material Liability with respect to the classification of the Employees.

(p) The employment of each of the Employees of the Company is “at will” and the Company has no obligation to provide any particular form or period of notice prior to terminating the employment of any Employee or to provide any type of severance payment or benefit to any Employee upon termination.

(q) Except in the Ordinary Course of Business, no Employee has given notice to the Company to terminate their employment with the Company and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no Employee intends to terminate their employment with the Company.

(r) Neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the Transactions will, individually or in combination with the occurrence of any other event (whether contingent or otherwise), (i) result in any payment or benefit (including severance, change of control payment, golden parachute, bonus, or otherwise) becoming due or payable, or required to be provided, to any Employee, (ii) increase the amount or value of any benefit or compensation otherwise payable or required to be provided to any Employee, (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment, vesting or funding of any such benefit or compensation, (iv) increase the amount of compensation due to any Person or (v) result in the forgiveness in whole or in part of any outstanding loans made by the Company to any Person.

 

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(s) There is no Contract of any character to which the Company is a party to or by which the Company or any of its assets is bound that requires or otherwise provides for the acceleration of any other benefits thereunder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or upon termination of employment or service with the Company or Buyer, or any other event, whether before, upon or following the Closing or otherwise.

(t) Each Company Employee Plan that is a group health plan is in compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and subsequent agency guidance (collectively, the “2010 Health Care Law”). To the Knowledge of the Company, the design and operation of each Company Employee Plan that is a group health plan has not resulted in the incurrence of any penalty or excise tax under Code Section 4980H to the Company pursuant to the 2010 Health Care Law. No event has occurred, and no circumstances exists, that would be reasonably be expected to subject the Company or an ERISA Affiliate to an excise tax under 4980D of the Code.

(u) In the three years prior to the Agreement Date, the Company has not effectuated (i) a “plant closing” (as defined in the WARN Act or any similar applicable law) affecting any site of employment or one or more facilities or operating units within any site of employment or facility of the Company or (ii) a “mass layoff” or collective dismissal (as defined in the WARN Act, or any similar applicable law) affecting any site of employment or facility of the Company.

(v) In the last five years, (i) to the Company’s Knowledge, no allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct have been made against (A) any current or former officer, manager or director of the Company or (B) any Employee who, directly or indirectly, supervises any Employee, in the conduct of their job for the Company, and (ii) the Company has not entered into any settlement agreement related to allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct by or regarding any current or former Employee, contractor, director, manager, officer or other Representative of the Company.

3.12 Anti-Corruption Compliance. Neither the Company nor any officer, director, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Employee other Person acting on behalf of the Company (in each case, in their capacities as such or relating to their employment, services or relationship with the Company) has taken any action which would cause it to be in violation in any material respect of the Anti-Corruption Laws.

3.13 Litigation. There is no Action to which the Company is a party pending before any Governmental Entity, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its stores, other assets, or any of its Employees (in their capacities as such). To the Company’s Knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any such action. There is no Order against the Company, any of its stores, other assets or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of its Employees (to the extent related to and in their capacities as Employees). To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no reasonable basis for any Person to assert a claim against the Company or any of its stores, other assets or directors, managers, officers or Employees (in their capacities as such or relating to their employment, services or relationship with the Company) or Holdco based upon: (a) the Company entering into this Agreement, any of the Transactions or the agreements contemplated by this Agreement, including a Claim that such director, officer, manager, or Employee breached a fiduciary duty in connection therewith, (b) any confidentiality or similar agreement entered into by the Company regarding its assets or (c) any Claim that the Company has agreed to sell or dispose of any of its assets to any party other than Buyer, whether by way of merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise. The Company does not have any Action pending against any other Person.

 

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3.14 Insurance. Schedule 3.14(i) of the Disclosure Schedules lists (a) all insurance policies and fidelity bonds covering the assets, stores, business, equipment, properties, operations, or Employees (in such capacities as Employees) of the Company, including the type of coverage, the carrier, the policy limits of coverage, the term and the annual premiums of such policies (the “Insurance Policies”) and all (b) pending material claims under such Insurance Policy, including the type, amount, and brief description of such claim. The Insurance Policies are in full force and effect, and the Company is not in default under any Insurance Policy, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no event has occurred that would give rise to any right of notice, modification, acceleration, payment, cancellation or termination under such policies, or in any manner release any Person form such obligation. No written notice of cancellation or termination or non-renewal has been received with respect to any Insurance Policy. There are no, and in the last five years there have not been any, Claims for which an insurance carrier has denied or threatened to deny coverage. To the Company’s Knowledge, no event relating to the Company has occurred that could reasonably be expected to result in a retroactive upward adjustment in premiums under any of the Insurance Policies. The Insurance Policies maintained by the Company are collectively sufficient to comply with all applicable Laws and Material Contracts to which the Company is a party. All premiums due and payable under all such policies and bonds have been paid, and the Company is otherwise in material compliance with the terms of such policies and bonds. Buyer or an Affiliate of the Buyer, is named as an additional insured on all insurance policies of the Company to the extent required under the Franchise Agreements and the Company maintains certificates of insurance to that effect.

3.15 Environmental, Health and Safety Matters. The Company is in material compliance with all Environmental, Health and Safety Requirements in connection with the Company’s ownership, use, maintenance or operation of its business or assets or properties. There are no pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, any threatened (in writing) allegations or Actions by any Person that the properties or assets of the Company are not, or that the Company’s business has not been conducted, in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental, Health and Safety Requirements. The Company has not retained or assumed any Liability of any other Person under any Environmental, Health and Safety Requirements. The Company has not stored, generated, disposed of or arranged for the disposal of, transported, handled, distributed, released, or exposed any Person to, any Hazardous Materials, or owned or operated any property or facility contaminated by any Hazardous Materials, in each case so as to create any Liability for the Company under any Environmental Law.

3.16 Stores; Vendors.

(a) Stores. The Company owns and operates 314 Stores as of the Agreement Date and does not intend to close any such Stores. Schedule 3.16(a)(i) of the Disclosure Schedules lists the address of the location, the applicable Franchise Agreement, and the applicable brand for each of the Stores. Schedule 3.16(a)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true, correct, and complete list of the 50 largest Stores (measured by dollar amount of revenues recognized by the Company from such Stores), including the address and the aggregate dollar amount of such revenue recognized by each such Store for each of the following time periods: (A) the 12-month period ended December 31, 2023 and (B) the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024 (collectively, the “Significant Stores”).

(b) Vendors. The Company has no outstanding material disputes concerning products and/or services provided by any supplier who either, in the 12 months ended December 31, 2023, was one of the 10 largest suppliers of products and/or services to or partner of the Company, based on amounts paid or payable with respect to such periods, but excluding providers of employee benefit plans, insurance companies, utility providers and similar providers whose products or services don’t directly relate to the business operations of the Company (each, a “Significant Vendor”). There is no material dissatisfaction on the part of the Company with respect to any Significant Vendor and No Significant Vendor has notified the Company in writing that such Significant Vendor has any material dissatisfaction with respect to its relationship with the Company. Each Significant Vendor is listed on Schedule 3.16(b) of the Disclosure Schedules. The Company has not received any written notice from any Significant Vendor that such Significant Vendor intends to terminate or materially modify existing Contracts with the Company (or Buyer). The Company has access, on commercially reasonable terms, to all products and services reasonably necessary to carry on its business and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no reason why the Company will not continue to have such access on commercially reasonable terms.

 

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3.17 Interested Party Transactions.

(a) No Seller, officer, director, manager or Employee of the Company, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any immediate family member of any of such Persons, or any trust, partnership or corporation in which any of such Persons has or has had an interest (each, an “Interested Party”), has or has had, directly or indirectly, (i) any interest in any entity which furnished or sold, or furnishes or sells, services, products, or technology that the Company furnishes or sells, or proposes to furnish or sell, (ii) any interest in any entity that purchases from or sells or furnishes to the Company any goods or services or (iii) any interest in, or is a party to, any Contract to which the Company is a party (except for any Contract relating to Employment, reimbursable expenses in the Ordinary Course of Business, any Employee Plan, or any other normal compensation or welfare benefits provided for services as an officer, director, manager or Employee); provided, that ownership of no more than 1% of the outstanding voting securities of a publicly traded entity shall not be deemed to be an “interest in any entity” for purposes of this Section 3.17. No Interested Party holds any Company Interests, the vesting of which shall accelerate upon the consummation of the Transactions.

(b) To the Company’s Knowledge, all transactions pursuant to which any Interested Party has purchased any material services or products from, or sold or furnished any material services or products to, the Company that were entered into within the last five years, have been on an arms’-length basis on terms no less favorable to the Company than would be available from an unaffiliated third party.

3.18 Books and Records. The Company has made available to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of (a) all documents identified on the Disclosure Schedules, and (b) the Organizational Documents, each as currently in effect. The minute books of the Company provided to Buyer contain a true, correct and complete summary of all meetings of directors of the Company and of the Sellers or actions by written consent since the time of incorporation of the Company through the Agreement Date, and reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes accurately in all material respects. The books, records and accounts of the Company (i) are true, correct and complete in all material respects, (ii) have been maintained in accordance with reasonable business practices on a basis consistent with prior years, (iii) are stated in reasonable detail and accurately and fairly reflect all of the transactions and dispositions of the assets and properties of the Company and (iv) accurately and fairly reflect the basis for the Financial Statements.

3.19 Transaction Fees. The Company has not incurred, and shall not incur, directly or indirectly, any Liability for brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions, fees related to investment banking or similar advisory services or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any of the Transactions, nor shall Buyer or any Seller incur, directly or indirectly, any such Liability based on arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.

3.20 Trade Control Laws. Neither the Company nor any officer, director, employee or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other Person acting on behalf of the Company (in each case, in their capacities as such or relating to their employment, services or relationship with the Company) has taken any action which would cause it to be in violation in any material respect of any applicable Trade Control Laws.

 

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3.21 Products Liability; Recalls. Section 3.21 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a description of all product warranties and guarantees given by the Company to any customer. Each of the products developed, sold or distributed by the Company (the “Products”) meets, and at all times has met, all standards for quality and workmanship prescribed by Law, industry standards, contractual agreements, or the product literature of the Company and has been labeled in accordance with all Laws. Other than service claims, no claims have been made under the product warranties or guarantees of the Company, and there have not been any mandatory or voluntary product recalls or withdrawals with respect to any Products. The Company does not have any Liability arising out of any injury to any Person or property as a result of the ownership, possession, or use of any Products or services sold, distributed, or delivered by the Company.

3.22 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Article III or in Article IV hereof (as modified by the Disclosure Schedules) and any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement, neither the Company, Holdco, nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, stockholders, partners, members, managers, accountants, legal counsel, agents or other Representatives (or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing) or any other Person on behalf of any of the foregoing has made or makes any other express or implied representation or warranty, either written or oral, with respect to the Company, Holdco or the Transactions. The Company and Holdco disclaims any and all other representations and warranties, written or oral, whether express or implied.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS

Subject to the disclosures set forth in the Disclosure Schedules (each of which disclosures, in order to be effective, shall clearly indicate the Section and, if applicable, the Subsection of this Article IV to which it relates (unless the relevance to other representations and warranties or other Disclosure Schedules is readily apparent from the actual text of the disclosures without any reference to extrinsic documentation or any independent knowledge on the part of the reader regarding the matter disclosed and in which case, such disclosures shall also be deemed to have been disclosed on each other item or section of the Disclosure Schedules, or deemed an exception to any other representation and warranty hereunder, as applicable)), each Seller hereby represents and warrants to Buyer, on behalf of such Seller only, as follows:

4.1 Authority and Enforceability.

(a) Such Seller has all requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and any Related Agreement to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and any Related Agreement to which such Seller is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transactions, have been duly authorized by all necessary trust action on the part of such Person and no further trust action is required on the part of such Person to authorize this Agreement and any Related Agreements to which such Person is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transactions. This Agreement and each of the Related Agreements to which such Seller is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Person and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitute, or shall constitute when executed and delivered, the valid and binding obligations of such Person enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

(b) No consent, approval, Order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Entity or any other Person is required by or with respect to such Seller in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, except for (i) as may be required under antitrust Laws and (ii) such consents, approvals, Orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, filings and notices that, if not obtained or made, would not adversely affect, and would not reasonably be expected to adversely affect, such Seller’s ability to perform or comply with the covenants, agreements or obligations of such Seller herein or to consummate the Transactions in accordance with this Agreement and applicable Law.

 

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4.2 No Conflict. The execution and delivery by such Seller of this Agreement and any Related Agreement to which such Seller is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transactions, shall not (a) conflict with or result in any violation of or default under (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) or give rise to, any payment obligation, or a right of termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any material benefit under, or require any consent, approval or waiver from any Person pursuant to, (i) any provision of the Organizational Documents of such Seller, if not an individual, (ii) any Contract to which such Seller is a party, or (iii) any Law or Order applicable to such Seller or any of his, her or its properties or assets (whether tangible or intangible), except, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii), as would not reasonably be expected to adversely affect such Seller’s ability to perform or comply with the covenants, agreements or obligations of such Seller herein or to consummate the Transactions in accordance with this Agreement and applicable Law, or (b) result in the creation of any Encumbrance on such Seller’s Company Interests.

4.3 Litigation. There is no Order of any nature pending, or, to the knowledge of such Seller, threatened, against such Seller, or any of his, her or its properties or assets (tangible or intangible) or any of the trustees of such Seller, if not an individual, that seeks to restrain, prevent, enjoin or materially delay the Transactions, nor to the knowledge of such Seller, are there any presently existing facts or events that would constitute a reasonable basis therefor.

4.4 Ownership of Company Interests; No Operations.

(a) Holdco is the record owner of 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests of the Company and such Holder is the beneficial owner of and has good and valid title to the interest in Holdco opposite such Holder’s name set forth on the Closing Spreadsheet, and as of the Closing the Company Interests will be free and clear of all Encumbrances other than (i) Encumbrances created by Buyer or any of Buyer’s Affiliates and (ii) Encumbrances imposed by securities Laws. Other than such Seller’s Company Interests, neither such Seller nor any of such Seller’s Affiliates (A) owns beneficially or of record any Company Interests or (B) has the power to vote or direct the vote of the Company Interests. Such Seller has voting power and power to agree to all of the matters set forth in this Agreement, with no restrictions on such Seller’s voting power pertaining thereto. Except for Holdco’s ownership of the Company, Holdco does not have, nor has ever had, any direct or indirect interest in any other Person and has not undertaken or engaged in any operations of any other Person. Except for Holdco’s units owned by the Holders, no other Person has any Equity Interest in Holdco or any right to acquire any Equity Interest in Holdco.

(b) Holdco was formed solely for the purpose of holding the Company Interests. Holdco does not engage in any business activities or operations and does not have any assets, liabilities or obligations other than as contemplated by this Agreement. Holdco is not a party to, or subject to, any Contracts other than its Organizational Documents, this Agreement, and any Related Agreements to which it is a party.

4.5 Transaction Fees. Such Seller has not incurred, and shall not incur, directly or indirectly, any Liability for brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions, fees related to investment banking or similar advisory services or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any of the Transactions, nor shall Buyer or the Company incur, directly or indirectly, any such Liability based on arrangements made by or on behalf of such Seller.

 

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4.6 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Article IV hereof (as modified by the Disclosure Schedules) and any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement, neither Holdco, the Holders nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, stockholders, partners, members, managers, accountants, legal counsel, agents or other Representatives (or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing) or any other Person on behalf of any of the foregoing has made or makes any other express or implied representation or warranty, either written or oral, with respect to Holdco, the Holders or the Transactions. The Sellers disclaim any and all other representations and warranties, written or oral, whether express or implied.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

Buyer hereby represents and warrants to the Company and Holdco as follows:

5.1 Organization and Standing. Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota.

5.2 Authority and Enforceability. Buyer has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and any Related Agreement to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transactions, have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of Buyer and no further action is required on the part of Buyer to authorize this Agreement and any Related Agreements to which Buyer is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transactions. This Agreement and each of the Related Agreements to which Buyer is a party have been duly executed and delivered by Buyer and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitute, or shall constitute when executed and delivered, the valid and binding obligations of Buyer enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, subject only to the effect, if any, of (i) applicable bankruptcy and other similar Law affecting the rights of creditors generally and (ii) rules of Law governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.

5.3 No Conflict. The execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement and any Related Agreement to which Buyer is a party do not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Transactions, will not, conflict with or result in any violation of or default under (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) or give rise to, any payment obligation, or a right of termination, cancellation, modification or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any material benefit under, or require any consent, approval or waiver from any Person pursuant to, any provision of the Organizational Documents of Buyer, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Buyer’s ability to consummate the Transactions or to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

5.4 Litigation. There is no Order of any nature pending, or, to the knowledge of Buyer, threatened, against Buyer, or any of its properties or assets (tangible or intangible), that seeks to restrain, prevent, enjoin or materially delay the Transactions.

5.5 Transaction Fees. Buyer has not incurred, and shall not incur, directly or indirectly, any Liability for brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions, fees related to investment banking or similar advisory services or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any of the Transactions, nor shall Holdco incur, directly or indirectly, any such Liability based on arrangements made by or on behalf of Buyer.

 

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5.6 Issuance of Stock Consideration; SEC Filings.

(a) The shares of Buyer Stock, when issued and delivered to each Stock Recipient at the Closing pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

(b) Buyer has filed all required forms, reports and documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission since June 30, 2023 (the “SEC Documents”), each of which complied at the time of filing in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in each case, as in effect on the dates such forms, reports and documents were filed. None of the SEC Documents contained, when filed, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated or incorporated by reference therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, except to the extent superseded by a SEC Document filed subsequently and prior to the date hereof.

5.7 No Other Representations; Buyer Acknowledgment.

(a) Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Article V, neither Buyer nor any of its directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, stockholders, partners, members, managers, accountants, legal counsel, agents or other Representatives (or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing) or any other Person on behalf of any of the foregoing has made or makes any other express or implied representation or warranty, either written or oral, with respect to Buyer or the Transactions. Buyer hereby disclaims any and all other representations and warranties, whether written or oral, whether express or implied.

(b) Buyer is entering into this Agreement and the Transactions solely based on its independent investigation and verification of the Company and the representations and warranties of the Company and the Sellers expressly and specifically set forth in Article III and Article IV. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Buyer understands that any cost estimates, projections or other predictions which have been provided to Buyer by or on behalf of the Company or Holdco are not and shall not be deemed to be representations or warranties of the Company or Holdco, except as otherwise provided or addressed in Article III and Article IV. Buyer acknowledges that (i) there are uncertainties inherent in attempting to make such estimates, projections and other predictions, (ii) Buyer is familiar with such uncertainties, (iii) other than as set forth in this Agreement, Buyer is making its own evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all estimates, projections and other predictions so furnished to it, and (iv) under no circumstances shall Buyer have any claim against the Sellers or any of their respective agents or Representatives with respect thereto, other than as set forth in this Agreement, the Support Agreement, or in the event of Fraud. Further, Buyer acknowledges and agrees that it is not relying upon, and will not rely upon, any representation or warranty of Holdco, its Non-Recourse Parties or its Affiliates, express or implied, as to: (i) the probable success or profitability of the Company, or (ii) any information, documents or materials made available to Buyer, whether orally or in writing, in any confidential information memoranda, “data rooms,” management presentations, due diligence discussions or in any other form distributed on behalf of the Sellers or their Representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Related Agreements, in each case, to the extent not expressly set forth in Article III and Article IV or in the Support Agreement or any Accredited Investor Questionnaire (the “Non-Reliance Materials”). Buyer acknowledges and agrees that it is not relying upon, and will not rely upon, any representations and warranties of the Sellers, their Non-Recourse Parties or their Affiliates other than as set forth in Article III and Article IV (each, as qualified by the Disclosure Schedules), the Support Agreement, and each Accredited Investor Questionnaire, and Buyer acknowledges that, except for the representations and warranties set forth in Article III and Article IV (each, as qualified by the Disclosure

 

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Schedules), the Support Agreement, each Accredited Investor Questionnaire, and in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto, (a) none of the Sellers or any of their respective Non-Recourse Parties makes or has made any representation or warranty, either express or implied, and (b) it has not been induced by or relied upon any representation, warranty or other statement, express or implied, made by Holdco or its Non-Recourse Parties or any other Person. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that, except as set forth in this Agreement, (A) any Non-Reliance Materials were provided to facilitate Buyer’s independent investigation of the Company, and (B) none of the Sellers, nor any of their Non-Recourse Parties, or any other Person will have or be subject to any liability to Buyer, its Representatives or any other Person resulting from the distribution to Buyer or its Representatives or their use of any Non-Reliance Materials other than in the case of Fraud. The Sellers and their Non-Recourse Parties shall be express third-party beneficiaries of this Section 5.6.

ARTICLE VI

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

6.1 Confidentiality; Public Disclosure.

(a) The parties hereto acknowledge that Buyer and the Company have previously executed that certain mutual confidentiality agreement dated August 23, 2024, by and between the Company and Buyer (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), which shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. Each party to this Agreement shall not at any time, and shall cause their respective Representatives not to, disclose any of the terms of this Agreement (including the economic terms) or any non-public information about a party hereto to any other Person without the prior written consent of the other party hereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, a party hereto shall be permitted to disclose any and all terms (i) to its financial, tax and legal advisors (each of whom is subject to a similar obligation of confidentiality), and (ii) to any Governmental Entity or administrative agency to the extent necessary or advisable in compliance with applicable Law and the rules of the primary exchange on which such party is then listed. Each Seller hereby agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality Agreement to the same extent as though it were a party thereto.

(b) The Sellers shall not, and each of the Sellers shall cause their respective Representatives not to, issue any press release or other public communications relating to the terms of this Agreement or the Transactions or use Buyer’s name or refer to Buyer directly or indirectly in connection with Buyer’s relationship with the Sellers in any media interview, advertisement, news release, press release or professional or trade publication, or in any print media, whether or not in response to an inquiry, without the prior written approval of Buyer, unless required by applicable Law (in which event a satisfactory opinion of counsel to that effect shall be first delivered to Buyer prior to any such disclosure). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Confidentiality Agreement, Buyer may be permitted to make such public communications regarding this Agreement or the Transactions as Buyer may determine is reasonable and appropriate to comply with applicable Laws or the requirements of any national securities exchange; provided that with respect to the initial press release announcing the Transactions, Buyer will provide Holdco the opportunity to review and comment on any such press release.

6.2 Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth herein, each of the Company, the Sellers, and Buyer shall bear its own, and its respective legal, auditors’, financial advisors’ and other representatives’ fees and other expenses incurred with respect to this Agreement and the Transactions.

 

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6.3 Tax Matters.

(a) Cooperation. The parties hereto shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by any of the others, in connection with the filing of Tax Returns and any Action with respect to Taxes and/or Tax Returns of or with respect to the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Tax Controversy). Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon request therefor) the provision of records and information reasonably relevant to any such Tax Return, Tax or Action and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder, in each case, to the requesting party or an advisor thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Buyer shall not be required to provide any Tax Returns (including any portion thereof) or any other information with respect to any of its Affiliates other than the Company, except to the extent such Tax Return (or portion thereof) or other information is with respect to the Company or to any Tax imposed on Holdco or any equity owner thereof or with respect to which Holdco is liable pursuant to this Agreement.

(b) Pre-Closing Tax Returns.

(i) Holdco, at Holdco’s cost and expense, shall prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, when due (taking into account all extensions properly obtained) all Tax Returns of the Company with respect to taxable periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date that are first required to be filed after the Closing Date. Such Tax Returns shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice of the Company, except as otherwise required by applicable Law (determined at a “more likely than not” (or higher) level of comfort). At least 30 calendar days (or, in the case of such Tax Returns (A) due within 30 calendar days after the Closing Date, or (B) required to be filed more frequently than annually, at least 10 calendar days) prior to filing such Tax Returns, Holdco shall submit a draft of such Tax Return to Buyer for Buyer’s review, comment and approval (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and Holdco shall, in good faith, consider any reasonable changes to such Tax Return as are requested by Buyer. If Holdco objects to any such changes requested by Buyer, Holdco shall inform Buyer of such objection in writing, and Holdco and Buyer shall cooperate in good faith to resolve any such disputed comment(s). If Holdco and Buyer are unable to resolve any such disputed comment(s) within five calendar days of Holdco having so informed Buyer of such objection (or such longer or shorter period as Holdco and Buyer may mutually agree), the disputed comment(s) (and only the disputed comment(s)) shall be submitted to the Accounting Firm for resolution in accordance with Section 1.3(d), mutatis mutandis; provided that the Accounting Firm shall be instructed to resolve such dispute in a manner consistent with the principles applicable under this Section 6.3(b)(i) regarding preparation. If any such disputed comment(s) are not resolved by the due date for filing such Seller Return (inclusive of extensions), such Tax Return shall be filed in a manner that reflects Buyer’s position on such item(s), subject to amendment of such Tax Return to reflect the resolution thereof. Holdco shall pay, or cause to be paid, all Taxes reflected as due on any Tax Returns prepared under this Section 6.3(b)(i) (except to the extent such Taxes are included in Indebtedness or Closing Working Capital) and, if Buyer is required to or does file such Tax Return, Holdco shall pay any such amounts to Buyer no later than three calendar days prior to the due date thereof.

(ii) Buyer shall prepare and timely file or cause to be prepared and timely filed (taking into account all extensions properly obtained) all Tax Returns of the Company for any and all Straddle Tax Periods (such Tax Returns, the “Buyer Prepared Returns”). Buyer shall, to the extent they relate to taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date, prepare Buyer Prepared Returns in a manner consistent with the past practice of the Company, to the extent consistent with applicable Law (determined at a “more likely than not” (or higher) level of comfort). At least 30 calendar days (or, in the case of Buyer Prepared Returns) (A) due within 30 after the Closing Date, or (B) required to be filed more frequently than annually, at least 10 calendar days prior to the due date for any Buyer Prepared Return that shows an amount of Pre-Closing Taxes for which Holdco will be liable under this Section 6.3(b)(ii), taking into account any extension, Buyer shall provide Holdco with a draft copy of such Buyer Prepared Return for review and

 

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comment; provided, that no delay or failure on the part of Buyer in delivering any such Buyer Prepared Return shall cause any Buyer Indemnified Party to forfeit any indemnification rights under Article VII except to the extent that the Holdco is materially prejudiced by such delay or failure. Buyer shall, in good faith, consider any reasonable changes to any Buyer Prepared Return suggested by Holdco within 15 calendar days (or, in the case of Buyer Prepared Returns (x) due within 30 calendar days after the Closing Date, or (y) filed more frequently than annually, within five calendar days) of Holdco having received such Buyer Prepared Return. No later than 5 Business Days prior to the date on which any Buyer Prepared Return is due (taking into account extensions), Holdco shall pay the amount of Pre-Closing Taxes reflected thereon (determined in accordance with Section 6.3(e)), except to the extent such Taxes are included in Indebtedness or Closing Working Capital.

(iii) Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Buyer shall control the preparation and filing of all Tax Returns of the Company that do not include a Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Tax Period.

(iv) From and after the Closing, unless required by applicable Law, Buyer shall not (and shall not cause nor an Affiliate of Buyer (including the Company after the Closing) to) (i) file any amended Tax Return for the Company for a Pre-Closing Tax Period, (ii) extend or waive, or cause to be extended or waived, any statute of limitations or other period for the assessment of any Tax or Tax deficiency of the Company for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date, or (iii) initiate or enter into any voluntary disclosure agreement (or engage in a similar process) with a Governmental Entity regarding any Taxes of the Company for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date, in each such case without the prior written consent of Holdco (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned).

(c) Tax Controversies. Each of Buyer, on one hand, and Holdco, on the other hand, shall promptly notify the others in writing upon receipt (including receipt by Affiliates of Buyer or Holdco) of any written notice of any Action relating to any Taxes or Tax Returns of the Company with respect to any Pre-Closing Tax Period or any Straddle Tax Period (each, a “Tax Controversy”); provided that failure to comply with this provision shall not affect Buyer’s right to indemnification under this Agreement except and only to the extent that such failure has a materially prejudicial effect on Holdco with respect to such Tax Controversy. Buyer shall control the contest or resolution of any Tax Controversy with respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period or any Straddle Tax Period and, in connection therewith, shall have the right to employ counsel and advisors of Buyer’s choice; provided, however, that with respect to any Tax Controversy involving the Specified Matter, Buyer will employ the professionals at Plante Moran that the Company previously engaged with respect to the preparation and submission of claims for employee retention credits or such other professionals that are reasonably acceptable to Holdco; and provided further, that (i) any and all costs and expenses incurred by Buyer and the Company related to any Tax Controversy shall, to the extent it relates to Pre-Closing Tax Periods, be borne by Holdco, (ii) Holdco and its representatives shall be permitted, at Holdco’s expense, to participate in but not control, the portion of any Tax Controversy that relates to a Pre-Closing Tax Period, and (iii) neither Buyer nor the Company shall be entitled to settle, either administratively or after the commencement of litigation, or cease to defend any such Tax Controversy that relates to Pre-Closing Taxes without the prior written consent of Holdco (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed). Notwithstanding any provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, (x) the Buyer shall solely control all aspects of and decisions related to any and all Actions with respect to Taxes and Tax Returns of the Company that do not relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period or Straddle Tax Period, (y) the parties hereto agree that Buyer shall be permitted (and Holdco shall cooperate with Buyer’s efforts) to make an election under Section 6226 of the Code (and any comparable election under similar or corresponding provisions of state or local Law) with respect to any Tax Controversies to which the Partnership Audit Procedures apply, and (z) to the extent that a provision of this Section 6.3(c) conflicts with any provision of Section 7.5, this Section 6.3(c) shall govern. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6.3(c) shall not apply to any Action relating to a Tax Return of Holdco.

 

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(d) Transfer Taxes. All transfer, sales, use, stamp, conveyance, real property transfer, recording, registration, documentary, filing and other non-income Taxes and administrative fees (including, without limitation, notary fees) arising in connection with the consummation of the Transactions (“Transfer Taxes”) shall be borne 50% by Holdco and 50% by Buyer. The party responsible by applicable Law for filing any Tax Return relating to Transfer Taxes shall be responsible for filing such Tax Return and the other party shall cooperate with the filing party in the filing of any such Tax Returns with respect to Transfer Taxes, including promptly supplying any information in its possession that is reasonably necessary to complete such Tax Returns.

(e) Straddle Tax Period. For purposes of this Agreement, in the case of Taxes that are payable with respect to a Straddle Tax Period, the portion of such Taxes that will be deemed attributable to the Pre-Closing Tax Period shall (i) in the case of real property Tax, personal property Tax, or other ad valorem Tax, be deemed to be the amount of such Tax for the entire taxable period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in the taxable period ending on and including the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the total number of calendar days in such Straddle Tax Period; and (ii) in the case of any other Tax, be determined based on an interim closing of the books of the Company as of the end of the Closing Date.

(f) Termination of Certain Existing Agreements. Any and all existing Tax sharing or indemnity Contracts and agreements (whether written or not) binding upon the Company, on the one hand, and Holdco or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, shall be terminated as of the Closing Date. After such date, none of the Company, Holdco, or any of Holdco’s Affiliates shall have any further rights or liabilities thereunder.

(g) Intended Tax Treatment; Purchase Price Allocation. Buyer and Holdco intend and agree that the transfer and sale of the Acquired Interests by Holdco to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement in exchange for the Total Consideration (including the Stock Consideration) shall, for U.S. federal income, and applicable state and local, Tax purposes (including for purposes of Sections 1001 and 1012(a) of the Code) be treated as a taxable sale by Holdco of the assets of the Company in exchange for the Total Consideration (together with assumed liabilities and other amounts treated as purchase price for applicable Tax purposes) (the “Intended Tax Treatment”). Buyer and Holdco shall allocate the Total Consideration (together with other items properly treated as purchase price for U.S. federal income (and applicable state and local) Tax purposes) among the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 1060 of the Code (and corresponding provisions of state and local applicable Law) and the principles set forth on Schedule 6.3. Buyer shall deliver a proposed allocation (“Allocation”) in accordance with the foregoing sentence to Holdco within 90 calendar days following the finalization of the Final Cash Consideration pursuant to Section 1.3. If Holdco disputes any item in the Allocation, it shall notify Buyer within 15 calendar days of receipt of the Allocation. If Buyer and Holdco cannot resolve such dispute within 20 days (or such extended period as they may agree), such dispute shall be submitted to the Accounting Firm for resolution in accordance with Section 1.3(d), mutatis mutandis; provided that the Accounting Firm shall be instructed to resolve such dispute in a manner consistent with Schedule 6.3. Following resolution of any such dispute (or the expiration of the aforementioned 15-day period), Buyer shall provide to Holdco a final Allocation reflecting any agreed changes or the Accounting Firm’s determination. The Allocation provided by Buyer pursuant hereto (subject to any modifications made under the preceding sentence) shall be final, and none of Buyer, Holdco, or any of their respective Affiliates, shall take any position (whether in financial statements, audits, Actions, Tax Returns or otherwise) that is inconsistent with the Intended Tax Treatment or the Allocation unless otherwise required by applicable Law. Any adjustments to the Total Consideration, and any amounts treated as purchase price for applicable Tax purposes (including any Earnout Payments) shall be treated in a manner consistent with the Allocation (and the parties shall notify each other and cooperate in reflecting such adjustment).

 

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(h) Treatment of Deferred Revenue Liability. The parties hereto agree that for U.S. federal income (and applicable state and local) Tax purposes, Buyer will not be deemed to receive a payment from Holdco in exchange for assuming any deferred revenue (as adjusted for income Tax purposes) of the Company. Each of the parties hereto shall report the transactions consistent with this Section 6.3(h) and shall not take any position, whether on a Tax Return or in a Tax proceeding, inconsistent with this Section 6.3(h), except as otherwise required by applicable Law.

6.4 Director, Manager, and Officer Indemnification.

(a) From and after the Closing, and until the sixth anniversary of the Closing, Buyer shall cause the Company to fulfill and honor in all respects the obligations of the Company to Persons who on or prior to the Closing are or were directors, managers and/or officers of the Company (the “Company Indemnified Parties”) pursuant to any indemnification provisions under the Organizational Documents and pursuant to any indemnification agreements between the Company and such Company Indemnified Parties that are listed on Schedule 6.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedules (the “D&O Indemnifiable Matters”); provided, however, that (i) the foregoing obligations shall be subject to any limitation imposed by applicable Laws, and (ii) no Company Indemnified Party shall have any right of contribution, indemnification or right of advancement from Buyer, Company, or their respective successors with respect to any Losses claimed by any of the Buyer Indemnified Parties against such Company Indemnified Party in his or her or its capacity as a Seller pursuant to this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of Buyer and the Company or their respective successors in respect of the D&O Indemnifiable Matters (i) shall be subject to any limitation imposed by applicable Law, the terms of the Organizational Documents or the terms of the applicable indemnification agreement and (ii) shall not be deemed to release any Company Indemnified Party who is also an officer, manager or director of the Company from his or her obligations pursuant to this Agreement or any Related Agreement.

(b) The Company has purchased and paid for an extended reporting period endorsement under the Company’s existing managers’, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage in a form reasonably acceptable to Buyer that shall provide the Company Indemnified Parties with coverage for six years following the Closing of not less than the existing coverage and have other terms not materially less favorable to the insured persons than the Company’s managers’, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage presently maintained by the Company (the “D&O Tail Policy”). Buyer shall not, and shall cause the Company to not, take any action to eliminate such D&O Tail Policy. The cost of any D&O Tail Policy shall be considered a Third-Party Expense for purposes of this Agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the obligations under this Section 6.4 shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any Company Indemnified Party to whom this Section 6.4 applies without the consent of such affected Company Indemnified Party, it being understood and agreed that the Company Indemnified Parties are intended to be express third party beneficiaries of this Agreement.

 

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6.5 Seller Release.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and, effective as of the Closing, each Seller on behalf of itself and each of its agents, trustees, beneficiaries, Affiliates, heirs, successors, assigns, members and partners (collectively, the “Seller Releasing Parties”), hereby fully, irrevocably and unconditionally waives, releases, acquits and forever discharges, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, Buyer, the Company and each current, former and future holders of any equity, voting, partnership, limited liability company or other interest in, and each director, officer, manager, employee, member, partner, agent, attorney, representative, affiliate, heir, assignee or successor of the Company, Buyer or any Affiliate thereof (in their capacity as such) (collectively, the “Buyer Released Parties”) from any and all claims, demands, damages, legal proceedings, causes of action, rights, costs, losses, expenses, compensation or suits in equity, of whatsoever kind or nature, in contract or in tort, at law or in equity (collectively, “Claims”), that any Seller Releasing Party has or might have in each case arising out of anything done, omitted, suffered or to be done by any Released Party, in each case, whether heretofore accrued and whether foreseen or unforeseen or known or unknown, relating to any matter, claim or right arising at any time on or prior to the Closing (collectively, the “Seller Released Claims”); provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Seller Released Claims shall not include any Claims under this Agreement, the Related Agreements, the Transactions or any Stock Recipient’s ownership of Buyer Stock, if applicable (the “Excluded Claims”). Each of the Buyer Released Parties shall be an intended third party beneficiary of this Section 6.5 and is entitled to directly enforce the releases contained in this Section 6.5.

(b) Each Seller hereby covenants not to, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, sue the Buyer Released Parties with respect to any of the Seller Released Claims or to initiate or voluntarily participate in any administrative or arbitral proceeding against the Buyer Released Parties with respect to any Seller Released Claims; provided, that such Seller shall not be restricted from bringing Claims arising under or out of the Excluded Claims.

(c) Each such Seller understands that the release set forth in this Section 6.5 is a full and final general release of all Seller Released Claims, that could have been asserted in any legal or equitable proceeding against the Buyer Released Parties.

(d) Each such Seller acknowledges that it has the right to review or has reviewed this Agreement with its legal counsel, and such party understands and acknowledges the significance and consequences of this Agreement and, in particular, of the waiver provided in this Section 6.5.

6.6 Buyer Release.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement and, effective as of the Closing, Buyer on behalf of itself and each of its agents, beneficiaries, Affiliates, successors, assigns, members and partners (collectively, the “Buyer Releasing Parties”), hereby fully, irrevocably and unconditionally waives, releases, acquits and forever discharges, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, Holdco, the Holders, and each current, former and future holders of any equity, voting, partnership, limited liability company or other interest in, and each director, officer, manager, employee, member, partner, agent, attorney, representative, affiliate, heir, assignee or successor of Holdco or the Holders or any Affiliate thereof (in their capacity as such), and each current and former holders of any equity, voting, partnership, limited liability company or other interest in, and each past and present Representative of Holdco or the Holders (collectively, the “Seller Released Parties”) from any and all Claims that any Buyer Releasing Party has or might have in each case, whether accrued and whether foreseen or unforeseen or known or unknown, relating to any matter, claim or right arising at any time on or prior to the Closing (collectively, the “Buyer Released Claims”); provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Buyer Released Claims shall not include any Claims under the Excluded Claims, if applicable. Each of the Seller Released Parties shall be an intended third party beneficiary of this Section 6.6 and is entitled to directly enforce the releases contained in this Section 6.6.

(b) Buyer hereby covenants not to, and cause its Affiliates not to, sue the Seller Released Parties with respect to any of the Buyer Released Claims or to initiate or voluntarily participate in any administrative or arbitral proceeding against the Seller Released Parties with respect to any Buyer Released Claims; provided, that Buyer shall not be restricted from bringing Claims arising under or out of the Excluded Claims.

 

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(c) Buyer understands that the release set forth in this Section 6.6 is a full and final general release of all Buyer Released Claims, that could have been asserted in any legal or equitable proceeding against the Seller Released Parties.

(d) Buyer acknowledges that it has the right to review or has reviewed this Agreement with its legal counsel, and such party understands and acknowledges the significance and consequences of this Agreement and, in particular, of the waiver provided in this Section 6.6.

6.7 No Dissolution. From the Closing until the day following the date that Buyer is required to pay Holdco the Earnout Payment for the Third Earnout Period (or, if applicable, such time when it is determined no such payment is owed), Holdco shall not adopt or complete any partial or complete liquidation or dissolution.

6.8 Legend Removal. Promptly after the one year anniversary of the date hereof (and in no event later than the fifth Business Day following the one year anniversary of the date hereof), Buyer will remove any restrictive legends on the book-entry positions and shall instruct its transfer agent to remove such legend from the applicable book-entry position. Any fees or expenses incurred by Buyer (with respect to Buyer’s transfer agent or outside counsel) associated with the removal of such legends shall be borne by Buyer.

6.9 RWI Policy. The aggregate cost of the premium, underwriting fees, surplus lines, Taxes and fees and any other expenses charged by an insurer or insurance broker for the RWI Policy have been or shall be paid one-half by Buyer and one-half by Holdco. Buyer shall cause the R&W Policy to expressly provide that the insurer writing such policy shall only be entitled to subrogate against the Sellers (or any of the Seller’s direct or indirect shareholders or members, equityholders, directors, officers, managers, partners, employees, Representatives or other Affiliates), in connection with this Agreement, in instances of Fraud by the Sellers. Buyer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Affiliates to, amend any provision of the RWI Policy that grants or limits any right of subrogation against the Sellers (or any Seller’s direct or indirect shareholders or members, equityholders, directors, officers, managers, partners, employees, Representatives or other Affiliates). Following the Closing, each Seller shall provide reasonable cooperation to Buyer, the applicable insurance provider, and the Company in connection with pursuing claims under the RWI Policy if reasonably requested by Buyer or the applicable insurance provider, in each case, at Buyer’s sole cost and expense.

6.10 Preservation of Records; Access to Employees.

(a) For a period of not less than six years from and after the Closing, (the “Preservation Period”), Holdco and Buyer shall preserve and keep the records held by them or their Affiliates (including the Company) relating to the business of the Company relating to any period prior to the Closing and shall, upon reasonable notice, make such records and personnel available to the other parties as may be reasonably required by any such party in connection with (i) any insurance claims by, legal proceedings or Tax audits against or governmental investigations of Holdco or Buyer or any of their respective Affiliates, any evaluation of any claim for indemnification hereunder or in order to enable Holdco or Buyer to comply with their respective obligations under this Agreement and each other agreement, document or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) the preparation of any Tax Return or the examination by any Tax Authority or other action relating to any Tax Return of such party, or (iii) the preparation of financial reports. Holdco may request, no later than 15 Business Days prior to the end of the Preservation Period, at Holdco’s expense, to obtain any such items prior to their disposal by the other party, and the other party shall comply with such request to the extent permitted to do so by applicable Law or Order, or by a contractual obligation.

 

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(b) Notwithstanding the forgoing, any Party (a “Destroying Party”) may destroy, discard or transfer (or cause to be destroyed, discarded or transferred) any information, documents, files or other materials (including Tax Returns) at any time in their sole an absolute discretion; provided, that prior to such destruction, discarding or transfer, the Destroying Party shall first give the other party reasonable written notice prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any such materials and, if such other party so requests within 15 Business Days after receipt of such notice from such Destroying Party, shall allow such other party to take possession of such materials.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 6.10 to the contrary, no such access shall be permitted or provision of documentation shall be required to the extent that it would require any party to disclose information subject to attorney-client privilege, violate any Law, or conflict with any confidentiality obligations to which the Company is bound; provided, that the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such information in a manner that does not violate any such Law, confidentiality obligations or privilege.

6.11 Employee Benefit Arrangements.

(a) Buyer shall be liable for complying with the requirements of WARN should Buyer, directly or indirectly, effectuate a “mass layoff” as that term is defined in WARN, or comparable conduct under any applicable state Law, affecting in whole or in part any facility, site of employment, operating unit or employee of the Company without complying fully with the requirements of WARN or such applicable state Law after the Closing Date.

(b) With respect to all Employees who were employed by the Company immediately preceding the Closing (the “Company Employees”) and for the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending December 31, 2025, Buyer shall provide (i) compensation programs (excluding any equity-based plans and programs) for the Company Employees that are comparable in the aggregate to the compensation programs (excluding any equity-based compensation) provided before the Closing, and (ii) other benefit plans or programs that are comparable in the aggregate to similarly situated employees of the Buyer. Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide that such employee benefit and compensation plans and programs (i) provide a continuation of benefits under any Employee flexible spending accounts through December 31, 2024, and (ii) count employment with the Company prior to the Closing as service for purposes of eligibility and vesting, and solely for paid time off or severance purposes, for the accrual of benefits.

(c) This Section 6.11 shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each of the parties to this Agreement, and nothing in this Section 6.11, express or implied, shall confer upon any other person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Section 6.11. Nothing contained herein, express or implied, shall be construed to establish, amend or modify any benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement of the Company, Buyer or any of their respective Affiliates.

6.12 Form 8-K. At Buyer’s expense, Holdco will and will cause its Affiliates to cooperate and use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Buyer in connection with the preparation and filing by Buyer of a current report on Form 8-K, which Form 8-K will include pro forma financial statements prepared by Buyer with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including as contemplated by Article 11 of Regulation S-X) and historical financial statements of the Business as contemplated by Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X. In furtherance and not in limitation thereof, at Buyer’s expense, Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Buyer in causing and enabling an auditor selected by Buyer to prepare and issue an audit opinion with respect to any financial statements required to be so audited and provide to Buyer (and not withdraw) its consent to the filing of such audited financial statements, including their incorporation by reference into the registration statements filed by Buyer under the Securities Act of its audit reports with respect to the financial statements of the Business.

 

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ARTICLE VII

POST-CLOSING INDEMNIFICATION

7.1 Survival Periods.

(a) Company and Sellers. The representations and warranties of the Company and the Sellers set forth in this Agreement or in the Related Agreements shall survive until 11:59 p.m. (Central time) on the date that is 12 months following the Closing Date; provided, however, that (i) the Fundamental Representations shall survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect until 11:59 p.m. (Central time) on the date that is six years following the Closing Date, and (ii) the Tax Representations shall survive the Closing and shall continue in full force and effect until 11:59 p.m. (Central time) on the date that is 60 calendar days after the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to the subject matter of such representations or warranties and not general breach of contract claims; provided, however, that in each case, in the event of Fraud, such representation or warranty shall survive indefinitely following the Closing Date; provided, further, that with respect to any inaccuracy or breach of any representation or warranty of the Company or a Seller, as applicable, with respect which an Indemnification Claim Notice is provided hereunder prior to the Expiration Date, such representation or warranty shall survive as to such claim until such claim has been fully and finally resolved. All covenants of the Sellers shall survive in accordance with their terms, and if no term is specified, until performance thereof has been completed; provided that the covenants of Holdco set forth in Section 6.3 and the indemnification for Pre-Closing Taxes set forth in Section 7.2(a)(iv) shall continue in full force and effect until 11:59 p.m. (Central time) on the date that is 60 calendar days after the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to the subject matter of such covenants and not general breach of contract claims.

(b) Buyer. The representations and warranties of Buyer set forth in this Agreement shall survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect until 11:59 p.m. (Central time) on the date that is six years following the Closing Date; provided, however, that in each case, in the event of a claim for Fraud, such representation or warranty shall survive indefinitely following the Closing Date; provided, further, that with respect to any inaccuracy or breach of any representation or warranty of the Buyer with respect which a claim is made hereunder prior to the Expiration Date, such representation or warranty shall survive as to such claim until such claim has been fully and finally resolved. All covenants of Buyer and the Company hereunder survive in accordance with their terms, and if no term is specified until performance thereof has been completed; provided that the covenants of Buyer and the Company set forth in Section 6.3 shall continue in full force and effect until 11:59 p.m. (Central time) on the date that is 60 calendar days after the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to the subject matter of such covenants and not general breach of contract claims.

(c) The date on which a representation or warranty expires is referred to as the “Expiration Date.” For the avoidance of doubt, it is the intention of the parties hereto that the foregoing respective survival periods and termination dates supersede any applicable statutes of limitations that would otherwise apply to such representations and warranties under applicable Law, and each of the Sellers and Buyer hereby respectively waive any defenses based on the statute of limitations to the extent inconsistent with the survival periods set forth in this Agreement. The expiration of any representation and warranty of the Company or the Sellers shall not affect any indemnification claim for breaches of representations or warranties of the Company or the Sellers with respect to the matters set forth in a corresponding written Indemnification Claim Notice if a written Indemnification Claim Notice with respect to such indemnification claim is delivered in accordance with Section 7.4 below prior to the Expiration Date of such representation and warranty. For clarity, no Claim shall be made with respect to any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement after the expiration of the applicable survival period prescribed for such representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this Section 7.1.

 

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7.2 Indemnification.

(a) Subject to the other terms, conditions and limitations set forth in this Article VII, from and after the Closing, the Sellers shall, jointly and severally as between Holdco and the Holders, and severally (but not jointly) as between the Holders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Portion, indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and its directors, officers, employees, Affiliates (including the Company), agents and other Representatives (the “Buyer Indemnified Parties”), from and against all Losses paid, incurred, suffered or sustained by the Buyer Indemnified Parties, or any of them (regardless of whether or not such Losses relate to any third party claims), resulting from or arising out of any of the following:

(i) any breach of, or inaccuracy in, or failure to be true, as of the date of the Closing (except in the case of representations and warranties which by their terms speak only as of a specific date or dates, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct on and as of such specified date or dates), a representation or warranty of the Company or Holdco (other than the Fundamental Representations or Tax Representations) contained in this Agreement;

(ii) any breach of, or inaccuracy in, or failure to be true, as of the date of the Closing (except in the case of representations and warranties which by their terms speak only as of a specific date or dates, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct on and as of such specified date or dates), any (A) Company Fundamental Representation or (B) Tax Representation of the Company or Holdco contained in this Agreement;

(iii) any failure by Holdco to perform or comply with any of its covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement;

(iv) regardless of the disclosure of any matter set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, any and all Pre-Closing Taxes;

(v) regardless of the disclosure of any matter set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, any inaccuracy in the Pro Rata Portions set forth in the Closing Spreadsheet or the pro rata portions set forth in the Support Agreement;

(vi) any Fraud in connection with making the representations and warranties of the Company or Holdco set forth in Article III and Article IV; and

(vii) the Specified Matter.

(b) Subject to the other terms, conditions and limitations set forth in this Article VII, from and after the Closing, each Holder shall severally, indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer Indemnified Parties from and against all Losses paid, incurred, suffered or sustained by the Buyer Indemnified Parties, or any of them, resulting from or arising out of any of the following:

(i) any breach of, or inaccuracy in, or failure to be true, as of the date of this Agreement or as of the Closing as if made as of the Closing (except in the case of representations and warranties which by their terms speak only as of a specific date or dates, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct on and as of such specified date or dates), a representation or warranty of such Holder contained in Article IV of this Agreement; and

 

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(ii) any failure by such Holder to perform or comply with any covenant or agreement applicable to such Holder contained in this Agreement or the Related Agreements to which such Holder is a party; and

(iii) any Fraud committed by such Holder in connection with a breach of the representations and warranties set forth in Article IV of this Agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all materiality qualifications (such as “material” and “Company Material Adverse Effect”) included in the representations and warranties in this Agreement shall be disregarded for purposes of this Article VII, including in connection with determining whether there has been any failure of a representation or warranty to be true and correct and the amount of any Losses incurred; provided, however, that, in no event shall (i) “Material Contract” be read to mean “Contract” or (ii) the term “Company Material Adverse Effect” be read out of Section 3.6(g)(i). Nothing in this Agreement shall limit the right of any party to this Agreement or any Buyer Indemnified Party to pursue remedies under any Related Agreement against the parties thereto.

(d) If there is any claim for indemnification under Section 7.2(a)(iv) that could also be asserted as a claim for indemnification under another subclause of this Section 7.2(a), then such claim shall be deemed to arise only under Section 7.2(a)(iv).

(e) To the extent permitted by Law, for applicable Tax purposes all payments under this Article VII shall be treated as adjustments to the Total Consideration, as finally determined.

7.3 Limitations on Indemnification.

(a) Notwithstanding other provisions of this Article VII, except in the case of Fraud, the Buyer Indemnified Parties, as a group, may not recover any Losses pursuant to an indemnification claim under Section 7.2(a)(i) unless and until the Buyer Indemnified Parties, as a group, shall have paid, incurred, suffered or sustained at least $55,000 in Losses in the aggregate (the “Deductible Amount”), in which case the Buyer Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to recover only those Losses in excess of the Deductible Amount.

(b) Subject to Section 7.3(c), and except in the case of Fraud, the Sellers’ liability for indemnification claims under Section 7.2(a)(i) shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the Indemnity Escrow Amount.

(c) Subject to the other provisions and limitations in this Article VII, any Losses with respect to the following indemnification claims of the Buyer Indemnified Parties shall be satisfied as follows:

(i) With respect to Losses for claims under Section 7.2(a)(i), (A) first, by recovery from the Indemnity Escrow Amount; (B) second, to the extent coverage is available, by the use of commercially reasonable efforts to seek recovery from the RWI Policy; and (C) third, to the extent that recovery from the RWI Policy is not available due to lack of availability or depletion of coverage solely as a result of payments made for Losses pursuant to Section 7.2(a)(ii)(B), Section 7.2(a)(iv), or Section 7.2(a)(vi), by recovery directly against Holdco or the Holders (jointly and severally as between Holdco and the Holders, and severally (but not jointly) as between the Holders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Portion).

 

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(ii) With respect to Losses for claims under Section 7.2(a)(ii), Section 7.2(a)(iv), Section 7.2(a)(vi), Section 7.2(b)(i) and Section 7.2(b)(iii), (A) first, by recovery from the Indemnity Escrow Amount; (B) second, to the extent coverage is available, by the use of commercially reasonable efforts to seek recovery from the RWI Policy; and (C) third, (1) with respect to claims under Section 7.2(a)(ii), Section 7.2(a)(iv) and Section 7.2(a)(vi) by recovery directly against Holdco or the Holders (jointly and severally as between Holdco and the Holders, and severally (but not jointly) as between the Holders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Portion; and for the avoidance of doubt, there shall not be any requirement that the Buyer Indemnified Parties first seek indemnification from Holdco prior to proceeding with an indemnification claim against the Holders) and (2) with respect to claims under Section 7.2(b)(i) and Section 7.2(b)(iii) directly against the applicable Holder; provided, however, that in no event shall the liability of (A) Holdco for any such Losses exceed the amount of Total Consideration received by Holdco (including from the Escrow Amounts and any Post-Closing Consideration in each case, prior to the withholding of Taxes) or (B) any Holder for any such Losses exceed the amount of Total Consideration received by such Holder (including any funds from the Escrow Amounts and any Post-Closing Consideration, in each case, prior to the withholding of Taxes), which such Total Consideration amounts shall not be double counted; provided, if such Losses are in respect of Fraud, there shall be no limitation on the liability hereunder of any Holder who committed such Fraud.

(iii) With respect to Losses for claims under Section 7.2(a)(iii) or Section 7.2(a)(v), directly against Holdco or the Holders (jointly and severally as between Holdco and the Holders, and severally (but not jointly) as between the Holders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Portion; and for the avoidance of doubt, there shall not be any requirement that the Buyer Indemnified Parties first seek indemnification from Holdco prior to proceeding with an indemnification claim against the Holders); provided, however, that in no event shall the liability of (A) Holdco for any such Losses exceed the amount of Total Consideration received by Holdco (including from the Escrow Amounts and any Post-Closing Consideration in each case, prior to the withholding of Taxes) or (B) any Holder for any such Losses exceed the amount of Total Consideration received by such Holder (including any funds from the Escrow Amounts and any Post-Closing Consideration, in each case, prior to the withholding of Taxes).

(iv) With respect to Losses for claims under Section 7.2(a)(vii), directly against Holdco or the Holders (jointly and severally as between Holdco and the Holders, and severally (but not jointly) as between the Holders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Portion, provided that there shall be no limitation on liability hereunder of Holdco or any Holder with respect to such Losses; and for the avoidance of doubt, there shall not be any requirement that the Buyer Indemnified Parties first seek indemnification from Holdco prior to proceeding with an indemnification claim against the Holders).

(v) With respect to Losses for claims under Section 7.2(b)(ii), directly against the applicable Holder, in which case the liability of Holder shall be limited to the amount of Total Consideration received by such Holder (including from the Escrow Amounts and any Post-Closing Consideration in each case, prior to the withholding of Taxes), which such Total Consideration amounts shall not be double counted.

(d) Each Seller acknowledges and agrees that with respect to any Losses determined to be payable pursuant to this Article VII that Buyer has the right to recover directly from Holdco pursuant to the foregoing provisions, Buyer may elect to recover such Losses by offsetting such Losses against any Earnout Payment that becomes payable to Holdco pursuant to Section 1.4 rather than recovering directly from Holdco, subject to the limitations set forth in this Article VII.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Article VII will in any way inhibit the Buyer Indemnified Parties from obtaining any remedies such Buyer Indemnified Parties may have under the RWI Policy.

 

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(f) For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to attempt to seek recovery under the RWI Policy is not a precondition to the submission of an Indemnification Claim Notice.

(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, no party shall, in any event, be liable to any other Person for any punitive damages, except to the extent recovered by, paid or payable to a third party in connection with a Third Party Claim. Nothing in this Agreement shall in any way restrict or limit the general obligation at Law (including under Delaware common law) of a Buyer Indemnified Party or a Holdco Indemnified Party to mitigate any Loss it may suffer or incur by reason of a breach of any representation, warranty or covenant set forth in this Agreement. Any liability for indemnification under this Article VII shall be determined without duplication of recovery. Payments by an Indemnified Party in respect of any Loss shall be reduced by any amounts actually received from any insurance policy or third parties (net of all reasonable costs and expenses of recovery) by an Indemnified Party in respect of such claim.

(h) Buyer acknowledges and agrees that the sole and exclusive remedy for the Buyer Indemnified Parties with respect to any and all claims for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein, for any of the other matters set forth in Section 7.2 or otherwise resulting from or arising out of this Agreement or the Transactions will be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in this Article VII and the Support Agreement; provided, that the foregoing clause of this sentence shall not be deemed a waiver by any party of (i) any right to specific performance or injunctive relief, (ii) any right or remedy of a party under any Related Agreement to which it is party, (iii) recovery under the RWI Policy, or (iv) Buyer’s right to recover any Losses determined to be due and owing by Holders or Holdco pursuant to this Article VII from any Earnout Payment that becomes payable pursuant to Section 1.4. Subject to the other limitations contained herein, the obligations of the Sellers under this Article VII shall not be reduced, offset, eliminated or subject to contribution by reason of any action or inaction by the Company prior to the Closing that contributed to any inaccuracy or breach giving rise to such obligation, it being understood that the Sellers, not the Company, shall have the sole obligation for the indemnification obligations under this Article VII.

(i) No Buyer Indemnified Party shall make any claim for indemnification under this Article VII in respect of any Loss that is specifically taken into account in the calculation of the Closing Cash Consideration.

7.4 Indemnification Claim Procedures.

(a) Notice of Claims. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7.1, and other than claims arising pursuant to Section 6.3(c), which shall be exclusively governed by Section 6.3(c), if a Buyer Indemnified Party makes an indemnification claim under this Article VII, including for a Third Party Claim (as defined below) such Buyer Indemnified Party shall deliver a written notice (an “Indemnification Claim Notice”) to Holdco (or in the event a Buyer Indemnified Party elects to pursue such indemnification claim directly against a Holder, to such Holder directly) (i) stating that a Buyer Indemnified Party has paid, incurred, suffered or sustained, or reasonably anticipates in good faith that it may pay, incur, suffer or sustain Losses, and (ii) describing (A) the amount of claimed Losses in reasonable detail (to the extent known and reasonably quantifiable by Buyer Indemnified Party), and (B) the basis for such anticipated liability, and, if applicable, the nature of the misrepresentation, breach of warranty or covenant to which such item is related. The Buyer Indemnified Party may update an Indemnification Claim Notice from time to time to reflect any change in circumstances following the date thereof. “Indemnifying Party” means the party against whom indemnification is sought pursuant to this Article VII.

 

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(b) In the event that indemnification is being sought hereunder directly from a Seller, if such Seller shall object to any claim or claims made in any Indemnification Claim Notice to recover claims directly from such Holder, Holdco (or such objecting Holder) and Buyer shall attempt in good faith to agree upon the rights of the respective parties with respect to each of such claims. If Holdco (or such objecting Holder, as applicable) and Buyer should so agree, a memorandum setting forth such agreement shall be prepared and signed by both parties. The parties to such memorandum shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any such memorandum. In such event, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7.3, in the case of an Indemnification Claim Notice delivered by a Buyer Indemnified Party, Buyer and Holdco shall jointly instruct the Escrow Agent to release to such Buyer Indemnified Party the amount of such agreed upon Losses from the Indemnity Escrow Funds. Should the Indemnity Escrow Amount be insufficient to satisfy in whole the amount to be paid to an Buyer Indemnified Party in accordance with such memorandum, then, subject to the limitations set forth in this Article VII, within 10 Business Days following the date of such memorandum, each Holder shall, pay to the Buyer Indemnified Party such Holder’s Pro Rata Portion of such shortfall in cash or, in the event that indemnification is being sought hereunder directly from a Holder, the full amount of such shortfall in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Buyer.

(c) If no such agreement can be reached after good faith negotiation in the 30 calendar days after delivery of an Indemnification Claim Notice, Buyer or Holdco may pursue the process set forth in Section 8.9, subject to the limitations of Section 7.3.

7.5 Third Party Claims.

(a) Other than claims arising pursuant to Section 6.3(c), which shall be exclusively governed by Section 6.3(c), in the event a third party makes a claim (a “Third Party Claim”), which a Buyer Indemnified Party reasonably believes may result in a Claim for indemnification pursuant to this Article VII, the Buyer Indemnified Party shall promptly (and in any event within 30 days after such third party asserts such Claim) notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of such claim (which written notice shall be made in good faith and include a reasonably specific description of such Third Party Claim, including the amount (if known and quantifiable) and the basis thereof) with an Indemnification Claim Notice (a “Third Party Notice”); provided, that no delay or failure on the part of a Buyer Indemnified Party in delivering a Third Party Notice shall cause any Buyer Indemnified Party to forfeit any indemnification rights under this Article VII except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such delay or failure. Thereafter, the Buyer Indemnified Party shall deliver or cause to be delivered to such Indemnifying Party copies of all material notices and documents (including court papers) received by such Buyer Indemnified Party relating to the Third Party Claim as may be reasonably requested by the Indemnifying Party and shall, in good faith, take into consideration the Indemnifying Party’s reasonable recommendations relating to the Third Party Claim. Upon receipt of a Third Party Notice, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled, at its option and expense, to participate in, but not to control, determine or conduct, the defense of such Third Party Claim. So long as Buyer uses commercially reasonable efforts to diligently defend or resolve and mitigate the Losses under the Third-Party Claim, Buyer shall have the right in its sole discretion to conduct the defense of, and to settle, any such claim and Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled to control any negotiation of settlement, adjustment or compromise with respect to any such Third Party Claim; provided, however, that except with the consent of Holdco (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed other than in good faith), no settlement of any such Third Party Claim with third party claimants shall be determinative of the amount of Losses, or the right to any such Losses, relating to such matter.

(b) If Buyer fails to use commercially reasonable efforts to diligently defend or resolve the Third-Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to assume control of such Third Party Claim with Indemnifying Party’s own counsel.

 

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7.6 Indemnity Escrow Amount.

(a) Within five Business Days following the date that is 12 months following the Closing Date (the “Indemnity Escrow Expiration Date”), Buyer and Holdco shall jointly instruct the Escrow Agent to transfer to Holdco an amount in cash equal to (i) the Indemnity Escrow Funds minus (ii) an amount of cash equal to the amounts set forth in an Indemnification Claim Notice delivered in accordance with this Agreement (which claims have not yet been resolved) (the “Continuing Claims”) or any amounts finally determined to be owed to Buyer pursuant to this Article VII (such amount, the “Retained Escrow Amount”).

(b) Following the Indemnity Escrow Expiration Date, after resolution and payment of all Continuing Claims, Buyer and Holdco shall jointly instruct the Escrow Agent to transfer to Holdco the portion (if any) of the Retained Escrow Amount then remaining.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) any notice that is required to be delivered to any Seller pursuant to this Article VII shall be deemed satisfied by delivery of such notice to Holdco and (ii) any notices required to be delivered by, or any actions that are required to be taken by, any of the Sellers pursuant to this Article VII shall be satisfied by delivery by, or action taken by Holdco.

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1 Certain Interpretations. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Annex, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to an Annex, Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Article or a Section, such reference shall be to an Article or a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words such as “herein,” “hereinafter,” “hereof,” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such words appear unless the context otherwise requires. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The parties hereto agree that they have been represented by counsel during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and, therefore, waive the application of any Law, regulation, holding or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the party drafting such agreement or document. The Company or the Sellers, as applicable, may, at their option, include in the Disclosure Schedules matters or items that are not material in order to avoid any misunderstanding, and such inclusion, or any references to dollar amounts, shall not be deemed to be an acknowledgement or representation that such matters or items are material, to establish any standard of materiality or to define further the meaning of such terms for purposes of this Agreement. No disclosure on the Disclosure Schedules relating to a possible breach or violation of any Contract, Law or Order shall be construed as an admission or indication that a breach or violation exists or has actually occurred. Any capitalized terms used in the Disclosure Schedules or any Exhibit but not otherwise defined therein shall be defined as set forth in this Agreement.

8.2 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered to any party under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly delivered, given and received (i) upon receipt when delivered by hand, (ii) upon transmission, if sent by electronic mail transmission (in each case with receipt verified by electronic confirmation, and if not so verified, so long as such notice is also reasonably promptly delivered via another method described herein), or (iii) one Business Day after being sent by courier or express delivery service, provided that in each case the notice or other communication is sent to the address or electronic mail address set forth beneath the name of such party below (or to such other address or electronic mail address as such party shall have specified in a written notice given to the other parties hereto):

 

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(a) if to Buyer, to:

Regis Corporation

3701 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 600

Minneapolis, MN 55416

Attn: Matthew Doctor, President and Chief Executive Officer

Matthew.Doctor@regiscorp.com

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

90 South Seventh Street, Suite 2200

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

Attention: Kassendra Galindo

Email: kassendra.galindo@faegredrinker.com

(b) If to a Holder, to its contact information as set forth in the Closing Spreadsheet.

(c) if to Holdco, to:

ASG Holdings, LLC

36800 Woodward Ave.

Suite 310

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

Attention: Michael Sarafa

Email: msarafa@allinesg.com

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Foley & Lardner LLP

500 Woodward Avenue, Suite 2700

Detroit, MI 48226

Attention: Gjina Lucaj

Email: Glucaj@foley.com

8.3 Amendment. Subject to applicable Law, this Agreement may be amended by Buyer and Holdco at any time by execution and delivery of an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of such party. For purposes of this Section 8.3 each of the Holders agrees that any amendment of this Agreement signed by Holdco shall be binding upon and effective against the Sellers whether or not they have signed such amendment.

8.4 Extension and Waiver. Buyer, on the one hand, and Holdco, on the other hand, may, to the extent legally allowed, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of the other party or parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to such party or parties contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, and (c) waive compliance with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party or parties contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party or parties hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party or parties. For purposes of this Section 8.4, the Sellers are deemed to have agreed that any extension or waiver signed by Holdco shall be binding upon and effective against all Sellers whether or not they have signed such extension or waiver.

 

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8.5 Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of Law or otherwise, except that (a) Buyer may assign its rights and delegate its obligations hereunder to its Affiliates; and (b) Buyer may assign its rights hereunder as collateral security to any of its lenders and any such lenders shall be entitled to exercise all of the rights and remedies of Buyer pursuant to such assignment, in each case, as long as Buyer remains ultimately liable for all of Buyer’s obligations under this Agreement.

8.6 Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof, becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full force and effect and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to effect the intent of the parties hereto. The parties further agree to replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such void or unenforceable provision.

8.7 Specific Performance and Other Remedies.

(a) The parties to this Agreement agree that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach by the other party or parties hereto, of any covenant, obligation or other agreement set forth in this Agreement, (i) each party shall be entitled, without any proof of actual damages (and in addition to any other remedy that may be available to it), to seek a decree or order of specific performance or mandamus to enforce the observance and performance of such covenant, obligation or other agreement and an injunction preventing or restraining such breach or threatened breach, and (ii) no party hereto shall be required to provide or post any bond or other security or collateral in connection with any such decree, order or injunction or in connection with any related Action.

(b) Any and all remedies herein expressly conferred herein upon a party hereto shall be deemed to be cumulative with, and not exclusive of, any other remedy conferred hereby, or by Law or in equity upon such party, and the exercise by a party hereto of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, none of the provisions set forth in this Agreement, including the provisions set forth in Article VII, shall be deemed a waiver by any party to this Agreement of any right or remedy which such party may have at Law or in equity against a Person based on such Person’s Fraud, nor will any such provisions limit, or be deemed to limit (i) the amounts of recovery sought or awarded in any such claim for Fraud, (ii) the time period during which a claim for Fraud may be brought or (iii) the recourse which any such party may seek against another Person with respect to a claim for Fraud.

8.8 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of Law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction).

8.9 Exclusive Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER RELATED AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED FIRST, IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY WITHIN NEW CASTLE COUNTY IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE (AND ANY APPELLATE COURT THEREOF LOCATED WITHIN SUCH COUNTY) AND TO THE EXTENT SUCH COURT OF CHANCERY (OR APPELLATE COURT THEREOF LOCATED WITHIN SUCH COUNTY) LACKS JURISDICTION OVER THE MATTER, THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE

 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED WITHIN NEW CASTLE COUNTY IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE (OR APPELLATE COURT THEREOF LOCATED WITHIN SUCH COUNTY), AND EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING. SERVICE OF PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR OTHER DOCUMENT BY MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S ADDRESS SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT. THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR ANY PROCEEDING IN SUCH COURTS AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE AND AGREE NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

(b) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE RELATED DOCUMENTS IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE RELATED AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 8.9(b).

8.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules hereto, the Disclosure Schedules, the Related Agreements, and the documents and instruments and other agreements among the parties hereto referenced herein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all prior agreements and understandings both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and are not intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder.

8.11 Non-Recourse. Following the Closing, (i) all claims or causes of action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, the Transactions or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may be made only against the entities that are expressly identified as parties hereto (subject to the limitations contained herein), except as set forth in the Support Agreement; and (ii) except as expressly provided hereunder and as set forth in the Support Agreement, no past, present or future incorporator or other Representative of any party (including any Person negotiating or executing this Agreement on behalf of a party and including any investors in Holdco) shall have any liability or obligation with respect to this Agreement or with respect to any claim or cause of action that may arise out of or relate to this Agreement or any other Related Agreement, or as a result of any of the Transaction, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or any other Related Agreement. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or otherwise, except as set forth in the Support Agreement, the parties to this Agreement agree, on their own behalf and on behalf of their respective Affiliates, that no other party except for the parties to this Agreement and the Support Agreement shall have any liability relating to this Agreement or the Transactions and this Agreement shall only be enforceable against the named parties (subject to the limitations contained herein or the terms and conditions of any other Related Agreement).

 

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8.12 Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein (including, for purposes of Section 5.7, each of the Non-Recourse Parties, for purposes of Section 6.4, each of the Company Indemnified Parties, for purposes of Section 6.5, each of the Buyer Released Parties, for purposes of Section 6.6, each of the Seller Released Parties, for purposes of Article VII, each of the Buyer Indemnified Parties and any other Persons subject thereto, for purposes of Section 8.11, any Person not a party hereto and for purposes of Section 8.13, Foley), nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be construed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy, or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement to any Person other than the parties to this Agreement.

8.13 Conflicts, Privilege and Holdco Communications.

(a) Buyer, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates (including, after the Closing, the Company) acknowledges and agrees that Foley has acted as counsel for Holdco, the Company and certain of their respective Affiliates in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions (the “Transaction Engagement”), and in connection with this Agreement and the Transaction, Foley has not acted as counsel for any other Person, including Buyer.

(b) Only Holdco, the Company and certain of their respective Affiliates shall be considered clients of Foley in the Transaction Engagement. Buyer, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates (including after the Closing, the Company) acknowledges and agrees that all confidential communications between Holdco, the Company, and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and Foley, on the other hand, in the course of the Transaction Engagement (each, a “Privileged Communication”), and any attendant attorney-client privilege, attorney work product protection, and expectation of client confidentiality applicable to such Privileged Communication, shall be deemed to belong solely to Holdco, and not to the Company, and shall not pass to or be claimed, held, or used by Buyer or, upon or after the Closing, the Company. Furthermore, if Buyer discovers, it has in its possession or otherwise becomes aware of any Privileged Communication by virtue of such Privileged Communication being present in any Company member’s information systems or hard-copy files that, after Closing, are controlled by any Company party (and thereby indirectly controlled by Buyer), then Buyer shall be precluded from using, and shall not use or permit to be used, whether by Buyer or any Company party, any such Privileged Communication against Holdco in connection with any claim that may arise out of or relate to this Agreement or any other Related Agreement (except to the extent such use is permissible under any applicable evidentiary standards permitting the use or discovery of such Privileged Communication (e.g., the fraud/crime exception to the attorney-client privilege)). Accordingly, Buyer shall not be permitted to request access to the files of Foley with respect to the Privileged Communications. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, upon and after the Closing, (i) to the extent that files of Foley in respect of the Privileged Communications constitute property of the client, only Holdco and its Affiliates (for clarity, excluding the Company) shall hold such property rights and (ii) Foley shall have no duty whatsoever to reveal or disclose any such Privileged Communications to the Company or Buyer by reason of any attorney-client relationship between Foley and the Company or otherwise. If and to the extent that, at any time subsequent to Closing, Buyer or any of its Affiliates (including after the Closing, the Company) shall have the right to assert or waive any attorney-client privilege with respect to any communication between the Company or its Affiliates and any Person representing them that occurred at any time prior to the Closing, Buyer, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates (including after the Closing, the Company) shall be entitled to waive such privilege only with the prior written consent of Holdco.

 

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(c) Buyer, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates (including after the Closing, the Company), acknowledges and agrees that Foley has acted as counsel for Holdco, the Company and their respective Affiliates and that Holdco reasonably anticipates that Foley will continue to represent them and/or their Affiliates in future matters. Accordingly, Buyer, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates (including after the Closing, the Company) expressly (i) consents to Foley’s representation of Holdco and/or its Affiliates and/or any of its agents (if any of the foregoing Persons so desire) in any matter, including, without limitation, any post-Closing matter in which the interests of Buyer and the Company, on the one hand, and Holdco, or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, are adverse, including any matter relating to the Transaction, and whether or not such matter is one in which Foley may have previously advised Holdco, the Company or their respective Affiliates and whether or not Foley is handling ongoing matters for Buyer or the Company, and (ii) consents to the disclosure by Foley to Holdco or its Affiliates of any information learned by Foley in the course of its representation of Holdco, the Company or their respective Affiliates, whether or not such information is subject to attorney-client privilege, attorney work product protection, or Foley’s duty of confidentiality.

(d) Any representation of the Company by Foley after the Closing shall not affect the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.13. Furthermore, Foley, in its sole discretion, shall be permitted to withdraw from representing the Company in order to represent or continue so representing Holdco and/or its Affiliates.

8.14 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. The exchange of a fully executed Agreement (in counterparts or otherwise) by electronic transmission in HelloSign, DocuSign and/or .PDF format shall be sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

8.15 Terms Defined Elsewhere. The capitalized terms used in this Agreement not defined in Annex A shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms as set forth elsewhere in this Agreement.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Buyer, the Holders, the Company and Holdco have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

BUYER:
Regis Corporation
By:  

/s/ Matthew Doctor

Name: Matthew Doctor
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Buyer, the Holders, the Company and Holdco have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

 

THE COMPANY:
Super C Group, LLC d/b/a Alline Salon Group
By: ASG Holdings, LLC
Its: Sole Manager
By:  

/s/ Michael G. Sarafa

Name: Michael G. Sarafa
Title: President and CEO
HOLDCO:
ASG Holdings, LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael G. Sarafa

Name: Michael G. Sarafa
Title: President and CEO
HOLDERS:
Vision Cuts LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael G. Sarafa

Name: Michael G. Sarafa
Title: Manager
SAAW Project, LLC
By:  

/s/ Ayad Kashat

Name: Ayad Kashat
Title: Member/Manager
VGP II LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael G. Sarafa

Name: Michael G. Sarafa
Title: Manager

[Signature Page to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement]


ANNEX A

CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS

Accrued Taxes” means an amount equal to the aggregate liability for unpaid Taxes of the Company with respect to any Pre-Closing Tax Period for which the Tax Return is not yet due as of the Closing Date (taking into account extensions) and has not yet been filed as of the Closing Date (or with respect to which the Tax Return has been filed and the Tax shown thereon has not been paid or an additional Tax has been assessed (or will be assessed pursuant to an agreement between the Company and the relevant Tax Authority)), provided that the calculation of Accrued Taxes shall (i) be determined in accordance with the past practices (including reporting positions and accounting methods) of the Company in preparing Tax Returns to the extent such past practices are consistent with applicable Law (determined using a “more likely than not” (or higher) level of comfort), unless otherwise required by this Agreement; (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, exclude (A) any “deferred Tax liabilities” and “deferred Tax assets” (within the meaning of GAAP), and (B) any liabilities and accruals or reserves established or required to be established under GAAP in respect of any speculative or contingent liabilities for Taxes or with respect to uncertain Tax positions; (iii) be determined in accordance with Section 6.3(e) in the case of any Straddle Tax Period and (iv) without duplication, shall take into account all estimated Tax payments and Tax prepayments that are creditable against such Taxes, and all Tax overpayments shown on any filed Tax Return that are required to be credited forward to the payment of such Taxes as of the Closing Date, in each case, to the extent such amounts are creditable against such unpaid Taxes in a Pre-Closing Tax Period under applicable Law (determined using a “more likely than not” (or higher) level of comfort).

Action” means any action, suit, complaint, charge, examination, demand, written grievance, inquiry, litigation, pre-litigation, investigation, audit, request for information, proceeding, arbitration or similar dispute or claim by or before any Governmental Entity.

Adjustment Escrow Amount” means an amount equal to $100,000.

Adjustment Escrow Funds” has the meaning set forth in the Escrow Agreement.

Affiliate” of any Person means another Person that directly or indirectly through one of more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such first Person.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, any other anti-bribery or anti-corruption Legal Requirements of any jurisdiction applicable to the Company its respective operations, including the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Officials in International Business Transactions and the UN Convention Against Corruption and any implementing legislation promulgated pursuant to such Conventions.

Business Day” means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions located in Minneapolis, Minnesota are authorized or obligated by Law or executive order to close.

Buyer Stock” means Buyer’s common stock, with a par value per share of $0.05, which is publicly traded on Nasdaq.

Capital Leases” means, with respect to any Person, leases of (or other Contracts conveying the right to use) any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such Person as lessee that are actually accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of such Person. For the avoidance of doubt, operating leases that would be capitalized under lease accounting standard ASC 842 shall not be treated as “Capital Leases.”

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CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136), signed into law on March 27, 2020, and, for the avoidance of doubt, any amendment thereto (including pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260)).

Cash or Cash Equivalents” means any cash (other than cash (i) held as security deposits and (ii) collateralizing letters of credit or bonds), cash equivalents and short-term investments as determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall (a) include checks, wires and drafts received but not yet cashed as of such time and (b) exclude checks, wires and drafts issued but not yet cashed or deducted as of such time).

Cash Consideration” means an amount in cash equal to (i) $19,000,000 plus (i) the Closing Cash, minus (C) the Closing Indebtedness, minus (D) the Closing Third-Party Expenses, plus (E) the Closing Working Capital Adjustment. For the avoidance of doubt, no items included in the definitions of Cash or Cash Equivalents, Indebtedness, Third Party Expenses or Closing Working Capital shall be double counted for purposes of calculating the Cash Consideration hereunder.

Closing Cash” means, as of the Measurement Time, the aggregate amount of Cash or Cash Equivalents of the Company.

Closing Indebtedness” means, as of the Measurement Time, the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Company.

Closing Third Party Indebtedness” means, as of the Measurement Time, the aggregate amount of Third Party Expenses of the Company.

Closing Working Capital” means (a) the Current Assets minus (b) the Current Liabilities, determined as of the Measurement Time.

Closing Working Capital Adjustment” means (a) the amount (expressed as a negative number), if any, by which the Closing Working Capital is less than the Target Working Capital, (b) the amount (expressed as a positive number), if any, by which the amount of Closing Working Capital is greater than the Target Working Capital, and (c) zero dollars if the Closing Working Capital is equal to the Target Working Capital.

COBRA” means the continuation coverage requirements for “group health plans” under Title X of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, and as codified in Code Section 4980B and Sections 601 through 608 of ERISA, and any similar and applicable state or local statute, and, in each case, any official guidance promulgated thereunder.

Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Company Fundamental Representations” means (a) those representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3.1(a) (Organization, Good Standing, Power), Section 3.2(a) and Section 3.2(c)(i) (Authority and Enforceability), Section 3.5 (Company Capital Structure), and Section 3.19 (Transaction Fees), and (b) those representations and warranties of Holdco set forth in Article IV.

Company’s Knowledge” or “Knowledge of the Company” (or any derivation thereof) means, with respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of Mike Sarafa, Adrian Shayota, Leonard Barr (but only with respect to Section 3.6(a) and Section 3.6(b), and Torrey Adragna (but only with respect to Section 3.11) (the “Knowledge Individuals”), and the knowledge the aforementioned individuals would have after reasonable inquiry with all relevant employees, consultants and advisors of the Company who would reasonably be expected to have knowledge of the matters in question.

 

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Company Material Adverse Effect” means any fact, state of facts, condition, change, circumstance, development, occurrence, event or effect that, either alone or in combination with any other fact, state of facts, condition, change, circumstance, development, occurrence, event or effect, that (a) is, or would reasonably be expected to be, materially adverse to the business, assets (whether tangible or intangible), liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or capitalization of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) would reasonably be expected to materially impair the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or materially delay the consummation of the Transactions; provided, that, with respect to clause (a) (and only clause (a)) of this definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect” none of the following to the extent resulting or arising from the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there has been, is or would reasonably be expected to be a Company Material Adverse Effect: (i) the execution and delivery of this Agreement (provided that this clause (i) shall not apply to any representation or warranty the purpose of such representation or warranty is to address the consequences resulting from the execution and delivery of this Agreement); (ii) any changes generally in the industries in which the Company participates, or general economic conditions or financial markets; (iii) any act of God, any pandemic, any act of terrorism, war or other armed hostilities, any regional, national or international calamity; (iv) any failure by the Company to meet any projections, budgets or estimates of revenue or earnings (it being understood that the facts giving rise to such failure may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect (except to the extent such facts are otherwise excluded from being taken into account by this proviso)); (v) any changes in general United States or global economic conditions, including any changes affecting financial, credit, foreign exchange or capital market conditions; or (vi) any change in applicable Law, Order, or accounting rules, including GAAP;; provided that with respect to the exceptions set forth in clauses (ii), (iii), and (v) in the event that such fact, state of facts, condition, change, circumstance, development, occurrence, event or effect has had a disproportionate effect on the Company relative to other companies operating in the industry or industries in which the Company operates, then the incremental effect of such fact, state of facts, condition, change, circumstance, development, occurrence, event or effect shall be taken into account for the purpose of determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect exists or would reasonably be expected to occur.

Contract” means, whether written or oral, any contract, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, covenant, plan, insurance policy or other agreement, instrument, arrangement, understanding or commitment, permit, concession, franchise or license.

Current Assets” means the current assets of the Company as of the Measurement Time (excluding Cash, any Tax assets, and any other items excluded pursuant to the Accounting Principles), as determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles.

Current Liabilities” means the current liabilities of the Company (excluding any Tax liabilities, deferred revenue, and any other items excluded pursuant to the Accounting Principles), in each case, as of the Measurement Time, as determined in accordance with the Accounting Principles; provided, however, that Current Liabilities shall exclude Indebtedness of the Company and Third-Party Expenses.

Delaware Law” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Employee” means any current or former employee, consultant, independent contractor, advisor or director of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.

 

A-3


Encumbrance” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, easement, encroachment, equitable interest, right of way, deed of trust, lien (statutory or other), pledge, charge, security interest, title retention device, conditional sale or other security arrangement, collateral assignment, claim, community property interest, adverse claim of title, ownership or right to use, right of first refusal, restriction or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset (including any restriction on (a) the voting of any security or the transfer of any security or other asset, (b) the receipt of any income derived from any asset, (c) the use of any asset and (d) the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any asset).

Environmental, Health and Safety Requirements” means all applicable Laws concerning or relating to worker/occupational health and safety (solely with respect to exposure to Hazardous Materials), or pollution, compensation for damage or injury caused by pollution or protection of the environment, including those relating to the presence, use, manufacturing, refining, production, generation, handling, transportation, treatment, recycling, transfer, storage, disposal, distribution, importing, labeling, testing, processing, discharge, release, threatened release, control or other action or failure to act involving cleanup of any Hazardous Materials, each as amended and as now in effect.

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock of, or other ownership, membership, partnership, joint venture or equity interest in, such Person or any indebtedness, securities, options, warrants, call, subscription or other rights or entitlements of, or granted by, such Person or any of its Affiliates that are convertible into, or are exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right or entitlement to acquire any such capital stock or other ownership, partnership, joint venture or equity interest, in all cases, whether vested or unvested.

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

ERISA Affiliate” means any other Person under common control with the Company that, together with the Company, could be deemed a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code, and the regulations issued thereunder.

Escrow Agent” means PNC Bank, National Association.

Escrow Amounts” means the Adjustment Escrow Amount and the Indemnity Escrow Amount.

Families First Act” means the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law No. 116-127 (116th Cong.) (Mar. 18, 2020)), and any amendment thereof, or administrative or other guidance or legislation published with respect thereto, by any Governmental Entity.

Final Cash Consideration” means the Cash Consideration as finally determined pursuant to Section 1.3

Franchise Agreements” means all Contracts pursuant to which the Company has received, from Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer, the right to develop, open and/or operate a Store under such Affiliate’s brand, including any unit franchise agreement, master franchise agreement, area development agreement, area representative agreement, regional developer agreement, subfranchise agreement and license agreement, and any amendments to such agreements.

Fraud” means a knowing and intentional fraud as defined under Delaware law committed by a Party in making any of the representations and warranties set forth in Article III, Article IV and Article V (as applicable). For the avoidance of doubt, the definition of “Fraud” does not include: (i) equitable fraud, constructive fraud, any claim based on constructive knowledge, recklessness or negligent misrepresentation or any equitable claim (including unjust enrichment) or (ii) any other fraud-based claim other than knowing and intentional fraud.

 

A-4


Fundamental Representations” means the Company Fundamental Representations and the Holder Fundamental Representations.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, as promulgated by all relevant accounting authorities and as in effect as of the Agreement Date.

Governmental Entity” means any court, tribunal, or arbitral or judicial body (including any grand jury), administrative agency or commission or other supranational, international, federal, state, county, local or other foreign governmental, legislative, administrative, or quasi-governmental authority, instrumentality, agency, committee (including any committee with respect to unauthorized practice of law) or commission.

Hazardous Materials” means: (a) any material, substance, chemical, waste, product, derivative, compound, mixture, solid, liquid, mineral or gas, in each case, whether naturally occurring or man-made, that is hazardous, acutely hazardous, toxic, or words of similar import or regulatory effect under Environmental Laws; and (b) any petroleum or petroleum-derived products, radon, radioactive materials or wastes, asbestos in any form, lead or lead-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and polychlorinated biphenyls.

“Holder Fundamental Representations” means, with respect to each Holder, those representations and warranties of each such Holder set forth in Article IV.

Indebtedness” of the Company means, without duplication: (a) all Liabilities of such Person for borrowed money, whether secured or unsecured, all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes (convertible or otherwise) or similar instruments, and all Liabilities in respect of mandatorily redeemable or purchasable share capital or securities convertible into share capital; (b) all Liabilities of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables or accruals incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business), which are required to be classified and accounted for under GAAP as Liabilities; (c) all Liabilities of such Person in respect of Capital Leases; (d) Accrued Taxes; (e) all Liabilities of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction securing obligations of a type described in clauses (a)-(d) above to the extent of the obligation secured (but only to the extent that such letter of credit or similar instrument is drawn); (f) all accrued interest, fees and prepayment penalties on the items described in clauses (a) through (e) above; (g) all guarantees by such Person of any Liabilities of a third party of a nature similar to the types of Liabilities described in clauses (a)-(f) above, to the extent of the obligation guaranteed; (h) an amount equal to 44% of the balance of the Company’s gift card liability; (i) the items set forth on Schedule A. For clarity, Indebtedness shall be calculated without duplication of any such amounts actually included in the determination of Closing Working Capital or Estimated Closing Working Capital, as appropriate.

Indemnity Escrow Amount” means an amount equal to $55,000.

Indemnity Escrow Funds” has the meaning set forth in the Escrow Agreement.

Inventory” means all inventory of the Company and all of the Company’s raw materials, work-in-process, samples, finished products, and similar items with respect to the Company’s operation of the business.

Joinder Party” or “Joinder Parties” means the individuals listed on Schedule C.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

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Law” means any U.S. or non-U.S. supranational, international, foreign, federal, state, county, local or other constitution, law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, guidance, code, order, directive, published administrative position, opinion, policy, or principle of common law issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into legal effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Entity, whether directly applicable or applicable through Contract.

Liabilities” (and, with correlative meaning, “Liability”) means all debts, liabilities, commitments and obligations, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, determined or determinable, liquidated or unliquidated, asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, whenever or however arising, including those arising under applicable Law or any Action or Order of a Governmental Entity and those arising under any Contract.

Lock-up Agreement” means the lock-up agreement with respect to the Stock Consideration.

Loss” and “Losses” means any debts, obligations and other Liabilities, losses, damages, Taxes, deficiencies, judgments, assessments, fines, fees, penalties, expenses (including amounts paid in settlement, interest, court costs, reasonable costs of investigators, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, consultants and other experts, and other expenses of litigation).

made available” means that the Company has posted such materials to the virtual data room for “Project Buzz” managed by the Company at Firmex and made available to Buyer and its Representatives during the negotiation of this Agreement (the “Data Room”), but only if so posted and made available in the folder reasonably related to such document’s subject matter, on or prior to the date that is two Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement.

Measurement Time” means (i) with respect to Estimated Third-Party Expenses and Third-Party Expenses, and the calculation of Indebtedness and Estimated Indebtedness (except as it relates Item 1 on Schedule A and clause (h) of Indebtedness), as of immediately prior to the Closing on the Closing Date; and (ii) with respect to the calculation of Estimated Closing Cash and Closing Cash, Estimated Closing Working Capital and Closing Working Capital and the components thereof, Indebtedness and Estimated Indebtedness as it relates to the calculation of Item 1 on Schedule A and clause (h) of Indebtedness, the Measurement Time means 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the day immediately prior to the Closing Date.

Mutual Termination Agreement” means mutual termination agreement, between Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer and the Company and Holdco, with respect to the Franchise Agreements set forth on Schedule B.

Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq Stock Market, a registered national securities exchange.

Non-Recourse Party” means, with respect to a party, any of such party’s former, current and future direct or indirect equityholders, controlling Persons, directors, officers, employees, legal counsel, financial advisors, agents, representatives, Affiliates, members, managers, general or limited partners, successors or assignees (or any former, current or future equityholder, controlling Person, director, officer, employee, legal counsel, financial advisor, agent, representative, Affiliate, member, manager, general or limited partner, portfolio company, successor or assignee of any of the foregoing); provided, however, that the Joinder Parties shall not be deemed a Non-Recourse Party with respect to the Support Agreement and the Purchase Agreement (to the extent provided pursuant to the Support Agreement).

Order” means any order, judgment, complaint, injunction, ruling, edict, or other decree, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered by any Governmental Entity.

 

A-6


Ordinary Course of Business” means, with respect to the Company, the ordinary course of business consistent with the Company’s past practice.

Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person that is not an individual, such Person’s charter, certificate or articles of incorporation or formation, bylaws, memorandum and articles of association, operating agreement, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, limited partnership agreement, limited liability partnership agreement or other constituent or organizational documents of such Person.

Pandemic Response Laws” means the CARES Act, the Families First Act, the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020, the Payroll Tax Executive Order, and any other similar or additional federal, state, local, or foreign Law, or administrative guidance intended to benefit taxpayers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic downturn.

Partnership Audit Procedures” means Subchapter C of Chapter 63 of the Code, as modified by Section 1011 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-74, any amended or successor version thereof, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, official interpretations thereof, and notices or other administrative guidance related thereto.

Payroll Tax Executive Order” means the Presidential Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster, as issued on August 8, 2020 and including any administrative or other guidance published with respect thereto by any Governmental Entity (including IRS Notice 2020-65).

Per Share Buyer Stock Deemed Value” means, which is an amount (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the 30-Trading Day volume weighted average price of one share of Buyer Stock as derived from Bloomberg.com as of the close of Nasdaq on December 17, 2024.

Permitted Encumbrances” means: (a) statutory liens for Taxes (i) not yet due and payable or (ii) being contested in good faith by any appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established on the Company Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP as consistently applied by the Company for pre-Closing periods, (b) Encumbrances to secure obligations to landlords, lessors or renters under capital or operating leases or rental agreements, (c) deposits or pledges made in connection with, or to secure payment of, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or similar programs mandated by applicable Law, (d) statutory liens in favor of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen, to secure claims for labor, materials or supplies and other like liens, (e) liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of applicable Law to secure payments of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods, (f) non-exclusive licenses of Company-Owned Intellectual Property by the Company in the Ordinary Course of Business on its standard unmodified form of customer agreement (a copy of which has been provided to Buyer), (g) Encumbrances created by or through Buyer, zoning, entitlement and other similar land use regulations by any Governmental Entity; (h) Encumbrances arising under this Agreement; (i) any Encumbrances that are released or otherwise terminated at or prior to Closing; and (j) solely with respect to equity securities, Encumbrances or restrictions on transferability arising under any federal or state securities laws.

Person” means an individual or entity, including a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, or a Governmental Entity (or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof).

Post-Closing Consideration” means any Earnout Payment that becomes payable to Holdco pursuant to Section 1.4.

 

A-7


Pre-Closing Taxes” means any and all Taxes (a) of Holdco or its beneficial owners for any Tax period, (b) of or payable by the Company (or for which it is otherwise liable), or with respect to the Business or assets or operations of the Company, in each case, relating or attributable to any Pre-Closing Tax Period, regardless of when due and payable, (c) of any member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or other Tax group in which the Company (or any of its predecessor(s)) is or was a member of such group on or prior to the Closing Date, including pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 or any analogous or similar state, local or non-U.S. Law or regulation, (d) of any Person other than the Company imposed on the Company as a transferee or successor, by Contract, pursuant to any Law or otherwise, which Taxes relate to an event or transaction occurring before the Closing, (e) that represent the Holdco’s share of Transfer Taxes pursuant to Section 6.3, and (f) arising in connection with any payment required pursuant to, or arising as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Related Agreement, including any Transaction Payroll Taxes.

Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable period or portion thereof ending on or prior to the Closing Date, including the portion of any Straddle Tax Period ending on and including the Closing Date.

Pro Rata Portion” means, with respect to each Holder, the pro rata portion as set forth on the Closing Spreadsheet. For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate Pro Rata Portion of all Holders shall equal 100%.

RWI Policy” means the representations and warranties insurance policy issued at the Closing.

Related Agreements” means the Restrictive Covenant Agreements, the Escrow Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreements, the Support Agreement, the Mutual Termination Agreement, the Accredited Investor Questionnaires, and all other agreements and certificates entered into or delivered by Buyer, the Company, the Sellers, the Joinder Parties, or any of the Stock Recipients in connection with the Transactions.

Representatives” means, with respect to a Person, such Person’s officers, managers, directors, Affiliates, stockholders, members or employees, or any investment banker, attorney, accountant, auditor or other advisor or representative retained by any of them.

Restricted Party” means (a) Holdco, (b) each Holder, (c) Mike Sarafa, (d) Saber Ammori, (e) Ayad Kashat, and (f) Adrian Shayota.

SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Specified Matter” means the item listed on Schedule D.

Stock Consideration” means the aggregate number of shares of Buyer Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, which number will be equal to (rounded down to the nearest whole share) (a) $3,000,000, divided by (b) the Per Share Buyer Stock Deemed Value.

Stock Recipient” means the individuals set forth on Schedule E.

Store” means a franchised business operated by the Company under a Franchise Agreement with Buyer or an Affiliate of Buyer, which business offers hair care products and services to consumers under the Affiliate’s brand.

Straddle Tax Period” means any taxable period that includes but does not end on the Closing Date.

 

A-8


Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other Person of which the Company, either alone or together with one or more Subsidiaries or by one or more other Subsidiaries (a) directly or indirectly owns or purports to own, beneficially or of record securities or other interests representing more than 50% of the outstanding equity, voting power, or financial interests of such Person or (b) is entitled, by Contract or otherwise, to elect, appoint or designate directors constituting a majority of the members of such Person’s board of directors or other governing body.

Support Agreement” means the support agreement between Buyer, Holdco, and each Joinder Party delivered concurrently with execution of this Agreement.

Target Working Capital” means an amount equal to $362,500.

Tax” (and, with correlative meaning, “Taxes” and “Taxable”) means (a) any and all federal, state, local, foreign or other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, value added, export, transfer, franchise, registration, inventory, profits, license, intangibles, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, employee, disability, social security (or similar), estimated, excise, severance, margin, pension insurance contributions, environmental, natural resources, capital gains, capital stock, business, contributions, alternative or add-on minimum, escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property obligations, stamp, occupation, premium, property (including real and personal), real property gains, windfall profits, branch profits, net worth, or other taxes, fees, customs duties, levies, assessments or charges in the nature of taxes, (b) any Liability for the payment of any amounts described in clause (a) as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group (including pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 or any analogous or similar provision under Law), as a result of transferee or successor liability, or by operation of Law, and (c) any Liability for the payments of any amounts as a result of being a party to any Contract or as a result of any obligation to indemnify any other Person with respect to payment of any amount of the type described in clause (a) or (b), and together with any interest, any penalties, any fines, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Entity with respect to any amounts described in clauses (a) or (b) or this clause (c) (and any interest in respect of any such additions or penalties).

Tax Authority” means any Governmental Entity that is responsible for the imposition, collection, or administration of any Tax.

Tax Representation” means any representation or warranty in Section 3.7, and, to the extent they relate to Taxes, any representation or warranty in Section 3.11.

Tax Return” means any return (including any information return), report, statement, declaration, estimate, schedule, notice, notification, form, election, certificate, claim for refund or other document (including Treasury Form TD F 90-22.1 and FinCEN Form 114) or information filed with or submitted to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any Governmental Entity in connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of any Tax or in connection with the administration, implementation or enforcement of or compliance with any Law relating to any Tax, including any schedule thereto, amendment thereof or attachment thereto.

Third-Party Expenses” means all fees and expenses, including all legal, accounting, financial advisory, consulting and all other fees and expenses of third parties incurred by or on behalf of the Company (or for which is reimbursable by the Company) and the Sellers (and not paid or satisfied prior to Closing) in connection with the negotiation, consummation and/or effectuation of the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Transactions, including, without limitation, (a) any payments made or anticipated to be made by the Company as a brokerage or finders’ fee, agents’ commission or any similar charge, in connection with the Transactions; (b) the aggregate bonus, termination payments or other severance,

 

A-9


change-in-control payments, or other payment in lieu of any previously promised but ungranted equity award or similar payment obligations (including payments with “single-trigger” provisions triggered at and as of the consummation of the Transactions) of the Company that become due and payable in whole or in part in connection with the consummation of the Transactions; (c) any Liability of the Company under deferred compensation plans, phantom equity plans, bonus or severance plans, or similar arrangements made payable in whole or in part as a result of the Transactions; (d) any Transaction Payroll Taxes; (e) 50% of the premium, underwriting fees, and other costs incurred in connection with the RWI Policy; and (f) the cost of the D&O Tail Policy.

Total Consideration” means (i) an amount of cash equal to (a) $19,000,000, plus (b) the Closing Cash, minus (c) the Indebtedness, minus (d) the Third-Party Expenses, plus (e) the amount, if any, by which the Closing Working Capital is greater than the Target Working Capital, minus (f) the amount, if any, by which the Closing Working Capital is less than the Target Working Capital, plus (g) any Post-Closing Consideration; plus (h) the Stock Consideration.

Trade Control Laws” means Laws governing economic sanctions, freezing of assets, import or export control; in each case as administered by any Governmental Entity of any jurisdiction where all or any portion of the Company’s business is conducted or to which the Company or any assets or properties of the Company are otherwise subject.

Trading Day” means any day on which Nasdaq is open for trading.

Transaction Payroll Taxes” means the employer portion of payroll, employment or similar Taxes incurred in connection with any bonus, severance or other termination payments payable in connection with the Transactions, change-in-control payments, payments in lieu of any previously promised but ungranted equity award or similar payment obligations or any other compensatory payment of Holdco or the Company made in connection with the Transactions, whether payable by Buyer, the Company or any of their Affiliates.

WARN Act” means Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification Act of 1988, as amended.

 

A-10

Exhibit 10.1

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FINANCING AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FINANCING AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated as of December 19, 2024, by and among Regis Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), each other subsidiary of the Company listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages thereto (together with the Company, each a “Borrower” and collectively, the “Borrowers”), each subsidiary of the Company listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto (together with Holdings, each a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “Guarantors”), the lenders from time to time party thereto (each a “Lender” and collectively, the “Lenders”), TCW Asset Management Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TCW”), as collateral agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”), TCW, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), TCW as joint lead arranger, MidCap Financial Trust, as revolving agent for the Revolving Loan Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Revolving Agent” and together with the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent, each an “Agent” and collectively, the “Agents”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Loan Parties (as defined in the Financing Agreement), the Lenders, and the Agents have entered into that certain Financing Agreement dated as of June 24, 2024 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Financing Agreement”, and the Financing Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, the “Amended Financing Agreement”);

WHEREAS, the Company intends to acquire (the “Alline Acquisition”) all the outstanding Equity Interests of Super C Group, LLC (d/b/a Alline Salon Group), a Michigan limited liability company (the “Target”) pursuant to that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, ASG Holdings, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, Vision Cuts, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, SAAW Project, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company and VGP II LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (the “Alline Acquisition Agreement”);

WHEREAS, in order to finance the Alline Acquisition, the Borrowers (a) shall use proceeds received in connection with the OSP Sale in an amount not less than $4,000,000 and (b) have requested that (x) the First Amendment Term Loan A Lenders (as defined in the Amended Financing Agreement) provide additional Term Loans denominated in Dollars in the aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 (the “First Amendment Term Loan A”) and (y) the First Amendment Term Loan B Lenders (as defined in the Amended Financing Agreement) provide additional Term Loans denominated in Dollars in the aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000 (the “First Amendment Term Loan B” and, together with the First Amendment Term Loan A, the “First Amendment Term Loans”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Amendment and the Amended Financing Agreement, and the First Amendment Term Loan Lenders have agreed to provide the First Amendment Term Loans on such terms and conditions; and


WHEREAS, the Loan Parties requested that the Lenders party hereto (constituting Required Lenders) amend the Financing Agreement in certain respects, and such Lenders are willing to do so, in each case subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in this Amendment and/or the Amended Financing Agreement.

2. Amendments to Financing Agreement.

(a) The Financing Agreement, effective as of the First Amendment Effective Date (as defined below), and subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5 below, is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example (regardless of color): stricken text) and to add the double- underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example (regardless of color): double-underlined text) as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.

(b) Schedule 1.01(A) to the Financing Agreement is hereby amended by adding the information attached hereto as Exhibit B.

3. Continued Effectiveness of the Financing Agreement and Other Loan Documents. Each Loan Party hereby (a) acknowledges and consents to this Amendment, (b) confirms and agrees that the Financing Agreement and each other Loan Document to which it is a party is, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects, except that on and after the First Amendment Effective Date, all references in any such Loan Document to the “Financing Agreement”, the “Agreement”, “thereto”, “thereof”, “thereunder” or words of like import referring to the Financing Agreement shall mean the Financing Agreement as amended by this Amendment, and (c) confirms and agrees that, to the extent that any such Loan Document purports to assign or pledge to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, or to grant to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, a security interest in or Lien on any Collateral as security for the Obligations of the Loan Parties from time to time existing in respect of the Financing Agreement (as amended hereby) and the other Loan Documents, such pledge, assignment and/or grant of the security interest or Lien is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects. This Amendment does not and shall not affect any of the obligations of the Loan Parties, other than as expressly provided herein, including, without limitation, the Loan Parties’ obligations to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of Financing Agreement or the obligations of the Loan Parties under any Loan Document to which they are a party, all of which obligations shall remain in full force and effect. Except as expressly provided herein, the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Agent or any Lender under the Financing Agreement or any other Loan Document nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Financing Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

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4. Representations and Warranties; No Event of Default. (i) The representations and warranties contained in Article VI of the Financing Agreement and in each other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations or warranties that already are qualified or modified as to materiality or “Material Adverse Effect” in the text thereof, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects subject to such qualification) on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date (in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations or warranties that already are qualified or modified as to materiality or “Material Adverse Effect” in the text thereof, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects subject to such qualification) on and as of such earlier date) and (ii) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the First Amendment Effective Date or would result from this Amendment becoming effective in accordance with its terms.

5. Conditions to Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective as of the date on which the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived) (the “First Amendment Effective Date”):

(a) Payment of Fees, Etc. The Borrowers shall have paid on or before the First Amendment Effective Date (i) a funding fee, paid to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the First Amendment Term Loan A Lenders, in an amount equal to $90,000, which fee shall be deemed earned, due and payable in full on, and subject to the occurrence of, the First Amendment Effective Date, (ii) a funding fee, paid to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the First Amendment Term Loan B Lenders, in an amount equal to $315,000, which fee shall be deemed earned, due and payable in full on, but subject to the occurrence of, the First Amendment Effective Date and (iii) all fees, costs, expenses and taxes then payable, if any, pursuant to Section 12.04 of the Financing Agreement.

(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in Article VI of the Financing Agreement and in each other Loan Document, shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations or warranties that already are qualified or modified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” in the text thereof, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects subject to such qualification) on and as of the First Amendment Effective Date as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date (in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations or warranties that already are qualified or modified as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” in the text thereof, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects subject to such qualification) on and as of such earlier date).

(c) No Default; Event of Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing as of the First Amendment Effective Date or result from this Amendment becoming effective in accordance with its terms.

 

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(d) Delivery of Documents. Each of:

(i) this Amendment, duly executed by the Loan Parties, each Agent and each First Amendment Term Lender (which constitute the Required Lenders);

(ii) a copy of the resolutions of each Loan Party, certified as of the First Amendment Effective Date by an Authorized Officer thereof, authorizing (A) the additional borrowings hereunder and the transactions contemplated by the Amendment and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is or will be a party, and (B) the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party of the Amendment and each other Loan Document to which such Loan Party is or will be a party and the execution and delivery of the other documents to be delivered by such Person in connection herewith and therewith;

(iii) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of each Loan Party, certifying the names and true signatures of the representatives of such Loan Party authorized to sign the Amendment and each other Loan Document to which such Loan Party is or will be a party and the other documents to be executed and delivered by such Loan Party in connection herewith and therewith, together with evidence of the incumbency of such Authorized Officers;

(iv) a certificate of the appropriate official(s) of the jurisdiction of organization certifying as of a recent date not more than 30 days prior to the First Amendment Effective Date as to the subsistence in good standing of, and the payment of taxes by, such Loan Party in such jurisdiction;

(v) a true and complete copy of the charter, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or other publicly filed organizational document of each Loan Party, which shall set forth the same complete name of such Loan Party as is set forth herein and the organizational number of such Loan Party, if an organizational number is issued in such jurisdiction;

(vi) a copy of the Governing Documents of each Loan Party, together with all amendments thereto, certified as of the First Amendment Effective Date by an Authorized Officer of such Loan Party;

(vii) a customary opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel to the Loan Parties, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

(viii) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of each Loan Party, certifying as to the matters set forth in subsections (b), (c), (e) and (g) of this Section 5;

(ix) a disbursement letter, duly executed by the Loan Parties;

(x) a Notice of Borrowing, duly executed by the Administrative Borrower;

(xi) the First Amendment Warrants;

 

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(xii) the Alline Purchase Agreement (together with all exhibits and schedules thereto) and each other Alline Acquisition Document;

(xiii) the Collateral Assignment of Alline Representations and Warranty Insurance; and

(xiv) evidence of the insurance coverage required by Section 7.01(h) of the Financing Agreement and the terms of the Security Agreement and each Mortgage and evidence that such insurance coverage is in full force and effect.

(e) Material Adverse Effect. No event or development shall have occurred since December 31, 2023, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Consummation of the Alline Acquisition. The Alline Acquisition shall have been consummated on the First Amendment Effective Date in accordance with the Alline Acquisition Documents, and no terms or conditions of the Alline Acquisition Documents (other than any immaterial terms or conditions) that are materially adverse to the First Amendment Term Lenders, in their capacities as such, have been waived without the consent of the Agents (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Agents shall have received duly executed copies of the Alline Acquisition Agreement (including any schedules, exhibits and annexes thereto) certified by an Authorized Officer of the Loan Parties as true, complete and correct copy thereof.

(g) Solvency. As of the First Amendment Effective Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Amendment and the Amended Financing Agreement, the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis are, Solvent. No transfer of property is being made by any Loan Party and no obligation is being incurred by any Loan Party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud either present or future creditors of such Loan Party.

6. TBPP Waiver. A waiver from the Borrower that neither the issuance of the First Amendment Warrants nor the exercise of the First Amendment Warrants will cause the holder thereof or any of its Affiliates to be an “Acquiring Person” within the meaning of the TBPP.

7. [Reserved].

8. Acknowledgement. Each Lender with a First Amendment Term Loan Commitment (as defined in the Financing Agreement as amended hereby) agrees and acknowledges such First Amendment Term Loan Commitment as set forth on Schedule 1.01(A) to the Financing Agreement (as amended hereby). Commencing on the First Amendment Effective Date, each Lender with a First Amendment Term Loan Commitment will be a party to the Financing Agreement, agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement and the other Loan Documents, in each case, as amended hereby, and will have all of the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Financing Agreement and the other Loan Documents, in each case, as amended hereby.

9. [Reserved].

 

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10. Further Assurances. The Loan Parties shall execute any and all further documents, agreements and instruments, and take all further actions, as may be required under Applicable Law or as any Agent may reasonably request, in order to effect the purposes of this Amendment.

11. Expenses. The Borrower agrees to (i) The Borrower agrees to (i) pay on or prior to the date hereof all fees and expenses due and payable to the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to the Loan Documents and (ii) reimburse Agents and the Lenders for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Agents and the Lenders) incurred by the Agents and the Lenders in connection with this Amendment and the other Loan Documents pursuant to the Loan Documents. All obligations provided herein shall survive any termination of this Amendment and the Amended Financing Agreement.

(a) Governing Law. Section 12.09 of the Financing Agreement pertaining to governing law is hereby incorporated by reference, mutatis mutandis.

(b) Counterparts; Electronic Signatures. Section 12.08 of the Financing Agreement pertaining to counterparts and electronic signatures is hereby incorporated by reference, mutatis mutandis.

(c) Amendment as Loan Document. The Loan Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that this Amendment constitutes a “Loan Document” under the Amended Financing Agreement.

[Signature pages follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

BORROWERS:
REGIS CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
GUARANTORS:
REGIS CORP.
THE BARBERS, HAIRSTYLING FOR MEN & WOMEN, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
SUPERCUTS CORPORATE SHOPS, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 1]


SUPERCUTS, INC.

REGIS LLC

FREMONT SOFTWARE LLC

ROOSTERS MGC INTERNATIONAL LLC

RPC ACQUISTION CORP.

RPC CORPORATE SHOPS, INC.

FIRST CHOICE HAIRCUTTERS

(INTERNATIONAL), LLC

CUTCO ACQUISTION CORP.

ROGER MERGER SUBCO LLC

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 1]


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT:
TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMENDMENT NO. 1]


LENDERS: 1
[      ]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

1 

NTD: To be populated with Lender signature pages.


Exhibit A

Amended Financing Agreement

(See attached.)


Execution Version

Conformed through the First Amendment

FINANCING AGREEMENT

Dated as of June 24, 2024,

as amended by that certain

Amendment No. 1 to Financing

Agreement dated as of

December 19, 2024

by and among

REGIS CORPORATION,

as a Borrower

EACH SUBSIDIARY OF THE COMPANY LISTED AS A GUARANTOR ON

THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO,

as Guarantors,

THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO,

as Lenders,

TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC,

as Collateral Agent and as Administrative Agent

and

MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST,

as Revolving Agent

and

TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC

and

MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST,

as Joint Lead Arrangers


TABLE OF CONTENTS1

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN TERMS

     1  

Section 1.01

  Definitions      1  

Section 1.02

  Terms Generally      65  

Section 1.03

  Certain Matters of Construction      65  

Section 1.04

  Accounting and Other Terms      66  

Section 1.05

  Time References      67  

Section 1.06

  Pro Forma      67  

Section 1.07

  Rounding      68  

Section 1.08

  References to Laws      68  

Section 1.09

  Times of Day      68  

Section 1.10

  Performance of Obligations      68  

Section 1.11

  LLC Divisions      68  

Section 1.12

  Rates      69  

ARTICLE II THE LOANS

     69  

Section 2.01

  Commitments      69  

Section 2.02

  Making the Loans      70  

Section 2.03

  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt      74  

Section 2.04

  Interest      75  

Section 2.05

  Reduction of Commitment; Prepayment of Loans      77  

Section 2.06

  Fees      82  

Section 2.07

  SOFR Option; Suspension of SOFR Option; Benchmark Transition      83  

Section 2.08

  Funding Losses      87  

Section 2.09

  Taxes      87  

Section 2.10

  Increased Costs and Reduced Return      91  

Section 2.11

  Mitigation Obligations, Replacement of Lenders      92  

ARTICLE III LETTERS OF CREDIT

     93  

Section 3.01

  Letter of Credit      93  

Section 3.02

  Letter of Credit Fee      94  

Section 3.03

  Reimbursement Obligations of Borrowers      94  

Section 3.04

  Reimbursement and Other Payments by Borrowers      95  

Section 3.05

  Deposit Obligations of Borrowers      95  

Section 3.06

  Participations in Support Agreements      96  

Section 3.07

  Reallocation as a Result of Defaulted Lender      97  

Section 3.08

  Limitation of Liability      98  

 

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NTD: TOC to be updated when document in final form.


ARTICLE IV APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS; DEFAULTING LENDERS; JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY OF BORROWERS

     99  

Section 4.01

  Payments; Computations and Statements      99  

Section 4.02

  Sharing of Payments      100  

Section 4.03

  Apportionment of Payments      100  

Section 4.04

  Defaulting Lenders      101  

Section 4.05

  Administrative Borrower; Joint and Several Liability of the Borrowers      102  

ARTICLE V CONDITIONS TO LOANS

     104  

Section 5.01

  Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness      104  

Section 5.02

  Conditions Precedent to Revolving Loan      108  

Section 5.03

  Conditions Subsequent to Effectiveness      108  

ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     109  

Section 6.01

  Representations and Warranties      109  

ARTICLE VII COVENANTS OF THE LOAN PARTIES AND OTHER COLLATERAL MATTERS

     117  

Section 7.01

  Affirmative Covenants      117  

Section 7.02

  Negative Covenants      129  

Section 7.03

  Financial Covenants      136  

ARTICLE VIII CASH MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER COLLATERAL MATTERS

     138  

Section 8.01

  Cash Management Arrangements      138  

ARTICLE IX EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     138  

Section 9.01

  Events of Default      138  

Section 9.02

  Cure Right      142  

Section 9.03

  Cash Collateral      142  

ARTICLE X AGENTS

     143  

Section 10.01

  Appointment      143  

Section 10.02

  Nature of Duties; Delegation      144  

Section 10.03

  Rights, Exculpation, Etc.      144  

Section 10.04

  Reliance      145  

Section 10.05

  Indemnification      145  

Section 10.06

  Agents Individually      146  

Section 10.07

  Successor Agent      146  

Section 10.08

  Collateral Matters      147  

Section 10.09

  Agency for Perfection      148  

Section 10.10

  No Reliance on any Agent’s Customer Identification Program      149  

Section 10.11

  No Third Party Beneficiaries      149  

Section 10.12

  No Fiduciary Relationship      149  

Section 10.13

  Reports; Confidentiality; Disclaimers      149  

Section 10.14

  Collateral Custodian      150  

Section 10.15

  Collateral Agent May File Proofs of Claim      150  

Section 10.16

  Erroneous Payments      151  

 

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ARTICLE XI GUARANTY

     153  

Section 11.01

  Guaranty      153  

Section 11.02

  Guaranty Absolute      153  

Section 11.03

  Waiver      154  

Section 11.04

  Continuing Guaranty; Assignments      154  

Section 11.05

  Subrogation      155  

Section 11.06

  Contribution      155  

Section 11.07

  Discharge of Guaranty Upon Sale of Guarantor      156  

ARTICLE XII MISCELLANEOUS

     157  

Section 12.01

  Notices, Etc.      157  

Section 12.02

  Amendments, Etc.      159  

Section 12.03

  No Waiver; Remedies, Etc.      161  

Section 12.04

  Expenses; Attorneys’ Fees      162  

Section 12.05

  Right of Set-off      163  

Section 12.06

  Severability      163  

Section 12.07

  Assignments and Participations      164  

Section 12.08

  Counterparts      169  

Section 12.09

  GOVERNING LAW      169  

Section 12.10

  CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS AND VENUE      169  

Section 12.11

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, ETC.      170  

Section 12.12

  Consent by the Agents and Lenders      170  

Section 12.13

  No Party Deemed Drafter      170  

Section 12.14

  Reinstatement; Certain Payments      170  

Section 12.15

  Indemnification; Limitation of Liability for Certain Damages      171  

Section 12.16

  Records      172  

Section 12.17

  Binding Effect      172  

Section 12.18

  Highest Lawful Rate      173  

Section 12.19

  Confidentiality      174  

Section 12.20

  Public Disclosure      174  

Section 12.21

  Integration      175  

Section 12.22

  USA PATRIOT Act      175  

 

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SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

 

Schedule 1.01(A)    Lenders and Lenders’ Commitments
Schedule 1.01(B)    Facilities
Schedule 1.01(C)    Transaction Expenses
Schedule 6.01(e)    Capitalization; Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.01(r)    Insurance
Schedule 6.01(bb)    Credit Card Processors
Schedule 7.02(a)    Existing Liens
Schedule 7.02(b)    Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 7.02(e)    Existing Investments
Schedule 7.02(j)    Transactions with Affiliates
Schedule 7.02(k)    Limitations on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions
Schedule 8.01    Cash Management Accounts
Exhibit A    Form of Joinder Agreement
Exhibit B    Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit C    Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit D    Form of SOFR Notice
Exhibit E    Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit F    Form of Promissory Note


FINANCING AGREEMENT

Financing Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2024, by and among REGIS CORPORATION, a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), each other subsidiary of the Company listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages hereto (together with the Company and each other Person that executes a joinder agreement and becomes a “Borrower” hereunder, each a “Borrower” and collectively, the “Borrowers”), each subsidiary of the Company listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages hereto (together with each other Person that executes a joinder agreement and becomes a “Guarantor” hereunder, each a “Guarantor” and collectively, the “Guarantors”), the lenders from time to time party hereto (each a “Lender” and collectively, the “Lenders”), TCW Asset Management Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TCW”), as collateral agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”), TCW, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), TCW as joint lead arranger, MidCap Financial Trust, as revolving agent for the Revolving Loan Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “Revolving Agent” and together with the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent, each an “Agent” and collectively, the “Agents”) and MidCap Financial Trust, as joint lead arranger (in such capacity, and together with TCW in its capacity as joint lead arranger, the “Joint Lead Arrangers”).

RECITALS

The Borrowers have asked the Lenders to extend credit to the Borrowers consisting of (a) a(i) an Initial Term Loan A in the aggregate principal amount of $35,000,000, (bii) aan Initial Term Loan B in the aggregate principal amount of $70,000,000 and (ciii) a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding, in each case, on the Effective Date and (b)(i) a First Amendment Term Loan A in the aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 and (ii) a First Amendment Term Loan B in the aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used in accordance with Section 6.01(s) hereof. The Lenders are severally, and not jointly, willing to extend such credit to the Borrowers subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN TERMS

Section 1.01 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings indicated below:

Accepting Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.05(g).

Accounts” has the meaning set forth in the UCC.

 

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Account Debtor” means, with respect to any Person, each debtor, customer or obligor in any way obligated on or in connection with any Account of such Person (including, without limitation, any applicable Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor).

Acquisition” means the acquisition (whether by means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) of all of the Equity Interests of any Person or all or substantially all of the assets of (or any division or business line of) any Person, including without limitation, any re-purchase of franchised Salons, in each case, using consideration in the form of cash, cash equivalents, Indebtedness and/or Equity Interests.

Action” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.12.

Additional Amount” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(a).

Administrative Agent” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.

Administrative Agent’s Account” means an account at a bank designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time as the account into which the Loan Parties shall make all payments to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Administrative Borrower” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 4.05.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote 10% or more of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of members of the Board of Directors of such Person or (b) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Agent or any Lender be considered an “Affiliate” of any Loan Party.

Agent” and “Agents” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.

Agreement” means this Financing Agreement, including all amendments, modifications and supplements and any exhibits or schedules to any of the foregoing, and shall refer to the Agreement as the same may be in effect at the time such reference becomes operative.

Agreement Among Lenders” means the agreement among lenders, dated as of the Effective dDate hereof, among the Lenders party thereto from time to time, the Revolving Agent and the Administrative Agent, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Alline Acquisition” means the acquisition of all the outstanding Equity Interests of Super C Group, LLC (d/b/a Alline Salon Group), a Michigan limited liability company, pursuant to the Alline Acquisition Agreement.

 

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“Alline Acquisition Agreement” means that certain Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, among the Borrower, ASG Holdings, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, Vision Cuts, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, SAAW Project, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company and VGP II LLC, a Michigan limited liability company.

“Alline Acquisition Earnout” means each Earnout Payment (as defined in the Alline Acquisition Agreement as of the First Amendment Effective Date) payable under Section 1.4 of the Alline Acquisition Agreement.

Anti-Corruption Laws” means all applicable Requirements of Law concerning or relating to bribery or corruption, including the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and applicable Canadian AML Legislation.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means all Requirements of Law concerning or relating to terrorism or money laundering, including Canadian AML Legislation, the USA PATRIOT Act and the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (also known as the “Bank Secrecy Act,” 31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and §§ 1951-1959), and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Applicable Margin” means, as of any date of determination:

(a) With respect to the interest rate of any Loan (or any portion thereof), other than any Loan contemplated in clause (b)(ii), from the Effective Date until the date on which quarterly financial statements and a Compliance Certificate are delivered to the Agents and the Lenders in accordance with Section 7.01(a)(ii) and Section 7.01(a)(iv) for the Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2024 (the “Initial Applicable Margin Period”), the relevant Applicable Margin shall be set at Level I in the table below.

(b) (i) With respect to the interest rate of any Loan (or any portion thereof), other than any Loan contemplated in clause (b)(ii), after the Initial Applicable Margin Period, the relevant Applicable Margin shall be set at the respective level indicated below based upon the Total Leverage Ratio set forth opposite thereto, which ratio shall be calculated as of the end of the most recent Fiscal Quarter of the Company and its Subsidiaries for which quarterly financial statements and a Compliance Certificate are delivered to the Agents and the Lenders in accordance with Section 7.01(a)(ii) and Section 7.01(a)(iv):

 

Level

  

Total Leverage Ratio

   Reference
Rate Loans
    SOFR
Loans
    Applicable
PIK Amount
 

I

   Equal to or greater than 3.75 to 1.00      8.00     9.00     4.50

II

   Less than 3.75 to 1.00      7.50     8.50     4.50

(ii) With respect to the interest rate of any Specified Revolving Loans, 5.25% per annum.

 

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(c) Subject to clause (d) below, the adjustment of the Applicable Margin (if any) will occur 2 Business Days after the date on which (1) the quarterly financial statements for the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year and a Compliance Certificate are delivered in accordance with Section 7.01(a)(ii) and 7.01(a)(iv), (2) solely for the fourth Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year, the annual financial statements for such Fiscal Year and a Compliance Certificate are delivered in accordance with Section 7.01(a)(iii) and Section 7.01(a)(iv).

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing:

(i) the Applicable Margin shall be set at Level I in the table above (x) upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, or (y) if for any period, the Administrative Agent does not receive the financial statements and Compliance Certificate described in clause (c) above, for the period commencing on the date such financial statements and Compliance Certificate were required to be delivered through the date on which such financial statements and Compliance Certificate are actually received by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders; and

(ii) in the event that any financial statement or Compliance Certificate described in clause (c) above is inaccurate, and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Margin for any fiscal period, then the Applicable Margin for such fiscal period shall be adjusted retroactively (to the effective date of the determination of the Applicable Margin that was based upon the delivery of such inaccurate financial statement or Compliance Certificate) to reflect the correct Applicable Margin, and the Borrowers shall promptly make payments to the Agents and the Lenders to reflect such adjustment. For the avoidance of doubt, any shortfall in payments pursuant to this clause (ii) shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default prior to the date an Authorized Officer of the Borrower has actual knowledge of such inaccuracy and the failure to make payments to the Agents within 5 Business Days and the Lenders thereafter shall be a Default and Event of Default. In the event that the Compliance Certificate delivered under Section 7.01(a)(iii) for the fourth Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year would have led to the application of a higher or lower Applicable Margin for such fiscal period, then the Applicable Margin for such fiscal period shall be adjusted retroactively (to the date that the quarterly financial statements are required to be delivered for such quarter pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(ii)) to reflect the Applicable Margin, and (x) in the event a higher Applicable Margin shall have been applicable, the Borrowers shall promptly make payments to the Agents and the Lenders to reflect such change and (y) in the event a lower Applicable Margin shall have been applicable, the amount of any overpayment shall be deducted from the amount of any required interest or fee payable to the Agents and Lenders pursuant to Section 2.04 or Section 2.06.

 

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Applicable Premium” means,

(a) as of the date of the occurrence of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event specified in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) of the definition thereof:

(1) in the case of the Initial Term Loans:

(i) during the period from the Effective Date up to and including the date that is the 24 month anniversary of the Effective Date (the “First Period”), an amount equal to the Make Whole Amount;

(ii) during the period after the First Period up to and including the date that is the 36 month anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Second Period”), an amount equal to 4.00% times the principal amount of the Initial Term Loans being paid on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event (or in the case of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event specified in clauses (b), (c) or (d) of the definition thereof, the principal amount of the Initial Term Loans outstanding on such date);

(iii) during the period after the Second Period up to and including the date that is the 48 month anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Third Period”), an amount equal to 1.00% times the principal amount of the Initial Term Loans being paid on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event (or in the case of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event specified in clauses (b), (c) or (d) of the definition thereof, the principal amount of the Initial Term Loans outstanding on such date); and

(iv) after the Third Period, zero.

(2) in the case of the First Amendment Term Loans:

(i) during the period from the First Amendment Effective Date up to and including the date that is the 24 month anniversary of the First Amendment Effective Date (the “First Amendment First Period”), an amount equal to the Make Whole Amount;

(ii) during the period after the First Amendment First Period up to and including the date that is the 36 month anniversary of the First Amendment Effective Date (the “First Amendment Second Period”), an amount equal to 4.00% times the principal amount of the First Amendment Term Loans being paid on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event (or in the case of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event specified in clauses (b), (c) or (d) of the definition thereof, the principal amount of the First Amendment Term Loans outstanding on such date);

(iii) during the period after the First Amendment Second Period up to and including the date that is the 48 month anniversary of the First Amendment Effective Date (the “First Amendment Third Period”), an amount equal to 1.00% times the principal amount of the First Amendment Term Loans being paid on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event (or in the case of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event specified in clauses (b), (c) or (d) of the definition thereof, the principal amount of the First Amendment Term Loans outstanding on such date); and

 

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(iv) after the First Amendment Third Period, zero.

(b) as of the date of the occurrence of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event specified in clause (e) of the definition thereof:

(i) during the First Period, an amount equal to the Make Whole Amount;

(ii) during the Second Period, an amount equal to 4.00% times the amount of the permanent reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event;

(iii) during the Third Period, an amount equal to 1.00% times the amount of the permanent reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event; and

(iv) after the Third Period, zero.

For the avoidance of doubt, no Applicable Premium shall be payable as a result of any Applicable Premium Trigger Event occurring after the Third Period.

Applicable PIK Amount” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Applicable Margin”.

Applicable Premium Trigger Event” means

(a) any payment by any Loan Party of all, or any part, of the principal balance of any Term Loan for any reason (including, without limitation, any optional prepayment or mandatory prepayment but excluding (i) any regularly scheduled amortization payment made pursuant to the amortization table set forth in Section 2.03(b) (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any payment made pursuant to clause (iii) of the last sentence of Section 2.03(b)), (ii) any mandatory prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(i), (iii) any mandatory prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(iv), (iv) any mandatory prepayment made pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(vi)) and (v) any mandatory prepayment made by the Borrower with the proceeds of any Permitted Cure Equity pursuant to Section 9.01), whether before or after (A) the occurrence of an Event of Default, or (B) the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding, and notwithstanding any acceleration (for any reason) of the Obligations;

(b) the acceleration of the Obligations for any reason, including, without limitation, acceleration in accordance with Section 9.01, including as a result of the commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding;

(c) the satisfaction, release, payment, restructuring, reorganization, replacement, reinstatement, defeasance or compromise of any of the Obligations in any Insolvency Proceeding, foreclosure (whether by power of judicial proceeding or otherwise) or deed in lieu of foreclosure or the making of a distribution of any kind in any Insolvency Proceeding to any Agent, for the account of the Lenders in full or partial satisfaction of the Obligations;

(d) the termination of this Agreement for any reason; or

 

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(e) any permanent reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to Section 2.05 or Section 9.01.

Assignment and Acceptance” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by an assigning Lender and an assignee, and accepted by the Administrative Agent (and the Collateral Agent or the Revolving Agent, if applicable), in accordance with Section 12.07 hereof and substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto or such other form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (and the Collateral Agent or the Revolving Agent, if applicable).

Authorized Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or other financial officer performing similar functions, president or executive vice president of such Person.

Availability” means, at any time, the difference between (a) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment and (b) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loan Outstandings.

Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then- current Benchmark, as applicable, (a) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark that is or may be used for determining the length of an Interest Period or (b) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement as of such date.

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time and any successor statute or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Benchmark” means, initially, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 2.07(h).

Benchmark Replacement” mean, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by Administrative Agent and the Borrower as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such a rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for Dollar-denominated credit facilities of this nature at such time and (b) 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 Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment for each applicable Interest Period and Available Tenor, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by Administrative Agent and the Borrower for the applicable Corresponding Tenor

 

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giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body on the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for Dollar-denominated syndicated credit facilities at such time.

Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(a) in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (1) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (2) the date on which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(b) in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such 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 (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date.

For the avoidance of doubt, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(a) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Term SOFR Administrator, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over

 

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the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), in each case, which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(c) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative.

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

Benchmark Transition Start Date” means, in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (a) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (b) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than 90 days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication).

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with Section 2.07(h) and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Loan Document in accordance with this Section 2.07(h).

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor).

Board of Directors” means with respect to (a) any corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board, (b) a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership, (c) a limited liability company, the managing member or members or any controlling committee or board of directors of such company or the sole member or the managing member thereof, and (d) any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

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

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which banks are authorized or required to close in New York, except that, if a determination of a Business Day shall relate to a SOFR Loan, the term “Business Day” also shall exclude any day that is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day.

 

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Canadian AML Legislation” means applicable Canadian law regarding anti-money laundering, antiterrorist financing, government sanction and “know your client” matters, including Part XII of the Criminal Code (Canada), the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (Canada) and the United Nations Act (Canada), together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto, including the Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolutions on the Suppression of Terrorism and the United Nations Al-Qaida and Taliban Regulations promulgated under the United Nations Act.

Canadian Defined Benefit Plan” means any Canadian Pension Plan which contains a “defined benefit provision” as defined in subsection 147.1(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), other than a Canadian Multi-Employer Plan where the sole financial obligation of the employer is to make fixed contributions set by agreement.

Canadian Insolvency Laws” means any of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) and the Winding-Up and Restructuring Act (Canada), and any other applicable law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, assignments for the benefit of creditors or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, dissolution, liquidation, winding-up or other similar relief, and applicable provisions of corporate statutes law seeking a compromise or arrangement of, or relief from, any debts of the corporation or a stay of proceedings to enforce any of the claims of the corporation’s creditors against it.

Canadian Loan Party” means each Loan Party formed and existing under the laws of Canada or a province or territory thereof.

Canadian Loan Documents” means each Canadian Security Agreement and any Control Agreement, Mortgage and any other agreement, instrument, certificate, report and other document executed and delivered pursuant hereto or thereto governed by the laws of a province or territory of Canada and the federal laws of Canada.

Canadian Multi-Employer Plan” means a “multi-employer pension plan”, as such term is defined in the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) or an equivalent plan under pension standards legislation in another applicable jurisdiction in Canada.

Canadian Pension Plan” means a “registered pension plan”, as such term is defined in subsection 248(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), which is or was sponsored, administered or contributed to, or required to be contributed to, by any Loan Party or under which any Loan Party has or may incur any actual or contingent liability.

Canadian Security Agreement” means each security agreement or collateral document governed by the laws of a province or territory or Canada, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Required Lenders, made by a Loan Party in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties securing the Obligations.

Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period that in accordance with GAAP (other than as a result of purchase accounting) are or should be classified as capital expenditures, whether such expenditures are paid in cash or financed, including all Capitalized Lease Obligations; provided, that the term “Capital Expenditures” shall not include any such

 

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expenditures which constitute (i) expenditures by a Loan Party or a Subsidiary made in connection with the replacement, substitution, restoration or acquisition of assets by such Loan Party or Subsidiary pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(v) with the Net Cash Proceeds of Dispositions or Extraordinary Receipts, (ii) expenditures financed with the proceeds received from the sale or issuance of Equity Interests or capital contributions or incurrences of Indebtedness (other than Revolving Loans), (iii) purchase consideration or other amounts paid in respect of Permitted Acquisitions or other Investments constituting an Acquisition, (iv) expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures of such Person and that actually are paid for by a third party (excluding any Loan Party or Subsidiary), (v) the purchase price of equipment that is purchased within ten (10) Business Days of the trade in of existing equipment to the extent that the gross amount of such purchase price is reduced by the credit granted by the seller of such equipment for the equipment being traded in at such time and (vi) any capitalized interest expense reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment in the consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Capitalized Lease” means, with respect to any Person, any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property by such Person as lessee that is required under GAAP to be capitalized on the balance sheet of such Person.

Capitalized Lease Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries under Capitalized Leases, and, for purposes hereof, the amount of any such obligation shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Cash Equivalents” means (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States Government or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case, maturing within 12 months from the date of acquisition thereof; (b) commercial paper, maturing not more than 365 days after the date of issue rated P-2 by Moody’s or A-2 by Standard & Poor’s; (c) certificates of deposit maturing not more than 365 days after the date of issue, issued by commercial banking institutions and money market or demand deposit accounts maintained at commercial banking institutions, each of which is a member of the Federal Reserve System and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000; (d) repurchase agreements having maturities of not more than 90 days from the date of acquisition which are entered into with major money center banks included in the commercial banking institutions described in clause (c) above and which are secured by readily marketable direct obligations of the United States Government or any agency thereof; (e) money market accounts maintained with mutual funds having assets in excess of $2,500,000,000, which assets are primarily comprised of Cash Equivalents described in another clause of this definition; (f) marketable tax exempt securities rated A or higher by Moody’s or A+ or higher by Standard & Poor’s, in each case, maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof; and (g) solely in the case of and with respect to a Foreign Subsidiary, Investments of a kind or type similar to the Cash Equivalents described in clauses (a) through (f) above customarily utilized in the jurisdiction of organization of such Foreign Subsidiary for cash management purposes.

Cash Management Account” means the Deposit Accounts of each Loan Party listed on Schedule 8.01. The Cash Management Accounts shall not include any Excluded Account.

 

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Cash Pay Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(d).

Cash Payment Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(d).

CFC” means any direct or indirect Foreign Subsidiary of any Loan Party that is a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code.

CFC HoldCo” means any direct or indirect Domestic Subsidiary of any Loan Party (i) substantially all of the assets of which consist, directly or indirectly, of Equity Interests in and/or Indebtedness issued by one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs and/or other CFC HoldCos or (ii) which is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes and owns Equity Interests in and/or Indebtedness issued by one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs and/or other CFC HoldCos.

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

Change of Control” means each occurrence of an event or series of events by which any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder), becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d 3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, of 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Borrower’s outstanding Equity Interests ordinarily having the right to vote at an election of directors.

Collateral” means all of the property and assets and all interests therein and proceeds thereof now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person upon which a Lien is granted or purported to be granted by such Person as security for all or any part of the Obligations.

Collateral Agent” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.

Collateral Agent Advances” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 10.08(a).

“Collateral Assignment of Alline R&W Insurance” means that certain Collateral Assignment of Buyer-Side Representations and Warranties Insurance Policy as Collateral Security, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, and made by Administrative Borrower in favor of the Agents.

 

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Collections” means all cash, checks, notes, instruments, and other items of payment (including insurance proceeds, proceeds of cash sales, rental proceeds, and tax refunds).

Commitments” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and Lender’s Term Loan Commitment.

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.

Company” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.

Competitor” means a Person that is (a) a Franchisee of the Company, (b) an operating company identified in writing to the Agents prior to the Effective Date that is engaged primarily in substantially the same or similar business as the Loan Parties, or (c) a private equity sponsor identified in writing to the Agents prior to the Effective Date that controls an operating company that is engaged primarily in substantially the same business as the Loan Parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, (i) 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 Competitors and (ii) the Borrowers (on behalf of themselves and the other Loan Parties) and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility or obligation to determine whether any Lender or potential Lender is a Competitor and that the Administrative Agent shall have no liability with respect to any assignment or participation made to a Competitor.

Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01(a)(iv).

Conforming Changes” means, with respect to either the use or administration of Term SOFR or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period” or any similar or analogous definition, 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 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).

Consolidated EBITDA” means, at any date of determination, for the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries (and any other Persons required to be consolidated pursuant to GAAP) on a consolidated basis an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income, plus, without duplication:

(a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income:

 

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(i) (A) Consolidated Net Interest Expense and (B) the upfront costs or fees for such period associated with letters of credit, determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP;

(ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes paid or payable,

(iii) the amount of depreciation (including, without duplication, non-cash losses (net of non-cash gains) upon the closing and abandonment of any non-franchised store locations) and amortization expense (including any impairment charges and amortization of deferred financing costs) deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, including in connection with the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification 842 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board;

(iv) (A) extraordinary, exceptional, unusual or non-recurring charges, expenses or losses or special items and (B) losses on sales of assets outside the ordinary course of business; provided, that all amounts added back pursuant to this clause (iv), together with all other Capped Adjustments, shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the Shared Cap (calculated before giving effect to such Capped Adjustments);

(v) (A) non-cash charges, expenses or losses, including, without limitation, any non-cash items for any management equity plan, supplemental executive retirement plan or stock option plan or other type of compensatory plan for the benefit of officers, directors or employees, non-cash charges attributable to any post-employment benefits offered to former employees, non-cash asset retirement costs including losses on debt extinguishment of prior unamortized debt issuance costs, non-cash compensation charges, non-cash translation loss, noncash unrealized losses solely attributable to foreign currency transactions, non-cash losses from non- consolidated investments, and non-cash expense relating to the vesting of warrants; provided that if any such non-cash charges represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period, and (B) non-cash unrealized losses under Hedging Agreements entered into for the purpose of hedging interest rate risk;

(vi) restructuring costs, integration costs, costs of strategic initiatives, business optimization expenses or costs, including with respect to headcount reductions or other similar actions, integration, completion, employee replacement, transition, termination, retention, recruiting, relocation and signing and stay bonuses and expenses, including payments made to employees who are subject to non-compete agreements, facility opening, pre-opening and closing and consolidation costs, start-up losses related to new business ventures, contract termination costs, stock option and other equity-based compensation expenses, severance costs, transaction fees and expenses and indemnities and expenses, including, without limitation, any one time expense relating to enhanced accounting function or other transaction costs; provided that all amounts added back pursuant to this clause (vi), together with all other Capped Adjustments, shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the Shared Cap (calculated before giving effect to such Capped Adjustments);

 

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(vii) fees, costs and expenses paid or accrued in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including all fees, costs and expenses paid to, or on behalf of, the Administrative Agent and Lenders or their respective Affiliates and subagents and third parties), including, but not limited to, make-whole loan prepayment penalties, investment advisory fees, quality of earnings and fairness opinion costs, legal costs, tax advisory costs, insurance costs, and lender fees; provided, that amounts added back pursuant to this clause (vii) shall either have been (A) paid or accrued on or prior to the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 1.01(C) hereto or (B) paid or accrued within sixty (60) days after the Effective Date, provided, further, that (1) the aggregate amount accrued within sixty (60) days after the Effective Date shall not exceed $250,000 and (2) no amounts shall be added back pursuant to this clause (vii) in respect of fees, costs and expenses paid or accrued after the date that is sixty (60) days after the Effective Date;

(viii) without duplication of any other add backs pursuant to clause (vi) above, other accruals, payments and expenses (including legal, Tax, structuring and other costs and expenses) related to (x) the Alline Acquisition in an amount not to exceed $600,000 and (y) Permitted Acquisitions, Permitted Investments, Permitted Restricted Payments, Permitted Dispositions, refinancings or issuances of Permitted Indebtedness or Equity Interests, in each case, to the extent permitted under this Agreement and not related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, that the addbacks set forth in this clause (viii) with respect to any transaction that is not consummated shall not, in the aggregate, exceed 2.5% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated before giving effect to any such add-backs);

(ix) any non-cash increase in expenses, but excluding any non-cash expenditure, charge or loss relating to write-offs, write-downs or reserves with respect to accounts and inventory, (A) resulting from the revaluation of inventory (including any impact of changes to inventory valuation policy methods including changes in capitalization of variances) or other inventory adjustments or any other acquisition or (B) due to purchase accounting permitted by GAAP; provided that if any such non-cash expenses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA to such extent, and excluding amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period);

(x) cash proceeds of business interruption insurance to the extent actually received during such period;

(xi) charges, losses or expenses incurred during such period to the extent actually paid for, reimbursed or indemnified by a third party during such period, or in respect of which insurance proceeds are received from a third party insurer during such period;

(xii) fees, costs, settlements and expenses relating to litigation, arbitration or mediation, that in each case (a) relates to matters outside the ordinary course of business and (b) is pending or threatened in writing against any Loan Party during such period; provided that all amounts added back pursuant to this clause (xii) together with all other Capped Adjustments, shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the Shared Cap (calculated before giving effect to such Capped Adjustments);

 

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(xiii) cash charges or expenses, incurred pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other similar management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement; provided that the addbacks set forth in this clause (xiv) shall not, in the aggregate, exceed 1.0% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated before giving effect to any such add-backs), and

(xiv) fees, costs, and expenses paid or accrued in connection with the administration of the Loan Documents, including without limitation, any amendments, waivers, consents or other modifications and supplements to the Loan Documents; provided that any amounts added back pursuant to this clause (xiv) in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate is subject to the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent; minus

(b) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits, (ii) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income (to the extent not previously deducted from the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA in any prior period), (iii) non-cash income from non-consolidated investments, (iv) unrealized foreign exchange gains, (v) any non-cash gains resulting from marking-to market hedging obligations (in each case, of or by the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (and any other Persons required to be consolidated pursuant to GAAP) for the most recently completed test period) and (vi) extraordinary and non-recurring gains.

For the avoidance of doubt, non-cash franchise fee revenue and franchise broker fee expense shall be reflected on a GAAP basis.

For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries in connection with determining any financial ratio or test for any period, if at any time during such period Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall have consummated a Pro Forma Transaction, Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be calculated on a pro forma basis. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the add-backs and adjustments set forth in clauses (a)(iv), (vi) and (xii) of this definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” and in Section 1.06 (such add-backs and adjustments, collectively, the “Capped Adjustments”) shall not, in the aggregate, exceed (i) for the first eight quarters ending after the Effective Date, an amount equal to 12.5% of Consolidated EBITDA (before giving effect to any such add-backs or adjustments) and (ii) for each test period ending thereafter, an amount equal to 10% of Consolidated EBITDA (before giving effect to any such add-backs or adjustments) (such applicable percentage, as in effect for the relevant test period, the “Shared Cap”).

Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period; provided, however, that the following shall be excluded: (a) the net income of any other Person in which such Person or one of its Subsidiaries has a joint interest with a third-party (which interest does not cause the net income of such other Person to be consolidated into the net income of such Person), except to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid to such Person or Subsidiary, (b) the net income of any Subsidiary of such Person that is, on the last day of such period, subject to any restriction or limitation on the payment of dividends or the making of other distributions, to the extent of such restriction or limitation (except to the extent such restrictions or limitations are waived in writing), (c) the net income of any other Person arising prior to such other Person becoming a Subsidiary of such Person or merging or consolidating into such Person or its Subsidiaries and (d) Discontinued Operations, which for avoidance of doubt, shall include the net income attributable to the assets sold in the OSP Sale or any proceeds received (or to be received) in respect thereof.

 

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Consolidated Net Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, (a) gross interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP (including, without limitation, interest expense paid to Affiliates of such Person), less (b) the sum of (i) interest income for such period and (ii) actual gains for such period on Hedging Agreements (to the extent not included in interest income above and to the extent not deducted in the calculation of gross interest expense), plus (c) the sum of (i) actual losses for such period on Hedging Agreements (to the extent not included in gross interest expense) and (ii) the upfront costs or fees for such period associated with Hedging Agreements (to the extent not included in gross interest expense), in each case, determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

Contingent Indemnity Obligations” means any Obligation constituting a contingent, unliquidated indemnification obligation of any Loan Party, in each case, to the extent (a) such obligation has not accrued and is not yet due and payable and (b) no claim has been made or is reasonably anticipated to be made with respect thereto.

Contingent Obligation” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any Indebtedness, leases, dividends or other obligations (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, (a) the direct or indirect guaranty, endorsement, co- making, discounting with recourse or sale with recourse by such Person of the obligation of a primary obligor, (b) the obligation to make take-or-pay or similar payments, if required, regardless of nonperformance by any other party or parties to an agreement, (c) any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (A) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (B) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, assets, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that the term “Contingent Obligation” shall not include any product warranties extended in the ordinary course of business or endorsement in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation with respect to which such Contingent Obligation is made (or, if less, the maximum amount of such primary obligation for which such Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument evidencing such Contingent Obligation) or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability with respect thereto (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder), as determined by such Person in good faith.

 

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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 Agreement” means, with respect to any deposit account, any securities account, commodity account, securities entitlement or commodity contract, an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, among the Collateral Agent, the financial institution or other Person at which such account is maintained or with which such entitlement or contract is carried.

Corresponding Tenor” with respect to any Available Tenor means, as applicable, either a tenor (including overnight) or an interest payment period having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as such Available Tenor.

Credit Card Agreements” means all agreements now or hereafter entered into by any Loan Party with any Credit Card Issuer or any Credit Card Processor (in each case, in such capacity), or with any other Person for the processing and/or payment of the proceeds of any Credit Card Receivables, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

Credit Card Issuer” means any Person (other than a Loan Party) who issues or whose members issue credit cards or debit cards, including without limitation, MasterCard or VISA bank credit or debit cards or other bank credit or debit cards issued through MasterCard International, Inc., Visa, U.S.A., Inc., or Visa International and American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Carte Blanche and other non-bank credit or debit cards, including without limitation, credit or debit cards issued by or through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. or Discover Financial Services, Inc.

Credit Card Processor” means any servicing or processing agent or any factor or financial intermediary who facilitates, services, processes or manages the credit authorization, billing transfer and/or payment procedures with respect to any Loan Parties’ sales transactions involving credit card or debt card purchases by customers using credit cards or debit cards issued by any Credit Card Issuer.

Credit Card Receivables” means each “Account” (as defined in the UCC) together with all income, payments and proceeds thereof, owed by a Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor to a Borrower resulting from charges by a customer of a Loan Party on credit or debit cards issued by a Credit Card Issuer in connection with the sale of goods or the performance of services by a Borrower in the ordinary course of business.

Credit Card Processor Trigger Event” means the date on which the dollar amount of unpaid Credit Card Receivables owing to the Loan Parties represents more than 5% of the total revenue of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(ii).

Cure Expiration Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02.

 

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Cure Right” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02.

Current Value” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.01(m).

Debtor Relief Law” means the Bankruptcy Code, Canadian Insolvency Laws and any other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, general assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, compromise, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief law of the United States or other applicable jurisdiction from time to time in effect.

Declining Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.05(g).

Default” means an event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both hereunder, without cure or waiver in accordance with Section 1.03, would constitute an Event of Default.

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within 2 Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within 2 Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Administrative Borrower, or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within 2 Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower), or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permits such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Administrative Borrower, each LC Issuer and each Lender.

 

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Disbursement Letter” means a disbursement letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, by and among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and the other Persons party thereto, and the related funds flow memorandum describing the sources and uses of all cash payments in connection with the transactions contemplated to occur on the Effective Date.

Discontinued Operations” means, for any period, discontinued operations as reported on the Borrower’s income statement in accordance with GAAP.

Disposition” means any transaction, or series of related transactions, pursuant to which any Person or any of its Subsidiaries sells, assigns, transfers, leases, licenses (as licensor) or otherwise disposes of any property or assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to any other Person, in each case, whether or not the consideration therefor consists of cash, securities or other assets owned by the acquiring Person. For purposes of clarification, “Disposition” shall include (a) the sale or other disposition for value of any contracts, (b) any disposition of property through an LLC Division, (d) any sale of merchant accounts (or any rights thereto (including, without limitation, any rights to any residual payment stream with respect thereto)) by any Loan Party or (d) the early termination or modification of any contract resulting in the receipt by any Loan Party of a cash payment or other consideration in exchange for such event (other than payments in the ordinary course for accrued and unpaid amounts due through the date of termination or modification).

Disqualified Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interest 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, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control, asset sale or similar event so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control, asset sale or similar event shall be subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations (other than contingent obligations not due and owing) and the termination of the Commitments), (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, (c) provides for the scheduled payments of dividends or distributions in cash, or (d) is convertible into or exchangeable for (i) Indebtedness or (ii) any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Equity Interests, in each case of clauses (a) through (d), prior to the date that is 91 days after the Final Maturity Date provided that if such Equity Interests are issued pursuant to a plan for the benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests shall not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests solely because they may be required to be repurchased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability.

 

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Disqualified Institution” means (i) any Person identified by the Administrative Borrower in writing to the Agents prior to the Effective Date as a “Disqualified Institution” and (ii) any Affiliate of any Person described in subclause (i) that is reasonably identifiable on the basis of its name as an Affiliate of such Person. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, (a) 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 Institutions and (b) the Borrowers (on behalf of themselves and the other Loan Parties) and the Lenders acknowledge and agree that the Administrative Agent shall have no responsibility or obligation to determine whether any Lender or potential Lender is a Disqualified Institution and that the Administrative Agent shall have no liability with respect to any assignment or participation made to a Disqualified Institution.

Dollar,” “Dollars” and the symbol “$” each means lawful money of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state or commonwealth thereof or under the laws of the District of Columbia.

Effective Date” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 5.01. For the avoidance of doubt, the Effective Date occurred June 24, 2024.

“Effective Date Warrants” means that certain Warrant to Purchase Common Stock among the Company, TCW Rescue Financing Fund II LP and Asilia Credit Fund, LP, dated as of the Effective Date.

Employee Plan” means an “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan), that any Loan Party maintains, sponsors, contributes to or is obligated to contribute to, or with respect to which a Loan Party has any liability, including on account of an ERISA Affiliate.

Environmental Claim” means any complaint, summons, citation, notice of violation, directive, order, claim, litigation, investigation, judicial or administrative proceeding, or judgment, letter or other communication from any Person or Governmental Authority involving any alleged or actual (a) violation of or liability arising under any Environmental Law; or (b) violation of a Requirement of Law or liability resulting from the manufacture, use, handling, generation, transportation, storage, treatment, Release, threatened Release or disposal of or exposure to any Hazardous Materials.

Environmental Law” means any Requirement of Law relating to (i) the protection of the environment, natural resources, or worker health or safety (with respect to exposure to Hazardous Materials), or (ii) the manufacture, use, handling, generation, transportation, storage, treatment, Release, threatened Release or disposal of or exposure to any Hazardous Material.

Environmental Liability” means all liabilities (contingent or otherwise, known or unknown), monetary obligations, losses (including monies paid in settlement), damages, natural resource damages, costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees, costs, client charges and expenses of counsel, experts and consultants), fines, penalties, sanctions and interest arising as a result of or based upon (a) any Environmental Claim; (b) any actual or alleged non-compliance with Environmental Law or Environmental Permit; (c) any actual, alleged or threatened Release of or exposure to Hazardous Materials; (d) any Remedial Action; or (e) any contract or, legally binding agreement to the extent liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

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Environmental Lien” means any Lien in favor of any Governmental Authority for Environmental Liability.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, license, or authorization, required by any Environmental Law or by any Governmental Authority pursuant to Environmental Law.

Equity Interests” means (a) all shares of capital stock (whether denominated as common stock or preferred stock), equity interests, beneficial, partnership or membership interests, joint venture interests, participations or other ownership or profit interests in or equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a Person (other than an individual), whether voting or non-voting and (b) all securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing and all warrants, options or other rights to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire any of the foregoing, whether or not presently convertible, exchangeable or exercisable; provided, that any instrument evidencing Indebtedness convertible or exchangeable for Equity Interests shall not be deemed to be Equity Interests unless and until any such instruments are so converted or exchanged.

Equity Issuance” means either (a) the sale or issuance by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any shares of its Equity Interests or (b) the receipt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any cash capital contributions.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute of similar import, and regulations thereunder, in each case, as in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.

ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is a member of a group of which such Person is a member and which would be deemed to be a “controlled group” or under “common control” within the meaning of Sections 414(b) or (c) of the Code or Sections 4001(a)(14) or 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or, solely for purposes of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, Sections 414(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code.

ERISA Event” means (a) the occurrence of a Reportable Event with respect to any Pension Plan; (b) the failure to meet the minimum funding standards of Section 412 or 430 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 or 303 of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (whether or not waived in accordance with Section 412(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA) or the failure to make a contribution or installment required under Section 412 or Section 430(j) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan resulting in a material liability to any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates; (c) a determination that any Pension Plan is, or is reasonably expected to be, in “at risk” status (as defined in Section 430 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 303 of ERISA); (d) a determination that any Multiemployer Plan is, or is reasonably expected to be, in “critical” or “endangered” status under Section 432 of

 

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the Internal Revenue Code or Section 305 of ERISA if such status results in material liability; (e) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan or the treatment of an amendment to a Pension Plan as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA; (f) the withdrawal by any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan with two or more contributing sponsors or the termination of any such Pension Plan resulting in material liability to any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA; (g) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (h) the imposition of liability on any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4062(e) or 4069(a) of ERISA or by reason of the application of Section 4212(c) of ERISA; (i) the withdrawal of any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates in a complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan if such withdrawal results in material liability or the receipt by any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of notice from any Multiemployer Plan that it is in insolvency pursuant to Section 4245 of ERISA, or that it intends to terminate or has terminated under Section 4041A or 4042 of ERISA if such insolvency or termination results in material liability; (j) the occurrence of an act or omission which could reasonably give rise to the imposition on any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of fines, penalties, taxes or related charges under Sections 4975 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code or under Section 409, Section 502(c), (i) or (l), or Section 4071 of ERISA in respect of any Employee Plan if such fines, penalties, taxes or related charges result in material liability; (k) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent, upon any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates; or (l) the imposition of a Lien on the assets of a Loan Party pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Internal Revenue Code or pursuant to ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan.

Erroneous Payment” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 10.16.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 9.01.

Excess Cash Flow” means, with respect to any Person for any period, (a) Consolidated EBITDA of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, less (b) the sum of, without duplication, (i) all cash principal payments (excluding any principal payments made pursuant to Section 2.05(b) (which shall instead be deducted from any prepayment of the Loans out of Excess Cash Flow on a dollar-for-dollar basis pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(i)), Section 2.05(c)(i) and (ii)) on the Loans made during such period (but, in the case of the Revolving Loans, only to the extent that the Total Revolving Credit Commitment is permanently reduced by the amount of such payments), and all cash principal payments on Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement) of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries during such period to the extent such other Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred, and such payments are permitted to be made, under this Agreement (but, in the case of revolving loans, only to the extent that the revolving credit commitment in respect thereof is permanently reduced by the amount of such payments), (ii) all Consolidated Net Interest Expense to the extent paid or payable in cash during such period, (iii) the cash portion of Capital Expenditures made by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period to the extent permitted to be made under this Agreement (excluding Capital Expenditures to the extent financed (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any vendor financing) through the incurrence of Indebtedness (other than revolving loans) or through an Equity Issuance), (iv) all scheduled loan servicing fees and other similar fees in

 

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respect of Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries paid in cash during such period, to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred, and such payments are permitted to be made, under this Agreement, (v) solely to the extent such amounts are included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such period, (A) all Taxes (inclusive of Taxes paid or payable under tax sharing agreements or arrangements) based on income or gross margins and profits or capital and franchise Taxes paid in cash by such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period and (B) the amount of any Tax obligation of such Person and its Subsidiaries that is paid in cash during such period by such Person and/or any Subsidiary as a result of the repatriation of any dividend or similar distribution of net income of any Foreign Subsidiary to such Person or any other Subsidiary, (vi) all other cash expenses, costs, fees, charges, losses and other cash items that were added back in the determination of Consolidated EBITDA for such period, (vii) cash paid during such period with respect to Permitted Acquisitions (including the subsequent cash payment of earn-outs and deferred consideration in connection therewith, when paid) and other Permitted Investments (other than Investments in the Borrower and its Subsidiaries), except (x) to the extent financed with the proceeds of other Indebtedness (other than revolving loans) or through an Equity Issuance and (y) solely with respect to the Alline Acquisition, the aggregate consideration used to finance the Purchase Price of the Alline Acquisition, (viii) the aggregate amount of expenditures actually made in cash during such period that are not otherwise deducted in determining Consolidated EBITDA for such period, (ix) the aggregate amount of all non-cash items that were added back in the determination of Consolidated EBITDA for such period but that were not deducted in arriving at Consolidated Net Income for such period, (x) the aggregate amount of all mandatory prepayments made pursuant to the Loan Documents with the proceeds of a Permitted Disposition or any insurance and condemnation event to the extent such proceeds are included in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for such period, (xi) [reserved], and (xii) the excess, if any, of Working Capital at the end of such period over Working Capital at the beginning of such period (or minus the excess, if any, of Working Capital at the beginning of such period over Working Capital at the end of such period).

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Excluded Account” means (a) any deposit account specifically and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Loan Party’s employees, (b) any Petty Cash Accounts, (c) deposit accounts of an Excluded Subsidiary and (d) any deposit account that is a zero balance disbursement account from which all amounts deposited therein are transferred at the end of each Business Day into a Cash Management Account.

Excluded Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of any Loan Party (a) that is a Foreign Subsidiary (other than any Subsidiaries organized under the laws of Canada or any province thereof (including, without limitation, each Canadian Loan Party)), (b) that is a CFC HoldCo, (c) that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of an entity described in clauses (a) or (b) above, (d) that is subject to regulation as an insurance company, (e) that is prohibited or restricted from providing a Guaranty by applicable Requirements of Law or would require a governmental (including regulatory) or third party consent, approval, license or authorization (including any regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization) to provide a Guaranty or (f) with respect to which the provision of a Guaranty would reasonably be expected to result in material and adverse Tax consequences to the Company and/or its direct or indirect equityholders as determined by the Borrower in good faith and consented to by the Administrative Agent (which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).

 

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Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in a Loan or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender acquires such interest in the Loan or Commitment or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.09, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.09(d) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

Executive Order No. 13224” means the Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.

Existing Agent” means Bank of America, N.A.

Existing Credit Facility” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2018, by and among the Company, as borrower, the guarantors party thereto, the Existing Lenders and the Existing Agent, as amended, restated, extended, supplemented, modified and/or waived from time to time prior to the Effective dDate hereof.

Existing Lenders” means the lenders party to the Existing Credit Facility.

Existing Letter of Credit Issuer” means Bank of America, N.A.

Existing Letters of Credit” means each of (a) the Letter of Credit, dated as of July 21, 2023, issued by Bank of America, N.A., on behalf of Regis Corporation for the benefit of Hartford Fire Insurance Company in the amount of $8,400,000, (b) the Letter of Credit issued by Bank of America, N.A., on behalf of Regis Corporation for the benefit of Atlantic Mutual Insurance Companies in the amount of $1,250,000 and (c) the Letter of Credit issued by Bank of America, N.A., on behalf of Regis Corporation for the benefit of the Industrial Commission of Arizona in the amount of up to $100,000.

Extraordinary Receipts” means any cash received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries not in the ordinary course of business (and not consisting of proceeds described in Section 2.05(c)(ii), (iii) or (vi) hereof), including, without limitation, (a) pension plan reversions, (b) proceeds of insurance (other than to the extent such insurance proceeds are (i) promptly payable to a Person that is not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in accordance with

 

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applicable Requirements of Law or with Contractual Obligations entered into in the ordinary course of business (ii) received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as reimbursement for any out-of-pocket costs incurred or made by such Person prior to the receipt thereof directly related to the event resulting from the payment of such proceeds or (iii) applied to the payment of (or reimbursement for payment of) claims against the Company and its Subsidiaries and settlements thereof in relation to which such amounts are received), (c) judgments, proceeds of settlements or other consideration of any kind in connection with any cause of action (other than to the extent such amounts are applied to the payment of (or reimbursement for payment of) claims against the Parents and its Subsidiaries and settlements thereof in relation to which such amounts are received), (d) condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof) less (i) any actual and reasonable costs incurred by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with such awards or (ii) any amounts that are required to be paid to a Person that is not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with such property subject to the condemnation awards and (e) indemnity payments (other than to the extent such indemnity payments are (i) promptly payable to a Person that is not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as reimbursement for any costs previously incurred or any payment previously made by such Person).

Facility” means the real property owned in fee by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and identified on Schedule 1.01(B) and any New Facility hereafter acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the land on which each such facility is located, all buildings and other improvements thereon, and all fixtures located thereat or used in connection therewith.

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

FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code and any fiscal, tax or regulatory legislation, rules or official practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to, for each day during such period, the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it. If the Federal Funds Rate cannot reasonably be determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, then the Administrative Agent may in its reasonable discretion, and acting in consultation with the Required Lenders, select an alternative method for determining the Federal Funds Rate.

 

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Fee Letter” means, the fee letter, dated as of the Effective dDate hereof, among the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Final Maturity Date” means June 24, 2029.

Financial Statements” means (a) the audited financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Years ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023, (b) the unaudited, financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Quarter ended March 31, 2024 and (c) the unaudited, internally prepared financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period from June 30, 2023 through April 30, 2024.

“First Amendment” means that certain Amendment No. 1 to Financing Agreement, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date, by and among the Loan Parties, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders party thereto.

“First Amendment Effective Date” means December 19, 2024.

“First Amendment Term Loan” means, collectively, the First Amendment Term Loan A and the First Amendment Term Loan B.

“First Amendment Term Loan A” means, collectively, the loans made by the First Amendment Term Loan A Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(iv).

“First Amendment Term Loan B” means, collectively, the loans made by the First Amendment Term Loan B Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(v).

“First Amendment Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s First Amendment Term Loan A Commitment and/or First Amendment Term Loan B Commitment, as applicable.

“First Amendment Term Loan A Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the First Amendment Term Loan A to the Borrowers in the amount set forth in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto (as amended by the First Amendment) or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

“First Amendment Term Loan B Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the First Amendment Term Loan B to the Borrowers in the amount set forth in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto (as amended by the First Amendment) or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

“First Amendment Term Loan A Lender” means a Lender with a First Amendment Term Loan A Commitment or a First Amendment Term Loan A.

 

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“First Amendment Term Loan B Lender” means a Lender with a First Amendment Term Loan B Commitment or a First Amendment Term Loan B.

“First Amendment Term Loan Lender” means a Lender with a First Amendment Term Loan Commitment or a First Amendment Term Loan.

“First Amendment Warrants” means that certain Warrant to Purchase Common Stock among the Company, TCW Rescue Financing Fund II LP and Asilia Credit Fund, LP, dated as of the First Amendment Effective Date.

Fiscal Quarter” means each Fiscal Quarter of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending on September 30th, December 31st, March 31st and June 30th of each Fiscal Year.

Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending on June 30th of each year.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of (a) the result of (i) Consolidated EBITDA of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period minus (ii) Capital Expenditures made by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period minus (iii) income taxes paid or payable in cash by such Person and its Subsidiaries during such period, to (b) the sum of (i) all principal of Indebtedness of such Person and its Subsidiaries scheduled to be paid in cash during such period to the extent there is an equivalent permanent reduction in the commitments thereunder (but excluding payments under the Existing Credit Facility), plus (ii) Consolidated Net Interest Expense paid or payable in cash of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period (but excluding payments under the Existing Credit Facility), plus (iii) cash dividends or distributions paid, or the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value (including in connection with any merger or consolidation), by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, in respect of the Equity Interests of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries (other than (A) dividends or distributions paid by a Loan Party to any other Loan Party and (B) the proceeds of any Cure Right) during such period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (a) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio pursuant to clauses (b)(i) and (b)(ii) of the foregoing definition shall be measured as follows: (i) for the Fiscal Quarter of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending September 30, 2024, the actual amount pursuant to clauses (b)(i) or (b)(ii), as applicable, for the Fiscal Quarter of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending September 30, 2024 multiplied by 4, (ii) for the Fiscal Quarter of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending December 31, 2024, the actual amount pursuant to clauses (b)(i) or (b)(ii), as applicable, for the two consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending December 31, 2024 multiplied by 2, and (iii) for the Fiscal Quarter of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending March 31, 2025, the actual amount pursuant to clauses (b)(i) or (b)(ii), as applicable, for the three consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending March 31, 2025 multiplied by 4/3.

Floor” means a rate of interest equal to 2.50% per annum.

Foreign Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(d).

 

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Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

Franchise” means a franchise or licensing arrangement subject to a Franchise Agreement for the operation of a franchised Salon.

Franchise Agreements” means any franchise or license agreements whether now existing or hereafter entered into by a Loan Party and related to the franchising of the business of operating a franchised Salon, and all other agreements with any Franchisee, sub-franchisee or similar Person to which a Loan Party is a party, in each case, related to the franchising of the business of operating a franchised Salon, all as amended or modified from time to time.

Franchise Collections” mean those collections of any Loan Party derived from any Accounts, however evidenced, constituting payment obligations, revenue, profits, income, royalties, finder’s fees, and deferred sales fees payable to an obligor pursuant to the terms of any Master Franchise Agreements and Franchise Agreements.

Franchise Disclosure Document” mean a franchise disclosure document required by applicable laws and used by a Loan Party for the sale of Master Franchises or Franchises in the United States and in countries outside of the United States (including, without limitation, Canada), where applicable.

Franchisee” means any franchisee or licensee under a Franchise Agreement.

Funding Losses” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States, applied on a consistent basis, provided that for the purpose of Section 7.03 hereof and the definitions used therein, “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the Effective dDate hereof and consistent with those used in the preparation of the Financial Statements, provided, further, that if there occurs after the date of this Agreement any change in GAAP that affects in any respect the calculation of any covenant contained in Section 7.03 hereof, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Borrower shall negotiate in good faith amendments to the provisions of this Agreement that relate to the calculation of such covenant with the intent of having the respective positions of the Lenders and the Borrowers after such change in GAAP conform as nearly as possible to their respective positions as of the date of this Agreement and, until any such amendments have been agreed upon, the covenants in Section 7.03 hereof shall be calculated as if no such change in GAAP has occurred.

Governing 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 the operating agreement; (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture, declaration or other applicable agreement or documentation evidencing or otherwise relating to its formation or organization, governance and capitalization; and (d) with respect to any of the entities described above, any other 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.

 

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Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any Federal, state, territory, provincial, city, town, municipality, county, local or other political subdivision thereof or thereto and any department, commission, board, bureau, instrumentality, agency or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 11.01.

Guarantor” means (a) each Subsidiary of the Company listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages hereto and (b) each other Person which guarantees, pursuant to Section 7.01(b) or otherwise, all or any part of the Obligations.

Guaranty” means (a) the guaranty of each Guarantor party hereto contained in Article XI hereof and (b) each other guaranty, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, made by any other Guarantor in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders guaranteeing all or part of the Obligations.

Hazardous Material” means any chemical that is defined, listed or otherwise classified as a contaminant, pollutant, toxic or hazardous substance, or hazardous waste under any Environmental Law, or that is otherwise regulated under or for which liability or standards of care are imposed pursuant to any Environmental Law, in each case, due to its dangerous or deleterious properties or characteristics, including, without limitation, petroleum, polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos-containing materials, urea formaldehyde-containing materials, radioactive materials and toxic mold.

Hedging Agreement” means any interest rate, foreign currency, commodity or equity swap, collar, cap, floor or forward rate agreement, or other agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates or currency, commodity or equity values (including, without limitation, any option with respect to any of the foregoing and any combination of the foregoing agreements or arrangements), and any confirmation executed in connection with any such agreement or arrangement.

Highest Lawful Rate” means, with respect to any Agent or any Lender, the maximum non-usurious interest rate (which shall in any case be deemed to be lower than the “criminal rate” (as such term is construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)), if any, that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on the Obligations under laws applicable to such Agent or such Lender which are currently in effect or, to the extent allowed by law, under such applicable laws which may hereafter be in effect and which allow a higher maximum non- usurious interest rate than applicable laws now allow.

Holdout Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.02(c).

 

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Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money; (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables, accrued expenses payable or other accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business and not outstanding for more than 60 days after the date such payable was due) and any earn-out, purchase price adjustment or similar obligation (solely to the extent such obligation appears in the liabilities section of the balance sheet of such Person and has not been paid after having become due and payable); (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (d) all reimbursement, payment or other obligations and liabilities of such Person created or arising under any conditional sales or other title retention agreement with respect to property used and/or acquired by such Person, even though the rights and remedies of the lessor, seller and/or lender thereunder may be limited to repossession or sale of such property; (e) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person; (f) all obligations and liabilities, contingent or otherwise, of such Person, in respect of letters of credit, acceptances and similar facilities (except to the extent such obligations are cash collateralized); (g) all obligations and liabilities, contingent or otherwise, of such Person under Hedging Agreements, after giving effect to enforceable netting arrangements; (h) all monetary obligations under any receivables factoring, receivable sales or similar transactions and all monetary obligations under any synthetic lease, tax ownership/operating lease, off-balance sheet financing or similar financing; (i) all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (h) of this definition and clauses (j) through (k) of this definition; (j) all Disqualified Equity Interests; and (k) all obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (j) of this definition of another Person secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) a Lien upon property owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership of or joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Indebtedness” shall exclude (i) trade payables, accrued expenses payable or other accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business and prepayments of deposits received from clients or customers in the ordinary course of business and not outstanding for more than 60 days after the date such payable was due (or being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings promptly initiated and diligently conducted, and a reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made therefor or if there is right of offset against trade receivables where the materials are purchased from the customer as part of a resale program, to the extent of such offset), (ii) accruals for payroll and other similar liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business, (iii) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller, (iv) any obligations in respect of worker’s compensation claims, early retirement or termination obligations or contributions or similar claims, obligations or contributions or social security or wage Taxes in the ordinary course of business, (v) non-compete or consulting obligations to which the seller in a Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Investment may become entitled, (vii) any earn-out, purchase price adjustment or similar obligation until such obligation appears in the liabilities section of the balance sheet of such Person and has not been paid after having become due and payable, (vii) customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business and (viii) as it applies to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (A) any Indebtedness owed by any Loan Party to any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party so long as such Indebtedness is unsecured and subject to an Intercompany Subordination Agreement and (B) intercompany advances arising from ordinary course cash management, tax and accounting operations. The amount of Indebtedness described in clause (k) that is limited in recourse to specific property shall be valued at the lesser of the aggregate unpaid amount of such Indebtedness and the fair market value of such property.

 

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Indemnified Matters” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.15.

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

Indemnitees” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.15.

Initial Declined Proceeds” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.05(g).

“Initial Term Loan” means, collectively, the loans made by the Initial Term Loan A Lenders and/or Initial Term Loan B Lenders to the Borrowers on the Effective Date pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

“Initial Term Loan A” means, collectively, the loans made by the Initial Term Loan A Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(ii).

“Initial Term Loan B” means, collectively, the loans made by the Initial Term Loan B Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(iii).

“Initial Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Initial Term Loan Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the Initial Term Loan on the Effective Date to the Borrowers in the amount set forth under the heading “Initial Term Loan” in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement

“Initial Term Loan A Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the Initial Term Loan A to the Borrowers in the amount set forth in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

“Initial Term Loan B Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the Term Loan B to the Borrowers in the amount set forth in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

“Initial Term Loan Lender” means an Initial Term Loan A Lender or an Initial Term Loan B Lender.

“Initial Term Loan A Lender” means a Lender with an Initial Term Loan A Commitment or an Initial Term Loan A.

 

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“Initial Term Loan B Lender” means a Lender with a Term Loan B Commitment or a Term Loan B.

Insolvency Proceeding” means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under any provision of any Debtor Relief Law.

Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified therefor in the Security Agreement.

Intercompany Subordination Agreement” means an Intercompany Subordination Agreement made by the Company and its Subsidiaries in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

Interest Period” means, with respect to each SOFR Loan, a period commencing on the date of the making of such SOFR Loan (or the continuation of a SOFR Loan or the conversion of a Reference Rate Loan to a SOFR Loan) and ending 1 or 3 months thereafter; provided, however, that (a) if any Interest Period would end on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended (subject to clauses (c)-(e) below) to the next succeeding Business Day, (b) interest shall accrue at the applicable rate based upon Term SOFR from and including the first day of each Interest Period to, but excluding, the day on which any Interest Period expires, (c) any Interest Period that would 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 succeeding Business Day, (d) with respect to an Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period), the Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month that is 1 or 3 months after the date on which the Interest Period began, as applicable, and (e) the Borrowers may not elect an Interest Period which will end after the Final Maturity Date.

Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Inventory” has the meaning set forth in the UCC.

Investment” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any loan, guarantee, advance, extension of credit and capital contributions by such Person in any other Person (including Affiliates), (b) acquisitions of Indebtedness (including, any bonds, notes, debentures or other debt securities), Equity Interests, or all or substantially all of the assets of such other Person (or of any division or business line of such other Person) and (c) the purchase or ownership of any futures contract or liability for the purchase or sale of currency or other commodities at a future date in the nature of a futures contract. The amount of any Investment at any time shall be the cost of such Investment (measured at the time made (which, in the case of any Investment constituting the contribution of an asset or property, shall be based on the fair market value of such asset or property at the time such Investment is made)) plus the cost of any addition thereto that otherwise constitutes an Investment, without adjustment for subsequent changes in the value of such Investment (including any write-downs or write-offs thereof), net of any dividend, distribution, interest, fee, premium, return of capital, repayment of principal, income or profit (from a disposition or otherwise) received or realized in cash with respect to such Investment.

 

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Joinder Agreement” means a Joinder Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, duly executed by a Subsidiary of a Loan Party made a party hereto pursuant to Section 7.01(b).

Joint Lead Arranger” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.

Lease” means any lease, sublease or license of, or other agreement granting a possessory interest in, real property to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party as lessor, lessee, sublessor, sublessee, licensor or licensee.

LC Issuer” means one or more banks, trust companies or other Persons in each case expressly identified by Revolving Agent and the Administrative Borrower from time to time for purposes of issuing one or more Letters of Credit hereunder.

LC Issuance” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 3.01.

Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.

Lender Letter of Credit” means a Letter of Credit issued by an LC Issuer that is also, at the time of issuance of such Letter of Credit, a Lender.

Letter of Credit” means a standby letter of credit issued for the account of a Loan Party by an LC Issuer in accordance with the terms of Section 3.01. Each Letter of Credit shall be either a Lender Letter of Credit or a Supported Letter of Credit.

Letter of Credit Borrowings” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a borrowing under a Revolving Loan.

Letter of Credit Liabilities” means, at any time of calculation, the sum, without duplication, of (a) the amount then available for drawing under all outstanding Letters of Credit (without regard to whether any conditions to drawing thereunder can then be met) pursuant to LC Issuances (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, under any Letter of Credit issued in connection with a Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance) plus (b) the aggregate unpaid amount of all Reimbursement Obligations in respect of previous drawings made under such Letters of Credit (and not, for the avoidance of doubt, under any Letter of Credit issued in connection with a Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance).

Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, deed to secure debt, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), security interest, charge or other encumbrance or security or preferential arrangement of any nature, including, without limitation, any conditional sale or title retention arrangement, any Capitalized Lease having the same economic effect as the foregoing and any collateral assignment, deposit arrangement or financing lease intended as, or having the effect of, security.

Liquidity” means the result of (a) Availability, plus (b) Qualified Cash, minus (c) the amount of trade payables that are outstanding for more than 60 days after the date such payable was due.

 

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LLC Division” means the division of a limited liability company into two or more limited liability companies pursuant to a “plan of division” or similar method pursuant to Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (or any similar statute or provision under applicable law in any other state).

Loan” means any Term Loan or Revolving Loan made by an Agent or a Lender to the Borrowers pursuant to Article II hereof.

Loan Account” means an account maintained hereunder by the Administrative Agent on its books of account at the Payment Office, and with respect to the Borrowers, in which the Borrowers will be charged with all Loans made to, and all other Obligations incurred by, the Borrowers.

Loan Document” means this Agreement, any Control Agreement, the Disbursement Letter, the Fee Letter, any Guaranty, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, any Joinder Agreement, any Mortgage, any Security Agreement and any other agreement, instrument and other document executed and delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.

Loan Party” means any Borrower and any Guarantor.

Make-Whole Amount” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (i) the difference (which shall not be zero) between (A) the aggregate amount of interest (calculated, for purposes of this definition, as if a Cash Pay Election had been made for each interest payment hereunder) which would have otherwise been payable on the principal amount of the Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable, paid on such date and, if applicable, the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Commitment reduced or terminated on such date (assuming for purposes of calculating the amount of interest the full commitment amount has been drawn) (or in the case of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event specified in clauses (b), (c) or (d) of the definition thereof, the principal amount of the Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable, outstanding on such date and the Total Revolving Credit Commitment on such date (assuming for purposes of calculating the amount of interest the full commitment amount has been drawn)) from the date of the occurrence of the Applicable Premium Trigger Event until the date that is the 24 month anniversary of the Effective Date minus (B) the aggregate amount of interest the Lenders would earn if the prepaid (or deemed prepayment in the case of an acceleration of the Loans) or reduced principal amount of the Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable, or the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments reduced or terminated (assuming for purposes of calculating the amount of interest the full commitment amount has been drawn), in each case, were reinvested for the period from the date of the Applicable Premium Trigger Event until the date that is the 24 month anniversary of the Effective Date at the Treasury Rate plus 0.50%, plus (ii) an amount equal to the Applicable Premium that would otherwise be payable as if such Applicable Premium Trigger Event had occurred on the day after the date that is the 24 month anniversary of the Effective Date.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on any of (a) the operations, assets, liabilities or financial condition of the Loan Parties taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Loan Parties taken as a whole to perform any of their payment obligations or other material obligations under the Loan Documents, (c) the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (d) the rights and remedies of any Agent or the Lenders under the Loan Documents.

 

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Material Contract” means, with respect to any Person, (a) each contract or agreement to which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party involving aggregate consideration payable to or by such Person or such Subsidiary of $2,000,000 or more in any Fiscal Year (other than purchase orders in the ordinary course of the business of such Person or such Subsidiary and other than contracts that by their terms may be terminated by such Person or Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business upon less than 60 days’ notice without penalty or premium), (b) each contract or agreement among such Person or any of its Subsidiaries and Beauty Systems Group or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (c) each contract or agreement among such Person or any of its Subsidiaries and Wal-Mart Stores East, LP, Sam’s East, Inc., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Sam’s Wast, Inc., Wal-Mart Louisiana, LLC, Wal-Mart Stores Texas, LLC, Wal-Mart Stores Arkansas, LLC, Wal-Mart Puerto Rico, Inc. and/or any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates (each contract and agreement set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of this definition shall be referred to herein as a “Specified Material Contract”) and (d) each other contract or agreement as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation or failure to renew by any party thereto could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Material Real Estate Asset” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.01(m).

Master Franchise” means a franchise or licensing arrangement subject to a Master Franchise Agreement for the operation of a Master Franchise Business.

Master Franchise Agreements” means any franchise or license agreements whether now existing or hereafter entered into by a Loan Party under which a Master Franchisee is granted the rights to procure, qualify, train and assist Sub-Franchisees in the business of operating a franchised Salon under a Sub-Franchise Agreement with a Master Franchisee, and all other agreements with any Master Franchisee to which a Loan Party is a party, in each case, related to the business of operating a Master Franchise Business, all as amended or modified from time to time.

Master Franchise Business” means the business of procuring, qualifying, training and assisting Sub-Franchisees in the business of operating a franchised Salon under a Sub-Franchise Agreement with a Master Franchisee.

Master Franchisee” means any master franchisee or master licensee under a Master Franchise Agreement.

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

Mortgage” means a mortgage, deed of trust or deed to secure debt, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, made by a Loan Party in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, securing the Obligations and delivered to the Collateral Agent.

 

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Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates has contributed, or has been obligated to contribute, to at any time during the preceding the six calendar years.

Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to, any issuance or incurrence of any Indebtedness, any Equity Issuance, any Disposition or the receipt of any Extraordinary Receipts by any Person or any of its Subsidiaries, the aggregate amount of cash received (directly or indirectly) from time to time (whether as initial consideration or through the payment of deferred consideration) by or on behalf of such Person or such Subsidiary as and when received, in connection therewith after deducting therefrom only (a) in the case of any Disposition or the receipt of any Extraordinary Receipts consisting of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards, the amount of any Indebtedness (including interest, fees, premiums and penalties, if any) secured by any Permitted Lien on any asset (other than Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such asset) which is required to be or otherwise becomes due or would result in a default, and is, repaid in connection therewith (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement), (b) reasonable expenses and costs related thereto incurred by such Person or such Subsidiary in connection therewith, (c) all Taxes assessed by, or reasonably estimated to be payable (including pursuant to Tax sharing arrangements) to, a Governmental Authority as a result of or in connection with such transaction (provided that if such estimated Taxes exceed the amount of actual Taxes required to be paid in cash in respect of such transaction, the amount of such excess shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds), (d) any reserve for adjustment in respect of (i) the sale price of such assets established in accordance with GAAP and (ii) any liabilities associated with such assets and retained by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, (e) the amount of any reserves established to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable and that are attributable to such event, (f) the pro rata portion of any proceeds attributable to the minority interests in a non-wholly owned Subsidiary that are not available for distribution to or for the account of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries as a result thereof, and (g) any funded escrow established pursuant to the documents evidencing any such Disposition to secure any indemnification obligations or adjustments to the purchase price associated therewith owing to any Person that is not an Affiliate of such Person (provided that to the extent that any amounts are released from such escrow to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, such amounts net of any related expenses shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds).

New Facility” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 7.01(m).

Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a).

Notice of LC Credit Event” means a notice from a Responsible Officer to Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Revolving Agent) with respect to any issuance, increase or extension of a Letter of Credit (other than the automatic extension of the expiry date thereof) specifying: (a) the date of issuance or increase of a Letter of Credit; (b) the expiry date of such Letter of Credit; (c) the proposed terms of such Letter of Credit, including the face amount; and (d) the transactions that are to be supported or financed with such Letter of Credit or increase thereof.

Notice of Prepayment” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.05(d).

 

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Obligations” means all present and future indebtedness, obligations, and liabilities (including, without limitation, the Term Loan PIK Amount) of each Loan Party to the Agents and the Lenders arising under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether or not the right of payment in respect of such claim is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, unsecured, and whether or not such claim is discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by any proceeding referred to in Section 9.01. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations of each Loan Party under the Loan Documents include (a) the obligation (irrespective of whether a claim therefor is allowed in an Insolvency Proceeding) to pay principal (including, without limitation, the Term Loan PIK Amount), interest, charges, expenses, fees, premiums (including the Applicable Premium), attorneys’ fees and disbursements, indemnities and other amounts payable by such Person under the Loan Documents, and (b) the obligation of such Person to reimburse any amount in respect of any of the foregoing that any Agent may elect to pay or advance on behalf of such Person in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In addition, the Obligations shall include, without limitation, all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness arising from or in connection with all Letters of Credit and related Support Agreements.

OFAC” means the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

OSP Sale” means the disposition of the “Purchased Assets” under and as defined in that certain Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2022, by and among the Borrower and certain of its Subsidiaries and Soham Inc., a Delaware corporation.

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

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

Participant Register” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(i).

Payment Office” means the Administrative Agent’s account or office designated to the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Borrower prior to the Effective Date, or at such other account, office or offices of the Administrative Agent as may be designated in writing from time to time by the Administrative Agent to the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Borrower.

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.

 

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Pension Plan” means an Employee Plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, Section 302 of ERISA or Title IV of ERISA and that is maintained, sponsored or contributed to, or for which there is an obligation to contribute to, by any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates at any time during the preceding six calendar years.

Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

Permitted Acquisition” means any Acquisition by a Loan Party or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Loan Party to the extent that each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived by the Collateral Agent in its sole discretion):

(a) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the consummation of the proposed Acquisition;

(b) [reserved];

(c) the Borrowers shall have furnished to the Agents at least 10 Business Days prior to the consummation of such Acquisition (or such later date as reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent) (i) a summary setting forth in reasonable detail the terms and conditions of such Acquisition and, at the reasonable request of any Agent, such other information and documents that any Agent may reasonably request, (ii) pro forma financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries (to the extent reasonably available, consistent with the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)) after the consummation of such Acquisition, (iii) a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company, demonstrating on a pro forma basis compliance, as at the end of the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which internally prepared financial statements are available, with all covenants set forth in Section 7.03 hereof after the consummation of such Acquisition, and (iv) copies of such other agreements, instruments or other documents as any Agent shall reasonably request in connection with its due diligence;

(d) on the date of consummation of such Acquisition, the Borrowers shall have furnished to the Agents executed counterparts of the respective material agreements, instruments or other documents pursuant to which such Acquisition is to be consummated (including, without limitation, any related management, non-compete, employment, option or other material agreements), any schedules to such agreements, instruments or other documents and all other material ancillary agreements, instruments or other documents to be executed or delivered in connection therewith;

(e) [reserved];

(f) such Acquisition shall be effected in such a manner so that the acquired assets or Equity Interests are owned either by a Loan Party or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Loan Party and, if effected by merger or consolidation involving a Loan Party, such Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

(g) if the Purchase Price with respect to such Acquisition is equal to or greater than $10,000,000, then the Loan Parties shall deliver a quality of earnings report, prepared by a third party, with respect to the assets being acquired or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired;

 

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(h) the Loan Parties shall have Liquidity in an amount equal to or greater than $15,000,000 immediately after giving pro forma effect to the consummation of the proposed Acquisition;

(i) the Total Leverage Ratio of the Company and its Subsidiaries (calculated using the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries measured for the trailing 4 Fiscal Quarter period ending on the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been (or are required to have been) received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.01(a) and the Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries measured as of the date of such Acquisition) shall not exceed the lesser of (i) 4.00 to 1.00 and (ii) 0.25x inside the Total Leverage Ratio then in effect pursuant to Section 7.03(a), in each case after giving pro forma effect to the consummation of the proposed Acquisition; provided, that (a) if Purchase Price payable in respect of all Acquisitions shall be equal to or less than $4,000,000 and (b) an Acquisition is 100% funded with the Net Cash Proceeds of the OSP Sale, then this clause (i) shall not apply with respect to all such Acquisition;

(j) the assets being acquired or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired do not have negative Consolidated EBITDA measured for the trailing 4 Fiscal Quarter period ending on the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been (or are required to have been) received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.01(a) (calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the proposed Acquisition and subject to the limitations set forth in the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”);

(k) the assets being acquired (other than a de minimis amount of assets in relation to the Loan Parties’ and their Subsidiaries’ total assets), or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired, are useful in or engaged in, as applicable, the business of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries or any other business permitted under Section 7.02(d);

(l) the assets being acquired are located within the United States, or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired is organized in a jurisdiction located within the United States other than (1) an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 for assets being acquired that are located in Canada and Persons whose Equity Interests are being acquired are organized in a jurisdiction located in Canada and (2) an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 for assets being acquired that are located outside of the United States or Canada, or Persons whose Equity Interests are being acquired are organized in a jurisdiction other than a jurisdiction located within the United States or in Canada;

(m) such Acquisition shall be consensual and shall have been approved by the board of directors of the Person whose Equity Interests or assets are proposed to be acquired and shall not have been preceded by an unsolicited tender offer for such Equity Interests by, or proxy contest initiated by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an Affiliate thereof;

 

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(o) any such Subsidiary (and its equityholders) shall agree to execute and deliver the agreements, instruments and other documents to the extent required by Section 7.01(b) on or prior to the date set forth in Section 7.01(b); and

(p) the Purchase Price payable in respect of all Acquisitions shall not exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement.

Permitted Cure Equity” means Qualified Equity Interests of the Company.

Permitted Disposition” means:

(a) (i) sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of business and (ii) the disposition of cash and Cash Equivalents ;

(b) licensing and sublicensing (on a non-exclusive basis) Intellectual Property rights in the ordinary course of business; provided, that, any license or sublicense granted in reliance on this clause (b) in connection with the expansion of the business into a foreign jurisdiction (other than Canada) may be granted on an exclusive basis;

(c) leasing or subleasing assets in the ordinary course of business;

(d) the sale, assignment, transfer, license, lapse, abandonment, or other disposition of Intellectual Property of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent not used in the conduct of, or not economically desirable in the conduct of, their business, or in the ordinary course of business so long as (A) such Intellectual Property is not material revenue generating Intellectual Property and (B) such lapse is not materially adverse (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) to the interests of the Secured Parties;

(e) any involuntary loss, damage or destruction of property (including as a result of condemnation or casualty);

(f) any involuntary condemnation, seizure or taking, by exercise of the power of eminent domain or otherwise, or confiscation or requisition of use of property;

(g) transfers of assets (other than Intellectual Property, unless permitted by clause (b) of this definition or otherwise between Loan Parties) (i) from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a domestic Loan Party, (ii) from any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Loan Party to any other Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) from any Loan Party to any Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Loan Party in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 after the Effective Date;

(h) Disposition of obsolete, surplus, immaterial, uneconomical or worn-out assets in the ordinary course of business;

(i) the trade in for credit or exchange (including the application of proceeds received from a sale of equipment to the purchase price of replacement equipment) of equipment for equipment used in the conduct of the business of the Loan Parties;

 

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(j) any Subsidiary of a Borrower may dissolve, liquidate or wind up its affairs so long as (i) if the Subsidiary is a Loan Party, the assets of such Subsidiary, if any, shall be transferred to a Loan Party and (ii) such action could not reasonably be expect to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(k) the termination of any Hedging Agreement;

(l) transactions permitted under Section 7.02(a), 7.02(b), Section 7.02(c)(i), Section 7.02(e), Section 7.02(f), Section 7.02(h) and Section 7.02(s);

(m) discounts, forbearances or forgiveness of, or dispositions (on a non-recourse basis) of, notes receivable or accounts receivable (or the conversion to Equity Interests thereof) in connection with the collection or compromise thereof, or a Master Franchisee’s or Franchisee’s financing restructuring, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

(n) Disposition of property or assets not otherwise treated as “Permitted Dispositions” in an aggregate amount not less than the fair market value of such property or assets; provided, that (i) such Dispositions in excess of $2,000,000 shall be for at least 75% cash consideration, (ii) such Dispositions shall not exceed $4,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement and (iii) the Net Cash Proceeds of such Dispositions (including the proposed Disposition) are paid to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to the terms of Section 2.05(c)(ii) or applied as provided in Section 2.05(c)(v);

(o) granting of franchises with respect to Salons (and disposition of property in connection therewith) made to Franchisees, including dispositions made in connection with Refranchising Transactions;

(p) granting of Master Franchises to Master Franchisees to operate a Master Franchise Business;

(q) [reserved], and

(r) the OSP Sale.

Permitted Indebtedness” means:

(a) any Indebtedness or Letter of Credit Liabilities owing to any Agent or any Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(b) any Indebtedness listed on Schedule 7.02(b), and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such Indebtedness;

(c) Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such Indebtedness;

(d) Permitted Intercompany Investments;

 

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(e) obligations to advertising co-ops or funds arising in the ordinary course of business and consistent with customary franchise industry practice;

(f) Indebtedness owed to any Person providing property, casualty, liability, or other insurance to the Loan Parties, so long as the amount of such Indebtedness is not in excess of the amount of the unpaid cost of, and shall be incurred only to defer the cost of, such insurance for the period in which such Indebtedness is incurred and such Indebtedness is outstanding only during such period;

(g) the incurrence by any Loan Party of Indebtedness under Hedging Agreements that are incurred for the bona fide purpose of hedging the interest rate, commodity, or foreign currency risks associated with such Loan Party’s operations and not for speculative purposes;

(h) Indebtedness incurred in respect of credit cards, credit card processing services, debit cards, stored value cards, purchase cards (including so-called “procurement cards” or “P-cards”) or other cash management and treasury services, or similar services, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(i) (x) contingent liabilities in respect of any indemnification obligation, adjustment of purchase price, non-compete, earn-out or other contingent acquisition consideration or similar obligation of any Loan Party so long as any such earn-out or other contingent acquisition consideration or similar obligation is subject to a subordination agreement (or otherwise subject to subordination terms) in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and (y) seller notes or other similar obligations so long as (i) any such seller notes or similar obligations are subject to a subordination agreement in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) upon the issuance of any such Indebtedness, the Total Leverage Ratio of the Company and its Subsidiaries (for the consecutive four Fiscal Quarter period of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending as of the Fiscal Quarter immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness for which financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.01(a)) is less than 5.00 to 1.00 after giving pro forma effect thereto, in each case, incurred in connection with the consummation of one or more Permitted Acquisitions and Permitted Dispositions, and (z) Indebtedness in respect of any adjustment of purchase price in connection with the Alline Acquisition and the Alline Acquisition Earnout;

(j) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be directly or indirectly caused as a result thereof and the Total Leverage Ratio of the Company and its Subsidiaries (for the consecutive four Fiscal Quarter period of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending as of the Fiscal Quarter immediately prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness for which financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.01(a)) is less than 3.75 to 1.00 after giving pro forma effect thereto, Indebtedness of a Person whose assets or Equity Interests are acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in a Permitted Acquisition; provided, that such Indebtedness (i) is either Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness or a Capitalized Lease with respect to equipment or mortgage financing with respect to a Facility, (ii) was in existence prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition, and (iii) was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Permitted Acquisition;

 

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(k) transactions permitted under Section 7.02(f);

(l) unsecured Indebtedness of the Company (including unsecured Indebtedness payable to an Affiliate of the Company) that is incurred on the date of the consummation of a Permitted Acquisition solely for the purpose of consummating such Permitted Acquisition in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,700,000, so long as (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (ii) such unsecured Indebtedness is not incurred for working capital purposes, (iii) such unsecured Indebtedness does not mature prior to the date that is 6 months after the Final Maturity Date, (iv) such unsecured Indebtedness does not amortize until 6 months after the Final Maturity Date, (v) such unsecured Indebtedness does not provide for the payment of interest thereon in cash or Cash Equivalents prior to the date that is 6 months after the Final Maturity Date, (vi) such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and (vii) if such Indebtedness is payable to an Affiliate of the Company, such Indebtedness is incurred for fair consideration and on terms (taken as a whole) not materially less favorable (as determined by the Borrower in good faith) to the Company than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company, and that are fully disclosed to the Collateral Agent contemporaneously with the incurrence thereof;

(m) Indebtedness in connection with surety, performance, bid, appeal or similar bonds, letters of credit, bank guarantees and performance bonds and other similar obligations obtained in the ordinary course of business and in connection with workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits, environmental obligations or property, casualty or liability insurance of Loan Parties and in connection with other surety and performance bonds in the ordinary course of business;

(n) to the extent constituting Indebtedness: (i) contingent obligations arising under indemnity agreements to title insurance companies to cause such title insurers to issue title insurance policies in the ordinary course of business with respect to real property of a Borrower or its Subsidiaries, (ii) obligations in connection with repurchase agreements constituting Cash Equivalents at the time such Investment was made, (iii) endorsement of instruments or other payment items for deposit in the ordinary course of business and (iv) deferred compensation, pension plan and pension benefit obligations and liabilities to current or former employees, officers, directors, managers, consultants of a Borrower and its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Guarantees by a Borrower of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, provided that (i) the Indebtedness so guaranteed is permitted by Section 7.02(b), and (ii) guarantees by a Borrower or other Loan Party of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party must constitute a Permitted Investment;

(p) (i) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business and (ii) Indebtedness consisting of endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(q) Indebtedness owing to insurance carriers and incurred to finance insurance premiums of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(r) Indebtedness owing to current or former officers, directors, partners, managers, consultants and employees, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company as permitted in clause (e) of “Permitted Restricted Payments”;

(s) Investments constituting Indebtedness and otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

(t) Indebtedness representing any Taxes and other governmental charges, to the extent not required to be paid pursuant to Section 7.01(c)(ii) and not otherwise constituting an Event of Default;

(u) guaranties in the ordinary course of business of lease obligations of Franchisees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(v) [reserved];

(w) other Indebtedness, in addition to the Indebtedness listed above, in an aggregate outstanding amount not at any time exceeding $2,700,000; and

(x) all premiums, interest, fees, expenses charges and additional or contingent interest on the Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (w) above.

Permitted Intercompany Investments” means Investments made by (a) a Loan Party to or in another Loan Party, (b) a Loan Party to or in a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party so long as (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing either before or after giving effect to such Investment and (ii) the aggregate amount of all such Investments made by the Loan Parties to or in Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties after the Effective Date does not exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding, (c) a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to or in another Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, and (d) a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to or in a Loan Party, so long as, in the case of a loan or advance, the parties thereto are party to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement.

Permitted Investments” means:

(a) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

(b) Investments in negotiable instruments deposited or to be deposited for collection in the ordinary course of business;

(c) advances made in connection with purchases of goods or services in the ordinary course of business;

(d) Investments received in settlement of amounts due to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries effected in the ordinary course of business or owing to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of Insolvency Proceedings involving an Account Debtor or upon the foreclosure or enforcement of any Lien in favor of a Loan Party or its Subsidiaries;

 

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(e) Investments existing on the Effective dDate hereof, as set forth on Schedule 7.02(e) hereto, but not any increase in the amount thereof as set forth in such Schedule (other than as a result of unused commitments, accrued interest, fees and premiums) or any other modification of the terms thereof;

(f) Permitted Intercompany Investments;

(g) Permitted Acquisitions;

(h) non-cash loans and advances to officers, directors and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries to purchase Equity Interests in the Company in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided that such loans and advances shall comply with all applicable law;

(i) Investments (including debt obligations) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business;

(j) Investments constituting Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.02(b), and Guarantees among the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries not constituting Indebtedness and entered into in the ordinary course of business, in each case, to the extent such Guarantees also constitute Investments;

(k) Hedging Agreements permitted or not restricted hereunder;

(l) prepaid expenses or lease, utility and other similar deposits made in the ordinary course of business of a Borrower and its Subsidiaries to secure the performance of leases or in connection with bidding on government contracts;

(m) Investments of a Subsidiary acquired after the Effective Date or a Person merged into a Borrower or merged into or consolidated with a Subsidiary after the Effective Date in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, to the extent that such Investments are in existence on the date of the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition and were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such Permitted Acquisition;

(n) Investments arising out of the receipt of non-cash consideration for the Disposition of assets to the extent permitted under this Agreement;

(o) bank deposits and securities accounts maintained in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(p) Investments to the extent solely reflecting an increase in the value of Investments otherwise permitted hereunder;

 

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(q) (i) reasonable earnest money deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with the acquisitions of property and assets not prohibited hereunder and (ii) deposits made in the ordinary course of business securing contractual obligations to the extent constituting a Lien permitted hereunder;

(r) Investments in assets directly related to the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ line of business as in existence on the Effective Date to the extent the consideration paid therefor consists solely of (i) Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Company or (ii) the Net Cash Proceeds of Equity Issuances (including any capital contribution);

(s) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, Investments of cash and cash equivalents in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000;

(t) Capital Expenditures including capital expenditures excluded form the definition thereof;

(u) Investments consisting of Permitted Indebtedness, Permitted Liens, Permitted Restricted Payments, Permitted Dispositions and transactions permitted under Section 7.02(c)(i);

(v) Investments funded with amounts permitted to be reinvested pursuant to Section 2.05(v);

(w) Investments consisting of re-organizations and other activities related to tax-planning and re-organization and issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with any tax-planning or reorganization so long as (i) the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral, taken as a whole, is not materially impaired as a result of such Investments and (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at such time or would result therefrom; and

(x) Investments received in connection with good faith settlement of delinquent Accounts and disputes with any customers, Master Franchisees, Franchisees or suppliers in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate outstanding amount at any one time not in excess of $2,700,000;

(y) repurchases or conversions of franchised Salons or Master Franchise Businesses for aggregate consideration in an amount not to exceed $50,000 during any Fiscal Year;

(z) advances, loans or extensions of credit by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in compliance with applicable Laws to officers, non-affiliated members of the Board of Directors, managers, consultants and employees of Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business for travel, entertainment or relocation, out of pocket or other business related expenses in an aggregate amount not to exceed $250,000 per Fiscal Year; and

(aa) guarantees of obligations not constituting Indebtedness.; and

(bb) the Alline Acquisition.

 

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Permitted Liens” means:

(a) Liens securing the Obligations;

(b) Liens for Taxes, assessments and governmental charges the payment of which is not required under Section 7.01(c)(ii);

(c) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money) that are not overdue by more than 45 days or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings promptly initiated and diligently conducted, and a reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made therefor;

(d) Liens described on Schedule 7.02(a), provided that any such Lien shall only secure the obligations that it secures on the Effective Date and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

(e) purchase money Liens on equipment acquired or held by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of its business to secure Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness so long as such Lien only (i) attaches to such property (together with proceeds, products or accessories) and (ii) secures the Indebtedness that was incurred to acquire such property or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof; provided that individual financings of property provided by a single lender may be cross-collateralized to other financings of property provided by such lender or its Affiliates;

(f) Liens securing (i) obligations incurred in respect of workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other forms of governmental insurance or benefits, (ii) the performance of bids, tenders, leases, contracts (other than for the payment of debt for borrowed money) and statutory obligations or (iii) obligations on surety or appeal bonds, but only to the extent such Liens are made or otherwise arise in the ordinary course of business and secure obligations not past due;

(g) with respect to any real property, easements, rights of way, restrictions, zoning restrictions and similar encumbrances on real property and minor irregularities in the title thereto that do not (i) secure obligations for the payment of money or (ii) materially impair, in the good faith determination of the Borrower, the value of such property or its use by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in the normal conduct of such Person’s business;

(h) Liens of landlords and mortgagees of landlords (i) arising by statute or under any Lease or related Contractual Obligation entered into in the ordinary course of business, (ii) on fixtures and movable property located on the real property leased or subleased from such landlord, or (iii) for amounts not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

(i) except with respect to Intellectual Property rights, any interest or title of a lessor, licensor, sublessor or sublicensor under any lease, license, sublease or sublicense entered into by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof in the ordinary course of its business and covering only the assets so leased, licensed, subleased or sublicensed;

 

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(j) non-exclusive (other than exclusive licenses or sublicenses granted in connection with the expansion of the business into a foreign jurisdiction (other than Canada)) licenses of Intellectual Property rights granted in the ordinary course of business or licenses of Intellectual Property rights constituting Permitted Dispositions;

(k) judgment liens securing judgments and other proceedings not constituting an Event of Default under Section 9.01(j);

(l) rights of set-off or bankers’ liens upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions, solely to the extent incurred in connection with the maintenance of such deposit accounts in the ordinary course of business;

(m) Liens granted in the ordinary course of business on the unearned portion of insurance premiums securing the financing of insurance premiums to the extent the financing is permitted under the definition of Permitted Indebtedness;

(n) Liens assumed by the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with a Permitted Acquisition that secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (j) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness;

(o) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by any Loan Party in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to a Permitted Acquisition or other Permitted Investment;

(p) pledges or deposits or other customary Liens in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA or Section 430(k) of the Internal Revenue Code) and liens in favor of public utilities;

(q) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business by virtue of any contractual, statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies covering deposit or securities accounts (including funds or other assets credited thereto) or other funds maintained with a depository institution or securities intermediary, Liens relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of such Person, and Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the UCC on items in the course of collection;

(r) assignments of insurance or condemnation proceeds provided to landlords (or their mortgagees) pursuant to the terms of any lease and Liens or rights reserved in any lease for rent or for compliance with the terms of such lease;

 

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(s) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by any Loan Party or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Effective Date prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) in the case of the acquisition of property or assets, except as permitted hereby, such Lien does not extend to or cover any other property or assets of a Loan Party or any Subsidiary (other than any proceeds and products thereof, accessions thereto, improvements thereon and after acquired property subjected to a Lien pursuant to terms existing at the time of such acquisition, it being understood that such requirement shall not be permitted to apply to any property to which such requirement would not have applied but for such acquisition), (iii) unless permitted hereunder, in the case of the acquisition of any Person who becomes a Subsidiary, such Lien does not extend to or cover the property or assets of any other Loan Party and (iv) the Indebtedness secured thereby is Permitted Indebtedness;

(t) Liens consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in a Permitted Disposition;

(u) Liens on Accounts and related assets securing Indebtedness permitted under clause (x) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness”;

(v) Liens as to which the aggregate amount of the obligations secured thereby does not exceed $2,700,000; and

(w) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks or other financial institutions in the ordinary course of business, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or its Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, Indebtedness (other than the Obligations, but including Capitalized Lease Obligations) incurred to finance the acquisition of any fixed assets secured by a Lien permitted under clause (e) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”; provided that (a) such Indebtedness is incurred within 60 days after such acquisition, (b) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price of the asset financed and (c) the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding.

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means the extension of maturity, refinancing, replacement or modification of the terms of Indebtedness so long as:

(a) after giving effect to such extension, refinancing, replacement or modification, the principal amount of such Indebtedness is not greater than the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding immediately prior to such extension, refinancing, replacement or modification (other than by an amount equal to accrued interest, unused commitments and premiums, fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith);

(b) such extension, refinancing, replacement or modification does not result in a shortening of the average weighted maturity (measured as of the extension, refinancing or modification, but without giving effect to any prepayment or amortization) of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, replaced or modified;

 

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(c) such extension, refinancing, replacement or modification is pursuant to terms (taken as a whole) that are not materially less favorable (as determined by the Borrower in good faith and in consultation with the Administrative Agent) to the Loan Parties than the terms of the Indebtedness (including, without limitation, terms relating to the collateral (if any) and subordination (if any)) being extended, refinanced, replaced or modified; and

(d) the Indebtedness that is extended, refinanced, replaced or modified is not recourse to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries that is liable on account of the obligations other than those Persons which were obligated with respect to the Indebtedness that was refinanced, renewed, replaced or extended or as otherwise permitted hereunder.

Permitted Restricted Payments” means any of the following Restricted Payments made by:

(a) any Subsidiary to the Company for the payment or reimbursement of franchise or similar Taxes required to maintain legal existence, director fees (subject to the limitation of Section 7.02(j)) and reasonable accounting, legal and other administrative and overhead expenses of the Company and other expenses as and when due and owing by the Company in the ordinary course of its business (including salaries and related reasonable and customary expenses incurred by employees of the Company);

(b) any Loan Party as Permitted Tax Distributions;

(c) any Subsidiary of any Borrower to (i) each owner of Equity Interests of such Subsidiary ratably according to their relative ownership interests of the relevant class of Equity Interests or as otherwise required by the applicable Organization Documents or (ii) (A) such Borrower or (B) another Subsidiary of such Borrower that is a Loan Party;

(d) the Company to pay dividends in the form of common Equity Interests;

(e) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be directly or indirectly caused as a result thereof, any Subsidiary to the Company to allow the Company to make redemptions or repurchases of Equity Interests (or payments with respect to phantom stock units) of the Company owned by a current or former employee, officer, consultants, or director (or such Persons’ heirs, successors or assigns) of any Subsidiary in connection with the termination, death or disability of employment or engagement of such Person or payments related to any key-man life insurance policy; provided that the aggregate amount of all such payments made pursuant to this clause (e) shall not exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate during the term of this Agreement;

(f) the Company in the form of non-cash repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or similar Equity Interests if such repurchased Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such option;

(g) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments in respect of working capital adjustments, tax liability adjustments, indemnification obligations or purchase price adjustments pursuant to any Permitted Acquisition or other permitted Investments;

 

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(h) the Company, so long as (x) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing on the date of declaration of any such Restricted Payment, (y) the Total Leverage Ratio of the Company and its Subsidiaries (calculated using the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries measured for the trailing 4 Fiscal Quarter period ending on the last day of the most recent Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been (or are required to have been) receive by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.01(a) and the Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries measured as of the date of such Acquisition) shall not exceed 2.75:1.00 and (z) Liquidity (calculated on a pro forma basis to give effect to each such Restricted Payment) is no less than $20,000,000; and

(i) transactions permitted under Section  7.02(j).; and

(j) to the extent constituting a Restricted Payment, the consummation of the transactions contemplated under the Alline Acquisition Agreement.

Permitted Specified Liens” means Permitted Liens described in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (k) of the definition of Permitted Liens, and, solely in the case of Section 7.01(b)(i), including clauses (g), (h) and (i) of the definition of Permitted Liens.

Permitted Tax Distributions” means for any taxable period (or portion thereof) that for which a Loan Party is treated as an entity that is subject to Tax in its jurisdiction of organization or as a result of its status as a tax resident of such jurisdiction and is a member of a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar Tax group of which a direct or indirect parent of the Loan Party pays income Taxes attributable to the taxable income of such Loan Party (a “Tax Group”), the payment of distributions to (or to fund corresponding distributions to) such parent company that are used to pay Tax liabilities of such Tax Group in an amount equal to the portion of the Tax Group’s consolidated, combined, unitary or similar Tax liability for such taxable period that is attributable to such Loan Party that is a member of such Tax Group; provided that the aggregate amount of such distributions with respect to any taxable period shall not exceed the actual Tax liability of such Tax Group.

Person” means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture or other enterprise or entity or Governmental Authority.

Petty Cash Accounts” means deposit accounts with deposits at any time in an aggregate amount not in excess of $50,000 for any one account and $100,000 in the aggregate for all such accounts.

Post-Default Rate” means a rate of interest per annum equal to the rate of interest otherwise in effect from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement plus 2.00%, or, if a rate of interest is not otherwise in effect, interest at the highest rate specified herein for any Loan then outstanding prior to an Event of Default plus 2.00%.

PPSA” means the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario) and the regulations thereunder, as from time to time in effect; provided, that, if attachment, perfection, the effect of perfection or non-perfection or the priority of Collateral Agent’s Lien on any Collateral are governed by the personal property security laws of any jurisdiction in Canada other than the laws of the Province of Ontario, “PPSA” means those personal property security laws in such other jurisdiction in Canada (including the Civil Code of Quebec) for the purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment, perfection, the effect of perfection or non-perfection or such priority and for the definitions relating to such provisions.

 

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Pro Forma Transaction” means, a Permitted Acquisition or a Permitted Disposition as described in clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 1.06.

Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to:

(a) a Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans and the right to receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto (including with respect to such Lender’s obligation to share in Letter of Credit Liabilities and to receive the related Letter of Credit fee described in Section 3.02), the percentage obtained by dividing (A) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, by (B) the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, provided, that, if the Total Revolving Credit Commitment has been reduced to zero, the numerator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans (including Collateral Agent Advances) and Letter of Credit Liabilities and the denominator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans (including Collateral Agent Advances) and Letter of Credit Liabilities,

(b) a Lender’s obligation to make the Initial Term Loan A and the right to receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Initial Term Loan A Commitment, by (ii) the Total Initial Term Loan A Commitment, provided that if the Total Initial Term Loan A Commitment has been reduced to zero, the numerator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the Initial Term Loan A and the denominator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Initial Term Loan A,

(c) a Lender’s obligation to make the Initial Term Loan B and the right to receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s Initial Term Loan B Commitment, by (ii) the Total Initial Term Loan B Commitment, provided that if the Total Initial Term Loan B Commitment has been reduced to zero, the numerator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the Initial Term Loan B and the denominator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Initial Term Loan B, and

(d) a Lender’s obligation to make the First Amendment Term Loan A and the right to receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s First Amendment Term Loan A Commitment, by (ii) the Total First Amendment Term Loan A Commitment, provided that if the Total First Amendment Term Loan A Commitment has been reduced to zero, the numerator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the First Amendment Term Loan A and the denominator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the First Amendment Term Loan A,

 

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(e) a Lender’s obligation to make the First Amendment Term Loan B and the right to receive payments of interest, fees, and principal with respect thereto, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) such Lender’s First Amendment Term Loan B Commitment, by (ii) the Total First Amendment Term Loan B Commitment, provided that if the Total First Amendment Term Loan B Commitment has been reduced to zero, the numerator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the First Amendment Term Loan B and the denominator shall be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the First Amendment Term Loan B, and

(df) all other matters (including, without limitation, the indemnification obligations arising under Section 10.05), the percentage obtained by dividing (i) the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and the unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s portion of the Term Loan, by (ii) the sum of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment and the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan, provided, that, if such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment shall have been reduced to zero, such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed to be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans (including Collateral Agent Advances) and Letter of Credit Liabilities and if the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall have been reduced to zero, the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed to be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans (including Collateral Agent Advances) and Letter of Credit Liabilities.

Processor Letter” means any letter agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G between any Borrower and any Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor in favor of the Collateral Agent, as the same now exist or may hereafter be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced.

Projections” means financial projections of the Company and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(g)(ii), as updated from time to time pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(vi).

Purchase Price” means, with respect to any Acquisition, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate consideration, whether cash, property or securities (including, without limitation, the fair market value of any Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries issued in connection with such Acquisition), paid or delivered by a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries (whether as initial consideration or through the payment or disposition of deferred consideration, including, without limitation, in the form of seller financing, royalty payments, payments allocated towards non-compete covenants, payments to principals for consulting services or other similar payments) in connection with such Acquisition, plus (b) the aggregate amount of liabilities of the acquired business (net of current assets of the acquired business) that would be reflected on a balance sheet (if such were to be prepared) of the Company and its Subsidiaries after giving effect to such Acquisition.

Qualified Cash” means (a) at any time prior to the date that is 60 days after the Effective Date, the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15,000,000 of the Loan Parties and (b) at any time thereafter, (i) the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash of the Loan Parties held in domestic deposit accounts, in each case of this clause (b)(i), subject to a Control Agreement plus (ii) the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash of the Loan Parties held in deposit accounts maintained in Canada, or any province thereof, in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000.

 

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Qualified Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all Equity Interests of such Person that are not Disqualified Equity Interests.

Real Property Deliverables” means each of the following agreements, instruments and other documents in respect of each Facility, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent:

(a) a Mortgage duly executed by the applicable Loan Party,

(b) a Title Insurance Policy with respect to each Mortgage;

(c) a current ALTA survey and a surveyor’s certificate, certified to the Collateral Agent and to the issuer of the Title Insurance Policy with respect thereto by a professional surveyor licensed in the state in which such Facility is located and reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

(d) a customary opinion of counsel in the state where such Facility is located with respect to the enforceability of the Mortgage to be recorded; and

(e) to the extent reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent, an ASTM 1527-21 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (“Phase I ESA”) by an independent firm reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent with respect to any New Facility.

Recipient” means any Agent, any Lender, the LC Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder, as applicable.

Reference Rate” means, for any period, the greatest of (a) [reserved], (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% per annum, (c) Term SOFR (which rate shall be calculated based upon an Interest Period of 1 month) plus 1.00% per annum, and (d) the rate last quoted by The Wall Street Journal as the “Prime Rate” in the United States or, if The Wall Street Journal ceases to quote such rate, the highest per annum interest rate published by the Federal Reserve Board in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (Selected Interest Rates) as the “bank prime loan” rate or, if such rate is no longer quoted therein, any similar rate quoted therein (as determined by the Administrative Agent) or any similar release by the Federal Reserve Board (as determined by the Administrative Agent). Each change in the Reference Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

Reference Rate Term SOFR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

Reference Rate Loan” means each portion of a Loan that bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Reference Rate.

Refranchising Transactions” means the sale of assets and transfer of possession of a Loan Party-operated Salon to an independent franchisee who will operate one or more franchised Salons under a Franchise Agreement or Franchise Agreements, whether such transfer occurs by way of an assignment of Loan Party leases, or by way of a sublease or subleases.

 

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Register” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(f).

Registered Intellectual Property” means Intellectual Property that is issued, registered, renewed or the subject of a pending application.

Registered Loans” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(f).

Regulation T”, “Regulation U” and “Regulation X” mean, respectively, Regulations T, U and X of the Board or any successor, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Reimbursement Obligations” means, at any date, the obligations of the Borrowers then outstanding to reimburse (a) the Revolving Agent, for payments made by Revolving Agent under a Support Agreement and/or (b) any LC Issuer, for payments made by such LC Issuer under a Lender Letter of Credit.

Rejection Notice” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.05(g).

Related Fund” means, with respect to any Person (other than a natural person), an Affiliate of such Person, or a fund or account managed by such Person or an Affiliate of such Person, in each case, engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

Related Party Assignment” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(c)(ii).

Related Party Register” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(f).

Release” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, seeping, dumping or disposing of any Hazardous Material (including the abandonment or discarding of barrels, containers and other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Material) into the environment.

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

Remaining Average Life” means, with respect to (a) the principal amount of Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable, repaid on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event, (b) the outstanding principal amount of Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable, on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event or (c) the amount of the permanent reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event (the principal amount of Loans repaid, outstanding or permanently reduced upon the occurrence of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event shall be referred to herein as the “Called Principal”, as applicable), the number of years obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years, computed on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360)-day year comprised of twelve (12) thirty (30)-day months and calculated to two (2) decimal places, that will elapse between the applicable Applicable Premium Trigger Event and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

 

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Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect any Called Principal, all payments of such Called Principal and interest thereon that would be due after the Applicable Premium Trigger Event with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date assuming, for purposes of calculating the Remaining Scheduled Payments of such Called Principal, the benchmark rate applicable to such Called Principal will be equal to the Federal Funds Rate.

Remedial Action” means any action (a) to address any actual or alleged non-compliance with any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit, or (b) to clean up, remove, remediate, contain, treat, monitor, assess, evaluate, or investigate the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Material (including the performance of pre-remedial studies and investigations and post-remedial operation and maintenance activities).

Replacement Lender” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.02(c).

Reportable Event” means an event described in Section 4043 of ERISA (other than an event not subject to the provision for 30-day notice to the PBGC under the regulations promulgated under such Section).

Required Lenders” means Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares (calculated in accordance with clause (d) of the definition thereof) aggregate at least 50.1%.

Required Revolving Lenders” means Revolving Loan Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares (calculated in accordance with clause (a) of the definition thereof) aggregate at least 50.1%.

Required Tranche A Lenders” means Term Loan A Lenders and Revolving Loan Lenders comprising at least 50.1% of the Total Revolving Credit Commitments and the Term Loan A held by all Term Loan A Lenders and Revolving Loan Lenders; provided, that, if the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall have been reduced to zero, the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall be deemed to be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans (including Collateral Agent Advances) and Letter of Credit Liabilities.

Requirements of Law” means, with respect to any Person, collectively, the common law and all federal, state, provincial, local, foreign, multinational or international laws, statutes, codes, treaties, rules and regulations, ordinances, orders, judgments, writs, injunctions, and decrees, in each case that are applicable to or binding upon such Person or to which such Person is subject.

Restricted Indebtedness” means (a) any Indebtedness of a Loan Party that is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations expressly by the terms of such Indebtedness and (b) any Indebtedness of a Loan Party that is secured by a Lien on the Collateral ranking junior to the Lien securing the Obligations.

 

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Restricted Payment” means (a) the declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, now or hereafter outstanding (including in connection with an LLC Division; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, an LLC Division is not in and of itself a Restricted Payment), (b) the making of any repurchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any Equity Interests of any Loan Party or any direct or indirect parent of any Loan Party, now or hereafter outstanding, (c) the making of any payment to retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition of shares of any class of Equity Interests of any Loan Party, now or hereafter outstanding, (d) the return of any Equity Interests to any shareholders or other equity holders of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or the making of any other distribution of property, assets, shares of Equity Interests, warrants, rights, options, obligations or securities thereto, in each case, on account of any Person’s interest in Equity Interests of a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (e) the payment of any management, consulting, monitoring or advisory fees or any other fees or expenses (including the reimbursement thereof by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries) pursuant to any management, consulting, monitoring, advisory or other services agreement to any of the shareholders or other equityholders of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, or to any other Subsidiaries or Affiliates of any Loan Party.

Revolving Agent” has the meaning specified therefor in the preamble hereto.

Revolving Credit Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers in the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as such amount may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Revolving Loan” means a loan made by a Lender to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(i) (including any Specified Revolving Loan).

Revolving Loan Outstandings” means at any time of calculation the sum of the then existing aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans and the then existing Letter of Credit Liabilities.

Revolving Loan Lender” means a Lender with a Revolving Credit Commitment or a Revolving Loan.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means, with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any arrangement, directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby the Company or such Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any property used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property being sold or transferred.

Salon” means any location where a Franchisee conducts business pursuant to a Franchise Agreement and any other location operated by the Company or a Subsidiary using the same trademarks and business format as a location operated pursuant to a Franchise Agreement.

Sanctioned Country” means, at any time, a country or territory that is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions (which, as of the Effective Date, includes the Crimea Region of the Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

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Sanctioned Person” means, at any time, any Person (a) listed in any Sanctions- related list of designated Persons maintained by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, or other relevant sanctions authority, (b) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country or (c) any Person owned or controlled by any Person or Persons described in clauses (a) or (b).

Sanctions” means Requirements of Law (including applicable Canadian AML Legislation) economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, Canada or other relevant sanctions authority.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other similar or successor agency of the Federal government administering the Securities Act.

Second Offer” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.05(g).

Secured Party” means any Agent and any Lender.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.

Securitization” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 12.07(l).

Security Agreement” means a Pledge and Security Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, made by a Loan Party in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties securing the Obligations.

Seller” means any Person that sells Equity Interests or other property or assets to a Loan Party or a Subsidiary of a Loan Party in a Permitted Acquisition.

SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

SOFR Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the SOFR Loans comprising such Borrowing.

SOFR Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on Term SOFR.

SOFR Notice” means a written notice in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto.

 

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Solvent” means, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that on such date (a) such Person is able to pay its debts and other liabilities, as they mature in the ordinary course of business, (b) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond such Person’s ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature in the ordinary course of business, (c) such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person’s property would constitute unreasonably small capital, (d) the fair value of the property (on a going concern basis) of such Person is not less than the total amount of the liabilities of such Person and (e) the present fair salable value of the assets (on a going concern basis) of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its existing debts as they become absolute and matured. For the purposes hereof, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such contingent liabilities meet the criteria for accrual under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 5).

Specified Letter of Credit Liabilities” means, at any time of calculation, the sum, without duplication, of (a) the amount then available for drawing under all outstanding Letters of Credit (without regard to whether any conditions to drawing thereunder can then be met) pursuant to Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuances plus (b) the aggregate unpaid amount of all Reimbursement Obligations in respect of previous drawings made under such Letters of Credit.

Specified Revolving Loans” has the meaning specified thereof in Section 3.01.

Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 3.01.

Standard & Poor’s” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Sub-Franchise Agreement” means any franchise or licensing agreement whether now existing or hereafter entered into by a Master Franchisee and a Sub-Franchisee related to the operation of a franchised Salon by a Sub-Franchisee and all other agreements with any Sub-Franchisee to which any Master Franchisee is a party, in each case, related to the business of operating a franchised Salon, all as amended or modified from time to time.

Sub-Franchisee” means any sub-franchisee or sub-licensee under a Sub-Franchise Agreement with a Master Franchisee.

Subject Proceeds” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(c)(vii).

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person at any date, any corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, association, joint venture or other business entity (a) the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in such Person’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP or (b) of which more than 50% of (i) the outstanding Equity Interests having (in the absence of contingencies) ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such Person, (ii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, the

 

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interest in the capital or profits of such partnership or limited liability company or (iii) in the case of a trust, estate, association, joint venture or other entity, the beneficial interest in such trust, estate, association or other entity business is, at the time of determination, owned or controlled directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, by such Person. References to a Subsidiary shall mean a Subsidiary of the Company unless the context expressly provides otherwise.

Support Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01.

Supported Letter of Credit” means a Letter of Credit issued by an LC Issuer in reliance on one or more Support Agreements.

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

Term Loan” means, collectively, the Initial Term Loans A and the First Amendment Term Loans B.

Term Loan A” means, collectively, the loans made by the Term Loan A Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(ii).

Term Loan B” means, collectively, the loans made by the Term Loan B Lenders to the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01(a)(iii).

Term Loan Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Initial Term Loan A Commitment and/or First Amendment Term Loan B Commitment.

Term Loan A Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the Term Loan A to the Borrowers in the amount set forth in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Term Loan B Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make the Term Loan B to the Borrowers in the amount set forth in Schedule 1.01(A) hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender under this Agreement, as the same may be terminated or reduced from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

Term Loan Lender” means a Lender with a Term Loan Commitment or a Term Loan.

Term Loan A Lender” means a Lender with aan Initial Term Loan A Commitment or aLender and First Amendment Term Loan A Lender.

Term Loan B Lender” means a Lender with aan Initial Term Loan B Commitment or aLender and First Amendment Term Loan B Lender.

 

 

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Term Loan PIK Amount” means, as of any date of determination the amount of all interest accrued with respect to the Loans that has been paid in kind by being added to the balance of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.04(d).

Term SOFR” means,

(a) for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Loan, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 4:00 p.m. (New York time) on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, and

(b) for any calculation with respect to a Reference Rate Loan on any day, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor of one month on the day (such day, the “Reference Rate Term SOFR Determination Date”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such day, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 4:00 p.m. (New York time) on any Reference Rate Term SOFR Determination Date the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Reference Rate SOFR Determination Date;

provided that if Term SOFR as so determined shall ever be less than the Floor, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.

Term SOFR Administrator” means 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 Borrowing” means, as to any Borrowing, the Loans bearing interest at a rate based on Term SOFR comprising such Borrowing other than pursuant to clause (c) of the definition of “Reference Rate”.

Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

 

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Title Insurance Policy” means a mortgagee’s loan policy, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, together with all endorsements made from time to time thereto, issued to the Collateral Agent by or on behalf of a title insurance company selected by or otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, insuring the Lien created by a Mortgage in an amount and on terms and with such endorsements reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, delivered to the Collateral Agent.

“Total First Amendment Term Loan A Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ First Amendment Term Loan A Commitments.

“Total First Amendment Term Loan B Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ First Amendment Term Loan B Commitments.

“Total First Amendment Term Loan Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ First Amendment Commitments.

Total Initial Commitment” means the sum of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment and the Total Initial Term Loan Commitment.“Total Initial Term Loan Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Initial Term Loan Commitments.

“Total Initial Term Loan A Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Initial Term Loan A Commitments.

“Total Initial Term Loan B Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Initial Term Loan B Commitments.

Total Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries for any period, the ratio of (a) the sum of all Indebtedness described in clauses (a), (b) (but excluding Indebtedness described in clause (i) of “Permitted Indebtedness”), (c), (e) and (f) (but in the case of any letter of credit, the undrawn face amount thereof only to the extent the contingent obligations in respect of such letter of credit are not cash collateralized) in the definition thereof, to (b) Consolidated EBITDA of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period.

Total Revolving Credit Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments.

Total Term Loan A Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Term Loan A Commitments.

Total Term Loan B Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Term Loan B Commitments.

Total Term Loan Commitment” means the sum of the amounts of the Lenders’ Term Loan Commitments.

 

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Treasury Rate” means, as of the occurrence of any Applicable Premium Trigger Event, the yield to maturity implied by the “Ask Yield(s)” reported as of 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event on the display designated as “Page PX1” (or such other display as may replace Page PX1) on Bloomberg Financial Markets for the most recently issued actively traded on-the-run U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity of no greater than the period of remaining months until the 24 month anniversary of the Effective Date equal to the Remaining Average Life of (i) the principal amount of Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable, repaid on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event, (ii) the outstanding principal amount of Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable, on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event or (iii) the amount of the permanent reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment on the date of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event, as applicable.

Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Reference Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan.

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 1.04.

USA PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (PATRIOT) Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56, Oct. 26, 2001)) as amended by the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-177, March 9, 2006) and as the same may have been or may be further renewed, extended, amended, or replaced.

U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

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

Warrants” means, that certain Warrant to Purchase Common Stock among the Company, TCW Rescue Financing Fund II LP and Asilia Credit Fund, LP, dated as of the Effective Date.

“Warrant” means, collectively, the Effective Date Warrants and the First Amendment Warrants.

Withholding Agent” means any Loan Party and the Administrative Agent.

Working Capital” means, at any date of determination thereof, (a) the sum (without duplication), for any Person and its Subsidiaries, of (i) the unpaid face amount of all Accounts of such Person and its Subsidiaries as at such date of determination, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of prepaid expenses and other current assets of such Person and its Subsidiaries as at such date of determination (other than cash, Cash Equivalents and any Indebtedness owing to such Person or any of its Subsidiaries by Affiliates of such Person), minus (b) the sum (without duplication), for such Person and its Subsidiaries, of (i) the unpaid amount of all accounts payable of such Person and its Subsidiaries as at such date of determination, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all accrued expenses of such Person and its Subsidiaries as at such date of determination (other than the current portion of long-term debt and all accrued interest and Taxes).

 

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Section 1.02 Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, amendment and restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any right or interest in or to assets and properties of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, (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) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed as having the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights, (h) all references to any Governmental Authority shall be construed as including any other Governmental Authority that shall have succeeded to any or all of the functions thereof, (i) the word “or” is not exclusive and (j) any reference to any law or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

Section 1.03 Certain Matters of Construction. References in this Agreement to “determination” by any Agent include good faith reasonable estimates by such Agent (in the case of quantitative determinations) and good faith reasonable beliefs by such Agent (in the case of qualitative determinations). A Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to exist at all times during the period commencing on the date that such Default or Event of Default occurs to the date on which such Default or Event of Default is waived in writing pursuant to this Agreement or, in the case of a Default, is cured within any period of cure expressly provided for in this Agreement; and an Event of Default shall “continue” or be “continuing” until such Event of Default has been waived in writing by the Required Lenders, each Lender affected thereby or all Lenders, as applicable, pursuant to this Agreement. Any Lien referred to in this Agreement or any other Loan Document as having been created in favor of any Agent, any agreement entered into by any Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any payment made by or to or funds received by any Agent pursuant to or as contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any act taken or omitted to be taken by any Agent, shall, unless otherwise expressly provided, be created, entered into, made or received, or taken or omitted, for the benefit or account of the Agents and the Lenders. Wherever the phrase “to the knowledge of

 

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any Loan Party” or words of similar import relating to the knowledge or the awareness of any Loan Party are used in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, such phrase shall mean and refer to (i) the actual knowledge of a senior officer of any Loan Party or (ii) the knowledge that a senior officer would have obtained if such officer had engaged in good faith and diligent performance of such officer’s duties, including the making of such reasonably specific inquiries as may be necessary of the employees or agents of such Loan Party and a good faith attempt to ascertain the existence or accuracy of the matter to which such phrase relates. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or otherwise within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a default if such action is taken or condition exists. In addition, all representations and warranties hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular representation or warranty proves to be incorrect or is breached, the fact that another representation or warranty concerning the same or similar subject matter is correct or is not breached will not affect the incorrectness of a breach of a representation or warranty hereunder.

Section 1.04 Accounting and Other Terms.

(a) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, each accounting term used herein shall have the meaning given it under GAAP. For purposes of determining compliance with any incurrence or expenditure tests set forth herein, any amounts so incurred or expended (to the extent incurred or expended in a currency other than Dollars) shall be converted into Dollars on the basis of the exchange rates (as shown on the Bloomberg currency page for such currency or, if the same does not provide such exchange rate, by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be reasonably selected by the Agents or, in the event no such service is selected, on such other basis as is reasonably satisfactory to the Agents) as in effect on the date of such incurrence or expenditure under any provision of any such Section that has an aggregate Dollar limitation provided for therein (and to the extent the respective incurrence or expenditure test regulates the aggregate amount outstanding at any time and it is expressed in terms of Dollars, all outstanding amounts originally incurred or spent in currencies other than Dollars shall be converted into Dollars on the basis of the exchange rates (as shown on the Bloomberg currency page for such currency or, if the same does not provide such exchange rate, by reference to such other publicly available service for displaying exchange rates as may be reasonably selected by the Agents or, in the event no such service is selected, on such other basis as is reasonably satisfactory to the Agents) as in effect on the date of any new incurrence or expenditures made under any provision of any such Section that regulates the Dollar amount outstanding at any time). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) with respect to the accounting of leases for real property used or to be used as a location of a Salon, such leases shall be treated as operating leases notwithstanding the treatment of such leases as capital leases under GAAP and (ii) for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded. All references in this Agreement to consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Company is required to consolidate, pursuant to FASB ASC 810, as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Foreign Subsidiary shall be permitted keep its own local books and records consistent with the Requirements of Law of the jurisdiction of organization of such Foreign Subsidiary.

 

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(b) All terms used in this Agreement which are defined in Article 8 or Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York (the “Uniform Commercial Code” or the “UCC”), or, where the context so requires, in the PPSA, and which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as set forth therein, provided that terms used herein which are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York on the Effective dDate hereof, or the PPSA as in effect on the Effective dDate hereof, shall continue to have the same meaning notwithstanding any replacement or amendment of such statute except as any Agent may otherwise determine.

Section 1.05 Time References. Unless otherwise indicated herein, all references to time of day refer to Eastern Standard Time or Eastern daylight saving time, as in effect in New York City on such day. For purposes of the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each means “to but excluding”; provided, however, that with respect to a computation of fees or interest payable to any Secured Party, such period shall in any event consist of at least one full day.

Section 1.06 Pro Forma. Notwithstanding any other provision set forth herein to the contrary, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, for purposes of all calculations made in determining compliance for any applicable period with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.03(a) and Section 7.03(b) (including, without limitation, for purposes of determining pro forma compliance with such financial covenants pursuant to the requirements of any other section hereof or, if used without reference to a financial covenant), (a) with respect to any Permitted Acquisition consummated during the applicable period, (i) income statement items, cash flow statement items and other balance sheet items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the Person acquired in such transaction shall be included in such calculations (including, without limitation, the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA, in a manner consistent with the definition thereof) and such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of such applicable period and (ii) Indebtedness of a Person which is retired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other such acquisition shall be excluded from such calculations and deemed to have been retired as of the first day of such applicable period (and assuming that such Indebtedness bears interest during any portion of the applicable measurement period prior to the relevant acquisition at the interest rates applicable thereto at the date incurred, assumed or repaid) and (b) with respect to any Permitted Disposition consummated during the applicable period, (i) income statement items, cash flow statement items and other balance sheet items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or assets disposed of shall be excluded in such calculations and such transaction shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of such applicable period and (ii) Indebtedness that is repaid with the proceeds of such Disposition shall be excluded from such calculations and deemed to have been repaid as of the first day of such applicable period (and assuming that such Indebtedness bears interest during any portion of the applicable measurement period prior to the relevant acquisition at the interest rates applicable thereto at the date incurred, assumed or repaid) and (c) with respect to each of the calculations

 

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referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), pro forma adjustments may be included to the extent that such adjustments (i) are consistent with Regulation S-X of the Securities Act in effect immediately prior to January 1, 2021 and would give effect to items that are (A) attributable to such transaction, (B) expected to have a continuing impact on the Company and its Subsidiaries and (C) factually supportable and certified by an Authorized Officer of the Company, (ii) are otherwise approved by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion or (iii) otherwise in accordance with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA.

Section 1.07 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio or percentage 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 1.08 References to Laws. Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, any definition or reference to any applicable law, including, without limitation, the UCC, the Commodity Exchange Act, ERISA, the PATRIOT Act, the Securities Act of 1933, the UCC, the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department, shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, modified, supplementing or interpreting such applicable law.

Section 1.09 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 1.10 Performance of Obligations. 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 (a) in the case of any scheduled date of payment in respect of the Loans, be deemed to be the first Business Day succeeding such scheduled payment date and (b) except as provided in the preceding clause (a) or otherwise set forth in this Agreement, extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day, and such adjustments of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

Section 1.11 LLC Divisions. For all purposes under the Loan Documents, in connection with any LLC Division: (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, (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 and (c) any agreement providing for the allocation of assets and liabilities in respect of any LLC Division involving a Loan Party shall be subject to the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent unless each resulting party from such LLC Division continues to be a Loan Party.

 

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Section 1.12 Rates. Administrative Agent does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to Reference Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate or Term SOFR, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, Reference Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any Conforming Changes. Administrative Agent and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of Reference Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower; provided, that Administrative Agent will not engage in such transactions with the primary purpose of negatively impacting the Borrower. Administrative Agent may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain Reference Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to any Borrower, any Lender or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

ARTICLE II

THE LOANS

Section 2.01 Commitments. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties herein set forth:

(i) each Revolving Loan Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers at any time and from time to time during the term of this Agreement, as requested by the Borrower, in an aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans at any time outstanding not to exceed the amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment;

(ii) each Initial Term Loan A Lender severally agrees to make the Initial Term Loan A to the Borrowers on the Effective Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Lender’s Initial Term Loan A Commitment; and

(iii) each Initial Term Loan B Lender severally agrees to make the Initial Term Loan B to the Borrowers on the Effective Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Lender’s Initial Term Loan B Commitment

(iv) each First Amendment Term Loan A Lender severally agrees to make the First Amendment Term Loan A to the Borrowers on the First Amendment Effective Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Lender’s First Amendment Term Loan A Commitment;

 

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(v) each First Amendment Term Loan B Lender severally agrees to make the First Amendment Term Loan B to the Borrowers on the First Amendment Effective Date, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of such Lender’s First Amendment Term Loan B Commitment; and

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loan made on the Effective Date shall not exceed the Total Initial Term Loan Commitment. The aggregate principal amount of the First Amendment Term Loan made on the First Amendment Effective Date shall not exceed the Total First Amendment Term Loan Commitment. Any principal amount of the Term Loan which is repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

(c) The aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans outstanding at any time to the Borrowers shall not exceed the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. The Revolving Credit Commitment of each Lender shall automatically and permanently be reduced to zero on the Final Maturity Date. Within the foregoing limits, the Borrowers may borrow, repay and reborrow, the Revolving Loans on or after the Effective Date and prior to the Final Maturity Date, subject to the terms, provisions and limitations set forth herein.

Section 2.02 Making the Loans. (a) The Administrative Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Revolving Agent with respect to the Revolving Loans) prior written notice (in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (a “Notice of Borrowing”)), not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) (x) with respect to SOFR Loans, on the date which is 3 U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Loan (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Loan Lenders are willing to accommodate from time to time, but in no event later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the borrowing date of the proposed Loan), (y) with respect to Reference Rate Loans, on the date of the proposed Loan and (z) with respect to Specified Revolving Loans, on the date which is two (2) Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Loan (or such shorter period as the Revolving Agent and the Revolving Loan Lenders are willing to accommodate from time to time, but in no event later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the borrowing date of the proposed Loan). Such Notice of Borrowing shall specify (i) the principal amount of the proposed Loan, (ii) whether the Loan is requested to be a Specified Revolving Loan, a Reference Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan and, in the case of a SOFR Loan, the initial Interest Period with respect thereto, (iii) the proposed borrowing date, which in the case of the Initial Term Loans must be the Effective Date, (iv) the Borrower’s wire instruction for the remittance of funds and (v) with respect to Specified Revolving Loans, the information otherwise required in a Notice of LC Credit Event. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may act without liability upon the basis of written notice believed by the Administrative Agent in good faith to be from the Administrative Borrower (or from any Authorized Officer thereof designated in writing purportedly from the Administrative Borrower to the Administrative Agent). The Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be entitled to rely conclusively on any Authorized Officer’s authority to request a Loan on behalf of the Borrowers in accordance with the terms herein until the Administrative Agent receives written notice to the contrary. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have no duty to verify the authenticity of the signature appearing on any written Notice of Borrowing.

 

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(b) Each Notice of Borrowing pursuant to this Section 2.02 shall be irrevocable and the Borrowers shall be bound to make a borrowing in accordance therewith; provided, that any Notice of Borrowing in respect of any Revolving Loan to be made in connection with any acquisition, Investment or irrevocable repayment or redemption of Indebtedness may be conditioned on the closing of such acquisition, Investment or permitted irrevocable repayment or redemption of Indebtedness. Each Revolving Loan shall be made in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 and shall be in an integral multiple of $100,000. Promptly following receipt of a Notice of Borrowing in accordance with this Section 2.02, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s obligation to make a Loan pursuant to such Notice of Borrowing; provided, that the Revolving Loan Lenders shall only be required to make Revolving Loans one time each week.

(c)

(i) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.02(c), all Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their Pro Rata Shares of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment, the Total Initial Term Loan A Commitment, the Total Initial Term Loan B Commitment, the Total First Amendment Term Loan A Commitment or the Total First Amendment Term Loan B Commitment, as the case may be, it being understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in that other Lender’s obligations to make a Loan requested hereunder, nor shall the Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of the default by any other Lender in that other Lender’s obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder, and each Lender shall be obligated to make the Loans required to be made by it by the terms of this Agreement regardless of the failure by any other Lender. Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) to the Payment Office. Upon receipt of all funds, the Administrative Agent shall make such Loans available to the Borrowers by wire transferring the amounts so received, in like funds, as directed by the Borrowers in the applicable Notice of Borrowing.

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and in order to reduce the number of fund transfers among the Borrowers, the Agents and the Lenders, the Borrowers, the Agents and the Lenders agree that the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), and the Borrowers and the Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to, fund, on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders, Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.01, subject to the procedures for settlement set forth in Section 2.02(d); provided, however, that (A) the Administrative Agent shall in no event fund any such Revolving Loans if the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from the Collateral Agent or the Required Revolving Lenders prior to the making of the proposed Revolving Loan that one or more of the conditions precedent contained in Section 5.02 will not be satisfied at the time of the proposed Revolving Loan, and (B) the Administrative Agent shall not otherwise be required to determine that, or take notice whether, the conditions precedent in Section 5.02 have been satisfied. If the Administrative Borrower gives a Notice of Borrowing requesting a Revolving Loan and the Administrative Agent elects not to fund such Revolving Loan on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders, then promptly after receipt of the Notice of Borrowing requesting such Revolving Loan, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Loan Lender of the specifics of the requested Revolving Loan and that it will not fund the requested Revolving Loan

 

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on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders. If the Administrative Agent notifies the Revolving Loan Lenders that it will not fund a requested Revolving Loan on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders, each Revolving Loan Lender shall make its Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Loan available to the Administrative Agent, in immediately available funds, in the Administrative Agent’s Accounts no later than 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) (provided that the Administrative Agent requests payment from such Revolving Loan Lender not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time)) on the date of the proposed Revolving Loan. The Administrative Agent will make the proceeds of such Revolving Loans available to the Borrowers on the day of the proposed Revolving Loan by causing an amount, in immediately available funds, equal to the proceeds of all such Revolving Loans received by the Administrative Agent in the Administrative Agent’s Accounts or the amount funded by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders to be deposited in an account designated by the Administrative Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date a Notice of Borrowing with respect to a borrowing of a Revolving Loan is given by Administrative Borrower, there are Letter of Credit Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such borrowing of Revolving Loans, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such Letter of Credit Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Borrowers as provided above.

(iii) If the Administrative Agent has notified the Revolving Loan Lenders that the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Revolving Loan Lenders, will not fund a particular Revolving Loan pursuant to Section 2.02(c)(ii), the Administrative Agent may assume that each such Revolving Loan Lender has made such amount available to the Administrative Agent on such day and the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, may, but shall not be obligated to, cause a corresponding amount to be made available to the Borrowers on such day. If the Administrative Agent makes such corresponding amount available to the Borrowers and such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Administrative Agent by any such Revolving Loan Lender, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Revolving Loan Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such payment was due until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate for 3 Business Days and thereafter at the Reference Rate. During the period in which such Revolving Loan Lender has not paid such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the amount so advanced by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers shall, for all purposes hereof, be a Revolving Loan made by the Administrative Agent for its own account. Upon any such failure by a Revolving Loan Lender to pay the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly thereafter notify the Administrative Borrower of such failure and the Borrowers shall immediately upon receipt of such notification pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent for its own account.

(iv) Nothing in this Section 2.02(c) shall be deemed to relieve any Revolving Loan Lender from its obligations to fulfill its Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers may have against any Revolving Loan Lender as a result of any default by such Revolving Loan Lender hereunder.

 

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(d) (i) With respect to all periods for which the Administrative Agent has funded Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.02(c), on the last Business Day of each week during which the Administrative Agent has funded such Revolving Loans or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent may from time to time select (any such week or shorter period being herein called a “Settlement Period”), the Administrative Agent shall notify each Revolving Loan Lender of the unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Loans outstanding as of the last day of each such Settlement Period. In the event that such amount is greater than the unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Loans outstanding on the last day of the Settlement Period immediately preceding such Settlement Period (or, if there has been no preceding Settlement Period, the amount of the Revolving Loans made on the date of such Revolving Loan Lender’s initial funding), each Revolving Loan Lender shall promptly (and in any event not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) if the Administrative Agent requests payment from such Lender not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on such day) make available to the Administrative Agent its Pro Rata Share of the difference in immediately available funds. In the event that such amount is less than such unpaid principal amount, the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay over to each Revolving Loan Lender its Pro Rata Share of the difference in immediately available funds. In addition, if the Administrative Agent shall so request at any time when a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, or any other event shall have occurred as a result of which the Administrative Agent shall determine that it is desirable to present claims against the Borrowers for repayment, each Revolving Loan Lender shall promptly remit to the Administrative Agent or, as the case may be, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to each Revolving Loan Lender, sufficient funds to adjust the interests of the Revolving Loan Lenders in the then outstanding Revolving Loans to such an extent that, after giving effect to such adjustment, each such Revolving Loan Lender’s interest in the then outstanding Revolving Loans will be equal to its Pro Rata Share thereof. The obligations of the Administrative Agent and each Revolving Loan Lender under this Section 2.02(d) shall be absolute and unconditional. Each Revolving Loan Lender shall only be entitled to receive interest on its Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Loans which have been funded by such Revolving Loan Lender.

(i) (ii) In the event that any Revolving Loan Lender fails to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.02(d)(i), the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Revolving Loan Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such payment was due until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate for 3 Business Days and thereafter at the Reference Rate. During the period in which such Revolving Loan Lender has not paid such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the amount so advanced by the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers shall, for all purposes hereof, be a Revolving Loan made by the Administrative Agent for its own account. Upon any such failure by a Revolving Loan Lender to pay the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall promptly thereafter notify the Administrative Borrower of such failure and the Borrowers shall immediately upon receipt of such notification, pay such corresponding amount to the Administrative Agent for its own account. Nothing in this Section 2.02(d)(ii) shall be deemed to relieve any Revolving Loan Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Administrative Agent or the Borrowers may have against any Revolving Loan Lender as a result of any default by such Revolving Loan Lender hereunder.

 

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Section 2.03 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The outstanding principal of all Revolving Loans shall be due and payable on the Final Maturity Date or, if earlier, on the date on which they are declared due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(b) (i) The outstanding principal amount of the Initial Term Loan shall be repayable on the following dates and in the following amounts set forth opposite such dates:

 

Date    Amount  

September 30, 2024 and on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter thereafter through and including the last day of the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2026

   $ 262,500  

September 30, 2026 and on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter ending thereafter

   $ 656,250  

; provided, however, if such day shall not fall on a Business Day, such installment shall be paid on the subsequent Business Day; provided, further, that the last such installment shall be in the amount necessary to repay in full the unpaid principal amount of the Initial Term Loan. The outstanding unpaid principal amount of the Initial Term Loan, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall be due and payable on the earliest of (i) the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(iii), (ii) the Final Maturity Date and (iii) the date on which the Initial Term Loan is declared due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(ii) The outstanding principal amount of the First Amendment Term Loan shall be repayable on the following dates and in the following amounts set forth opposite such dates:

 

Date    Amount  

March 31, 2025 and on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter thereafter through and including the last day of the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2026

   $ 37,500  

September 30, 2026 and on the last day of each Fiscal Quarter ending thereafter

   $ 93,750  

 

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; provided, however, if such day shall not fall on a Business Day, such installment shall be paid on the subsequent Business Day; provided, further, that the last such installment shall be in the amount necessary to repay in full the unpaid principal amount of the First Amendment Term Loan. The outstanding unpaid principal amount of the First Amendment Term Loan, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall be due and payable on the earliest of (i) the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 2.05(b)(iii), (ii) the Final Maturity Date and (iii) the date on which the First Amendment Term Loan is declared due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

(c) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrowers to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

(e) Absent manifest error, the entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(c) or Section 2.03(d) shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that (i) the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (ii) in the event of any conflict between the entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(c) and the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(d), the accounts maintained pursuant to Section 2.03(d) shall govern and control.

(f) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrowers shall promptly execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered permitted assigns) substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto; it being understood and agreed that such Lender (and/or its applicable registered permitted assign) shall be required to return such promissory note to the Borrower in accordance with Section 12.07. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 12.07) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

Section 2.04 Interest.

(a) Revolving Loans. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, at the option of the Administrative Borrower, each Revolving Loan (other than any Specified Revolving Loan) shall be either a Reference Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan. Each Revolving Loan (other than any Specified Revolving Loan) that is a Reference Rate Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding, from the date of such Loan until repaid, at a rate

 

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per annum equal to the Reference Rate plus the Applicable Margin. Each Revolving Loan (other than any Specified Revolving Loan) that is a SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding, from the date of such Loan until repaid, at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR for the Interest Period in effect for such Loan plus the Applicable Margin. Each Revolving Loan that is a Specified Revolving Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding, from the date of such Loan until repaid, at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin then applicable to Specified Revolving Loans.

(b) Term Loan. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, at the option of the Administrative Borrower, the Term Loan (including, without limitation, the Term Loan PIK Amount related thereto) or any portion thereof shall be either a Reference Rate Loan or a SOFR Loan. Each portion of the Term Loan that is a Reference Rate Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding, from the date of the Term Loan until repaid, at a rate per annum equal to the Reference Rate plus the Applicable Margin, and each portion of the Term Loan that is a SOFR Loan shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof from time to time outstanding, from the date of the Term Loan until repaid, at a rate per annum equal to the Term SOFR for the Interest Period in effect for the Term Loan (or such portion thereof) plus the Applicable Margin.

(c) Default Interest. To the extent permitted by law and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the election of the Required Lenders (which election shall not be required in connection with any Event of Default arising under Section 9.01(f) or (g), in which case, the Post-Default Rate shall automatically and immediately be in effect), the principal (including the Term Loan PIK Amount) of, and all accrued and unpaid interest on, all Loans, fees, indemnities or any other Obligations of the Loan Parties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall bear interest, from the date such Event of Default occurred until the date such Event of Default is waived in writing in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, at a rate per annum equal at all times to the Post- Default Rate.

(d) Interest Payment. Interest (other than the Term Loan PIK Amount, which shall be capitalized in accordance with the proviso below) on each Loan shall be payable (i) monthly, in arrears, on the last Business Day of each calendar month, commencing on July 31, 2024, and (ii) at maturity (whether upon demand, by acceleration or otherwise); provided that, unless the Administrative Borrower shall have delivered a Cash Payment Notice to the Administrative Agent (such election, a “Cash Pay Election”), a portion of the interest accruing on the Loans at a rate per annum not to exceed the Applicable PIK Amount shall automatically be paid by capitalizing such interest and adding such capitalized interest to the then outstanding principal amount of the Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable. Any interest to be so capitalized pursuant to this clause (d) shall be capitalized on the applicable interest payment date, shall be added to the then outstanding principal amount of the Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable, and shall bear interest as provided hereunder as if it had originally been part of the outstanding principal of the Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable. In the event that the Administrative Borrower elects to exercise the Cash Pay Election, it shall deliver a written notice of its exercise of the Cash Pay Election to the Administrative Agent no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the

 

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applicable interest payment date (such notice, a “Cash Payment Notice”), which notice shall set forth the portion of the Applicable PIK Amount which shall be paid in cash on such applicable interest payment date. Interest at the Post-Default Rate shall be payable on demand. 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 bear interest for one day.

(e) General. All interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days, including the first day but excluding the last day, elapsed.

(f) At the election of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, each SOFR Loan shall be converted to a Reference Rate Loan.

(g) In connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR, the Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except that any Conforming Changes which result in an increase in the amount or rate of interest payable hereunder shall require the consent of the Borrowers. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR.

Section 2.05 Reduction of Commitment; Prepayment of Loans.

(a) Reduction of Commitments.

(i) Revolving Credit Commitments. The Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall terminate on the Final Maturity Date. The Borrowers may reduce the Total Revolving Credit Commitment to an amount not less than the greater of (A) $5,000,000 and (B) the sum of (1) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Liabilities then outstanding, and (2) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans not yet made as to which a Notice of Borrowing has been given by the Administrative Borrower under Section 2.02. Each such reduction shall be (1) in an amount which is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or by the full amount of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment in effect immediately prior to such reduction if such amount at that time is less than $1,000,000), (2) made by providing not less than 5 Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent (with a copy of such notice to the Revolving Agent), (3) irrevocable and (4) accompanied by the payment of the Applicable Premium, if any, payable in connection with such reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment. Once reduced, the Total Revolving Credit Commitment may not be increased. Each such reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment shall reduce the Revolving Credit Commitment of each Lender proportionately in accordance with its Pro Rata Share thereof.

(ii) Term Loan. (A) The Total Initial Term Loan Commitment shall terminate at the time of funding of the Initial Term Loan on the Effective Date; and (B) the Total First Amendment Term Loan Commitment shall terminate on the First Amendment Effective Date after the funding of the First Amendment Term Loan by the First Amendment Term Loan Lenders.

 

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(b) Optional Prepayment.

(i) Revolving Loans. The Borrowers may, at any time and from time to time, upon at least 2 Business Days prior written notice before 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) (with a copy of such notice to the Revolving Agent), prepay the principal of any Revolving Loan, in whole or in part; provided, that no Specified Revolving Loan may be prepaid at any time a Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance remains outstanding. Each prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) in connection with a reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to Section 2.05(a)(i) above shall be accompanied by the payment of the Applicable Premium, if any, payable in connection with such reduction of the Total Revolving Credit Commitment.

(ii) Term Loan. The Borrowers may, at any time and from time to time, upon at least 10 Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), prepay the principal of the Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable, in whole or in part. Each prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(ii) shall be accompanied by the payment of (A) accrued and unpaid interest to the date of such payment on the amount prepaid and (B) the Applicable Premium, if any, payable in connection with such prepayment of the Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable. Each such prepayment shall be applied ratably to the Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable, and against the remaining principal installments thereof in the direct order of maturity (including the final installment of principal due on the Initial Term Loans or First Amendment Term Loans, as applicable, on the Final Maturity Date). Any such notice provided under this section may be conditioned upon the occurrence of an event or refinancing, in which case, such notice may be rescinded by the Borrowers in writing if such event or refinancing does not occur prior to the date of prepayment in such notice.

(iii) Termination of Agreement. The Borrowers may, upon at least 10 Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate this Agreement by paying to the Administrative Agent, in cash, the Obligations, in full, plus the Applicable Premium, if any, payable in connection with such termination of this Agreement; provided that a notice of termination under this Section 2.05(b) may state that such notice is conditional upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, the receipt of proceeds from the issuance of other Indebtedness or equity or consummation of an asset sale or occurrence of any other event in which case such notice of termination may be rescinded by the Borrowers in writing if any such condition is not satisfied prior to the date of termination of this Agreement in such notice.

(c) Mandatory Prepayment.

 

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(i) Within 5 Business Days of the delivery to the Agents and the Lenders of audited annual financial statements pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(iii), commencing with the delivery to the Agents and the Lenders of the financial statements for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2025, or, if such financial statements are not delivered to the Agents and the Lenders on the date such statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(iii), within 5 Business Days after the date such statements are required to be delivered to the Agents and the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(iii), the Borrowers shall, if the Total Leverage Ratio of Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year is (A) greater than 3.75:1.00, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to the result of (to the extent positive), (1) (x) seventy five percent (75%) of the Excess Cash Flow of Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year minus (2) the aggregate principal amount of all payments made by the Borrowers pursuant to Sections 2.05(b)(i) (to the extent that the Total Revolving Credit Commitment is permanently reduced by the amount of such payments) and 2.05(b)(ii) for such Fiscal Year or after such Fiscal Year but prior to such payment date, (B) equal to or less than 3.75:1.00 and greater than 2.75:1.00, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to the result of (to the extent positive) (1) fifty percent (50%) of the Excess Cash Flow of Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year minus (2) the aggregate principal amount of all payments made by the Borrowers pursuant to Sections 2.05(b)(i) (to the extent that the Total Revolving Credit Commitment is permanently reduced by the amount of such payments) and 2.05(b)(ii) for such Fiscal Year or after such Fiscal Year but prior to such payment date or (C) equal to or less than 2.75:1.00, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to the result of (to the extent positive) (1) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Excess Cash Flow of Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year minus (2) the aggregate principal amount of all payments made by the Borrowers pursuant to Sections 2.05(b)(i) (to the extent that the Total Revolving Credit Commitment is permanently reduced by the amount of such payments) and 2.05(b)(ii) for such Fiscal Year or after such Fiscal Year but prior to such payment date.

(ii) Within 5 Business Days of the receipt by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of the Net Cash Proceeds from any Disposition which qualify as Permitted Dispositions under clause (n) of the definition of Permitted Disposition by any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries, the Borrowers shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection with such Disposition to the extent that the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds received by all Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall exceed for all such Dispositions $1,000,000 in any Fiscal Year (it being understood and agreed that only Net Cash Proceeds in excess of such threshold amount each Fiscal Year that are received by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in connection with Dispositions shall be required to be used to prepay the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d)). Nothing contained in this Section 2.05(c)(ii) shall permit any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to make a Disposition of any property other than in accordance with Section 7.02(c)(ii).

(iii) Within 5 Business Days of the issuance or incurrence by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness), the Borrowers shall prepay the outstanding amount of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection therewith. The provisions of this Section 2.05(c)(iii) shall not be deemed to be implied consent to any such issuance or incurrence otherwise prohibited by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

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(iv) Within 5 Business Days of the receipt by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any Extraordinary Receipts, the Borrowers shall prepay the outstanding principal of the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds received by such Person in connection with any Extraordinary Receipts, to the extent that the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds of Extraordinary Receipts received by all Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in all such cases shall exceed $1,000,000 in any Fiscal Year (it being understood and agreed that only Net Cash Proceeds of Extraordinary Receipts in excess of such threshold amount each Fiscal Year that are received by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall be required to be used to prepay the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d)).

(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Net Cash Proceeds received by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with a Disposition or the receipt of Extraordinary Receipts consisting of insurance proceeds or condemnation awards that are required to be used to prepay the Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(ii) or Section 2.05(c)(iv), as the case may be, the Net Cash Proceeds from such Dispositions (in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000) and such Extraordinary Receipts shall not be required to be so used to prepay the Obligations to the extent that such Net Cash Proceeds are used to replace, repair, restore or otherwise acquire properties or assets (other than current assets) used or useful in such Person’s business, provided that, (A) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date such Person receives such Net Cash Proceeds, (B) the Administrative Borrower delivers a certificate to the Administrative Agent within 10 Business Days after receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds stating that such Net Cash Proceeds shall be used to replace, repair, restore or otherwise acquire properties or assets used or useful in such Person’s business within a period specified in such certificate not to exceed 180 days after the date of receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, (C) such Net Cash Proceeds are deposited in an account subject to a Control Agreement, and (D) upon the expiration of the period specified in the relevant certificate furnished to the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (B) above (or, if a commitment to replace, repair, restore or otherwise acquire properties or assets has been entered into prior to the expiration of such period, then the expiration of the 180 day period following the expiration of such period), such Net Cash Proceeds, if not theretofore so used, shall be used to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(c)(ii) or Section 2.05(c)(iv) as applicable.

(vi) Immediately upon receipt by the Borrowers of the proceeds of any Permitted Cure Equity, the Borrowers shall prepay the outstanding principal of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(d) in an amount equal to 100% of the proceeds of any Permitted Cure Equity.

(vii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 2.05(c), (A) to the extent that any amount that would otherwise be required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.05(c)(i), Section 2.05(c)(ii), Section 2.05(c)(iv) or Section 2.05(c)(v) (collectively, the “Subject Proceeds”) is generated by an Excluded Subsidiary and is prohibited, delayed or restricted by (1) applicable local Requirements of Law or (2) the Governing Documents of such Excluded Subsidiary from being repatriated to the Borrowers, such Subject Proceeds will not be

 

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required to be applied to repay the Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.05(c) but may be retained by such Excluded Subsidiary; provided, that, if (x) the applicable local Requirements of Law cease to prohibit repatriation to the Company or the Borrowers (the Company and the Borrowers hereby agreeing to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Excluded Subsidiary to promptly take all actions reasonably required by the applicable local Requirements of Law to permit such repatriation) or (y) the Governing Documents of such Excluded Subsidiary cease to prohibit such repatriation, in each case, within 365 days following the date such Excess Cash Flow prepayment is required to be made, or such Net Cash Proceeds are received, such repatriation shall thereafter be promptly effected and an amount equal to such Subject Proceeds will be promptly (and in any event not later than 2 Business Days after such repatriation) applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against, and additional costs incurred, as a result thereof) to the repayment of the Loans pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) to the extent provided herein and (B) to the extent that the Administrative Borrower has determined in good faith that repatriation of, or the obligation to repatriate, any Subject Proceeds attributable to or generated by any Excluded Subsidiary would have material adverse Tax consequences to the Company and its Subsidiaries, such Subject Proceeds will not be required to be applied to repay the Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.05(c) but may be retained by such Excluded Subsidiary until such time as it may repatriate such amount without incurring such material adverse Tax consequences to the Company and its Subsidiaries (at which time the Borrowers shall make a payment to repay the Loans to the extent provided herein).

(viii) The Administrative Borrower shall provide at least 5 Business Days prior written notice before 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) with respect to any prepayment expected to be made pursuant to this Section 2.05(c).

(d) Application of Payments. Each prepayment pursuant to subsections (c)(i), (c)(ii), (c)(iii), (c)(iv) and (c)(vi) above shall be applied, first, ratably to the Term Loans, until paid in full, second, to the Revolving Loans, until paid in full and, third, to cash collateralize any remaining Letter of Credit Liabilities in the manner specified in Section 3.05 or cancel outstanding Letters of Credit, or any combination of the foregoing. Each such prepayment of the Term Loan shall be applied against the remaining installments of principal of the Term Loan in the inverse order of maturity (including the final installment of principal due on the Term Loan on the Final Maturity Date). Notwithstanding the foregoing, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, if the Administrative Agent has elected, or has been directed by the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders, to apply payments in respect of any Obligations in accordance with Section 4.03(b), prepayments required under Section 2.05(c) shall be applied in the manner set forth in Section 4.03(b).

(e) Interest and Fees. Any prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.05 shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest on the principal amount being prepaid to the date of prepayment, (ii) any Funding Losses payable pursuant to Section 2.08 and (iii) the Applicable Premium, if any, payable in connection with such prepayment of the Loans to the extent required under Section 2.06(a).

 

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(f) Cumulative Prepayments. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 2.05, payments with respect to any subsection of this Section 2.05 are in addition to payments made or required to be made under any other subsection of this Section 2.05.

(g) Declining Lenders. Each Lender may reject all or part of its applicable share of any mandatory prepayment (such declined amounts, the “Initial Declined Proceeds”) of Loans required to be made pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) by providing written notice (each, a “Rejection Notice”) to the Administrative Agent no later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, 3 Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment as set forth in the applicable Notice of Prepayment (any such Lender, a “Declining Lender”); provided, that, if a Lender fails to deliver a Rejection Notice to the Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above, such failure will be deemed an acceptance by such Lender of the total amount of such mandatory prepayment of the Loans. If there are any Initial Declined Proceeds, the Administrative Agent shall then provide written notice (the “Second Offer”) to the Lenders other than the Declining Lenders (such Lenders, the “Accepting Lenders”) of the additional amount available (due to such Declining Lenders’ declining such prepayment) to prepay the Loans owing to such Accepting Lenders, with such available amount to be allocated on a pro rata basis among the Accepting Lenders that accept the Second Offer. Any Lenders declining prepayment pursuant to such Second Offer shall give written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent by 4:00 p.m. New York City time no later than one Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment as set forth in the applicable Notice of Prepayment; provided, that, if a Lender fails to deliver a Rejection Notice to the Administrative Agent within the time frame specified above, such failure will be deemed a rejection of such Lender’s pro rata share of the Second Offer. The Borrowers shall prepay the applicable Loans by 12:00 (noon) New York City time on the prepayment date set forth in the applicable Notice of Prepayment. Amounts remaining after the allocation to the Accepting Lenders as set forth above may be retained by the Borrowers.

(h) Within the earlier to occur of (i) the day that is sixty (60) days after the Effective dDate hereof and (ii) the day that is five (5) days after the Existing Letter of Credit Issuer releases to any Borrower or its Subsidiaries all cash collateral cash collateralizing the Existing Letters of Credit, the Borrower shall prepay, or cause to be prepaid, 100% of the Revolving Loans funded in accordance with Section 6.01(s)(C).

Section 2.06 Fees.

(a) Applicable Premium.

(i) Upon the occurrence of an Applicable Premium Trigger Event, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares, the Applicable Premium.

(ii) Any Applicable Premium payable in accordance with this Section 2.06(a) shall be presumed to be equal to the liquidated damages sustained by the Lenders as the result of the occurrence of the Applicable Premium Trigger Event and the Loan Parties agree that it is reasonable under the circumstances currently existing. THE LOAN PARTIES EXPRESSLY WAIVE (TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW) THE PROVISIONS OF ANY PRESENT OR FUTURE STATUTE OR LAW THAT PROHIBITS OR MAY PROHIBIT THE COLLECTION OF THE FOREGOING APPLICABLE PREMIUM IN CONNECTION WITH ANY ACCELERATION.

 

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(iii) The Loan Parties expressly agree that: (A) the Applicable Premium is reasonable and is the product of an arm’s length transaction between sophisticated business people, ably represented by counsel; (B) the Applicable Premium shall be payable notwithstanding the then prevailing market rates at the time payment is made; (C) there has been a course of conduct between the Lenders and the Loan Parties giving specific consideration in this transaction for such agreement to pay the Applicable Premium; (D) the Loan Parties shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently than as agreed to in this paragraph; (E) their agreement to pay the Applicable Premium is a material inducement to Lenders to provide the Commitments and make the Loans, and (F) the Applicable Premium represents a good faith, reasonable estimate and calculation of the lost profits or damages of the Agents and the Lenders and that it would be impractical and extremely difficult to ascertain the actual amount of damages to the Agents and the Lenders or profits lost by the Agents and the Lenders as a result of such Applicable Premium Trigger Event.

(iv) Nothing contained in this Section 2.06(a) shall permit any prepayment of the Loans or reduction of the Commitments not otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(b) Audit and Collateral Monitoring Fees. The Borrowers acknowledge that representatives of the Agents and/or the Required Tranche A Lenders may, in accordance with the terms of, and without duplication of any right provided for in, Section 7.01(f), visit any or all of the Loan Parties and/or conduct inspections, audits, valuations, appraisals and/or examinations of any or all of the Loan Parties. The Borrowers agree to pay (i) $1,500 per day per examiner (but limited, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, to up to (i) 1 examiner and (ii) 30 days per examiner, in each case, per exercise of its rights hereunder) plus the examiner’s reasonable and documented out-of- pocket costs and reasonable expenses incurred in connection with all such visits, inspections, audits, valuations, appraisals and/or examinations and (ii) the reasonable and documented out-of- pocket cost of all visits, inspections, audits, valuations, appraisals and/or examinations conducted by a third party on behalf of the Agents and/or the Required Tranche A Lenders; provided, that so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Borrowers shall not be obligated to reimburse the Agents and/or the Required Tranche A Lenders for more than one field examination or more than one inventory audit during any calendar year.

(c) Fee Letter. As and when due and payable under the terms of the Fee Letter, the Borrowers shall pay the fees set forth in the Fee Letter.

Section 2.07 SOFR Option; Suspension of SOFR Option; Benchmark Transition.

(a) The Borrowers may, at any time and from time to time, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, elect to have interest on all or a portion of the Loans be charged at a rate of interest based upon the Term SOFR (the “SOFR Option”) by notifying the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent (with respect to Revolving Loans) prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) at least 3 U.S. Government

 

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Securities Business Days prior to (i) the proposed borrowing date of a Loan (as provided Section 2.02), (ii) in the case of the conversion of a Reference Rate Loan to a SOFR Loan, the commencement of the proposed Interest Period or (iii) in the case of the continuation of a SOFR Loan as a SOFR Loan, the last day of the then current Interest Period (the “SOFR Deadline”). Notice of the Borrowers’ election of the SOFR Option for a permitted portion of the Loans and an Interest Period pursuant to this Section 2.07(a) shall be made by delivery to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent (with respect to Revolving Loans) of a SOFR Notice prior to the SOFR Deadline (by delivery to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent (with respect to Revolving Loans) of a SOFR Notice received by the Administrative Agent prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the same day)). Promptly upon its receipt of each such SOFR Notice, the Administrative Agent shall provide a copy thereof to each of the Lenders. Each SOFR Notice shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrowers.

(b) Interest on SOFR Loans shall be payable in accordance with Section 2.04(d). On the last day of each applicable Interest Period, unless the Borrowers have exercised the SOFR Option with respect thereto, the interest rate applicable to such SOFR Loans automatically shall convert to the rate of interest then applicable to Reference Rate Loans of the same type hereunder. At any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrowers no longer shall have the option to request that any portion of the Loans bear interest at Term SOFR and the Administrative Agent shall have the right to convert the interest rate on all outstanding SOFR Loans to the rate of interest then applicable to Reference Rate Loans of the same type hereunder on the last day of the then current Interest Period.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrowers (i) shall have not more than 5 SOFR Loans in effect at any given time, and (ii) may only exercise the SOFR Option for SOFR Loans of at least $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof.

(d) The Borrowers may prepay SOFR Loans at any time; provided, however, that in the event that SOFR Loans are prepaid on any date that is not the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, including as a result of any mandatory prepayment pursuant to Section 2.05(c) or any application of payments or proceeds of Collateral in accordance with Section 4.03 or Section 4.04 or for any other reason, including early termination of the term of this Agreement or acceleration of all or any portion of the Obligations pursuant to the terms hereof, the Borrowers shall indemnify, defend, and hold the Agents and the Lenders and their participants harmless against any and all Funding Losses in accordance with Section 2.08.

(e) [reserved].

(f) [reserved].

(g) If Administrative Agent shall have determined in good faith that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining Term SOFR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed SOFR Loan or that Term SOFR for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed SOFR Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding or maintaining such Loan, Administrative Agent will forthwith give written notice of such determination to the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter,

 

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the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain SOFR Loans hereunder shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or, in the case of a Term SOFR Borrowing, the affected Interest Periods) until the Administrative Agent revokes such notice in writing. Upon receipt of such written notice, the Borrower may revoke any Notice of Borrowing or SOFR Notice (to the extent of the affected SOFR Loans or, in the case of a Term SOFR Borrowing, the affected Interest Periods) then submitted by it. If the Borrower does not revoke such notice, the Lenders shall make, convert or continue the Loans, as proposed by the Borrower, in the amount specified in the applicable notice submitted by the Borrower, but such Loans shall be made, converted or continued as Reference Rate Loans immediately or, in the case of a Term SOFR Borrowing, at the end of the applicable Interest Period.

(h) Benchmark Replacement Setting. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document;

(i) Benchmark Replacement. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace the then-current Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement. Any such amendment with respect to a Benchmark Transition Event will become effective at 4:00 p.m. (New York time) on the fifth (5th) U.S. Government Securities Business Day after Administrative Agent has posted an execution version of such proposed amendment to all affected Lenders and the Borrower so long as Administrative Agent has not received, by such time, written notice of objection to such amendment from Lenders comprising the Required Lenders. No replacement of a Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement pursuant to this Section 2.07(h)(i) will occur prior to the applicable Benchmark Transition Start Date. For the avoidance of doubt, no Hedging Agreement shall be deemed to be a “Loan Document” for purposes of this Section 2.07.

(ii) Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, Administrative Agent will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendment implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(iii) Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders in writing of (A) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (B) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Administrative Agent will notify the Borrower in writing of (x) the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 2.07(h)(iv) and (y) the commencement of any Benchmark Unavailability Period. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Administrative Agent or, if applicable, any Lender (or group of Lenders) pursuant to this Section 2.07, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 2.07.

 

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(iv) [reserved].

(v) Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for an advance of a Term SOFR Borrowing, conversion to or continuation of SOFR Loans to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrower will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Borrowing of or conversion to Reference Rate Loans. During any Benchmark Unavailability Period, the component of Reference Rate based upon Term SOFR will not be used in any determination of the Reference Rate.

(i) Illegality.

(i) If after the Effective Date, any Lender shall reasonably determine that the introduction of any Requirement of Law, or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or administration thereof, has made it unlawful, or that any central bank or other Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Lending Office to make SOFR Loans, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, the obligation of that Lender to make SOFR Loans shall be suspended until such Lender shall have notified the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exists.

(ii) Subject to clause (iii) below, if any Lender shall determine that it is unlawful to maintain any SOFR Loan, the Borrower shall, upon demand from the Administrative Agent or such Lender, prepay in full all SOFR Loans of such Lender then outstanding, together with interest accrued thereon, either on the last day of the Interest Period, as applicable, thereof if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such SOFR Loans, together with any amounts required to be paid hereunder.

(iii) If the obligation of any Lender to make or maintain SOFR Loans has become unlawful, instead of prepaying outstanding SOFR Loans in full as provided in clause

(ii) above, the Borrower may elect, by giving notice to such Lender through Administrative Agent, that all Loans which would otherwise be made or continued by any such Lender as SOFR Loans shall be instead made or converted to Reference Rate Loans.

(iv) Before giving any notice to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.07(i), the affected Lender shall designate a different Lending Office with respect to its SOFR Loans if such designation will avoid the need for giving such notice or making such demand and will not, in the reasonable judgment of the Lender, be illegal or otherwise disadvantageous to the Lender.

(j) Reserves on SOFR Loans. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required under regulations of the Federal Reserve Board to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including SOFR funds or deposits, additional costs on the unpaid principal amount of each SOFR Loan equal to actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith,

 

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which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error), payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan provided the Borrower shall have received at least fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice (with a copy to Administrative Agent and Revolving Agent) of such additional interest from the Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice fifteen (15) days prior to the relevant interest payment date, such additional interest shall be payable fifteen (15) days from receipt of such notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.07(j), Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07(j) for any additional interest incurred, or relating to Loans made, more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the requirement to pay such additional interest (except that, if the requirements under the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board giving rise to such additional interest is retroactive, then the nine (9) month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

Section 2.08 Funding Losses. In connection with each SOFR Loan, the Borrowers shall indemnify, defend, and hold the Agents and the Lenders harmless against any loss, cost, or expense (but excluding any loss of profit) incurred by any Agent or any Lender as a result of (a) the payment of any principal of any SOFR Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or any mandatory prepayment required pursuant to Section 2.05(c)), (b) the conversion of any SOFR Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), or (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any SOFR Loan on the date specified in any Notice of Borrowing or SOFR Notice delivered pursuant hereto (such losses, costs, and expenses, collectively, “Funding Losses”). A certificate of an Agent or a Lender delivered to the Administrative Borrower setting forth any amount or amounts that such Agent or such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.08 shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

Section 2.09 Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any and all Taxes, except as required by applicable law. If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of any Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Taxes from or in respect of any such payment, (i) the applicable Withholding Agent shall make such deduction or withholding, (ii) the applicable Withholding Agent shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and (iii) if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the applicable Loan Party shall be increased by the amount (an “Additional Amount”) necessary such that after making all required deductions and withholdings (including deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.09) the applicable Recipient receives the amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

(b) In addition, each Loan Party shall pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law any Other Taxes, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of any Other Taxes by any Secured Party. Each Loan Party shall deliver to each Secured Party original or a certified copy of a receipt in respect of any Taxes or Other Taxes payable hereunder as soon as practicable after payment of such Taxes or Other Taxes.

 

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(c) The Loan Parties hereby jointly and severally indemnify and agree to hold each Secured Party harmless from and against Indemnified Taxes (including, without limitation, Indemnified Taxes imposed on any amounts payable under this Section 2.09) paid or payable by such Secured Party or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Secured Party and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. Such indemnification shall be paid within ten (10) days from the date on which any such Person makes written demand therefore specifying in reasonable detail the nature and amount of such Indemnified Taxes. A certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the basis and calculation of the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Secured Party (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of another Secured Party shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.09(d)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

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

(B) any Lender that is not a U.S. Person (a “Foreign Lender”) shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be reasonably requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

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

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

(3) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.09(d)-1 hereto to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E; or

(4) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.09(d)-2 or Exhibit 2.09(d)-3, IRS Form W-9, or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.09(d)-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

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

 

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

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

(e) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that any Loan Party has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Loan Parties to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 12.07(i) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Loan Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Loan Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this paragraph (e).

(f) If any party determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.09 (including by the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to this Section 2.09), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section 2.09 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund). Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (f) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (f), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (f) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net

 

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after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or Additional Amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

(g) The Administrative Agent shall provide the Administrative Borrower with two copies of, if it is a United States person under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code, IRS Form W-9 certifying that it is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding, and, if it is not a United States person, (1) IRS Form W-8ECI with respect to payments to be received by it as a beneficial owner and (2) IRS Form W-8IMY (together with required accompanying documentation) with respect to payments to be received by it on behalf of the Lenders, certifying that, for such purpose, it is a U.S. branch that has agreed to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal tax purposes. Notwithstanding any other provision of this clause (g), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to deliver any documentation that the Administrative Agent is not legally eligible to deliver.

(h) The obligations of the Loan Parties under this Section 2.09 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, and the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

Section 2.10 Increased Costs and Reduced Return. (a) If any Secured Party (which term shall include LC Issuer for purposes of this Section 2.10) shall have determined that any Change in Law shall (i) subject such Secured Party to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes or (C) Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes) with respect to this Agreement or any Loan made by such Agent or such Lender, (ii) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against any Loan or against assets of or held by, or deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, such Secured Party or (iii) impose on such Secured Party any other condition regarding this Agreement or any Loan, and the result of any event referred to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above shall be to increase the cost to such Secured Party of making any Loan, or agreeing to make any Loan, or to reduce any amount received or receivable by such Secured Party hereunder, then, upon written demand (including documentation reasonably supporting such request) by such Secured Party, the Borrowers shall pay to such Secured Party such additional amounts as will compensate such Secured Party for such increased costs or reductions in amount.

(b) If any Secured Party shall have determined that any Change in Law either (i) affects the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Secured Party or any Person controlling such Secured Party, and such Secured Party determines that the amount of such capital is increased as a direct or indirect consequence of any Loans made or maintained, such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s other obligations hereunder, or (ii) has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s capital to a level below that which such Secured Party or such controlling

 

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Person could have achieved but for such circumstances as a consequence of any Loans made or maintained, or any agreement to make Loans, or such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s other obligations hereunder or under any Support Agreement or Lender Letter of Credit (in each case, taking into consideration, such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s policies with respect to capital adequacy), then, the Borrowers shall promptly following written demand pay to such Secured Party from time to time such additional amounts as will compensate such Secured Party for such cost of maintaining such increased capital or such reduction in the rate of return on such Secured Party’s or such other controlling Person’s capital.

(c) All amounts payable under this Section 2.10 shall bear interest from the date that is 15 days after the date of written demand by any Secured Party until payment in full to such Secured Party at the Reference Rate. A certificate of such Secured Party claiming compensation under this Section 2.10, specifying the event herein above described and the nature of such event shall be submitted by such Secured Party to the Administrative Borrower, setting forth the additional amount due and an explanation of the calculation thereof, and such Secured Party’s reasons for invoking the provisions of this Section 2.10, and shall be final and conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10 shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 9 months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Administrative Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 9 month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

(e) The obligations of the Loan Parties under this Section 2.10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

Section 2.11 Mitigation Obligations, Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Each Lender agrees that if the Borrower is required to pay an Additional Amount to the Lender or to any Governmental Authority for the account of the Lender pursuant to Section 2.09, it will, if requested by the Borrower, use commercially reasonable efforts (subject to such Lender’s internal policies and any legal or regulatory restrictions) to reduce or eliminate such payment, including to designate another lending office for any Loan affected and (ii) if any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.10, 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.

(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.10, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or Additional Amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.09 and, in each case, such Lender has not eliminated such Indemnified Taxes or Additional Amounts by designating a different lending office in accordance with Section 2.11(a), the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 12.02(c) as if such Lender was a Defaulting Lender.

 

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ARTICLE III

LETTERS OF CREDIT

Section 3.01 Letter of Credit. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Revolving Credit Commitments may be used, in addition to the making of Revolving Loans hereunder, prior to the Final Maturity Date, (a) by the Revolving Agent (or its affiliates) for the issuance of guarantees, reimbursement or similar support agreements (each, a “Support Agreement”) to induce an LC Issuer to issue or increase the amount of, or extend the expiry date of a Letter of Credit and (b) by a Lender, identified by the Revolving Agent and Administrative Borrower as an LC Issuer, for the issuance of Lender Letters of Credit (the issuance of a Letter of Credit pursuant to clause (a) or (b), an “LC Issuance”) and (c) by the Borrower for the making of Revolving Loans hereunder (such Revolving Loans, the “ Specified Revolving Loans”) the proceeds of which are used to cash collateralize, in accordance with Section 3.05, the issuance of (i) Support Agreements by the Revolving Agent (or its affiliates) to induce an LC Issuer to issue or increase the amount of, or extend the expiry date of a Letter of Credit or (ii) Lender Letters of Credit (the issuance of a Letter of Credit subject to cash collateralization pursuant to clauses (c)(i) or (c)(ii), a “Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance”), so long as, in each case:

(a) (i) in the case of any LC Issuance, each Agent and, in the case of a Lender Letter of Credit, LC Issuer shall have received a Notice of LC Credit Event no later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) two (2) Business Days before the relevant date of issuance, increase or extension (other than the automatic extension of the expiry date under a Letter of Credit) and (ii) in the case of any Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance, each Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing with respect to the related Specified Revolving Loan pursuant to Section 2.02;

(b) after giving effect to such issuance, increase or extension, (x) the aggregate amount of all Letter of Credit Liabilities does not exceed $5,000,000, (y) the aggregate amount of all Specified Letter of Credit Liabilities does not exceed $5,000,000 and (z) the aggregate Revolving Loan Outstandings do not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment; and

(c) no Letter of Credit will have an expiration date after the earlier of (a) one (1) year after the date of issuance unless consented to by the LC Issuer and Revolving Agent, and (b) thirty (30) days prior to the Final Maturity Date; provided that, at the discretion of the LC Issuer, any Letter of Credit may provide for renewal for additional one-year periods (provided that (x) the LC Issuer that issued such Letter of Credit has the right to terminate such Letter of Credit on each such annual expiration date and (y) such additional one-year periods will in no event extend beyond the date referred to in clause (b) above).

 

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Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to obligate any Lender to issue, increase the amount of or extend the expiry date of any Letter of Credit, which act or acts, if any, shall be subject to agreements to be entered into from time to time between Borrowers and such Lender. Each Lender that is an LC Issuer hereby agrees to give Agents prompt written notice of each issuance of a Lender Letter of Credit by such Lender and each payment made by such Lender in respect of Lender Letters of Credit issued by such Lender.

Section 3.02 Letter of Credit Fee.

(a) In the case of any LC Issuance (other than a Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance), Borrowers shall pay to Revolving Agent, for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders, a letter of credit fee with respect to the Letter of Credit Liabilities for each Letter of Credit that has not been drawn upon, computed for each day from the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit to the date that is the last day a drawing is available under such Letter of Credit, at a rate per annum equal to 5.25%; provided that, with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any related Loan Document, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is then in effect. Such fee shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar month prior to the Final Maturity Date and on such date.

(b) In the case of any Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance, each Specified Revolving Loan shall bear interest as set forth in Section 2.04.

(c) In addition, each Borrower agrees to pay promptly to the LC Issuer any one-time fronting fees and reasonable and documented issuance and administration fees that it may charge in connection with any Letter of Credit, which fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of each calendar month prior to the Final Maturity Date and on such date.

Section 3.03 Reimbursement Obligations of Borrowers. If either (i) Revolving Agent (or its respective affiliate) shall make a payment to an LC Issuer pursuant to a Support Agreement, or (ii) any Lender that is the LC Issuer shall notify Revolving Agent that it has made payment in respect of a Lender Letter of Credit, (i) Borrowers shall, not later than 1:00 p.m. one Business Day (or two Business Days if the Borrower receives such notice after 12:00 p.m.) reimburse Revolving Agent or such Lender, as applicable for the amount of such payment (which reimbursement obligation may be satisfied by the application of any cash collateral in accordance with Section 3.05) or (ii) Borrowers shall following such time be deemed to have immediately requested that Revolving Lenders make a Revolving Loan to reimburse Revolving Agent or such Lender, which shall be a Reference Rate Loan, in a principal amount equal to the amount of such payment. Revolving Agent shall promptly notify Revolving Lenders of any such deemed request and each Revolving Lender hereby agrees to make available to Revolving Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day following such notification from Revolving Agent such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Revolving Loan. Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to fund such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Loan described in the immediately preceding sentence, unaffected by any circumstance whatsoever, including (without limitation) (i) the occurrence and continuance of a Default or Event of Default, (ii) the fact that, whether before or after giving effect to the making of any such Revolving Loan, the Revolving Loan Outstandings exceed or will exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment and/or (iii) the non-satisfaction of any conditions

 

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set forth in Section 5.02; provided, however, that in no event shall any Lender be obligated to fund in excess of its Revolving Credit Commitment after giving effect to its share of Revolving Loan Outstandings. Revolving Agent hereby agrees to apply the gross proceeds of each Revolving Loan deemed made pursuant to this Section 3.03 in satisfaction of Borrowers’ reimbursement obligations arising pursuant to this Section 3.03. For the avoidance of doubt, any Revolving Loan deemed made pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall not be a Specified Revolving Loan and shall bear interest in accordance with Section 2.04(a) of this Agreement.

Section 3.04 Reimbursement and Other Payments by Borrowers. The obligations of Borrower to reimburse Revolving Agent and/or the applicable LC Issuer pursuant to Section 3.03 shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, under all circumstances whatsoever, including the following:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of, or any amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from, any Letter of Credit or any related document;

(b) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense (other than a defense of payment or performance) or other right which any Borrower may have at any time against the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, the LC Issuer (including any claim for improper payment), any Agent any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with any Loan Document or any unrelated transaction, provided that nothing herein shall prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim;

(c) any draft or any other document presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect whatsoever;

(d) any affiliation between the LC Issuer and any Agent or

(e) to the extent permitted under applicable Law, any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

Section 3.05 Deposit Obligations of Borrowers.

(a) In the event any Letters of Credit are outstanding at the time that any Borrower prepays or is required to repay the Obligations or the Revolving Credit Commitments are terminated, the Borrowers shall (i) deposit with Revolving Agent for the benefit of all Revolving Lenders cash in an amount equal to one hundred and three percent (103%) of the aggregate outstanding Letter of Credit Liabilities to be available to Revolving Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of the LC Issuers, to reimburse payments of drafts drawn under such Letters of Credit and pay any fees and expenses related thereto and (ii) prepay the fee payable under Section 3.02 with respect to such Letters of Credit for the full remaining terms of such Letters of Credit.

(b) Upon each Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance, the Revolving Agent shall either (i) be deemed to have deposited with itself for the benefit of all Revolving Lenders an amount equal to the corresponding Specified Revolving Loan proceeds as cash collateral in respect of and as required by the applicable Support Agreement or Lender Letter of Credit or (ii) transfer an amount equal to the corresponding Specified Revolving Loan proceeds to the applicable LC Issuer for the purpose of cash collateralizing the Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance.

 

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(c) Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit that has been cash collateralized, the funds held as cash collateral shall be applied (without any further action by or notice to or from any Borrower or any other Loan Party) to reimburse the LC Issuer or the Revolving Lenders, as applicable. Upon termination of any such Letter of Credit, the unearned portion of such prepaid fee or interest, as applicable, attributable to such Letter of Credit shall be refunded to Borrowers, together with the deposit described in the preceding clause (i), as applicable, to the extent not previously applied by Revolving Agent in the manner described herein; provided that in the case of any Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance, the deposit described in the preceding clause (i) shall be used to prepay, or cause to be prepaid, such Specified Revolving Loans funded in connection therewith.

Section 3.06 Participations in Support Agreements.

(a) Concurrently with the issuance of each Supported Letter of Credit, Revolving Agent shall be deemed to have sold and transferred to each Revolving Lender, and each such Revolving Lender shall be deemed irrevocably and immediately to have purchased and received from Revolving Agent, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in, to the extent of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Credit Commitments, Revolving Agent’s Support Agreement liabilities and obligations in respect of such Supported Letters of Credit and Borrowers’ Reimbursement Obligations with respect thereto. Concurrently with the issuance of each Lender Letter of Credit, the LC Issuer in respect thereof shall be deemed to have sold and transferred to each Revolving Lender, and each such Revolving Lender shall be deemed irrevocably and immediately to have purchased and received from such LC Issuer, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in, to the extent of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Credit Commitments, such Lender Letter of Credit and Borrowers’ Reimbursement Obligations with respect thereto. Any purchase obligation arising pursuant to this clause (a) (i) shall be absolute and unconditional and (ii) shall not be affected by any circumstances whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Support Agreement or Letter of Credit or the existence of a Default or Event of Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(b) If either (i) the Revolving Agent makes any payment or disbursement under any Support Agreement and/or (ii) a LC Issuer makes any payment or disbursement under any Lender Letter of Credit and (x) Borrowers have not reimbursed Revolving Agent or, as applicable, the applicable LC Issuer with respect to any Lender Letter of Credit in full for such payment or disbursement in accordance with Section 3.03 or Section 3.05, or (y) any reimbursement received by the Revolving Agent or any LC Issuer, as applicable, from any Loan Party is or must be returned or rescinded upon or during any bankruptcy or reorganization of any Loan Party or otherwise, each Revolving Lender shall be irrevocably and unconditionally obligated to pay to Revolving Agent or the applicable LC Issuer its Pro Rata Share of such payment or disbursement (but no such payment shall diminish the Obligations of Borrowers under Section 3.03). To the extent any such Revolving Lender shall not have made such amount

 

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available to Revolving Agent or the applicable LC Issuer, as applicable, by 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day on which such Lender receives notice from Revolving Agent or the applicable LC Issuer, as applicable, of such payment or disbursement, or return or rescission such Lender agrees to pay interest on such amount to Revolving Agent or the applicable LC Issuer, as applicable, forthwith on demand accruing daily at the Federal Funds Rate, for the first three (3) days following such Lender’s receipt of such notice, and thereafter at the Reference Rate plus the Applicable Margin in respect of Revolving Loans. Any Revolving Lender’s failure to make available to Revolving Agent or the applicable LC Issuer, as applicable, its Pro Rata Share of any such payment or disbursement, or return or rescission, shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to make available to Revolving Agent such other Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such payment, but no Revolving Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make available to Revolving Agent or the applicable LC Issuer, as applicable, such other Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any such payment or disbursement, or return or rescission.

Section 3.07 Reallocation as a Result of Defaulted Lender. If any Letter of Credit Liabilities are outstanding at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender then:

(a) all or any part of the Pro Rata Share of Letter of Credit Liabilities attributable to such Defaulting Lender shall be reallocated among the non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Credit Commitments but only to the extent that (x) the sum of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Revolving Credit Outstandings, plus such non-Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Liabilities does not exceed the total of all non-Defaulting Lenders’ Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Credit Commitments and (y) the conditions set forth in Section 5.02 are satisfied at such time;

(b) if the reallocation described in clause (i) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, Borrowers shall within three (3) Business Days following notice by the Revolving Agent cash collateralize for the benefit of the Revolving Agent and Revolving Lenders, and to be available to Revolving Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of issuers of Lender Letters of Credit, Borrowers’ obligations corresponding to such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Liabilities after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to clause (a) above) in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 3.05 above, for so long as such Lender remains a Defaulting Lender and such Letter of Credit Liabilities are outstanding;

(c) if Borrowers cash collateralizes any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Letter of Credit Liabilities pursuant to clause (b) above, Borrowers shall not be required to pay any fees to such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 3.02 above with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Liabilities during the period such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Letter of Credit Liabilities is cash collateralized;

(d) if the Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Liabilities of the non-Defaulting Lenders is reallocated pursuant to clause (a) above, then the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.06 and Section 3.02 shall be adjusted in accordance with such non-Defaulting Lenders’ Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Loans and the then existing Letter of Credit Liabilities;

 

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(e) if all or any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Liabilities is neither reallocated nor cash collateralized pursuant to clause (a) or (b) above, then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of Revolving Agent, any LC Issuer or any other Lender hereunder, all unused line fees that otherwise would have been payable to such Defaulting Lender (solely with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Credit Commitments that was utilized for such Letter of Credit Liabilities) and letter of credit fees payable under Section 3.02 with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Liabilities shall be payable to Revolving Agent (in the case of Supported Letters of Credit) or LC Issuer (in the case of Lender Letters of Credit) until and to the extent that such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Liabilities is reallocated and/or cash collateralized;

(f) so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, neither Revolving Agent nor any LC Issuer shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Support Agreement or Letter of Credit, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure and the Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the then outstanding Letter of Credit Liabilities will be one hundred percent (100%) covered by the Revolving Credit Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders and/or cash collateral will be provided by Borrowers, all in accordance with and as set forth in this Section 3.07, and participating interests in any newly issued or increased Letter of Credit or Support Agreement shall be allocated among non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 3.07 (and such Defaulting Lender shall not participate therein); and

(g) in the event that Revolving Agent, Borrowers, and the LC Issuers each agree that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the Pro Rata Share of the Letter of Credit Liabilities of all Revolving Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Revolving Loan Outstandings of the other Revolving Lenders as Revolving Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Revolving Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Credit Commitments and any remaining cash collateral deposited by Borrowers in accordance with this Section 3.07 shall be returned to Borrowers.

Section 3.08 Limitation of Liability. Neither of the Agents, the Lenders nor the LC Issuer nor any of their Affiliates shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the LC Issuer; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse either Agent, the Lenders, or the LC Issuer from liability to Borrowers to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable Law) suffered by any Borrower that are caused

 

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by either Agent’s, the Lenders’, or the LC Issuer’s (A) gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct or (B) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of any Letter of Credit. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the LC Issuer may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

ARTICLE IV

APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS; DEFAULTING LENDERS; JOINT AND SEVERAL

LIABILITY OF BORROWERS

Section 4.01 Payments; Computations and Statements. (a) The Borrowers will make each payment under this Agreement not later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the day when due, in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent’s Account. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day may, in the Administrative Agent’s discretion, be credited to the Loan Account on the next succeeding Business Day. All payments shall be made by the Borrowers without set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, deduction or other defense to the Agents and the Lenders. Except as provided in Section 2.02, after receipt, the Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal ratably to the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to such Lender, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Whenever any payment to be made under any such Loan Document shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest or fees, as the case may be. All computations of fees shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fees hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes in the absence of manifest error. For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada) (i) whenever a rate of interest or fee rate hereunder is calculated on the basis of a year (the “deemed year”) that contains fewer days than the actual number of days in the calendar year of calculation, such rate of interest or fee rate shall be expressed as a yearly rate by multiplying such rate of interest or fee rate by the actual number of days in the calendar year of calculation and dividing it by the number of days in the deemed year, (ii) the principle of deemed reinvestment of interest shall not apply to any interest calculation hereunder and (iii) the rates of interest stipulated herein are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields. Each of the Loan Parties confirms that it fully understands and is able to calculate the rate of interest applicable to the Loans based on the methodology for calculating per annum rates provided for in this section. Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably agrees not to plead or assert, whether by way of defense or otherwise, in any proceeding relating to the Finance Documents, that the interest payable under the Loan Documents and the calculation thereof has not been adequately disclosed to the Loan Parties, whether pursuant to Section 4 of the Interest Act (Canada) or any other applicable law or legal principle.

 

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(b) The Administrative Agent shall provide the Administrative Borrower, promptly after the end of each calendar month, a summary statement (in the form from time to time used by the Administrative Agent) of the opening and closing daily balances in the Loan Account of the Borrowers during such month, the amounts and dates of all Loans made to the Borrowers during such month, the amounts and dates of all payments on account of the Loans to the Borrowers during such month and the Loans to which such payments were applied, the amount of interest accrued on the Loans to the Borrowers during such month and the amount and nature of any charges to the Loan Account made during such month on account of fees, commissions, expenses and other Obligations. All entries on any such statement shall be presumed to be correct and, 30 days after the same is sent, shall be final and conclusive absent manifest error.

Section 4.02 Sharing of Payments. Except as provided herein, if any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of any Obligation in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of similar obligations obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in such similar obligations held by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided, however, that (a) if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and each Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered and (b) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (i) any payment made by the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender and any payment of an amendment, consent or waiver fee to consenting Lenders pursuant to an effective amendment, consent or waiver with respect to this Agreement), (ii) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans, other than to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply) or (iii) amounts payable pursuant to the Fee Letter. The Borrowers agree that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all of its rights (including the Lender’s right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrowers in the amount of such participation.

Section 4.03 Apportionment of Payments. Subject to Section 2.02 hereof:

(a) All payments of principal and interest in respect of outstanding Loans, all payments of fees (other than the fees set forth in Section 2.06 hereof) and all other payments in respect of any other Obligations, shall be allocated by the Administrative Agent among such of the Lenders as are entitled thereto, in proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares or otherwise as provided herein or, in respect of payments not made on account of Loans, as designated by the Person making payment when the payment is made.

 

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(b) After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may, and upon the direction of the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders, shall, apply all payments in respect of any Obligations, including without limitation, all proceeds of the Collateral, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, (i) first, ratably to pay the Obligations (including any outstanding Letters of Credit (and any related Support Agreements)) in respect of any fees, expense reimbursements, indemnities and other amounts then due and payable to the Agents until paid in full; (ii) second, to pay interest then due and payable in respect of the Collateral Agent Advances until paid in full; (iii) third, to pay principal of the Collateral Agent Advances until paid in full; (iv) fourth, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any fees (other than any Applicable Premium), expense reimbursements, indemnities and other amounts then due and payable to the Lenders and the outstanding Letters of Credit (and any related Support Agreements) until paid in full; (v) fifth, ratably to pay interest then due and payable in respect of the Loans and the outstanding Letters of Credit (and any related Support Agreements) until paid in full; (vi) sixth, ratably to pay principal of the Loans until paid in full; (vii) seventh, ratably to pay the Obligations in respect of any Applicable Premium then due and payable to the Lenders until paid in full; and (viii) eighth, to the ratable payment of all other Obligations then due and payable.

(c) For purposes of Section 4.03(b) “paid in full” means payment in cash of all amounts owing under the Loan Documents according to the terms thereof, including the Applicable Premium, loan fees, service fees, professional fees, interest (and specifically including interest accrued after the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding), default interest, interest on interest, and expense reimbursements, whether or not the same would be or is allowed or disallowed in whole or in part in any Insolvency Proceeding (but excluding any payment on account of Contingent Indemnity Obligations not then due and owing).

(d) In the event of a direct conflict between the priority provisions of this Section 4.03 and other provisions contained in any other Loan Document, it is the intention of the parties hereto that both such priority provisions in such documents shall be read together and construed, to the fullest extent possible, to be in concert with each other. In the event of any actual, irreconcilable conflict that cannot be resolved as aforesaid, the terms and provisions of this Section 4.03 shall control and govern.

(e) It is agreed and understood that no obligations with respect to any Hedging Agreements or cash management arrangements shall be included in the distributions set forth in this Section 4.03.

Section 4.04 Defaulting Lenders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender (other than any Agent, its Affiliates or Related Funds) becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

(a) 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 12.02.

 

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(b) The Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to transfer to such Defaulting Lender any payments made by any Borrower to the Administrative Agent for such Defaulting Lender’s benefit, and, in the absence of such transfer to such Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent shall transfer any such payments to each other non-Defaulting Lender ratably in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares (without giving effect to the Pro Rata Shares of such Defaulting Lender) (but only to the extent that such Defaulting Lender’s Loans were funded by the other Lenders) or, if so directed by the Administrative Borrower and if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and to the extent such Defaulting Lender’s Loans were not funded by the other Lenders), retain the same to be re-advanced to the Borrowers as if such Defaulting Lender had made such Loans to the Borrowers. Subject to the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may hold and, in its discretion, re-lend to the Borrowers for the account of such Defaulting Lender the amount of all such payments received and retained by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender.

(c) The operation of this Section shall not be construed to increase or otherwise affect the Commitments of any Lender, to relieve or excuse the performance by such Defaulting Lender or any other Lender of its duties and obligations hereunder, or to relieve or excuse the performance by any Borrower of its duties and obligations hereunder to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders other than such Defaulting Lender.

(d) This Section shall remain effective with respect to such Lender until either (i) the Obligations under this Agreement shall have been declared or shall have become immediately due and payable or (ii) the non-Defaulting Lenders, the Agents, and the Borrowers shall have waived such Defaulting Lender’s default in writing, and the Defaulting Lender makes its Pro Rata Share of the applicable defaulted Loans and pays to the Agents all amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender in respect thereof; provided, that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

Section 4.05 Administrative Borrower; Joint and Several Liability of the Borrowers.

(a) Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints the Company as the borrowing agent and attorney-in-fact for the Borrowers (the “Administrative Borrower”) which appointment shall remain in full force and effect unless and until the Agents shall have received prior written notice signed by all of the Borrowers that such appointment has been revoked and that another Borrower has been appointed Administrative Borrower. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Borrower (i) to provide to the Agents and receive from the Agents all notices with respect to Loans obtained for the benefit of any Borrower and all other notices and instructions under this Agreement and (ii) to take such action as the Administrative Borrower deems appropriate on its behalf to obtain Loans and to exercise such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto to carry out the purposes of this Agreement. It is understood that the handling of the Loan Account and Collateral of the Borrowers in a combined fashion, as more fully set forth herein, is done solely as an accommodation to the Borrowers in order to utilize the collective borrowing powers of the

 

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Borrowers in the most efficient and economical manner and at their request, and that neither the Agents nor the Lenders shall incur liability to the Borrowers as a result hereof. Each Borrower expects to derive benefit, directly or indirectly, from the handling of the Loan Account and the Collateral in a combined fashion since the successful operation of each Borrower is dependent on the continued successful performance of the integrated group.

(b) Each Borrower hereby accepts joint and several liability hereunder and under the other Loan Documents in consideration of the financial accommodations to be provided by the Agents and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, for the mutual benefit, directly and indirectly, of each of the Borrowers and in consideration of the undertakings of the other Borrowers to accept joint and several liability for the Obligations. Each of the Borrowers, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with the other Borrowers, with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Obligations (including, without limitation, any Obligations arising under this Section 4.05), it being the intention of the parties hereto that all of the Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of each of the Borrowers without preferences or distinction among them. If and to the extent that any of the Borrowers shall fail to make any payment with respect to any of the Obligations as and when due or to perform any of the Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof, then in each such event, the other Borrowers will make such payment with respect to, or perform, such Obligation. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Obligations of each of the Borrowers under the provisions of this Section 4.05 constitute the absolute and unconditional, full recourse Obligations of each of the Borrowers, enforceable against each such Person to the full extent of its properties and assets, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any other circumstances whatsoever.

(c) The provisions of this Section 4.05 are made for the benefit of the Agents, the Lenders and their permitted successors and assigns, and may be enforced by them from time to time against any or all of the Borrowers as often as occasion therefor may arise and without requirement on the part of the Agents, the Lenders or such successors or assigns first to marshal any of its or their claims or to exercise any of its or their rights against any of the other Borrowers or to exhaust any remedies available to it or them against any of the other Borrowers or to resort to any other source or means of obtaining payment of any of the Obligations hereunder or to elect any other remedy. The provisions of this Section 4.05 shall remain in effect until all of the Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations not then due and payable) shall have been paid in full in cash or otherwise fully satisfied.

(d) Each of the Borrowers hereby agrees that it will not enforce any of its rights of contribution or subrogation against the other Borrowers with respect to any liability incurred by it hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents, any payments made by it to the Agents or the Lenders with respect to any of the Obligations or any Collateral, until such time as all of the Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations not then due and payable) have been paid in full in cash or otherwise fully satisfied. Any claim which any Borrower may have against any other Borrower with respect to any payments to the Agents or the Lenders hereunder or under any other Loan Documents are hereby expressly made subordinate and junior in right of payment, without limitation as to any increases in the Obligations arising hereunder or thereunder, to the prior payment in full in cash of the Obligations.

 

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ARTICLE V

CONDITIONS TO LOANS

Section 5.01 Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective as of the Business Day (the “Effective Date”) when each of the following conditions precedent shall have been satisfied or waived in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Agents (and the funding of the Initial Term Loans on the Effective Date shall evidence the satisfaction of each of the conditions set forth in this Section 5.01):

(a) Payment of Fees, Etc. The Borrowers shall have paid, or cause to have been paid, on or before the Effective Date all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses then earned, due and payable pursuant to Section 2.06(c) and Section 12.04 to the extent invoiced at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Effective Date (which amounts may be funded with the proceeds of the Loans).

(b) Representations and Warranties; No Event of Default. The following statements shall be true and correct: (i) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and in each other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations or warranties that already are qualified or modified as to materiality or “Material Adverse Effect” in the text thereof, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects subject to such qualification) on and as of the Effective Date as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date (in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations or warranties that already are qualified or modified as to materiality or “Material Adverse Effect” in the text thereof, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects subject to such qualification) on and as of such earlier date) and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the Effective Date or would result from this Agreement or the other Loan Documents becoming effective in accordance with its or their respective terms.

(c) Legality. The making of the initial Loans shall not contravene any law, rule or regulation applicable to any Secured Party.

(d) Delivery of Documents. The Agents shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and, unless indicated otherwise, dated the Effective Date and, if applicable, duly executed by the Persons party thereto:

(i) this Agreement;

(ii) a Security Agreement, together with the original stock certificates representing all of the certificated Equity Interests and all promissory notes required to be pledged thereunder, accompanied by undated stock powers executed in blank and other proper instruments of transfer;

 

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(iii) the results of searches for any effective UCC financing statements, tax Liens or judgment Liens filed against any Loan Party or its property, which results shall not show any such Liens (other than Permitted Liens);

(iv) [reserved];

(v) the Disbursement Letter;

(vi) the Fee Letter;

(vii) [reserved];

(viii) [reserved];

(ix) [reserved];

(x) the Effective Date Warrants;

(xi) a Notice of Borrowing;

(xii) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of each Loan Party, certifying (A) as to copies of the Governing Documents of such Loan Party, together with all amendments thereto (including, without limitation, a true and complete copy of the charter, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or other publicly filed organizational document of each Loan Party certified as of a recent date not more than 30 days prior to the Effective Date by an appropriate official of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party which shall set forth the same complete name of such Loan Party as is set forth herein and the organizational number of such Loan Party, if an organizational number is issued in such jurisdiction), (B) as to a copy of the resolutions or written consents of such Loan Party authorizing (1) the borrowings hereunder and the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is or will be a party, and (2) the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Loan Party is or will be a party and the execution and delivery of the other documents to be delivered by such Person in connection herewith and therewith, (C) the names and true signatures of the representatives of such Loan Party authorized to sign each Loan Document (in the case of a Borrower, including, without limitation, Notices of Borrowing, SOFR Notices and all other notices under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) to which such Loan Party is or will be a party and the other documents to be executed and delivered by such Loan Party in connection herewith and therewith, together with evidence of the incumbency of such authorized officers and (D) as to the matters set forth in Section 5.01(b);

(xiii) [reserved];

(xiv) a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Company, certifying that the Loan Parties and their subsidiaries (taken as a whole), after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and immediately after giving effect to the Loans on the Effective Date, are Solvent;

 

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(xv) [reserved].

(xvi) a certificate of the appropriate official(s) of the jurisdiction of organization certifying as of a recent date not more than 30 days prior to the Effective Date as to the subsistence in good standing of, and the payment of taxes by, such Loan Party in such jurisdiction;

(xvii) a customary opinion of (A) Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, New York and Delaware counsel to the Loan Parties, (B) Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, Minnesota and Michigan counsel to the Loan Parties in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(xviii) to the extent requested at least 7 days prior to the Effective Date, the Agents and the Lenders shall have received, at least 3 days prior to the Effective Date, all documentation and other information, including a duly executed IRS Form W-9 (or other applicable tax form) for each of the Loan Parties, required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the USA PATRIOT Act, in each case, that has been requested by any Agent or any Lender;

(xix) subject to Section 5.03(a) of this Agreement, evidence of the insurance coverage required by Section 7.01, in each case, with such evidence as to the named insureds or loss payees thereunder as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, and providing that such policy may be terminated or canceled (by the insurer or the insured thereunder) only upon 30 days (or 10 days in the case of non-payment of premium) prior written notice to the Collateral Agent and each such named insured or loss payee, together with evidence of the payment of all premiums earned, due in respect thereof for such period as the Collateral Agent may request; and

(xx) substantially concurrently with the making of the Loans on the Effective Date, evidence of the payment in full of all Indebtedness under the Existing Credit Facility, together with (A) a termination and release agreement with respect to the Existing Credit Facility and all related documents, duly executed by the Loan Parties and the Existing Agent, (B) a satisfaction of mortgage for each mortgage filed by the Existing Agent on each Facility, (C) termination of security interest in Intellectual Property for each assignment for security recorded by the Existing Agent at the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office or the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and covering any intellectual property of the Loan Parties, and (D) UCC 3 termination statements for all UCC-1 financing statements and PPSA financing change statements for all PPSA financing statements, in each case filed by the Existing Agent and covering any portion of the Collateral.

(e) Material Adverse Effect. Since June 30, 2023, no event or development shall have occurred that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(f) TBPP Waiver. A waiver from the Borrower to each of TCW Rescue Financing Fund II LP and Asilia Credit Fund, LP and their respective controlled affiliates issued on the Effective Date that neither the issuance of the Warrants nor the exercise of the Warrants will cause such holder or any of its Affiliates to be an “Acquiring Person” within the meaning of the TBPP.

(g) Consolidated EBITDA, Liquidity, Indebtedness. The Agents shall have received a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Administrative Borrower certifying that (i) on the Effective Date, Liquidity (calculated on a pro forma basis to give effect to (i) all Loans made on the Effective Date, and (ii) all fees, costs and expenses paid or to be paid in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including (A) all such fees, costs and expenses set forth on Schedule 1.01(C) and (B) all such other fees, costs and expenses payable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with Section 7.02(u) hereof) is no less than $17,026,000, (ii) the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the 12 month period ending April 30, 2024 is not less than $22,000,000 and (iii) on the Effective Date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries under this Agreement (calculated on a pro forma basis to give effect to all Loans made on the Effective Date) shall not exceed $119,563,500. The Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Company certifying as to the matters set forth above and containing reasonably detailed calculations thereof.

(h) [reserved].

(i) [reserved].

(j) Management Reference Checks. The Administrative Agent shall have received reasonably satisfactory reference checks for, and shall have had an opportunity to meet with, key senior management of each Loan Party.

(k) Due Diligence. The Agents shall have completed their business, legal and collateral due diligence with respect to each Loan Party and the results thereof shall be acceptable to the Agents, in their sole and absolute discretion.

(l) Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Subject to Section 5.03, each document (including any UCC (or similar) financing statement) required by any Loan Document or under applicable Requirements of Law to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral required to be delivered pursuant to any Loan Document, shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

(m) [reserved].

 

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Section 5.02 Conditions Precedent to Revolving Loans. The obligation of any Agent or any Lender to make any Revolving Loan (other than Revolving Loans made pursuant to Section 3.03) or of any Agent to issue any Support Agreement or of any LC Issuer to issue any Lender Letter of Credit after the Effective Date is subject to the fulfillment, of each of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Representations and Warranties; No Event of Default. The following statements shall be true and correct, and the submission by the Administrative Borrower to the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Borrowing (with a copy of such notice to the Revolving Agent) with respect to each such Loan, and the Borrowers’ acceptance of the proceeds of such Loan, shall each be deemed to be a representation and warranty by each Loan Party on the date of such Loan that:

(i) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI and in each other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations or warranties that already are qualified or modified as to materiality or “Material Adverse Effect” in the text thereof, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects subject to such qualification) on and as of such date as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates solely to an earlier date (in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date),

(ii) at the time of and after giving effect to the making of such Loan and the application of the proceeds thereof, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the making of the Loan to be made, on such date and

(iii) the conditions set forth in this Section 5.02 have been satisfied as of the date of such request.

(b) Notices. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of LC Credit Event (in each case, with a copy of such notice to the Revolving Agent) pursuant to Section 2.02 or 3.01 hereof, as applicable (and, in the case of any Support Agreement, receipt by Administrative Agent (with a copy of such notice to the Revolving Agent) of a Notice of LC Credit Event in accordance with Section 3.01).

Section 5.03 Conditions Subsequent to Effectiveness. The Loan Parties shall satisfy each of the conditions subsequent set forth below on or before the date applicable thereto (it being understood that (i) the failure by the Loan Parties to perform or cause to be performed any such condition subsequent on or before the date applicable thereto shall constitute an immediate Event of Default and (ii) to the extent that the existence of any such condition subsequent would otherwise cause any representation, warranty or covenant in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to be breached, the Required Lenders hereby waive such breach for the period from the Effective Date until the date on which such condition subsequent is required to be fulfilled pursuant to this Section 5.03):

(a) Insurance Endorsements. Deliver to the Collateral Agent no later than 60 days after the Effective Date (as such date may be extended in the Collateral Agent’s reasonable discretion) long form insurance endorsements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, with respect to additional insured, lenders loss payee and notice endorsements relating to the Loan Parties’ insurance policies, in each case, in accordance with the requirements of Section 7.01(h).

(b) [Reserved]

 

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(c) Control Agreements. Deliver to the Collateral Agent no later than 60 days after the Effective Date (as such date may be extended in the Collateral Agent’s reasonable discretion) Control Agreements with respect to the Cash Management Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) of the Loan Parties in accordance with Section 8.01(b).

(d) Collateral Assignment of Business Interruption Insurance. Deliver to the Collateral Agent no later than 45 days after the Effective Date (as such date may be extended in the Collateral Agent’s reasonable discretion) a collateral assignment of business interruption insurance proceeds agreement executed by the Loan Parties (and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an acknowledgment of the insurance company regarding the same), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

(e) Joinder of Canadian Loan Parties. Deliver to the Collateral Agent no later than 20 Business Days after the Effective Date (as such date may be extended in the Collateral Agent’s reasonable discretion), (i) a Joinder Agreement from each Subsidiary of the Borrower formed under the laws of Canada or a province or territory thereof, pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall be made a party to this Agreement as a Borrower or a Guarantor, (ii) to the extent applicable and reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent, a supplement to the Security Agreement, (iii) subject to the perfection requirements set forth in Section 7.02(b), each Canadian Loan Document reasonably required by the Collateral Agent, (iv)(a) certificates evidencing all of the Equity Interests of any Person owned by such Subsidiary and required to be pledged under the terms of the Security Agreement Supplement or Canadian Loan Document, as applicable, and (b) undated stock powers for such Equity Interests referred to in Section 5.03(e)(iv)(a) of this Agreement executed in blank and (v) subject to the perfection limitations set forth in Section 7.02(b), any other agreement, document, certificate etc. that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request.

(f) May Financials. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, no later than July 15, 2024, internally prepared consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, consolidated retained earnings, and consolidated statements of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at May 30, 2024, in form consistent with Section 7.01(a)(i).

(g) Intercompany Subordination Agreement. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, no later than 5 Business Days after the Effective Date (as such date may be extended in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion), the Intercompany Subordination Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 6.01 Representations and Warranties. Each Loan Party hereby represents and warrants to the Secured Parties as follows:

(a) Organization, Good Standing, Etc. Each Loan Party (i) is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state or jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has all requisite organizational power and authority to conduct its business as now conducted and as presently contemplated and, in the case of the Borrowers, to make the borrowings hereunder, and to execute and deliver each Loan Document to which it is a party, and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, and (iii) is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary, except, solely for the purposes of subclauses (i) (as it related to the good standing of such Loan Party) and (iii), where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) Authorization, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which it is a party and the obtaining of any Letter of Credit, if applicable, (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational action, (ii) do not and will not contravene (A) any of its Governing Documents, (B) any applicable material Requirement of Law or (C) any Contractual Obligation binding on it or any of its properties except, in the case of this clause (ii)(C), to the extent such contravention could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) do not and will not result in or require the creation of any Lien (other than pursuant to any Loan Document or any Permitted Lien) upon or with respect to any of its properties, and (iv) do not and will not result in any default, noncompliance, suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal of any permit, license, authorization or approval applicable to its operations or any of its properties, except, in the case of clause (iv), to the extent where such contravention, default, noncompliance, suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) Governmental Approvals. No material authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the due execution, delivery and performance by any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is or will be a party other than (i) filings and recordings with respect to Collateral to be made, or otherwise delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing or recordation and (ii) approvals the failure to have, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) Enforceability of Loan Documents. This Agreement is, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan Party is a party, when delivered hereunder, will be, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person, enforceable against such Person in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

(e) Capitalization. On the Effective Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur on the Effective Date, the authorized Equity Interests of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries and the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are as set forth on Schedule 6.01(e). As of the Effective Date, all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable (if applicable), and except as set forth on Schedule 6.01(e), the holders thereof are not entitled to any preemptive, first refusal or other similar rights. All Equity Interests of such Subsidiaries are owned by the

 

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Company free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Specified Liens). As of the Effective Date, except as described on Schedule 6.01(e), there are no outstanding debt or equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and no outstanding obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for, or warrants, options or other rights for the purchase, subscription or acquisition from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or other obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, directly or indirectly, any Equity Interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(f) Litigation. There is no pending or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened in writing action, suit or proceeding against any Loan Party or any of its properties before any court or other Governmental Authority or any arbitrator that (i) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) relates to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby.

(g) Financial Statements.

(i) The Financial Statements, copies of which have been delivered to each Agent (for distribution to the Lenders), fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal periods ended on such respective dates, all in accordance with GAAP (subject to the absence of footnotes, as set forth therein and normal year-end adjustments). All material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date of such Financial Statements are set forth in the Financial Statements. Since June 30, 2023, no event or development has occurred that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) The Company has heretofore furnished to each Agent and each Lender projected annual balance sheets, income statements and statements of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Years ending in 2024 through 2029, which projected financial statements shall be updated from time to time pursuant to Section 7.01(a)(vi).

(h) Compliance with Law, Etc. No Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of (i) any of its Governing Documents, (ii) any Requirement of Law, or (iii) any Contractual Obligation (including, without limitation, any Material Contract) binding on it or any of its properties except, in the case of clause (ii) and clause (iii), to the extent such violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(i) ERISA and Canadian Pension Plans. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Loan Party and each Employee Plan is in compliance with all Requirements of Law, including ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, (ii) no ERISA Event has occurred nor is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Employee Plan or Multiemployer Plan, and (iii) each Employee Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and the trust related thereto is exempt from federal

 

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income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred any liability to the PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of premiums, and there are no premium payments which have become due which are unpaid. None of the Loan Parties sponsor, maintain, participate in, contribute to or otherwise have any liability or contingent liability in respect of any Canadian Defined Benefit Plan or Canadian Multi-Employer Plan. No statutory deemed trust or Lien has arisen or been imposed on any Loan Party or its property in connection with any Canadian Pension Plan, except in respect of any amounts required to be remitted but not yet due.

(j) Taxes, Etc. (i) All U.S. federal income Tax returns and other material Tax returns required by applicable Requirements of Law to be filed by any Loan Party have been timely filed (taking into account any extensions) and (ii) all Taxes imposed upon any Loan Party or any property of any Loan Party which have become due and payable on or prior to the Effective dDate hereof have or will be been paid, except (A) unpaid Taxes in an aggregate amount at any one time not in excess of $100,000, and (B) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by proper proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof on the Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP.

(k) Regulations T, U and X. No Loan Party is or will be engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T, U or X), and no proceeds of any Loan will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for any purpose that violates the provisions of Regulation T, U and X.

(l) Nature of Business. No Loan Party is engaged in any business other than as permitted by Section 7.02(d).

(m) Warrant. Neither the issuance nor the exercise by TCW and any of its controlled Affiliates of their respective rights under Section 2 of the Warrant, in whole or in part, will result in the ability of any holder of Equity Interests of the Company to exercise the Rights (as defined in the TBPP (as defined below) under that certain Tax Benefits Preservation Plan dated as of January 29, 2024 between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (as amended, the “TBPP”).

(n) Permits, Etc. Each Loan Party has, and is in compliance with, all permits, licenses, authorizations, approvals, entitlements and accreditations required for such Person lawfully to own, lease, manage or operate, or to acquire, each business and Facility currently owned, leased, managed or operated, or to be acquired, by such Person, except to the extent the failure to have or be in compliance therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) Properties. The Loan Parties have good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interests in, or valid licenses or rights to use, all of their property and assets, except to the extent failure to have such title, licenses and rights could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Loan Parties’ property and assets are free and clear of all Liens, except Permitted Liens. All of the Loan Parties’ material properties and assets are in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted and except as otherwise could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(p) Employee and Labor Matters. Except to the extent failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) no Loan Party or any Subsidiary is party to any collective bargaining agreement, nor has any labor union been recognized as the representative of the employees of any Loan Party of Subsidiary; (ii) there is no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary before any Governmental Authority; (iii) there is no strike, work stoppage, slowdown, lockout, or other labor dispute pending or, to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened in writing against any Loan Party or any Subsidiary; and (iv) to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, no labor organization or group of employees has made a pending demand for recognition or certification and there are no representation or certification proceedings or petitions seeking a representation proceeding presently pending or threatened to be brought or filed with the National Labor Relations Board or any similar labor relations tribunal. All payments due from any Loan Party or Subsidiary on account of wages have been made in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and similar applicable Requirements of Law, except where the failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) Environmental Matters. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) no Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries has, and is in compliance with, all Environmental Permits for its respective operations; (iii) there has been no Release of Hazardous Materials by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries at any properties currently or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, at any disposal or treatment facility which received Hazardous Materials generated by any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries; and (iv) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened in writing Environmental Claims against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or Environmental Liability of, any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries. No Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently performing or responsible for any Remedial Action that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect

(r) Insurance. Each Loan Party maintains all insurance required by Section 7.01(h). Schedule 6.01(r) sets forth a list of all such insurance maintained by or for the benefit of each Loan Party on the Effective Date.

(s) Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Initial Term Loans (other than any Specified Revolving Loan) shall be used (A) on the Effective Date other than as set forth in Clause (C) below, (i) to refinance the Existing Credit Facility and other existing indebtedness of the Borrowers and (ii) to pay fees and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (B) after the Effective Date, other than as set forth in clause (C) below, for working capital and other general corporate purposes and (C) on or within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, Revolving Loans may be used to replace, backstop or cash collateralize the Existing Letters of Credit; provided that, the proceeds of such Revolving Loans incurred for purposes of this clause (C) shall not exceed $10,237,500 in the aggregate. The proceeds of the Specified

 

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Revolving Loans shall be used after the Effective Date, solely for the purpose of cash collateralizing any Specified Revolving Loan LC Issuance in accordance with Section 3.05 (and, for the avoidance of doubt, no Specified Revolving Loan shall be permitted to be outstanding if not being used for such purpose), and shall be deemed to have been funded on a cashless basis for the administrative convenience of the LC Issuer and promptly applied in accordance with Section 3.05. The proceeds of the First Amendment Term Loans made hereunder on the First Amendment Effective Date shall be used to finance a portion of the Alline Acquisition, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the First Amendment.

(t) Solvency. After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and immediately after giving effect to the Loans, on the Effective Date, the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis are, Solvent. No transfer of property is being made by any Loan Party and no obligation is being incurred by any Loan Party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud either present or future creditors of such Loan Party.

(u) Intellectual Property. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Loan Party owns or licenses or otherwise has the right to use all Intellectual Property rights that are necessary for the operation of its business and, to the knowledge of each Loan Party, the conduct and operations of the business of each Loan Party do not infringe upon or conflict with the rights of any other Person with respect thereto, and (ii) no other Person has brought any written claim or litigation contesting any right or interest in any Intellectual Property owned by a Loan Party and, to the knowledge of each Loan Party, no claim is pending or threatened, except in connection with such infringements and conflicts, and which could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Material Contracts. As of the Effective Date, (i) each Material Contract is in full force and effect and is binding upon and enforceable (except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity) against each Loan Party that is a party thereto and, to the best knowledge of such Loan Party, all other parties thereto in accordance with its terms, and (ii) to the best knowledge of any Loan Party, no Loan Party is in default of a material provision due to the action of any Loan Party or any other party thereto. Except as permitted to be replaced pursuant to Section 7.02(m)(iv), each Specified Material Contract is (i) in full force and effect in all material respects and (ii) no Loan Party has received notice that it is in default thereunder, but solely to the extent (1) such default remains uncured or not waived in writing and (2) such default would reasonably be expected to result in large scale disruptions of operations, the closure of a material portion of the franchised Salons governed thereby, give rise to a right of termination by any Person (other than the Company or its Subsidiaries) under such Specified Material Contracts or a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) Investment Company Act. None of the Loan Parties is (i) an “investment company” registered or required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (ii) subject to regulation under any Requirement of Law that limits in any respect its ability to incur Indebtedness or which may otherwise render all or a portion of the Obligations unenforceable.

 

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(x) Sanctions; Anti-Corruption and Anti-Money Laundering Laws. None of any Loan Party, any Subsidiary thereof or any of their respective directors or officers or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any of their respective employees, agents or Affiliates, (i) is a Sanctioned Person or currently the subject or target of any Sanctions, (ii) has assets located in a Sanctioned Country in violation of applicable Sanctions, or (iii) directly or knowingly, indirectly derives revenues from investments in, or transactions with, Sanctioned Persons. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries will implement and maintain in effect policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects by each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries, or their respective directors or officers and, to the knowledge of each Loan Party, their respective employees, agents or Affiliates, is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

(y) Full Disclosure. Each Loan Party has disclosed to the Agents all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To each Loan Party’s knowledge, none of the written reports, financial statements, certificates or written other information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Agents (other than forward-looking information, estimates, budgets, Projections and information of a general economic nature and general information about Borrowers’ industry) (taken as a whole and as supplemented) in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished and taken as a whole) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, not materially misleading.

(ii) Projections have been prepared in good faith based on assumptions, estimates, methods and tests that are believed by the Loan Parties to be reasonable at the time such Projections were prepared; it being understood that (A) Projections are by their nature subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Loan Parties’ control, (B) actual results may differ materially from the Projections and such variations may be material and (C) the Projections are not a guarantee of performance.

(z) Customers and Suppliers. There exists no actual or pending termination, cancellation or limitation of, or modification to or change in, the business relationship between (i) any Loan Party, on the one hand, and any customer or any group thereof, on the other hand, or (ii) any Loan Party, on the one hand, and any supplier or any group thereof, on the other hand, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), which termination, cancellation, limitation, modification or change, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(aa) Master Franchise Agreements and Franchise Agreements.

(i) [Reserved].

 

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(ii) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as of the Effective Date, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, each Master Franchise Agreement and Franchise Agreement is in full force and effect and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the applicable Loan Party and the other party thereto (except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity). Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to the knowledge of each Loan Party, no Loan Party is in material breach or default thereunder, and, to the knowledge of each Loan Party, no event has occurred and no condition or state of facts exists which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute such a default or breach by any Loan Party thereunder.

(iii) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as of the Effective Date, to the knowledge of each Loan Party, the Franchise Disclosure Documents currently in effect, if any: (A) materially comply with applicable United States Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) franchise disclosure rules and state franchise laws in effect at such time; (B) have been timely amended to reflect any material changes or developments in the Loan Parties’ franchise system, agreements, operations, financial condition, litigation matters, or other matters requiring disclosure under any applicable law; and (C) include all material documents (including audited financial statements for the applicable Person) required by any applicable law to be provided to prospective franchisees. Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, after the Effective Date, (A) all the Franchises granted under the Franchise Agreements entered into after the Effective Date have been sold in material compliance with applicable law, including franchise disclosure and registration requirements and (B) each Loan Party is in material compliance with all applicable laws relating to franchise matters

(iv) Each Loan Party has provided the Collateral Agent with true and complete copies of each Franchise Disclosure Document for its currently offered form or forms of Franchise Agreement. Except as otherwise disclosed in the current Franchise Disclosure Documents and as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, as of the Effective Date, no Loan Party has received any currently effective written notice of any threatened administrative, criminal or civil action against it or any persons disclosed in any of its applicable Franchise Disclosure Document, where such threatened administrative, criminal and/or civil action alleges a violation of a franchise law, antitrust law, securities law, fraud, unfair or deceptive practices, or comparable allegations, as well as actions other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to any Loan Party’s business that are material in the context of the number of its Franchisees and the size, nature, or financial condition of the franchise system or its business operations.

(v) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no Loan Party nor, to any Loan Party’s knowledge, any of their employees sales agents or sales brokers for franchises have, in the ten years prior to the Effective Date, provided information to prospective franchisees that materially contradicts the information contained in the Franchise Disclosure Documents provided to such prospects (including but not limited to “financial performance representation claim” information.

 

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(vi) As of the Effective Date, to the knowledge of each Loan Party, and except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (A) each Loan Party has maintained an accurate accounting with respect to any advertising funds required to be paid by any Master Franchisee or Franchisee or an advertising fund for use in connection with national or regional advertising for which it maintains accounts, (B) all collections with respect to such advertising funds and advertising cooperatives have been collected in material accordance with the terms and conditions of each Franchise Agreement, (C) each Loan Party has properly accounted for all payments made by each Franchisee with respect to any advertising fund or advertising cooperative and (D) no Loan Party is aware of any allegations that any of the expenditures from any advertising fund or advertising cooperative have been improperly collected, accounted for, maintained, used or applied.

(vii) As of the Effective Date, to the knowledge of each Loan Party, no franchise association sponsored by a Loan Party is currently in place on the Effective Date.

(viii) As of the Effective Date, no Loan Party currently employs or uses any franchise brokers in connection with its franchising system sales.

(bb) Credit Card Agreements. As of the Effective Date, Schedule 6.01(bb) sets forth all material Credit Card Agreements of the Loan Parties. Each Loan Party has complied in all material respects with all of the terms and conditions of the Credit Card Agreements to the extent necessary for such Loan Party to be entitled to receive all payments thereunder.

ARTICLE VII

COVENANTS OF THE LOAN PARTIES AND OTHER COLLATERAL MATTERS

Section 7.01 Affirmative Covenants. So long as any principal of or interest on any Loan or any other Obligation (whether or not due) shall remain unpaid (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Letter of Credit or Support Agreement remains outstanding, each Loan Party will:

(a) Reporting Requirements. Furnish to each Agent and each Lender:

(i) beginning with the month ending June 30, 2024, within 30 days after the end of each fiscal month of the Company and its Subsidiaries (except for the last fiscal month of each Fiscal Quarter), (A) unaudited consolidated balance sheets, consolidated and consolidating statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal month and for the period commencing at the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and ending with the end of such fiscal month, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding date or period set forth in (1) the financial statements for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and (2) the Projections of consolidated statements of operation, all in reasonable detail and certified by an Authorized Officer of the Company as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal month, in accordance with GAAP (subject to ordinary, good faith year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) and (B) a report setting forth those key performance indicators set forth on Schedule 7.01(a);

 

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(ii) commencing with the Fiscal Quarter ending June 30, 2024, within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year (or such longer time period permitted by the SEC for the Borrower to file its Form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter), (x) the information required under Section 7.01(a)(i) for the last fiscal month of such Fiscal Quarter and (y) unaudited consolidated balance sheets, consolidated and consolidating (with respect to statements of income only) statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Quarter, and for the period commencing at the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and ending with the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding date or period set forth in (A) the financial statements for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year and (B) the Projections of consolidated statements of operation, all in reasonable detail and certified by an Authorized Officer of the Company as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal month, in accordance with GAAP (subject to ordinary, good faith year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes);

(iii) commencing with the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2024, upon the earlier of (a) the filing of its Form 10-K for such Fiscal Year with the SEC or (b) 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year (or such longer time period permitted by the SEC for the Borrower to file its Form 10-K for such fiscal year), (x) the information required under Section 7.01(a)(i) for the last fiscal month of such Fiscal Year and (y) consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and retained earnings and statements of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding date or period set forth in the financial statements for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, and accompanied by a report and an opinion, prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, of a nationally-recognized independent public accounting firm (which opinion shall be without (1) a “going concern” (but may be subject to a “going concern” explanatory paragraph or like statement or any “emphasis of matter) (other than as a result of, (x) the maturity date of any Indebtedness occurring within 12 months of the date of such audit or (y) in the good faith determination of the Borrower in consultation with the applicable accounting firm, a prospective financial covenant default under this Agreement or any other agreement evidencing Indebtedness of the Loan Parties) or (2) any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit);

(iv) simultaneously with the delivery of the financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries (A) required by clauses (ii) (other than for the fourth Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year) and (iii) of this Section 7.01(a), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Company substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto (a “Compliance Certificate”), (B) required by clause (ii) of this Section 7.01(a), a management’s discussion and analysis of the important operational and financial developments during the period covered thereby with a comparison to such period during the prior year and to the Projections, and (C) required by clause (iii) of this Section 7.01(a), a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Company containing a reasonably detailed calculation of Excess Cash Flow for the period covered by such financial statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary for purposes herein, the Company’s compliance with financial covenants in Section 7.03 for the fourth Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year shall be determined based on the Compliance Certificate delivered under clause (iii) of this Section 7.01(a).

 

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(v) [reserved];

(vi) not later than 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a certificate of an Authorized Officer of the Company (A) attaching a consolidated budget and Projections for the Company and its Subsidiaries, supplementing and superseding the Projections previously required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement, prepared on a monthly basis and otherwise in form consistent with the Projections given on or prior to the Effective Date (or otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Agents), for the immediately succeeding Fiscal Year for the Company and its Subsidiaries and (B) certifying that the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6.01(y) are true and correct with respect to the Projections;

(vii) promptly after submission to any Governmental Authority, all documents and written information furnished to such Governmental Authority in connection with any investigation of any Loan Party to the extent such investigation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(viii) as soon as possible, and in any event within 5 Business Days after the occurrence of an Event of Default or Default or the occurrence of any event or development that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the written statement of an Authorized Officer of the Administrative Borrower setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default or other event or development having a Material Adverse Effect and the action which the affected Loan Party proposes to take with respect thereto;

(ix) (A) within 10 Business Days after any Loan Party has knowledge of the occurrence of any ERISA Event, notice of such ERISA Event (in reasonable detail), (B) within 5 Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC, copies of each notice received by any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates of the PBGC’s intention to terminate any Pension Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any Pension Plan, (C) within 10 Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates from a sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan or from the PBGC, a copy of each notice received by any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates concerning the imposition or amount of withdrawal liability under Section 4202 of ERISA and (D) within 10 Business Days after any Loan Party sends notice of a plant closing or mass layoff (as defined in the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) to employees, copies of each such notice sent by such Loan Party;

(x) promptly after the commencement thereof but in any event not later than 5 days after service of process with respect thereto on, or the obtaining of knowledge thereof by, any Loan Party, notice of each action, suit or proceeding before any court or other Governmental Authority or other regulatory body or any arbitrator that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(xi) [reserved];

(xii) within 5 Business Days after the occurrence of any termination, cancellation or material limitation of, or material adverse modification to or material adverse change in, the business relationship (in each case, in the good faith determination of the Loan Parties) between the Loan Parties, on the one hand, and any material customer or supplier of the Loan Parties (for which aggregate consideration payable to or by such customer or supplier pursuant to contractual relationships between such customer or supplier and the Loan Parties exceeds $5,000,000 in any Fiscal Year), on the other hand, the written statement of an Authorized Officer of the Administrative Borrower setting forth the details of such event and the action which the Loan Parties propose to take with respect thereto;

(xiii) [reserved];

(xiv) as soon as possible and in any event within five Business Days after the delivery thereof to the Borrower’s Board of Directors, copies of all reports or other information so delivered; provided, further, that this clause (xiv) shall not apply to any report or information if and to the extent (A) access to such information would adversely affect any attorney client privilege or accountant client privilege of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (B) the Lenders, the Loan Documents or material debt financing arrangements are the subject matter of such reports or information;

(xv) promptly after (A) the sending or filing thereof, copies of all material statements, reports and other written information any Loan Party sends to any holders of its Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,000,000 or its securities or files with the SEC or any national (domestic or foreign) securities exchange and (B) the receipt thereof, a copy of any material notice received from any holder of such Indebtedness specified in clause (A) above;

(xvi) promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all financial reports (including, without limitation, management letters), if any, submitted to any Loan Party by its auditors in connection with any annual or interim audit of the books (subject to confidentiality obligations to such auditors, in which case redacted summaries of such information shall be provided);

(xvii) promptly following reasonable request, any certification or other evidence requested from time to time by any Lender in its sole discretion, confirming the Borrowers’ compliance with Section 7.02(r);

(xviii) simultaneously with the delivery of the financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries required by clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 7.01(a), if, as a result of any change in accounting principles and policies from those used in the preparation of the Financial Statements that is permitted by Section 7.02(q), the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 7.01(a) will differ from the consolidated financial statements that would have been delivered pursuant to such subdivisions had no such change in accounting principles and policies been made, then, together with the first delivery of such financial statements after such change, one or more statements of reconciliation for all such prior financial statements in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents; and

 

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(xix) promptly upon request, such other information concerning the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of any Loan Party as any Agent may from time to time may reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01 may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may request and the Administrative Agent shall post such documents and notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) each Lender of the posting of any such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide a paper copy or a .pdf or facsimile copy of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 7.01(iv) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, in no event shall the requirements of this Section 7.01 or any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document require any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to provide any information or document (A) in respect of which disclosure to any Agent or any Lender (or their respective representatives or contractors) is prohibited by Requirements of Law or third party confidentiality obligations, (B) which is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product, or (C) that constitutes a non-financial trade secret or non-financial proprietary information, provided that, in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B), notice that information is being withheld must be provided to the Administrative Agent.

(b) Additional Borrowers, Guarantors and Collateral Security. Cause:

(i) each Subsidiary (other than Excluded Subsidiaries) of any Loan Party not in existence on the Effective Date, to execute and deliver to the Collateral Agent within 30 calendar days (or such later date agreed to by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion) after the formation, acquisition or change in status thereof, (A) a Joinder Agreement, pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall be made a party to this Agreement as a Borrower or a Guarantor, (B) a supplement to the Security Agreement, together with (1) certificates evidencing all of the Equity Interests of any Person owned by such Subsidiary required to be pledged under the terms of the Security Agreement, and (2) undated stock powers for such Equity Interests executed in blank, (C) to the extent a Credit Card Processor Trigger Event has occurred, Processor Letters with respect to any Credit Card Agreements of such Subsidiary and (D) subject to the terms and

 

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conditions herein and the other Loan Documents, such other agreements, opinions, instruments, approvals or other documents reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent in order to create, perfect (if and to the extent required to be perfected under the Loan Documents), establish the first priority (subject to Permitted Liens) of or otherwise protect any Lien purported to be covered by any such Security Agreement or Mortgage or otherwise to effect the intent that such Subsidiary shall become bound by all of the terms, covenants and agreements contained in the Loan Documents and that all Collateral (as described under this clause (b)(i)) of such Subsidiary shall secure the Obligations (to the extent required under the Loan Documents); and

(ii) each owner of the Equity Interests who is a Loan Party of any such Subsidiary (as described in clause (b)(i) above) to execute and deliver promptly and in any event within 30 calendar days after the formation or acquisition of such Subsidiary a Pledge Amendment (as defined in the Security Agreement), together with (A) any certificates evidencing all of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary to the extent required to be pledged under the terms of the Security Agreement, (B) undated stock powers or other appropriate instruments of assignment for such Equity Interests executed in blank, and (C) such other agreements, opinions, instruments, approvals or other documents reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Excluded Subsidiary shall be required to become a Guarantor hereunder (and, as such, shall not be required to deliver the documents required by clause (i) above); provided, however, that if the Equity Interests of an Excluded Subsidiary are directly owned by a Loan Party, such Loan Party shall deliver all such documents, instruments, agreements and certificates described in clause (ii) above to the Collateral Agent, and take all commercially reasonable actions reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent or otherwise necessary to grant and to perfect a first-priority Lien (subject to Permitted Specified Liens) in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, in 100% of the voting Equity Interests of such Excluded Subsidiary and 100% of all other Equity Interests of such Excluded Subsidiary directly owned by such Loan Party (it being understood and agreement that no Loan Party shall be required to execute any security agreement, pledge agreement or other collateral document governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i) the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (ii) Canada, or any province thereof).

The Collateral Agent may grant extensions of time for the creation or perfection of security interests in or the obtaining of insurance with respect to particular assets if and to the extent that the Collateral Agent reasonably determines, in consultation with the Administrative Borrower, that creation or perfection cannot be accomplished without undue burden, effort or expense by the time or times at which it would otherwise be required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

In addition, it is understood and agreed that the Loan Parties shall not be required to take any action to create or perfect the security interest of the Collateral Agent: (i) in any particular assets located outside of the United States or Canada, (ii) if and to the extent that the Collateral Agent reasonably determines, in consultation with the Administrative Borrower, that the burden, effort or expense (including any mortgage, stamp, intangible, or other expense relating to such security interest) of the Loan Parties to create or perfect such security interest in such particular assets

 

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materially outweighs the benefit to the Agents and the Lenders of such creation or perfection, (iii) requiring perfection through control agreements or other control arrangements (other than control of pledged Equity Stock, Instruments, Cash Management Accounts and otherwise to the extent required under Article VIII of this Agreement or the Security Agreement, in each case, as required by the terms of this Agreement or the Security Agreement), (iv) in any vehicle or other asset subject to a certificate of title, except to the extent that a security interest therein can be perfected by filing a Form UCC-1 (or similar) financing statement under the UCC (without the requirement to list a “VIN” or similar number), (v) asset in respect of which the perfection of a security interest therein would (A) be prohibited by enforceable anti-assignment provisions set forth in any contract that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof (other than in the case of capital leases, purchase money and similar financings), (B) violate the terms of any contract relating to such asset that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement and is binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof (other than in the case of capital leases, purchase money and similar financings), in each case, after giving effect to the applicable anti-assignment provisions of the UCC or other applicable Requirements of Law or (C) trigger termination of any contract relating to such asset that is permitted or otherwise not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement and is (other than in the case of capital leases, purchase money and similar financings) binding on such asset at the time of its acquisition and not incurred in contemplation thereof pursuant to any “change of control” or similar provision; it being understood that the Collateral shall include any proceeds and/or receivables arising out of any contract described in this clause to the extent the assignment of such proceeds or receivables is expressly deemed effective under the UCC or other applicable Requirements of Law notwithstanding the relevant prohibition, violation or termination right, (vi) if the perfection of a security interest in any asset would be prohibited under any applicable Requirements of Law, and (vii) other than pursuant to (A) filings pursuant to the UCC or the PPSA in the office of the secretary state (or similar central filing office) of the relevant state(s) or province where Loan Parties are organized, (B) filings with the United States and Canadian government offices with respect to Intellectual Property that constitute Collateral as expressly required by the Loan Documents, (C) delivery to the Administrative Agent, for its possession (subject to the terms of any applicable Intercreditor Agreement), of all Collateral consisting of Material Debt Instruments (as defined in the Security Agreement) and Equity Interests of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Excluded Subsidiaries), in each case, as and to the extent expressly required in the Loan Documents or (D) Mortgages (including Real Property Deliverables) and fixture filings in respect of any Material Real Estate Asset.

(c) Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes.

(i) Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, with all Requirements of Law, judgments and awards (including any settlement of any claim that, if breached, could give rise to any of the foregoing), except to the extent the failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) Pay, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, in full before delinquency or before the expiration of any extension period, all Taxes imposed upon any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any property of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, except that no such Tax need be paid if (i) the aggregate amount of such unpaid Taxes at any one time does not exceed $100,000 or (ii) such Taxes are being contested in good faith by proper proceedings and adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof in accordance with GAAP.

 

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(d) Preservation of Existence, Etc.

(i) Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) to maintain and preserve, its existence (except to the extent permitted by Section 7.02(c)), rights and privileges.

(ii) Become or remain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to become or remain, duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Keeping of Records and Books of Account. Keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, adequate records and books of account, with complete entries made to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance in all material respects with GAAP.

(f) Inspection Rights. Permit, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to permit, the agents and representatives of any Agent or the Required Tranche A Lenders at any time and from time to time during normal business hours following (so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing) reasonable advance notice, at the reasonable expense of the Borrowers, to examine and make copies of and abstracts from its records and books of account, to visit and inspect its properties, to verify materials, leases, notes, accounts receivable, deposit accounts and its other assets, to conduct audits, physical counts, valuations, appraisals (including, without limitation, appraisals on real estate and machinery and equipment) or examinations and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with any of its directors, officers, managerial employees, independent accountants or any of its other representatives, in each case, subject to the confidentiality obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business (to the extent not made in contemplation hereof), applicable law and the preservation of attorney-client privilege or attorney work product; provided that, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing the Agents and the Required Tranche A Lenders shall be limited to (1) field examination and one (1) inventory appraisal per Fiscal Year. In furtherance of the foregoing, each Loan Party hereby authorizes its independent accountants, and the independent accountants of each of its Subsidiaries, to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of such Person (independently (so long as the Administrative Borrower is given the opportunity to participate) or together with representatives of such Person) with the agents and representatives of any Agent in accordance with this Section 7.01(f).

(g) Maintenance of Properties, Etc. Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its properties which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and casualty and condemnation excepted, except to the extent any such failure to maintain and preserve such properties could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(h) Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations (including, without limitation, comprehensive general liability, hazard, flood, rent, worker’s compensation and business interruption insurance) with respect to the Collateral and its other properties (including all real property leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and covering such risks as is (i) carried generally in accordance with sound business practice by companies in similar businesses similarly situated, (ii) required by any Requirement of Law, and (iii) in any event, in amount, adequacy and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent (it being acknowledged and agreed that the amount, adequacy and scope of the insurance maintained by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries on the Effective Date is reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent). All policies covering the Collateral are to be made payable to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, as their interests may appear, in case of loss, under a standard non-contributory “lender” or “secured party” clause and are to contain such other provisions as the Collateral Agent may require to fully protect the Lenders’ interest in the Collateral and to any payments to be made under such policies (it being understood and agreed that, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Collateral Agent shall not direct any payment to, and any such payments received by, the Collateral Agent, shall be turned over to the Administrative Borrower for application by the Borrowers to the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(c)(iv) or reinvestment by the Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.05(c)(v)). All certificates of insurance are to be delivered to the Collateral Agent and the premiums for such policies are to be paid when due, with the loss payable and additional insured endorsement in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders, as their respective interests may appear, and shall provide for not less than 30 days (10 days in the case of non-payment) prior written notice to the Collateral Agent of the exercise of any right of cancellation. If any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries fails to maintain such insurance, upon not less than 5 Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Borrower, the Collateral Agent may arrange for such insurance, but at the Borrowers’ expense and without any responsibility on the Collateral Agent’s part for obtaining the insurance, the solvency of the insurance companies, the adequacy of the coverage, or the collection of claims. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall have the sole right, in the name of the Lenders, any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries, to file claims under any insurance policies, to receive, receipt and give acquittance for any payments that may be payable thereunder, and to execute any and all endorsements, receipts, releases, assignments, reassignments or other documents that may be necessary to effect the collection, compromise or settlement of any claims under any such insurance policies. The insurance maintained as of the Effective Date satisfies the terms of this Section 7.01(h).

(i) Obtaining of Permits, Etc. Obtain, maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to obtain, maintain and preserve, and take all necessary action to timely renew, all permits, licenses, authorizations, approvals, entitlements and accreditations that are required in the proper conduct of its business, in each case, except to the extent the failure to obtain, maintain, preserve or take such action could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(j) Environmental.

 

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(i) Take all commercially reasonable steps to keep the Collateral free of any Environmental Lien (other than a Permitted Lien);

(ii) Obtain, maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to obtain, maintain and preserve, and take all necessary action to timely renew, all Environmental Permits that are required by Environmental Law for its business, and comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits, except to the extent the failure to so obtain, maintain, preserve, renew or comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(iii) Take all commercially reasonable steps to prevent any Release of Hazardous Materials in violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit at, on, under or from any property owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(iv) Provide the Collateral Agent with written notice within 20 Business Days of obtaining actual knowledge of any of the following: (A) an unpermitted Release of a Hazardous Material by any Loan Party or Subsidiary at, on, under or from any property currently owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or Subsidiary or any violation of Environmental Law or Environmental Permit that in any case for each Release or violation could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (B) receipt of written notice that an Environmental Lien has been filed against any Collateral; or (C) receipt of written notice of an Environmental Claim that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and provide such unprivileged reports and documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request from time to time with respect to any of the foregoing.

(k) Fiscal Year. Cause the Fiscal Year of the Company and its Subsidiaries to end on June 30th of each calendar year unless the Agents consent to a change in such Fiscal Year (and appropriate related changes to this Agreement).

(l) [Reserved].

(m) After Acquired Real Property. Upon the acquisition by it or any of its Subsidiaries after the Effective dDate hereof of any fee interest in any real property (wherever located) (each such interest being a “New Facility”) with a Current Value (as defined below) in excess of $1,000,000 (each such New Facility, a “Material Real Estate Asset”), promptly so notify the Collateral Agent, setting forth with reasonable specificity a description of the interest acquired, the location of the real property, any structures or improvements thereon and either an appraisal or such Loan Party’s good-faith estimate of the current value of such real property at the time of such acquisition (for purposes of this Section, the “Current Value”). The Collateral Agent shall notify such Loan Party whether it intends to require a Mortgage (and any other Real Property Deliverables) with respect to any such Material Real Estate Asset. Upon receipt of such notice requesting a Mortgage (and any other Real Property Deliverables) with respect to such Material Real Estate Asset, the Person that has acquired such Material Real Estate Asset shall promptly furnish the same to the Collateral Agent within 90 days of such Person’s receipt of such notice.

 

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(n) Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

(i) Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by each Loan Party, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

(ii) Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects with all applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

(o) Lender Meetings. Promptly following the request of any Agent, the Required Tranche A Lenders or the Required Lenders, participate in (A) an in-person meeting (which request, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, shall not be made more than once during each Fiscal Year) with the Agents and the Lenders, and (B) a telephonic meeting (which request, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, shall not be made more than once during each calendar quarter) with the Agents and the Lenders, in each case, at such times as may be agreed to by the Administrative Borrower and such Agent, the Required Tranche A Lenders or the Required Lenders.

(p) Franchise Matters. (i) Comply in all material respects with all of its obligations under the Master Franchise Agreements and Franchise Agreements to which it shall become a party; (ii) appear in and defend any action challenging the validity or enforceability of any Master Franchise Agreements or Franchise Agreement, except for such actions which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) give prompt notice, which in no event shall be less than thirty (30) days and may be delivered via email, to the Collateral Agent of (A) any written notice of default given by such Loan Party under any Master Franchise Agreement or Franchise Agreement with respect to a Master Franchisee or Franchisee affecting thirty (30) or more Master Franchise Businesses or Franchisee-operated Salons in the aggregate, (B) any written notice by a Master Franchisee or Franchisee affecting thirty (30) or more Master Franchise Businesses or Franchisee-operated Salons in the aggregate that terminates or threatens to terminate such Master Franchise Agreement or Franchise Agreement or withhold any payments under such Master Franchise Agreement or Franchise Agreement, together with a copy or statement of any information submitted or referenced in support of such notices and any reply by the Loan Party or its Subsidiary; and (iv) provide prospective Master Franchisees or prospective franchisees with a Franchise Disclosure Document or other disclosure statement of similar import as required by 16 C.F.R. 436 and/or any applicable laws in countries outside of the United States.

(q) Further Assurances. Subject to the terms and conditions herein, take such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to take such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver, at its sole cost and expense, such agreements, instruments or other documents as any Agent may reasonably require from time to time in order (i) to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) to subject to valid and perfected (if and to the extent required to be perfected under the Loan Documents) first priority Liens (subject to Permitted Liens) any of the Collateral, (iii) to establish and maintain the validity and effectiveness of any of the Loan Documents and the validity, perfection (if and to the extent required to be perfected under the Loan Documents) and

 

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priority of the Liens (subject to Permitted Liens) intended to be created thereby, and (iv) to better assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer and confirm unto each Secured Party the rights now or hereafter intended to be granted to it under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including, without limitation, after (A) the occurrence of a Credit Card Processor Trigger Event, the execution and delivery of Processor Letters with respect to any Credit Card Agreements identified by the Collateral Agent and (B) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, causing each Credit Card Issuer and Credit Card Processor to direct all payments (due to any Loan Party) of all credit card charges submitted by any Loan Party to such Credit Card Issuer and Credit Card Processor to the Cash Management Accounts). In furtherance of the foregoing, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each Loan Party (i) authorizes each Agent to execute any such agreements, instruments or other documents in such Loan Party’s name and to file such agreements, instruments or other documents in any appropriate filing office during the existence of an Event of Default, (ii) authorizes each Agent to file any financing statement required hereunder or under any other Loan Document, and any continuation statement or amendment with respect thereto, in any appropriate filing office without the signature of such Loan Party, and (iii) ratifies the filing of any financing statement, and any continuation statement or amendment with respect thereto, filed without the signature of such Loan Party prior to the Effective dDate hereof.

(r) Credit Card Agreements. (a) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) observe and perform all terms, covenants, conditions and provisions of the Credit Card Agreements to be observed and performed by it at the times set forth therein; (ii) not do, permit, suffer or refrain from doing anything, as a result of which there could be a default under or breach of any of the terms of any of the Credit Card Agreements; (iii) at all times maintain in full force and effect the Credit Card Agreements and not terminate, cancel, surrender, or materially modify, amend, waive or release any of the Credit Card Agreements, or consent to or permit to occur any of the foregoing and (b) not enter into any new Credit Card Agreements with any new Credit Card Issuer or Credit Card Processor unless such Loan Party delivers, or causes to be delivered to the Agents, a Processor Letter in favor of the Collateral Agent to the extent required under Section 7.01(t).

(s) Board Observation Rights. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to designate one observer (a “Board Observer”) to attend all meetings (a “BOD Meeting”) of the Board of Directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, in each case, any relevant committees thereof) solely in the capacity of a non-voting observer. The Board Observer shall be timely notified of the time and place of any BOD Meetings and will be given written notice of all proposed actions to be taken by the Board of Directors (or any relevant committee thereof) of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries at such meeting as if the Board Observer were a member thereof. The Board Observer shall have the right to receive all information provided to the members of the Board of Directors of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries in anticipation of or at such meeting (regular or special and whether telephonic or otherwise), in addition to copies of the records of the proceedings or minutes of such meeting, when provided to the members, and the Board Observer shall keep such materials and information confidential in accordance with Section 12.19 of this Agreement. The Borrowers shall reimburse the Board Observer for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with its participation in any such BOD Meeting in accordance with the current Board policy related to reimbursement generally.

 

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(t) Processor Letters. Upon the occurrence of a Credit Card Processor Trigger Event, if requested in writing by the Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent, no later than 60 days after such Credit Card Processor Trigger Event, Processor Letters, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, from the Credit Card Processors identified by the Collateral Agent.

Section 7.02 Negative Covenants. So long as any principal of or interest on any Loan or any other Obligation (whether or not due) shall remain unpaid (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Letter of Credit or Support Agreement remains outstanding, each Loan Party shall not, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:

(a) Liens, Etc. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien upon or with respect to any of its properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; or file or suffer to exist under the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA or any Requirement of Law of any jurisdiction, a financing statement (or the equivalent thereof) that names it or any of its Subsidiaries as debtor; other than, as to all of the above, Permitted Liens.

(b) Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume, guarantee or suffer to exist, or otherwise become or remain liable with respect to, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume, guarantee or suffer to exist or otherwise become or remain liable with respect to, any Indebtedness other than Permitted Indebtedness.

(c) Fundamental Changes; Dispositions.

(i) Wind-up, liquidate or dissolve, or merge, consolidate or amalgamate with any Person, including by means of an LLC Division, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that (A) any wholly- owned Subsidiary of any Loan Party (other than a Borrower) may be merged into such Loan Party or another wholly-owned Subsidiary of such Loan Party, or may consolidate or amalgamate with, or liquidate or dissolve into, another wholly-owned Subsidiary of such Loan Party, or may effectuate an LLC Division, (B) any Loan Party may be merged into another Loan Party (other than a foreign Loan Party (other than a Loan Party organized under the laws of Canada or any province thereof)), or may consolidate or amalgamate with, another Loan Party (other than a foreign Loan Party organized under the laws of Canada or any province thereof)), so long as (1) no other provision of this Agreement would be violated thereby, (2) such Loan Party gives the Agents at least 10 days prior written notice of such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, liquidation or dissolution, accompanied by true, correct and complete copies of all material agreements, documents and instruments relating to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, liquidation or dissolution, including, without limitation, the certificate or certificates of merger, consolidation, amalgamation, liquidation or dissolution to be filed with each appropriate Secretary of State (with a copy as filed promptly after such filing), (3) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing either before or after giving effect to such transaction, (4) the Lenders’ rights in any Collateral, including, without limitation, the existence, perfection and priority of any Lien thereon, are not, in the good faith determination of the Borrower, adversely affected by such merger, consolidation or amalgamation, (5) to the extent

 

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such merger, amalgamation or consolidation involves (x) a Loan Party, the surviving Subsidiary, if any, if not already a Loan Party, complies, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 7.01(b), or (y) a Borrower, such Borrower shall be the surviving entity in such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, liquidation or dissolution and (6) in the case of an LLC Division, each resulting party thereto continues to constitute a Loan Party and (C) any liquidation or dissolution in connection with any re-organizations and/or other activities related to tax-planning and re-organization (and in each case, any issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in relation thereto) shall be permitted so long as (1) the security interest of the Collateral Agent in the Collateral, taken as a whole, is not materially impaired as a result of such transactions and (2) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at such time or would result therefrom; and

(ii) Make any Disposition, whether in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or any part of its business, property or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (or agree to do any of the foregoing (other than pursuant to agreements contingent upon the payment in full in cash of the Obligations or the obtaining of the requisite approvals hereunder)), or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that any Loan Party and its Subsidiaries may make Permitted Dispositions.

(d) Change in Nature of Business. Make, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make, any change in the nature of its business conducted as of the Effective Date (as described in a writing delivered to the Agents on or prior to the Effective Date) and any business reasonably incidental, ancillary, corollary or reasonably related thereto or extensions thereof.

(e) Loans, Advances, Investments, Etc. Make, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make, any Investment in any other Person except for Permitted Investments.

(f) Sale and Leaseback Transactions. Enter into, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into, any Sale and Leaseback Transaction.

(g) Capital Expenditures. Commit to make, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make or commit to make, any Capital Expenditure (by purchase or Capitalized Lease) that would cause the aggregate amount of all Capital Expenditures made by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in any Fiscal Year (other than any Capital Expenditures made by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in any Fiscal Year with Net Cash Proceeds received from the OSP Sale) to exceed the sum of $7,000,000 plus the Rollover Amount (as defined below), if any. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures made by the Company and its Subsidiaries in any Fiscal Year is less than $7,000,000 for such Fiscal Year, 50% of the amount of such difference (the “Rollover Amount”) may be carried forward to the next succeeding Fiscal Year (with the amount of Capital Expenditures made in such succeeding Fiscal Year being applied first to the Rollover Amount).

(h) Restricted Payments. Make or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make any Restricted Payment other than Permitted Restricted Payments.

 

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(i) Federal Reserve Regulations. Permit any Loan or the proceeds of any Loan under this Agreement to be used for any purpose that would cause such Loan to be a margin loan under the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board.

(j) Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into, renew, extend or be a party to, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into, renew, extend or be a party to, any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease, transfer or exchange of property or assets of any kind or the rendering of services of any kind) with any Affiliate, except (i) transactions consummated in the ordinary course of business for fair consideration and on terms (taken as a whole) not materially less favorable, as determined by the Borrower in good faith, to it or its Subsidiaries than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate thereof, and that are fully disclosed to the Agents contemporaneously with the consummation thereof, if they involve one or more payments by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $125,000 for any single transaction or series of related transactions, (ii) transactions with another Loan Party, (iii) transactions permitted by Section 7.02(a), Section 7.02(b), Section 7.02(c)(ii), Section 7.02(e) and Section 7.02(h), (iv) sales of Qualified Equity Interests of the Company to Affiliates of the Company not otherwise prohibited by the Loan Documents and the granting of registration and other customary rights in connection therewith, (v) reasonable and customary director, officer and other employee compensation (including, without limitation, bonuses, commissions, and incentive or phantom equity programs), benefits and indemnification arrangements, (vi) transactions between or among non- Loan Parties, (vii) the maintenance of benefit programs or arrangements for employees, officers or directors, including, without limitation, vacation and paid leave plans, health, welfare and life insurance plans, fringe benefit plans, deferred compensation plans, and retirement or savings plans and similar plans, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, (viii) any agreement between any Person and an Affiliate of such Person existing at the time such Person is acquired, merged or consolidated into a Loan Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and not entered into in contemplation of such acquisition or merger, (ix) the payment of reasonable fees and expenses to independent directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $550,000 in any Fiscal Year, and (x) any transactions described in Schedule 7.02(j).

(k) Limitations on Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. Create or otherwise cause, incur, assume, suffer or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability of any Subsidiary of any Loan Party (i) to pay dividends or to make any other distribution on any shares of Equity Interests of such Subsidiary owned by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) to pay or prepay or to subordinate any Indebtedness owed to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) to make loans or advances to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) to transfer any of its property or assets to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that nothing in any of clauses (i) through (iv) of this Section 7.02(k) shall prohibit or restrict compliance with:

(A) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

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(B) any agreement in effect on the date of this Agreement and described on Schedule 7.02(k), or any extension, replacement or continuation of any such agreement; provided, that, any such encumbrance or restriction contained in such extended, replaced or continued agreement (taken as a whole) is not materially less favorable, as determined by the Borrowers in good faith and in consultation with the Administrative Agent, to the Agents and the Lenders than the encumbrance or restriction under or pursuant to the agreement so extended, replaced or continued;

(C) any applicable Requirements of Law (including, without limitation, applicable currency control laws and applicable state corporate statutes restricting the payment of dividends in certain circumstances);

(D) (1) customary restrictions on the subletting, assignment or transfer of any specified property or asset set forth in a lease, license, asset sale agreement or similar contract for the conveyance of such property or asset and (2) instrument or other document evidencing a Permitted Lien (or the Indebtedness secured thereby) from restricting on customary terms the transfer of any property or assets subject thereto;

(E) customary restrictions on dispositions of real property interests in reciprocal easement agreements;

(F) customary restrictions in agreements for the sale of assets on the transfer or encumbrance of such assets during an interim period prior to the closing of the sale of such assets;

(G) assignments of such contracts;

(H) customary restrictions in contracts that prohibit the customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;

(I) contractual obligations that are binding on a Subsidiary of a Borrower at the time such Subsidiary first becomes a Subsidiary, so long as such contractual obligations were not entered into in contemplation of such person becoming a Subsidiary and such restriction does not apply to a Borrower or any other Subsidiary and/or any property of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;

(J) customary net worth provisions contained in real property leases entered into in the ordinary course of business, so long as the Borrowers have determined in good faith that such net worth provisions could not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Borrowers and Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations;

(K) in respect of customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to any Disposition permitted hereunder (in which case such restrictions or conditions shall relate only to the applicable property subject to such disposition) or otherwise relating to a Disposition that is conditioned upon the amendment, restatement or replacement of this Agreement or the repayment in full of amounts owing hereunder;

 

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(L) restrictions in agreements provided that such restrictions apply solely to Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, (y) are no more restrictive than the limitations (taken as a whole), as determined by the Borrowers in good faith with the consultation of the Administrative Agent, set forth in the Loan Documents and (z) such encumbrances or restrictions do not impair any Loan Party’s ability to (i) grant the security interests to the Collateral Agent contemplated by the Loan Documents, (ii) pay the Obligations under the Loan Documents as and when due or (iii) otherwise comply with the terms of the Loan Documents; or

(M) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements applicable to joint ventures, in each case, to the extent permitted under this Agreement and applicable solely to such joint venture and the Equity Interests issued thereby (provided that such provisions do not preclude the grant of a Lien, in favor of the Collateral Agent, with respect to such Equity Interests owned by Loan Parties).

(l) Limitations on Negative Pledges. Enter into, incur or permit to exist, or permit any Subsidiary to enter into, incur or permit to exist, directly or indirectly, any agreement, instrument, deed, lease or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon the ability of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary of any Loan Party to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or that requires the grant of any security for an obligation if security is granted for another obligation, except the following: (i) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness permitted to be secured by Section 7.02(a) of this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (iii) any customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale or other Disposition of assets or of a Subsidiary pending such sale or other Disposition; provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the assets or Subsidiary to be sold or disposed of and such sale or Disposition is permitted hereunder, (iv) customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment or sublet thereof and (v) all exceptions described in Section 7.02(k).

(m) Modifications of Indebtedness, Organizational Documents and Certain Other Agreements; Etc.

(i) Amend, modify or otherwise change (or permit the amendment, modification or other change in any manner of) any of the provisions of any of its or its Subsidiaries’ Restricted Indebtedness or of any instrument or agreement (including, without limitation, any purchase agreement, indenture, loan agreement or security agreement) evidencing or governing any such Restricted Indebtedness if such amendment, modification or change would (x) shorten the final maturity or average life to maturity of, or require any payment to be made earlier than the earliest to occur of (i) the date originally scheduled, or (ii) the Final Maturity Date on such Restricted Indebtedness, (y) would change the subordination provision, if any, of such Restricted Indebtedness, or (z) would otherwise be adverse in any material respect to the Lenders or the issuer of such Indebtedness, as determined by the Borrowers in good faith

 

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and with the consultation of the Administrative Agent, except, in each case, as permitted under any applicable intercreditor or subordination agreement or subordination provisions thereof (including, in the case of Indebtedness solely among the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries, the Intercompany Subordination Agreement);

(ii) make any voluntary or optional payment (including, without limitation, any payment of interest in cash that, at the option of the issuer, may be paid in cash or in kind), prepayment, redemption, defeasance, sinking fund payment or other acquisition for value on the principal amount of any of its or its Subsidiaries’ Restricted Indebtedness (including, without limitation, by way of depositing money or securities with the trustee therefor before the date required for the purpose of paying any portion of such Indebtedness when due), (2) refund, refinance, replace or exchange any Restricted Indebtedness for any such Indebtedness (other than with respect to Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness or the conversion or exchange of any Indebtedness to Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) of the Company), (3) make any payment, prepayment, redemption, defeasance, sinking fund payment or repurchase of any Restricted Indebtedness in violation of the subordination provisions thereof or any subordination agreement with respect thereto, or (4) make any payment, prepayment, redemption, defeasance, sinking fund payment on the principal amount of, or repurchase, any Restricted Indebtedness as a result of any asset sale (excluding Indebtedness with respect to capital leases and Permitted Purchase Money Indebtedness with respect to such asset sold), change of control, issuance and sale of debt or equity securities or similar event, or give any notice with respect to any of the foregoing;

(iii) amend, modify or otherwise change any of its Governing Documents (including, without limitation, by the filing or modification of any certificate of designation, or any agreement or arrangement entered into by it) with respect to any of its Equity Interests (including any shareholders’ agreement), or enter into any new agreement with respect to any of its Equity Interests, except any such amendments, modifications or changes or any such new agreements or arrangements pursuant to this clause (iii) that either individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

(iv) agree to any amendment, modification, replacement or other change to or waiver of any of its rights under any Material Contract if such amendment, modification, replacement, change or waiver (taken as a whole) would be adverse in any material respect, as determined by the Borrowers in good faith, to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or the enforcement of the Agents and the Lenders in their capacities as such.

(n) Investment Company Act of 1940. Engage in any business, enter into any transaction, use any securities or take any other action or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the foregoing, that would cause it or any of its Subsidiaries to become subject to the registration requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by virtue of being an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” not entitled to an exemption within the meaning of such Act.

 

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(o) ERISA; Canadian Pension Plans. (i) Cause or fail to prevent, or permit any of its ERISA Affiliates to cause or fail to prevent, the occurrence of an ERISA Event, (ii) adopt, or permit any of its ERISA Affiliates to adopt, any employee welfare benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA that provides benefits to employees after a termination of employment other than as required by Section 601 of ERISA or other Requirements of Law, except, in each case, as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) (A) terminate or wind-up or take any other action with respect to any Canadian Pension Plan which could reasonably be expected to result in any material liability of any Loan Party, (B) fail to make full payment when due of all amounts which, under the terms of any Canadian Pension Plan or Requirements of Law, the Loan Party is required to pay as contributions or other payments thereto, or (C) establish, or sponsor, administer, contribute to, participate in, or assume any liability (including any contingent liability) under any Canadian Defined Benefit Plan or Canadian Multi-Employer Plan.

(p) Environmental. Permit the use, handling, generation, storage, treatment, Release or disposal of Hazardous Materials at any property owned, leased or operated by it or any of its Subsidiaries, except in compliance with Environmental Laws (other than any use, handling, generation, storage, treatment, Release, disposal or noncompliance that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect).

(q) Accounting Methods. Modify or change, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to modify or change, its method of accounting or accounting principles from those utilized in the preparation of the Financial Statements (other than as may be required to conform to GAAP or recommended by an auditor or accounting firm of the Company and its Subsidiaries (so long as such recommendation is in accordance with GAAP)).

(r) Sanctioned Persons; Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti- Money Laundering Laws.

(i) Conduct, nor permit any of its Subsidiaries to conduct, any business or engage in any transaction or deal with or for the benefit of any Sanctioned Person, including the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods or services to, from or for the benefit of any Sanctioned Person, in each case, in violation of applicable Sanctions; or

(ii) Use, nor permit any of its Subsidiaries to use, directly or indirectly, any of the proceeds of any Loan, (A) to fund any activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person or in any other manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by any Person (including by any Person participating in any Loan, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise), or (B) for the purpose of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Law.

(s) Master Franchise Agreements or Franchise Agreements. (i) Enter into additional Master Franchise Agreements or Franchise Agreements after the Effective Date unless such Master Franchise Agreements or Franchise Agreements are entered into in the ordinary course of such Loan Party’s business; (ii) waive or release any Master Franchisee or Franchisee from the observance or performance of any monetary obligation to be performed under the terms of the Master Franchise Agreement or Franchise Agreement to which such Master Franchisee or Franchisee is a party, or any liability on account of any material representation or warranty given thereunder which may reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, without the

 

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prior written consent of the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Lenders); or (iii) amend, supplement or terminate any Master Franchise Agreement or Franchise Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent (acting at the direction of the Required Lenders), except, in the case of subsections (ii) and (iii), for such waivers, releases, or amendments, supplements or terminations (as applicable) which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) [Reserved].

(u) Transaction Fees and Expenses. On or after the Closing Date, other than as set forth on Schedule 1.01(C), pay fees to or reimburse the costs and expenses of the Company’s third party advisors and their respective Affiliates and sub agents in connection with the transactions contemplated to occur on the Effective Date and the completion of the post-closing matters described in Section 5.03, including, but not limited to, investment advisory fees, quality of earnings and fairness opinion costs, legal costs, tax advisory costs and insurance costs, in an amount greater than $350,000.

Section 7.03 Financial Covenants. So long as any principal of or interest on any Loan or any other Obligation (whether or not due) shall remain unpaid (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Letter of Credit or Support Agreement remains outstanding, each Loan Party shall not, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:

(a) Total Leverage Ratio. Permit the Total Leverage Ratio of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of any period of 4 consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending on a date set forth below to be greater than the ratio set forth opposite such date:

 

Fiscal Quarter End

   Total Leverage Ratio  

September 30, 2024

     6.20:1.00  

December 31, 2024

     5.75:1.00  

March 31, 2025

     5.75:1.00  

June 30, 2025

     5.75:1.00  

September 30, 2025

     5.50:1.00  

December 31, 2025

     5.50:1.00  

March 31, 2026

     5.50:1.00  

June 30, 2026

     5.50:1.00  

September 30, 2026

     5.25:1.00  

 

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Fiscal Quarter End

   Total Leverage Ratio  

December 31, 2026

     5.25:1.00  

March 31, 2027

     5.25:1.00  

June 30, 2027

     5.25:1.00  

September 30, 2027

     5.00:1.00  

December 31, 2027

     5.00:1.00  

March 31, 2028

     4.75:1.00  

June 30, 2028

     4.75:1.00  

September 30, 2028

     4.75:1.00  

December 31, 2028 and the last day of each Fiscal Quarter ending thereafter

     4.50:1.00  

(b) Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the last day of any period of 4 consecutive Fiscal Quarters of the Company and its Subsidiaries ending on a date set forth below to be less than the ratio set forth opposite such date:

 

Fiscal Quarter End

   Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio  

September 30, 2024

     1.50:1.00  

December 31, 2024

     1.60:1.00  

March 31, 2025

     1.70:1.00  

June 30, 2025 and the last day of each Fiscal Quarter ending thereafter

     1.75:1.00  

(c) Minimum Liquidity. Commencing with June 30, 2024, as of the last day of each calendar month, permit the Liquidity of the Company and its Subsidiaries to be less than $10,000,000.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

CASH MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER COLLATERAL MATTERS

Section 8.01 Cash Management Arrangements. Within 60 days of the Effective Date (or such later date agreed to by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion) (or, with respect to Subsidiaries acquired or formed after the Effective Date, within 60 days of such acquisition or formation), the Loan Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to enter into Control Agreements with respect to each Cash Management Account. Thereafter, the Loan Parties shall not maintain, and shall not permit any of their Subsidiaries to maintain, cash, Cash Equivalents or other amounts in any Deposit Account (other than a Deposit Account constituting an Excluded Account) that is not a Cash Management Account.

ARTICLE IX

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 9.01 Events of Default. Each of the following events shall constitute an event of default (each, an “Event of Default”):

(a) any Borrower shall fail to pay, when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), (i) any interest on any Loan, any Collateral Agent Advance, or any fee, indemnity or other amount payable under this Agreement (other than any portion thereof constituting principal of the Loans) or any other Loan Document, and such failure continues for a period of 3 Business Days or (ii) all or any portion of the principal of the Loans;

(b) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party or by any officer of the foregoing under or in connection with any Loan Document or under or in connection with any certificate or other writing delivered to any Secured Party pursuant to any Loan Document shall have been incorrect in any material respect (or in any respect if such representation or warranty is qualified or modified as to materiality or “Material Adverse Effect” in the text thereof) when made or deemed made;

(c) (i) any Loan Party shall fail to perform or comply with any covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.03, Section 7.01(a)(viii) (solely as it relates to the occurrence of an Event of Default or Default), Section 7.01(d)(i), Section 7.02 (other than Section 7.02(s)) or Section 7.03, (ii) any Loan Party shall fail to perform or comply with any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 7.01(f) and such failure, if capable of being remedied, shall remain unremedied for 5 Business Days after the earlier of the date a senior officer of any Loan Party has actual knowledge of such failure and the date written notice of such default shall have been given by any Agent to such Loan Party, or (iii) any Loan Party shall fail to perform or comply with any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 7.01(a)(i), Section 7.01(a)(ii), Section 7.01(a)(iii), Section 7.01(a)(iv) and Section 7.01(o) or Article VIII, and such failure, if capable of being remedied, shall remain unremedied for 7 days after the earlier of the date a senior officer of any Loan Party has actual knowledge of such failure and the date written notice of such default shall have been given by any Agent to such Loan Party;

 

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(d) any Loan Party shall fail to perform or comply with any other term, covenant or agreement contained in any Loan Document to be performed or observed by it and, except as set forth in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 9.01, such failure, if capable of being remedied, shall remain unremedied for 30 days after the earlier of the date a senior officer of any Loan Party has actual knowledge of such failure and the date written notice of such default shall have been given by any Agent to such Loan Party;

(e) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) any principal, interest or other amount payable in respect of Indebtedness (excluding Indebtedness evidenced by this Agreement) having an aggregate amount outstanding in excess of $2,700,000, and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace or notice period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness, or any other default under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness, or any other event, shall occur and shall continue after the applicable grace or notice period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such default or event is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Indebtedness; or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment), redeemed, purchased or defeased or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Indebtedness shall be required to be made, in each case, prior to the stated maturity thereof; provided that this clause (e) shall not apply to (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes subject to a mandatory prepayment or mandatory offer to purchase or redeem as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, if such sale or transfer is permitted under this Agreement, (ii) Indebtedness that converts into Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Equity Interests) upon the occurrence of certain designated events, so long as no cash payments are required to be made with respect to such conversion or (iii) Indebtedness with respect to which the event or condition giving rise to the default thereunder has been waived or cured prior to the acceleration thereof;

(f) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) shall institute any proceeding or voluntary case seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution, liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for any such Person or for any substantial part of its property, (ii) shall be generally not paying its debts as such debts become due or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally or (iii) shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

(g) any proceeding shall be instituted against any the Company or any of its Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution, liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for any such Person or for any substantial part of its property, and either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 days or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against any such Person or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur;

 

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(h) any material provision of any Loan Document shall at any time for any reason (other than (i) pursuant to the express terms thereof or (ii) as a result of the action or inaction of an Agent or a Lender (to the extent such Agent or Lender has received all information required to be provided to it by the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents to maintain the validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof)) cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against any Loan Party intended to be a party thereto (other than with respect to any bona fide, good faith dispute as to the scope of Collateral or whether any Lien has been, or is required to be released), or any Loan Party shall contest in writing the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any Loan Party thereto, or a proceeding shall be commenced by any Loan Party or any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any of them, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof, or any Loan Party shall deny in writing that it has any liability or obligation purported to be created under any Loan Document;

(i) any Security Agreement, any Mortgage or any other security document, after delivery thereof pursuant hereto, shall for any reason fail or cease to create a valid and perfected (if and to the extent required to be perfected under the Loan Documents) and, except to the extent permitted by the terms hereof or thereof or as a result of the action or inaction of an Agent or any Lender (to the extent such Agent or Lender has received all information required to be provided to it by the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents to maintain the validity and perfection thereof), first priority Lien (other than subject to any Permitted Lien) in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders on any Collateral, and such failure shall continue for more than three (3) consecutive Business Days;

(j) one or more judgments, orders or awards (or any settlement of any litigation or other proceeding that, if breached, could result in a judgment, order or award) for the payment of money exceeding $2,700,000 in the aggregate (except to the extent covered by a reputable and solvent insurance company or a binding third party indemnitee that is financially capable of providing such coverage that has been notified thereof and has not denied coverage therefor) shall be rendered against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and remain unsatisfied and (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon any such judgment, order, award or settlement or (ii) there shall be a period of 45 consecutive days after entry thereof during which (A) a stay of enforcement thereof is not be in effect or (B) the same is not vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal;

(k) any Loan Party is enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by the order of any court or any Governmental Authority from conducting, all or substantially all of the business affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, for more than 30 consecutive days;

(l) [Reserved];

(m) [Reserved];

(n) [Reserved];

 

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(o) (i) there shall occur one or more ERISA Events that individually or in the aggregate results in, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) there exists any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to result in the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section 430(k) of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 4068 of ERISA upon the property or rights to property of any Loan Party or any of its ERISA Affiliates that results in, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect;

(p) (i) there shall occur and be continuing any “Event of Default” (or any comparable term) under, and as defined in the documents evidencing or governing any Restricted Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,700,000, (ii) any of the Obligations for any reason shall cease to be “Senior Indebtedness” or “Designated Senior Indebtedness” (or any comparable terms) under, and as defined in the documents evidencing or governing any Restricted Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,700,000 (other than as a result of the action or inaction of an Agent or a Lender), (iii) [reserved], (iv) any holder of Restricted Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,700,000 shall fail to perform or comply with any of the subordination provisions of the documents evidencing or governing such Restricted Indebtedness, or (v) the subordination provisions of the documents evidencing or governing any Restricted Indebtedness with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,700,000 shall, in whole or in part, terminate, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against any holder of the applicable Restricted Indebtedness;

(q) [Reserved]; or

(r) a Change of Control shall have occurred;

then, and in any such event, the Collateral Agent may, and shall at the request of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Administrative Borrower, (i) terminate or reduce all Commitments, whereupon all Commitments shall immediately be so terminated or reduced, (ii) declare all or any portion of the Loans then outstanding to be accelerated and due and payable, whereupon all or such portion of the aggregate principal of all Loans, all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, all fees and all other amounts payable under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall become due and payable immediately, together with the payment of the Applicable Premium with respect to the Commitments so terminated and the Loans so repaid, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by each Loan Party and (iii) exercise any and all of its other rights and remedies under applicable law, hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in subsection (f) or (g) of this Section 9.01 with respect to any Loan Party, without any notice to any Loan Party or any other Person or any act by any Agent or any Lender, all Commitments shall automatically terminate and all Loans then outstanding, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, all fees and all other amounts due under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the Applicable Premium, shall be accelerated and become due and payable automatically and immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived (to the extent permitted by applicable law) by each Loan Party.

 

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Section 9.02 Cure Right. In the event that the Borrowers fail to comply with the requirements of any financial covenant set forth in Section 7.03(a) or Section 7.03(b), until the expiration of the 10th Business Day after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered with respect to the applicable Fiscal Quarter hereunder (the “Cure Expiration Date”), the Company shall have the right to issue Permitted Cure Equity for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to the capital of the Company, and, in each case, to contribute any such cash to the capital of the Borrowers, and apply the amount of the proceeds thereof to increase Consolidated EBITDA with respect to such applicable quarter (the “Cure Right”); provided that (a) such proceeds are actually received by the Borrowers no later than the 10th Business Day after the date on which financial statements are required to be delivered with respect to such Fiscal Quarter hereunder, (b) such proceeds do not exceed the aggregate amount necessary to cure (by addition to Consolidated EBITDA) such Event of Default under Section 7.03(a) and Section 7.03(b) for such period, (c) the Cure Right shall not be exercised in any 2 consecutive Fiscal Quarter periods and no more than 2 times in any Fiscal Year, (d) the Cure Right shall not be exercised more than 5 times during the term of the Loans, (e) there shall be no pro forma reduction in Indebtedness with the proceeds of the Cure Right for purposes of determining compliance with the financial covenants in Section 7.03(a) and Section 7.03(b) or for determining any pricing, financial covenant based conditions or baskets with respect to the covenants contained in this Agreement, in each case, in the Fiscal Quarter in which the Cure Right is used or subsequent periods that include such Fiscal Quarter and (f) 100% of such proceeds shall be applied to prepay the Loans in accordance with Section 2.05(c)(vi). If, after giving effect to the foregoing pro forma adjustment (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, giving pro forma adjustment to any repayment of Indebtedness in connection therewith), the Borrowers are in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.03(a) and Section 7.03(b), the Borrowers shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of such Section as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply on such date, and the applicable breach or default of such Section 7.03(a) and/or Section 7.03(b) that had occurred shall be deemed cured for purposes of this Agreement. The parties hereby acknowledge that this Section 9.02 may not be relied on for purposes of calculating any financial ratios other than as applicable to Section 7.03(a) and Section 7.03(b) and shall not result in any adjustment to any amounts other than the amount of the Consolidated EBITDA referred to in the immediately preceding sentence.

Section 9.03 Cash Collateral. If (i) any Event of Default specified in Section 9.01(f) or 9.01(g) shall occur, (ii) the Obligations shall have otherwise been accelerated pursuant to Section 9.01 or (iii) the Revolving Credit Commitment and the obligations of Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent and Lenders with respect thereto shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 9.01, then without any request or the taking of any other action by Administrative Agent, Revolving Agent or Lenders, the Borrowers shall immediately comply with the provisions of Section 3.05 with respect to the deposit of cash collateral to secure the existing Letter of Credit Liabilities and future payment of related fees.

 

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ARTICLE X

AGENTS

Section 10.01 Appointment. Each Lender (and each subsequent maker of any Loan by its making thereof) hereby irrevocably appoints, authorizes and empowers the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to perform the duties of each such Agent as set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, including: (i) to receive on behalf of each Lender any payment of principal of or interest on the Loans outstanding hereunder and all other amounts accrued hereunder for the account of the Lenders and paid to such Agent, and, subject to Section 2.02 of this Agreement, to distribute promptly to each Lender its Pro Rata Share of all payments so received; (ii) to distribute to each Lender copies of all material notices and agreements received by such Agent and not required to be delivered to each Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, provided that the Agents shall not have any liability to the Lenders for any Agent’s inadvertent failure to distribute any such notices or agreements to the Lenders; (iii) to maintain, in accordance with its customary business practices, ledgers and records reflecting the status of the Obligations, the Loans, and related matters and to maintain, in accordance with its customary business practices, ledgers and records reflecting the status of the Collateral and related matters; (iv) to execute or file any and all financing or similar statements or notices, amendments, renewals, supplements, documents, instruments, proofs of claim, notices and other written agreements with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (v) to make the Loans and Collateral Agent Advances, for such Agent or on behalf of the applicable Lenders as provided in this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (vi) to perform, exercise, and enforce any and all other rights and remedies of the Lenders with respect to the Loan Parties, the Obligations, or otherwise related to any of same to the extent reasonably incidental to the exercise by such Agent of the rights and remedies specifically authorized to be exercised by such Agent by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (vii) to incur and pay such fees necessary or appropriate for the performance and fulfillment of its functions and powers pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (viii) subject to Section 10.03, to take such action as such Agent deems appropriate on its behalf to administer the Loans and the Loan Documents and to exercise such other powers delegated to such Agent by the terms hereof or the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the power to give or to refuse to give notices, waivers, consents, approvals and instructions and the power to make or to refuse to make determinations and calculations); and (ix) to act with respect to all Collateral under the Loan Documents, including for purposes of acquiring, holding and enforcing any and all Liens on Collateral granted by any of the Loan Parties to secure any of the Obligations. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of the Loans), the Agents shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of 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), and such instructions of 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) shall be binding upon all Lenders and all makers of Loans; provided, however, the Agents shall not be required to take any action which, in the reasonable opinion of any Agent, exposes such Agent to liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law.

 

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Section 10.02 Nature of Duties; Delegation. (a) The Agents shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents. The duties of the Agents shall be mechanical and administrative in nature. The Agents shall not have by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Document a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, express or implied, is intended to or shall be construed to impose upon the Agents any obligations in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document except as expressly set forth herein or therein. Each Lender shall make its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Loan Parties in connection with the making and the continuance of the Loans hereunder and shall make its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and the value of the Collateral, and the Agents shall have no duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to provide any Lender with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into their possession before the initial Loan hereunder or at any time or times thereafter, provided that, upon the reasonable request of a Lender, each Agent shall provide to such Lender any documents or reports delivered to such Agent by the Loan Parties pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. If any Agent seeks the consent or approval of 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) to the taking or refraining from taking any action hereunder, such Agent shall send notice thereof to each Lender. Each Agent shall promptly notify each Lender any time that 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) have instructed such Agent to act or refrain from acting pursuant hereto.

(b) Each Agent may, upon any term or condition it specifies, delegate or exercise any of its rights, powers and remedies under, and delegate or perform any of its duties or any other action with respect to, any Loan Document by or through any trustee, co-agent, employee, attorney-in-fact and any other Person (including any Lender). Any such Person shall benefit from this Article X to the extent provided by the applicable Agent.

Section 10.03 Rights, Exculpation, Etc. The Agents and their directors, officers, agents or employees shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by them under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agents (i) may treat the payee of any Loan as the owner thereof until the Collateral Agent receives written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof, pursuant to Section 12.07 hereof, signed by such payee and in form satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; (ii) may consult with legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to any Agent or counsel to the Loan Parties), independent public accountants, and other experts selected by any of them and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by any of them in accordance with the advice of such counsel or experts; (iii) make no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, certificates, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; (iv) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents on the part of any Person, the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of Default (for the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice

 

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from a Lender or a Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”), or to inspect the Collateral or other property (including, without limitation, the books and records) of any Person; (v) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; and (vi) shall not be deemed to have made any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectibility of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Collateral Agent’s Lien thereon, or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Agents be responsible or liable to the Lenders for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral. The Agents shall not be liable for any apportionment or distribution of payments made in good faith pursuant to Section 4.03, and if any such apportionment or distribution is subsequently determined to have been made in error, and the sole recourse of any Lender to whom payment was due but not made shall be to recover from other Lenders any payment in excess of the amount which they are determined to be entitled. The Agents may at any time request instructions from the Lenders with respect to any actions or approvals which by the terms of this Agreement or of any of the other Loan Documents the Agents are permitted or required to take or to grant, and if such instructions are promptly requested, the Agents shall be absolutely entitled to refrain from taking any action or to withhold any approval under any of the Loan Documents until they shall have received such instructions from the Required Lenders. Without limiting the foregoing, no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against any Agent as a result of such Agent acting or refraining from acting under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents in accordance with the instructions of 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).

Section 10.04 Reliance. Each Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any written notices, statements, certificates, orders or other documents or any telephone message believed by it in good faith to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person, and with respect to all matters pertaining to this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and its duties hereunder or thereunder, upon advice of counsel selected by it.

Section 10.05 Indemnification. To the extent that any Agent is not reimbursed and indemnified by any Loan Party, and whether or not such Agent has made demand on any Loan Party for the same, the Lenders will, within 5 days of written demand by such Agent, reimburse such Agent for and indemnify such Agent from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, client charges and expenses of counsel or any other advisor to such), advances or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against such Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or any action taken or omitted by such Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, in proportion to each Lender’s Pro Rata Share, including, without limitation, advances and disbursements made pursuant to Section 10.08; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses, advances or disbursements for which there has been a final non-appealable judicial determination of a court of competent jurisdiction that such liability resulted from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 10.05 shall survive the payment in full of the Loans and the termination of this Agreement.

 

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Section 10.06 Agents Individually. With respect to its Pro Rata Share of the Total Commitment hereunder and the Loans made by it, each Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender or maker of a Loan. The terms “Lenders” or “Required Lenders” or any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include each Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender or one of the Required Lenders. Each Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with any Borrower as if it were not acting as an Agent pursuant hereto without any duty to account to the other Lenders.

Section 10.07 Successor Agent. (a) Any Agent may at any time give at least 30 days prior written notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Administrative Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, with the consent of the Administrative Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), and, except with respect to successor Agents that are Affiliates of TCW, the Required Lenders, to appoint a successor Agent. If no such successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “Resignation Effective Date”), then the retiring Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent (so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, with the consent of the Administrative Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned)). Whether or not a successor Agent has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

(b) With effect from the Resignation Effective Date, (i) the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through such retiring Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as a successor Agent shall have been appointed as provided for above. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s Agent’s appointment as Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents. After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article, Section 12.04 and Section 12.15 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while the retiring Agent was acting as Agent.

 

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Section 10.08 Collateral Matters.

(a) The Collateral Agent may from time to time make such disbursements and advances (“Collateral Agent Advances”) which the Collateral Agent, in its sole discretion, deems necessary to preserve, protect, prepare for sale or lease or dispose of the Collateral or any portion thereof, to enhance the likelihood or maximize the amount of repayment by the Borrowers of the Loans and other Obligations or to pay any other amount chargeable to the Borrowers pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs, fees and expenses as described in Section 12.04. The Collateral Agent Advances shall be repayable on demand and be secured by the Collateral and shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the rate then applicable to Reference Rate Loans. The Collateral Agent Advances shall constitute Obligations hereunder which may be charged to the Loan Account in accordance with Section 4.01. The Collateral Agent shall notify each Lender and the Administrative Borrower in writing of each such Collateral Agent Advance, which notice shall include a description of the purpose of such Collateral Agent Advance. Without limitation to its obligations pursuant to Section 10.05, each Lender agrees that it shall make available to the Collateral Agent, upon the Collateral Agent’s demand, in Dollars in immediately available funds, the amount equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of each such Collateral Agent Advance. If such funds are not made available to the Collateral Agent by such Lender, the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to recover such funds on demand from such Lender, together with interest thereon for each day from the date such payment was due until the date such amount is paid to the Collateral Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate for 3 Business Days and thereafter at the Reference Rate.

(b) The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Collateral Agent, to release any Lien granted to or held by the Collateral Agent upon any Collateral (i) upon termination of the Total Commitment and payment and satisfaction of all Loans and all other Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) and the expiration, termination, backstopping with a reasonably acceptable letter of credit or cash collateralization (to the reasonable satisfaction of Administrative Agent) of all Letters of Credit in accordance with the terms hereof; (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of any Loan Party’s business or otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Lenders in accordance with Section 12.02. Upon request by the Collateral Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Collateral Agent’s authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant to this Section 10.08(b).

(c) Without in any manner limiting the Collateral Agent’s authority to act without any specific or further authorization or consent by the Lenders (as set forth in Section 10.08(b)), each Lender agrees to confirm in writing, upon request by the Collateral Agent, the authority to release Collateral conferred upon the Agents under Section 10.08(b). Upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of confirmation from the Lenders of its authority to release any particular item or types of Collateral (if requested), and upon prior written request by any Loan Party, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by the Lenders to) execute such documents as may be necessary to evidence the release of the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders upon such Collateral; provided, however, that (i) the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms which, in the Collateral Agent’s opinion, would expose the Collateral Agent to liability or create any obligations or entail any consequence other than the release of such Liens without recourse or warranty, and (ii) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Obligations or any Lien upon (or obligations of any Loan Party in respect of) all interests in the Collateral retained by any Loan Party.

 

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(d) Anything contained in any of the Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, the Loan Parties, each Agent and each Lender hereby agree that (i) no Lender shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral under any Loan Document or to enforce any Guaranty or any other provision of the Loan Documents (including this Agreement), it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Lenders in accordance with the terms thereof, (ii) in the event of a foreclosure by the Collateral Agent on any of the Collateral pursuant to a public or private sale, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser of any or all of such Collateral at any such sale and (iii) the Collateral Agent, as agent for and representative of the Agents and the Lenders (but not any other Agent or any Lender or Lenders in its or their respective individual capacities unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise agree in writing) shall be entitled (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) for the purpose of bidding and making settlement or payment of the purchase price for all or any portion of the Collateral to be sold (A) at any public or private sale, (B) at any sale conducted by the Collateral Agent under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (including pursuant to Sections 9-610 or 9-620 of the Uniform Commercial Code) or the PPSA, (C) at any sale or foreclosure conducted by the Collateral Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with applicable law or (D) any sale conducted pursuant to the provisions of any Debtor Relief Law (including Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code), to use and apply all or any of the Obligations as a credit on account of the purchase price for any Collateral payable by the Collateral Agent at such sale.

(e) The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to any Lender to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by the Loan Parties or is cared for, protected or insured or has been encumbered or that the Lien granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document has been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected or enforced or is entitled to any particular priority, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent in this Section 10.08 or in any other Loan Document, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto, the Collateral Agent may act in any manner it may deem appropriate, in its sole discretion, given the Collateral Agent’s own interest in the Collateral as one of the Lenders and that the Collateral Agent shall have no duty or liability whatsoever to any other Lender, except as otherwise provided herein.

Section 10.09 Agency for Perfection. Each Agent and each Lender hereby appoints each other Agent and each other Lender as agent and bailee for the purpose of perfecting the security interests in and liens upon the Collateral in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code or, if applicable, the PPSA, can be perfected only by possession or control (or where the security interest of a secured party with possession or control has priority over the security interest of another secured party) and each Agent and each Lender hereby acknowledges that it holds possession of or otherwise controls any such Collateral for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders as secured party. Should the Administrative Agent or any Lender obtain possession or control of any such Collateral, the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Collateral Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions. In addition, the Collateral Agent shall also have the power and

 

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authority hereunder to appoint such other sub-agents as may be necessary or required under applicable state law or otherwise to perform its duties and enforce its rights with respect to the Collateral and under the Loan Documents. Each Loan Party by its execution and delivery of this Agreement hereby consents to the foregoing.

Section 10.10 No Reliance on any Agent’s Customer Identification Program. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that neither such Lender, nor any of its Affiliates, participants or assignees, may rely on any Agent to carry out such Lender’s, Affiliate’s, participant’s or assignee’s customer identification program, or other requirements imposed by the USA PATRIOT Act or the regulations issued thereunder, including the regulations set forth in 31 C.F.R. §§ 1010.100(yy), (iii), 1020.100, and 1020.220 (formerly 31 C.F.R. § 103.121), as hereafter amended or replaced (“CIP Regulations”), or any other Anti-Terrorism Laws, including any programs involving any of the following items relating to or in connection with any of the Loan Parties, their Affiliates or their agents, the Loan Documents or the transactions hereunder or contemplated hereby: (1) any identity verification procedures, (2) any recordkeeping, (3) comparisons with government lists, (4) customer notices or (5) other procedures required under the CIP Regulations or other regulations issued under the USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender, Affiliate, participant or assignee subject to Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act will perform the measures necessary to satisfy its own responsibilities under the CIP Regulations.

Section 10.11 No Third Party Beneficiaries. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and no Loan Party shall have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions (other than in respect of Sections 10.01, 10.07, 10.08 and this Section 10.11 solely (i) to the extent a Loan Party has express rights set forth in such Sections or, (ii) in the case of Section 10.01, to the extent a Loan Party needs to rely on the agency provisions thereof in order to make a representation and warranty with respect to the creation and perfection of Liens securing the Obligations).

Section 10.12 No Fiduciary Relationship. It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any other Loan Document (or any other similar term) 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 as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

Section 10.13 Reports; Confidentiality; Disclaimers. By becoming a party to this Agreement, each Lender:

(a) is deemed to have requested that each Agent furnish such Lender, promptly after it becomes available, a copy of each field audit or examination report with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Report”) prepared by or at the request of such Agent, and each Agent shall so furnish each Lender with each such Report,

(b) expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Agents (i) do not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of any Reports, and (ii) shall not be liable for any information contained in any Reports,

 

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(c) expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Reports are not comprehensive audits or examinations, that any Agent or other party performing any audit or examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries and will rely significantly upon the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ books and records, as well as on representations of their personnel,

(d) agrees to keep all Reports and other material, non-public information regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries and their operations, assets, and existing and contemplated business plans in a confidential manner in accordance with Section 12.19, and

(e) without limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in this Agreement, agrees: (i) to hold any Agent and any other Lender preparing a Report harmless from any action the indemnifying Lender may take or fail to take or any conclusion the indemnifying Lender may reach or draw from any Report in connection with any loans or other credit accommodations that the indemnifying Lender has made or may make to the Borrowers, or the indemnifying Lender’s participation in, or the indemnifying Lender’s purchase of, a loan or loans of the Borrowers, and (ii) to pay and protect, and indemnify, defend and hold any Agent and any other Lender preparing a Report harmless from and against, the claims, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and other amounts (including, attorneys’ fees and costs) incurred by any such Agent and any such other Lender preparing a Report as the direct or indirect result of any third parties who might obtain all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.

Section 10.14 Collateral Custodian. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Collateral Agent or its designee may at any time and from time to time employ and maintain on the premises of any Loan Party a custodian selected by the Collateral Agent or its designee who shall have full authority to do all acts necessary to protect the Agents’ and the Lenders’ interests. Each Loan Party hereby agrees to, and to cause its Subsidiaries to, cooperate with any such custodian and to do whatever the Collateral Agent or its designee may reasonably request to preserve the Collateral. All costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent or its designee by reason of the employment of the custodian shall be the responsibility of the Borrowers and charged to the Loan Account.

Section 10.15 Collateral Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Collateral 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 any Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) 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 Secured Parties (including any claim for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Secured Parties and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Secured Parties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Secured Party to make such payments to the Collateral Agent and, in the event that the Collateral Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Secured Parties, to pay to the Collateral Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Collateral Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Collateral Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

Section 10.16 Erroneous Payments.

(a) Each Lender hereby agrees that (i) if the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent notifies such Lender that the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent has determined in its sole discretion that any funds received by such Lender from the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates or the Collateral Agent or any of its Affiliates were erroneously or mistakenly transmitted to, or otherwise erroneously or mistakenly received by, such Lender (whether or not known to such Lender) (whether as a payment, prepayment or repayment of principal, interest, fees or otherwise; individually and collectively, an “Erroneous Payment”) and demands the return of such Erroneous Payment (or a portion thereof), such Lender shall promptly, but in no event later than five (5) Business Days thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent or Collateral 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 Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent in same day funds at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect and (ii) to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert any right or claim to the Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payments received, including, without limitation, waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar theory or doctrine. A notice from the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to any Lender under this clause (a) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(b) Without limiting immediately preceding clause (a), each Lender hereby further agrees that if it receives a payment from the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent (or any of their Affiliates) (x) that is in a different amount than, or on a different date from, that specified in a notice of payment sent by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, (y) that was not preceded or accompanied by notice of payment, or (z) that such Lender otherwise becomes aware was transmitted, or received, in error or by mistake (in whole or in part), then in each case, if an error has been made each such Lender is deemed to have knowledge of such error at the time of receipt of such Erroneous Payment, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, such Lender shall not assert any right or claim to the Erroneous Payment, and hereby waives, any claim, counterclaim, defense or right of set-off or recoupment with respect to any

 

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demand, claim or counterclaim by the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent for the return of any Erroneous Payments received, including without limitation waiver of any defense based on “discharge for value” or any similar theory or doctrine. Each Lender agrees that, in each such case, it shall promptly (and, in all events, within five (5) Business Day of its knowledge (or deemed knowledge) of such error) notify the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent of such occurrence and, upon demand from the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, it shall promptly, but in all events no later than five (5) Business Days thereafter, return to the Administrative Agent or Collateral 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 Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent in same day funds at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation from time to time in effect.

(c) The Borrower and each other Loan Party hereby agrees that (x) in the event an Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) is not recovered from any Lender that has received such Erroneous Payment (or portion thereof) for any reason (and without limiting the Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s rights and remedies under this Section 10.16), the Administrative Agent shall be subrogated to all the rights of such Lender with respect to such amount and (y) an Erroneous Payment shall not pay, prepay, repay, discharge or otherwise satisfy any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, except, in each case and solely with respect to subsection (y) of this clause (c), to the extent such Erroneous Payment is, and solely with respect to the amount of such Erroneous Payment that is, comprised of funds received by such Agent from any Loan Party for the purpose of prepaying, repaying, discharging or otherwise satisfying any Obligations owed by the Borrower or any other Loan Party.

(d) In addition to any rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent provided by law, Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent shall have the right, without prior notice to any Lender, any such notice being expressly waived by such Lender to the extent permitted by applicable law, with respect to any Erroneous Payment for which a demand has been made in accordance with this Section 10.16 and which has not been returned to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, to set off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final but excluding trust accounts), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, or any of their Affiliates, branch or agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of such Lender. Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent agrees promptly to notify the Lender after any such setoff and application made by Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent; provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

(e) Each party’s obligations under this Section 10.16 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, the termination of the Loan Documents, the termination of the Commitments or the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all Obligations (or any portion thereof) under any Loan Document.

 

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ARTICLE XI

GUARANTY

Section 11.01 Guaranty. Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally and unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all Obligations of the Borrowers now or hereafter existing under any Loan Document, whether for principal, interest (including, without limitation, all interest that accrues after the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding of any Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such Insolvency Proceeding, fees, commissions, expense reimbursements, indemnifications or otherwise (such obligations, to the extent not paid by the Borrowers, being the “Guaranteed Obligations”), and agrees to pay any and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Secured Parties in enforcing any rights under the guaranty set forth in this Article XI in accordance with Section 12.04. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor’s liability shall extend to all amounts that constitute part of the Guaranteed Obligations and would be owed by the Borrowers to the Secured Parties under any Loan Document but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of an Insolvency Proceeding involving any Borrower. In no event shall the obligation of any Guarantor hereunder exceed the maximum amount such Guarantor could guarantee under any Debtor Relief Law.

Section 11.02 Guaranty Absolute. Each Guarantor jointly and severally guarantees that the Guaranteed Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of the Secured Parties with respect thereto. Each Guarantor agrees that this Article XI constitutes a guaranty of payment when due and not of collection and waives (to the extent permitted by applicable law) any right to require that any resort be made by any Agent or any Lender to any Collateral. The obligations of each Guarantor under this Article XI are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against each Guarantor to enforce such obligations, irrespective of whether any action is brought against any Loan Party or whether any Loan Party is joined in any such action or actions. The liability of each Guarantor under this Article XI shall be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional irrespective of, and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it may now or hereafter have in any way relating to, any or all of the following:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any Loan Document, including, without limitation, any increase in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from the extension of additional credit to any Loan Party or otherwise;

 

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(c) any taking, exchange, release or non-perfection of any Collateral, or any taking, release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other guaranty, for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations;

(d) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that any Guarantor may have at any time against any Person, including, without limitation, any Secured Party;

(e) any change, restructuring or termination of the corporate, limited liability company or partnership structure or existence of any Loan Party; or

(f) any other circumstance (including, without limitation, any statute of limitations) or any existence of or reliance on any representation by the Secured Parties that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Loan Party or any other guarantor or surety (in each case other than payment or performance).

This Article XI shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by Secured Parties or any other Person upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

Section 11.03 Waiver. Each Guarantor hereby waives (to the extent permitted by applicable law) (i) promptness and diligence, (ii) notice of acceptance and any other notice with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations and this Article XI and any requirement that the Secured Parties exhaust any right or take any action against any Loan Party or any other Person or any Collateral, (iii) any right to compel or direct any Secured Party to seek payment or recovery of any amounts owed under this Article XI from any one particular fund or source or to exhaust any right or take any action against any other Loan Party, any other Person or any Collateral, (iv) any requirement that any Secured Party protect, secure, perfect or insure any security interest or Lien on any property subject thereto or exhaust any right to take any action against any Loan Party, any other Person or any Collateral, and (v) any other defense available to any Guarantor (in each case other than payment or performance). Each Guarantor agrees that the Secured Parties shall have no obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Guarantor or against, or in payment of, any or all of the Obligations. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated herein and that the waiver set forth in this Section 11.03 is knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to revoke this Article XI, and acknowledges that this Article XI is continuing in nature and applies to all Guaranteed Obligations, whether existing now or in the future.

Section 11.04 Continuing Guaranty; Assignments. This Article XI is a continuing guaranty and shall (a) remain in full force and effect until the later of the cash payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) and all other amounts payable under this Article XI and the Final Maturity Date, (b) be binding upon each Guarantor, its successors and assigns and (c) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Secured Parties and their successors, pledgees, transferees and assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (c), any Lender may pledge, assign or otherwise transfer all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or any portion of its Commitments, its Loans owing to it) to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the benefits in respect thereof granted such Lender herein or otherwise, in each case as provided in Section 12.07.

 

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Section 11.05 Subrogation. No Guarantor will exercise any rights that it may now or hereafter acquire against any Loan Party or any other guarantor that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of such Guarantor’s obligations under this Article XI, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of the Secured Parties against any Loan Party or any other guarantor or any Collateral, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from any Loan Party or any other guarantor, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security solely on account of such claim, remedy or right, unless and until all of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) and all other amounts payable under this Article XI shall have been paid in full in cash and this Agreement shall have been terminated. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor in violation of the immediately preceding sentence at any time prior to the later of the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Contingent Indemnity Obligations) and all other amounts payable under this Article XI and the Final Maturity Date, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Secured Parties and shall promptly be paid to the Secured Parties to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Article XI, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or to be held as Collateral for any Guaranteed Obligations or other amounts payable under this Article XI thereafter arising. If (i) any Guarantor shall make payment to the Secured Parties of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) all of the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Article XI shall be paid in full in cash and (iii) the Final Maturity Date shall have occurred, the Secured Parties will, at such Guarantor’s request and expense, execute and deliver to such Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor of an interest in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from such payment by such Guarantor.

Section 11.06 Contribution. All Guarantors desire to allocate among themselves, in a fair and equitable manner, their obligations arising under this Guaranty. Accordingly, in the event any payment or distribution is made on any date by a Guarantor under this Guaranty such that its Aggregate Payments exceeds its Fair Share as of such date, such Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each of the other Guarantors in an amount sufficient to cause each Guarantor’s Aggregate Payments to equal its Fair Share as of such date. “Fair Share” means, with respect to any Guarantor as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the ratio of (i) the Fair Share Contribution Amount with respect to such Guarantor, to (ii) the aggregate of the Fair Share Contribution Amounts with respect to all Guarantors multiplied by, (b) the aggregate amount paid or distributed on or before such date by all Guarantors under this Guaranty in respect of the obligations Guaranteed. “Fair Share Contribution Amount” means, with respect to any Guarantor as of any date of determination, the maximum aggregate amount of the obligations of such Guarantor under this Guaranty that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of Title

 

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11 of the United States Code or any comparable applicable provisions of state law or the law of any other applicable jurisdiction; provided, solely for purposes of calculating the “Fair Share Contribution Amount” with respect to any Guarantor for purposes of this Section 11.06, any assets or liabilities of such Guarantor arising by virtue of any rights to subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification or any rights to or obligations of contribution hereunder shall not be considered as assets or liabilities of such Guarantor. “Aggregate Payments “ means, with respect to any Guarantor as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (A) the aggregate amount of all payments and distributions made on or before such date by such Guarantor in respect of this Guaranty (including, without limitation, in respect of this Section 11.06), minus (B) the aggregate amount of all payments received on or before such date by such Guarantor from the other Guarantors as contributions under this Section 11.06. The amounts payable as contributions hereunder shall be determined as of the date on which the related payment or distribution is made by the applicable Guarantor. The allocation among Guarantors of their obligations as set forth in this Section 11.06 shall not be construed in any way to limit the liability of any Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor is a third party beneficiary to the contribution agreement set forth in this Section 11.06.

Section 11.07 Discharge of Guaranty Upon Sale of Guarantor. If all of the Equity Interests of any Guarantor or any of its successors in interest hereunder shall be sold or otherwise disposed of (including by merger or consolidation) in a transaction permitted hereunder, or, any Guarantor shall become an Excluded Subsidiary, in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the last sentence of this Section 11.07), the Guaranty of such Guarantor or such successor in interest, as the case may be, hereunder shall automatically be discharged and released without any further action by any Beneficiary or any other Person effective as of the time of such sale or disposition or such Guarantor becoming an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that the release of any Guarantor Subsidiary from its obligations under this Agreement if such Guarantor Subsidiary becomes an Excluded Subsidiary of the type described in clause (a) of the definition thereof shall only be permitted if at the time such Guarantor Subsidiary becomes an Excluded Subsidiary of such type (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) after giving pro forma effect to such release and the consummation of the transaction that causes such Person to be an Excluded Subsidiary of such type, the Borrower is deemed to have made a new Investment in such Person (as if such Person were then newly acquired) and such Investment is permitted at such time, (iii) such release is not made in connection with a transaction or series of transactions involving an Affiliate of any Loan Party (other than a bona fide joint venture otherwise permitted to exist under the other terms of the Loan Documents), and (iv) an Authorized Officer of the Borrower certifies to the Collateral Agent compliance with the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii). No Loan Party shall be re-designated to be an Excluded Subsidiary at any time during the term of this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Joint Lead Arrangers.

 

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ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 12.01 Notices, Etc.

(a) Notices Generally. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand, sent by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), overnight courier, or telecopier. In the case of notices or other communications to any Loan Party, Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Revolving Agent, as the case may be, they shall be sent to the respective address set forth below (or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties complying as to delivery with the terms of this Section 12.01):

if to Regis Corporation and each other Loan Party:

Regis Corporation

3701 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 500

Minneapolis, MN 55416

Attention:   Kersten Zupfer

Telephone:    612-416-3663

Email:     kersten.zupfer@regiscorp.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

200 Crescent Court, Suite 300

Dallas, TX 75201-6950

Attention:   Courtney S. Marcus

Telephone:   214-746-8100

Email:      courtney.marcus@weil.com

if to the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent, to it at the following address:

TCW Asset Management Company LLC

1251 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 4700

New York, New York 10020

Attention:   Ryan Carroll

Telephone:   212-771-4271

Email:     ryan.carroll@tcw.com; TCW@alterdomus.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Dechert LLP

1095 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

Attention:   Eliot Relles

Telephone:   212-641-5551

Email:      eliot.relles@dechert.com

 

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if to the Revolving Agent, to it at the following address:

MidCap Financial Trust

c/o MidCap Financial Services, LLC, as services

7255 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300

Bethesda, MD 20814

Attention: Account Manager for Regis; General Counsel

Fax: (301) 941-1450

Email: notices@midcapfinancial.com; legalnotices@midcapfinancial.com

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

Proskauer Rose LLP

2029 Century Park East, Suite 2400

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention: Sandra Montgomery; Bharat Moudgil

Telephone: (310) 284-4573; (310) 284-4537

Email: smontgomery@proskauer.com; bmoudgil@proskauer.com

All notices or other communications sent in accordance with this Section 12.01, shall be deemed received on the earlier of the date of actual receipt or 3 Business Days after the deposit thereof in the mail; provided, that (i) notices sent by overnight courier service shall be deemed to have been given when received and (ii) notices by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient), provided, further that notices to any Agent pursuant to Article II shall not be effective until received by such Agent.

(b) Electronic Communications.

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

(ii) Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (A) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and

(A) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (A), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (A) and (B) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

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Section 12.02 Amendments, Etc. (a) No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (excluding the Fee Letter), and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed (x) in the case of an amendment, consent or waiver to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency or granting a new Lien for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders or extending an existing Lien over additional property, by the Agents and the Borrowers (or by the Administrative Borrower on behalf of the Borrowers), (y) in the case of any other waiver or consent, by the Required Lenders (or by the Collateral Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Borrowers (or by the Administrative Borrower on behalf of the Borrowers) (with a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent, provided, that the failure to deliver such a copy shall have no bearing on the effectiveness of such amendment, consent or waiver) and (z) in the case of any other amendment, by the Required Lenders (or by the Collateral Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders) and the Borrowers (or by the Administrative Borrower on behalf of the Borrowers) (with a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent, provided, that the failure to deliver such a copy shall have no bearing on the effectiveness of such amendment), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(i) increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment reduced or terminated hereunder) (it being understood that no amendment, modification or waiver of, or consent to departure from, any condition precedent, representation, warranty, covenant, Default, Event of Default, mandatory prepayment or mandatory reduction of the Commitments shall constitute an increase of any Commitment of such Lender), reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Loans payable to any Lender, reduce the amount of any fee payable for the account of any Lender (other than (x) any imposition or rescission of default interest (which may be affected by consent of the Required Lenders) or (y) any change in the definition of “Total Leverage Ratio” or any other ratio used in the calculation of the Applicable Margin, or in the calculation of any other interest rate, fee or premium due hereunder (including any component definition thereof), which shall not constitute a reduction in any rate of interest or fee hereunder), or postpone or extend any scheduled date fixed for any payment of principal (which shall in no event include any mandatory prepayment) of, or interest or fees on, the Loans payable to any Lender, in each case, without the written consent of such Lender, in each case, other than as a result of the waiver of (A) default interest under Section 2.04(c), (B) a mandatory prepayment under Section 2.05(c) or (C) any Default or Event of Default;

(ii) [reserved];

(iii) (w) amend the definition of “Required Lenders” or “Pro Rata Share” without the written consent of each Lender, (x) amend the definition of “Required Revolving Lenders” without the written consent of each Revolving Loan Lender, (y) amend the definition of “Required Tranche A Lenders” without the consent of each Term Loan A Lender or (z) amend any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder;

 

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(iv) except as expressly contemplated hereunder in connection with a transaction otherwise permitted by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, in each case as in effect on the Effective Date, release all or a substantial portion of the Collateral taken as a whole, subordinate (contractually or otherwise) in right of payment, the Obligations (or any Lien granted in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Agents and the Lenders on all or a substantial portion of the Collateral) to any other Indebtedness (or Liens securing such Indebtedness), or release any Borrower or any Guarantor (except in connection with a Disposition of the Equity Interests thereof permitted by Section 7.02(c)(ii)), in each case, without the written consent of each Lender; provided, that, such consent shall not be required in connection with any subordination in connection with the implementation of any debtor in possession or similar financing;

(v) amend, modify or waive (x) Section 2.05(d), Section 4.02 or Section 4.03 or any other provision of this Agreement of any other Loan Document that provides for the pro rata nature of disbursements by or payments to Lenders or the pro rata treatment of all or any of the Loans or Lenders, or with respect to any “waterfall” or similar provision, in any manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments or the application and priority of payments, distributions and other amounts, as applicable, (y) this Section 12.02 or (z) Section 12.07(c)(iii) of this Agreement, in each case, without the written consent of each Lender; or

(vi) permit the assignment or transfer by any Borrower of its rights and obligations under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents without the written consent of each Lender.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 12.02(a):

(i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by an Agent or the LC Issuer, adversely affect the rights or duties of such Agent or LC Issuer (but, in each case, not in its capacity as a Lender) under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents;

(ii) [reserved];

(iii) the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Borrower may enter into an amendment to this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.07(g) to reflect an alternate service or index rate and such other related changes to this Agreement as may be applicable; and

(iv) no Defaulting Lender, Loan Party, equity holder of the Company, or any of their respective Affiliates, in each case, that is a Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent under the Loan Documents and any Loans held by such Person for purposes hereof shall be automatically deemed to be voted pro rata according to the Loans of all other Lenders in the aggregate (other than such Defaulting Lender, Loan Party, equity holder of the Company, or Affiliate); provided, for the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing shall not apply to (and shall not override) the rights of a participant granted pursuant to Section 12.07(k) below.

 

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(c) If (i) any action to be taken by the Lenders hereunder requires the consent, authorization, or agreement of all of the Lenders or any Lender affected thereby, and a Lender other than the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent and their respective Affiliates and Related Funds (the “Holdout Lender”) fails to give its consent, authorization, or agreement or (ii) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, upon at least 5 Business Days prior notice to the Holdout Lender or Defaulting Lender, as applicable, then the Collateral Agent or Borrower, may permanently replace the Holdout Lender or Defaulting Lender, as applicable, with one or more substitute lenders (each, a “Replacement Lender”) (subject, in the case of a replacement by the Collateral Agent, to compliance with the consent and eligibility criteria set forth in Section 12.07), and the Holdout Lender or Defaulting Lender, as applicable, shall have no right to refuse to be replaced hereunder unless the circumstances entitling the Borrower or the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to require such replacement cease to apply within such 5 Business Day notice period. Such notice to replace the Holdout Lender or Defaulting Lender, as applicable, shall specify an effective date for such replacement, which date shall not be later than 15 Business Days after the date such notice is given. Prior to the effective date of such replacement, the Holdout Lender or Defaulting Lender, as applicable, and each Replacement Lender shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Acceptance, subject only to the Holdout Lender being repaid its share of the outstanding Obligations (including, for the avoidance of doubt, accrued fees) and (y) such assignment not conflicting with Requirements of Law applicable to such Holdout Lender or Defaulting Lender, as applicable. If the Holdout Lender shall refuse or fail to execute and deliver any such Assignment and Acceptance prior to the effective date of such replacement, the Holdout Lender or Defaulting Lender, as applicable, shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Acceptance; provided that, following the effectiveness of any such replacement, the other parties to such Assignment and Acceptance agree to execute and deliver such documents necessary to evidence such assignment as reasonably requested by the applicable Lender, provided, further that any such documents shall be without recourse to or warranty by the parties thereto. In the case of any replacement resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.10 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.09, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter. The replacement of any Holdout Lender or Defaulting Lender, as applicable, shall be made in accordance with the terms of Section 12.07. Until such time as the Replacement Lenders shall have acquired all of the Obligations, the Commitments, and the other rights and obligations of the Holdout Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Holdout Lender or Defaulting Lender, as applicable, shall remain obligated to make its Pro Rata Share of Loans.

Section 12.03 No Waiver; Remedies, Etc. No failure on the part of any Agent or any Lender to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right under any Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The rights and remedies of the Agents and the Lenders provided herein and in the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies provided by law. The rights of the Agents and the Lenders under any Loan Document against any party thereto are not conditional or contingent on any attempt by the Agents and the Lenders to exercise any of their rights under any other Loan Document against such party or against any other Person.

 

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Section 12.04 Expenses; Attorneys’ Fees. The Borrowers will pay promptly on written demand, all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by or on behalf of each Agent (and, in the case of clauses (b), (c) and (m) below, each Lender) in accordance with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, costs, client charges and expenses of outside counsel for each Agent (but limited to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, costs, client charges and expenses of (i) one firm of lead counsel (and, in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, one additional lead counsel for each affected party similarly situated) for each of the Agents (other than the Revolving Agent) and the Term Loan B Lenders, taken as a whole (ii) one separate counsel for the Revolving Agent, the Revolving Loan Lenders and the Term Loan A Lenders, taken as a whole and (iii) one local counsel in each material jurisdiction and one regulatory counsel in each regulatory area of law (and, in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, one additional local counsel in each material jurisdiction and one additional regulatory counsel in each regulatory area of law for each affected party similarly situated) for the Agents and the Lenders, taken as a whole), for accounting, due diligence, periodic field audits, physical counts, valuations, investigations, searches and filings, monitoring of assets, appraisals of Collateral, title searches, miscellaneous disbursements, examination, travel, lodging and meals, in each case, arising from or relating to: (a) the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery, performance and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, the preparation of any additional Loan Documents pursuant to Section 7.01(b) or the review of any of the agreements, instruments and documents referred to in Section 7.01(f)), (b) any requested amendments, waivers or consents to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents whether or not such documents become effective or are given, (c) the preservation and protection of any of the Agents’ or any of the Lenders’ rights under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, (d) the defense of any claim or action asserted or brought against any Agent or any Lender by any Person that arises from or relates to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Agent’s or the Lenders’ claims against any Loan Party, or any and all matters in connection therewith (including any threatened or actual imposition of fines or penalties, or disgorgement of benefits, for violation of any Sanction or any Anti-Money Laundering Law by any Loan Party, any Affiliate or Subsidiary of any Loan Party), other than claims or actions among the Agents and the Lenders (other than (i) claims or actions against any Person in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Revolving Agent or a similar role under the Loan Documents and (ii) claims or actions arising out of any act or omission of any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates), (e) the commencement or defense of, or intervention in, any court proceeding arising from or related to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than in connection with claims or actions among the Agents and the Lenders (other than (i) claims or actions against any Person in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Revolving Agent or a similar role under the Loan Documents and (ii) claims or actions arising out of any act or omission of any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates) and claims or actions determined by a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Agents and Lenders, (f) the filing of any petition, complaint, answer, motion or other pleading by any Agent or any Lender, or the taking of any action in respect of the Collateral or other security, in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (g) the protection, collection, lease, sale, taking possession of or liquidation of, any Collateral or other security in connection with this

 

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Agreement or any other Loan Document, (h) any attempt to enforce any Lien or security interest in any Collateral or other security in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, (i) any attempt to collect from any Loan Party in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents, (j) any Environmental Claim against, any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (k) any Environmental Lien filed against the Collateral, (l) [reserved], or (m) the receipt by any Agent or any Lender of any advice from professionals with respect to any of the foregoing; provided that with respect to clause (m), so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such expenses solely with respect to professionals (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not legal counsel) will require the consent of the Administrative Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); provided further that the Administrative Borrower will be deemed to have consented if the Administrative Borrower has not responded within 7 Business Days of receipt of written request. This Section 12.04 shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

Section 12.05 Right of Set-off. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, any Agent or any Lender may, and is hereby authorized to, at any time and from time to time, without notice to any Loan Party (any such notice being expressly waived by the Loan Parties) and to the fullest extent permitted by law, set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) (other than payroll accounts, tax accounts, ERISA accounts and other Excluded Accounts) at any time held and other Indebtedness at any time owing by such Agent or such Lender or any of their respective Affiliates to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all obligations of the Loan Parties either now or hereafter existing under any Loan Document, irrespective of whether or not such Agent or such Lender shall have made any demand hereunder or thereunder and although such obligations may be contingent or unmatured; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of set-off, (a) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.04 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 Agents and the Lenders, and (b) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of set-off. Each Agent and each Lender agrees to notify such Loan Party promptly after any such set-off and application made by such Agent or such Lender or any of their respective Affiliates provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of the Agents and the Lenders under this Section 12.05 are in addition to the other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) which the Agents and the Lenders may have under this Agreement or any other Loan Documents of law or otherwise.

Section 12.06 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

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Section 12.07 Assignments and Participations.

(a) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Loan Party and each Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that none of the Loan Parties may assign or transfer any of its rights hereunder or under the other Loan Documents without the prior written consent of each Lender and any such assignment without the Lenders’ prior written consent shall be null and void.

(b) Subject to the conditions set forth in clause (c) below, each Lender may assign to one or more (x) Lenders, (y) Affiliates or Related Funds of any Lender or (z) commercial banks, insurance companies, or finance companies, financial institutions, any fund that invests in loans or any other “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D of the Securities Act) (other than, so long as no Event of Default under Section 9.01(a)(ii), Section 9.01(f) or Section 9.01(g) has occurred and is continuing, a Competitor, a Disqualified Institution or a natural person) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to (A) all or a portion of its Term Loan Commitment and any Term Loan made by it and (B) all or a portion of its Revolving Credit Commitment and the Revolving Loans made by it with the written consent of (i) the Collateral Agent (such consent of the Collateral Agent not to be unreasonably withheld), the LC Issuer (such consent of the LC Issuer not to be unreasonably withheld) and the Revolving Agent (such consent of the Revolving Agent not to be unreasonably withheld) (with respect to Revolving Loans) and (ii) so long as no Event of Default under Section 9.01(a)(ii), Section 9.01(f) or Section 9.01(g) has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Borrower (such consent of the Administrative Borrower not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); provided that the Administrative Borrower will be deemed to have consented if the Administrative Borrower has not responded within 10 Business Days of written request; provided, further, that no written consent of the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Borrower shall be required in connection with any assignment by a Lender to an Agent or a Lender, an Affiliate of an Agent or a Lender or a Related Fund of an Agent or a Lender.

(c) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(i) Each such assignment shall be in an amount which is at least $5,000,000 or a multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or the remainder of such Lender’s Commitment) (except such minimum amount shall not apply to an assignment by a Lender to (A) an Agent or a Lender, an Affiliate of an Agent or a Lender or a Related Fund of an Agent or a Lender or (B) a group of new Lenders, each of whom is an Affiliate or Related Fund of each other to the extent the aggregate amount to be assigned to all such new Lenders is at least $5,000,000 or a multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof); and

 

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(ii) Except as provided in the last sentence of this Section 12.07(c)(ii), the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (and the Collateral Agent and the Revolving Agent, if applicable), for its acceptance, an Assignment and Acceptance, together with any new promissory note requested (it being understood that the assigning Lender shall, upon the effectiveness of such assignment, surrender any existing promissory note held by it to the Administrative Agent for cancellation) to such assignment and such parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an IRS Form W-9 and all documentation and other information required by Governmental Authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the USA Patriot Act, along with, a processing and recordation fee of $5,000 (except the payment of such fee shall not be required in connection with an assignment by a Lender to a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or a Related Fund of such Lender) for the benefit of the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 12.07(c)(ii), a Lender may, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, assign any or all of its rights under the Loan Documents to an Affiliate of such Lender or a Related Fund of such Lender without delivering an Assignment and Acceptance to the Agents or to any other Person (a “Related Party Assignment”); provided, however, that (A) the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent may continue to deal solely and directly with such assigning Lender until an Assignment and Acceptance has been delivered to the Administrative Agent for recordation on the Register, (B) the Collateral Agent may continue to deal solely and directly with such assigning Lender until receipt by the Collateral Agent of a copy of the fully executed Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to Section 12.07(g), (C) the failure of such assigning Lender to deliver an Assignment and Acceptance to the Agents shall not affect the legality, validity, or binding effect of such assignment, and (D) an Assignment and Acceptance between the assigning Lender and an Affiliate of such Lender or a Related Fund of such Lender shall be effective as of the date specified in such Assignment and Acceptance and recordation on the Related Party Register referred to in the last sentence of Section 12.07(f) below; and

(iii) No such assignment shall be made to (A) any Loan Party or any of their respective Affiliates or (B) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Affiliates, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B).

(d) Upon such execution, delivery and acceptance, from and after the date recorded in the Register, which effective date shall be at least 3 Business Days after the delivery thereof to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as shall be agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the parties to such assignment), (A) the assignee thereunder shall become a “Lender” hereunder and, in addition to the rights and obligations hereunder held by it immediately prior to such effective date, have the rights and obligations hereunder that have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance and (B) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto).

(e) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other Loan Document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) the

 

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assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or the performance or observance by any Loan Party of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) unless an Event of Default under Section 9.01(a)(ii), Section 9.01(f) or Section 9.01(g) has occurred and is continuing, the assignee represents and warrants that it is not a Competitor, a Disqualified Institution or any Affiliate of any Disqualified Institution, and that it is legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such other documents and information it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (v) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the assigning Lender, any Agent or any Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Agents to take such action as agents on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Agents by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental hereto and thereto and (vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

(f) The Administrative Agent shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain, or cause to be maintained at one of its offices, a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register (the “Register”) for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitments of, and the principal amount of the Loans (and stated interest thereon) (the “Registered Loans”) owing to each Lender from time to time. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Agents and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Administrative Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior written notice. In the case of an assignment pursuant to the last sentence of Section 12.07(c)(ii) as to which an Assignment and Acceptance is not delivered to the Administrative Agent, the assigning Lender shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain, or cause to be maintained, a register (the “Related Party Register”) comparable to the Register on behalf of the Borrowers. The Related Party Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. This Section 12.07(f) shall be construed so that the Loans are at all times maintained in “registered form” within the meanings of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code and any related regulations (and any successor provisions).

(g) Upon receipt by the Administrative Agent of a completed Assignment and Acceptance, and subject to any consent required from the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent pursuant to Section 12.07(b) (which consent of the applicable Agent must be evidenced by such Agent’s execution of an acceptance to such Assignment and Acceptance), the Administrative Agent shall accept such assignment, record the information contained therein in the Register (as adjusted to reflect any principal payments on or amounts capitalized and added to the principal balance of the Loans and/or Commitment reductions made subsequent to the effective date of the applicable assignment, as confirmed in writing by the corresponding assignor and assignee in conjunction with delivery of the assignment to the Administrative Agent) and provide to the Collateral Agent and the Revolving Agent, if applicable, a copy of the fully executed Assignment and Acceptance.

 

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(h) Subject to this Section 12.07, a Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing the same) may be assigned or sold in whole or in part only by registration of such assignment or sale on the Register or the Related Party Register (and each registered note shall expressly so provide). Any assignment or sale of all or part of such Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing the same) may be effected only by registration of such assignment or sale on the Register or the Related Party Register, together with the surrender of the registered note, if any, evidencing the same duly endorsed by (or accompanied by a written instrument of assignment or sale duly executed by) the holder of such registered note, whereupon, at the request of the designated assignee(s) or transferee(s), one or more new registered notes in the same aggregate principal amount shall be issued to the designated assignee(s) or transferee(s).

(i) In the event that any Lender sells participations in accordance with Section 12.07(k) below, in a Registered Loan, such Lender shall, acting for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent on behalf of the Borrowers, maintain, or cause to be maintained, a register, on which it enters the name of all participants in the Registered Loans held by it and the principal amount (and stated interest thereon) of the portion of the Registered Loan that is the subject of the participation (the “Participant Register”). A Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing the same) may be participated in whole or in part only by registration of such participation on the Participant Register (and each registered note shall expressly so provide). Any participation of such Registered Loan (and the registered note, if any, evidencing the same) may be effected only by the registration of such participation on the Participant Register. The Participant Register shall be available for inspection by the Administrative Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. No Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any participant or any information relating to a participant’s interest in any Commitments, Loans, or its other Obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such Commitment, Loan, or other Obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. This Section shall be construed so that the Loans are at all times maintained in “registered form” within the meanings of Sections 163(f), 871(h)(2) and 881(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code and any related regulations (and any successor provisions).

(j) Any Non-U.S. Lender who purchases or is assigned or participates in any portion of such Registered Loan shall comply with Section 2.09(d).

 

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(k) Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (other than (x), so long as no Event of Default under Section 9.01(a)(ii), Section 9.01(f) or Section 9.01(g) has occurred and is continuing, a Competitor, (y) a Disqualified Institution or (z) a natural person) in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans made by it); provided, that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement (including without limitation, its Commitments hereunder) and the other Loan Documents shall remain unchanged; (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, and the Borrowers, 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 and the other Loan Documents; and (iii) a participant shall not be entitled to require such Lender to take or omit to take any action hereunder except (A) action directly effecting an extension of the scheduled maturity dates or decrease in the principal amount of the Loans, (B) action directly effecting an extension of the due dates or a decrease in the rate of interest payable on the Loans or the fees payable under this Agreement, or (C) actions directly effecting a release of all or substantially all of the Collateral or any Loan Party (except as set forth in Section 10.08 of this Agreement or any other Loan Document). The Loan Parties agree that each participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.09 and Section 2.10 of this Agreement with respect to its participation in any portion of the Commitments and the Loans as if it was a Lender; it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.09(d) shall be delivered to the participating Lender; provided that a participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.09 or Section 2.10 with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a change in law that occurs after the participant acquired the applicable participation.

(l) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (other than, so long as no Event of Default under Section 9.01(a)(ii), Section 9.01(f) or Section 9.01(g) has occurred and is continuing, to a Competitor, a Disqualified Institution or a natural person) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank or loans made to such Lender pursuant to securitization or similar credit facility (a “Securitization”); 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. The Loan Parties shall cooperate with such Lender and its Affiliates to effect the Securitization including, without limitation, by providing such customary information as may be reasonably requested by such Lender in connection with the rating of its Loans or the Securitization.

(m) Any assignment or participation by a Lender (A) to or with any Person who qualifies as a Disqualified Institution at the time of such assignment or participation (unless an Event of Default under Section 9.01(a)(ii), Section 9.01(f) or Section 9.01(g) has occurred and is continuing) or (B) in the case of any assignment and/or participation, without the Borrower’s consent to the extent the Borrower’s consent is required under this Section 12.07 (and, if applicable, not deemed to have been given pursuant to Section 12.07(b)), in each case, to any Person shall be null and void, and the Borrowers shall be entitled to seek specific performance to unwind any such assignment or participation and/or specifically enforce this Section 12.07(m) in addition to injunctive relief (without posting a bond or presenting evidence of irreparable harm) or any other remedy available to the Borrower at law or in equity; it being understood and agreed that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries will suffer irreparable harm if any Lender breaches any obligation under this Section 12.07 as it relates to any assignment or participation to a Disqualified Institution, the pledge or assignment of any security interest in any Loan or Commitment to a Disqualified Institution and/or any assignment or participation of, or pledge or assignment of a security interest in, any Loan or Commitment to any Person to whom the Borrower’s consent is required but not obtained. Nothing in this Section 12.07(m) shall be deemed to prejudice any right or remedy that the Borrowers may otherwise have at law or equity.

 

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Section 12.08 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telecopier or electronic mail shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Agreement by telecopier or electronic mail also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Agreement but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and binding effect of this Agreement. The foregoing shall apply to each other Loan Document mutatis mutandis.

Section 12.09 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY IN ANOTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN RESPECT OF SUCH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 12.10 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS AND VENUE. ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS AND IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY ANY MEANS PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO SUCH PARTY AT ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 12.01, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE 10 DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENTS AND THE LENDERS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE JURISDICTION OR LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION BROUGHT IN

 

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ANY SUCH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY LOAN PARTY HAS OR HEREAFTER MAY ACQUIRE ANY IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER THROUGH SERVICE OR NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE) WITH RESPECT TO ITSELF OR ITS PROPERTY, EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.

Section 12.11 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, ETC. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES (TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW) ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM CONCERNING ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR UNDER ANY AMENDMENT, WAIVER, CONSENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR OTHER AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH IN THE FUTURE MAY BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, OR ARISING FROM ANY FINANCING RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, PROCEEDINGS OR COUNTERCLAIM SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY. EACH PARTY HERETO CERTIFIES THAT NO OFFICER, REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY HERETO WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OTHER PARTY HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT.

Section 12.12 Consent by the Agents and Lenders. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein to the contrary or in any other Loan Document, if the consent, approval, satisfaction, determination, judgment, acceptance or similar action (an “Action”) of any Agent or any Lender shall be permitted or required pursuant to any provision hereof or any provision of any other agreement to which any Loan Party is a party and to which any Agent or any Lender has succeeded thereto, such Action shall be required to be in writing and may be withheld or denied by such Agent or such Lender, in its sole discretion, with or without any reason, and without being subject to question or challenge on the grounds that such Action was not taken in good faith.

Section 12.13 No Party Deemed Drafter. Each of the parties hereto agrees that no party hereto shall be deemed to be the drafter of this Agreement.

Section 12.14 Reinstatement; Certain Payments. If any claim is ever made upon any Secured Party for repayment or recovery of any amount or amounts received by such Secured Party in payment or on account of any of the Obligations, such Secured Party shall give prompt notice of such claim to each other Agent and Lender and the Administrative Borrower, and if such Secured Party repays all or part of such amount by reason of (i) any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative body having jurisdiction over such Secured Party or any of

 

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its property, or (ii) any good faith settlement or compromise of any such claim effected by such Secured Party with any such claimant, then and in such event each Loan Party agrees that (A) any such judgment, decree, order, settlement or compromise shall be binding upon it notwithstanding the cancellation of any Indebtedness hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or the termination of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and (B) it shall be and remain liable to such Secured Party hereunder for the amount so repaid or recovered to the same extent as if such amount had never originally been received by such Secured Party.

Section 12.15 Indemnification; Limitation of Liability for Certain Damages.

(a) In addition to each Loan Party’s other Obligations under this Agreement, each Loan Party agrees to, jointly and severally, defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless each Secured Party, LC Issuer and all of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, consultants and agents (collectively called the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all actual losses, damages, liabilities, obligations, penalties, fees, reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses (but limited to the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, costs, client charges and expenses of (x) one firm of lead counsel (and, in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, one additional lead counsel for each affected party similarly situated) for the Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and (y) one local counsel in each material jurisdiction and one regulatory counsel in each regulatory area of law (and, in the case of an actual or potential conflict of interest, one additional local counsel in each material jurisdiction and one additional regulatory counsel in each regulatory area of law for each affected party similarly situated) for the Indemnitees, taken as a whole) incurred by such Indemnitees, whether prior to or from and after the Effective Date, as a result of or arising from or relating to or in connection with any of the following: (i) the negotiation, preparation, execution or performance or enforcement of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or of any other document executed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) any Agent’s or any Lender’s furnishing of funds to the Borrowers under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the management of any such Loans or the Borrowers’ use of the proceeds thereof, (iii) the Agents and the Lenders relying on any instructions of the Administrative Borrower or the handling of the Loan Account and Collateral of the Borrowers as herein provided, (iv) any matter relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or by any document executed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or (v) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto (collectively, the “Indemnified Matters”); provided, however, that the Loan Parties shall not have any obligation to any Indemnitee under this subsection (a) for any Indemnified Matter caused by the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee (or its related parties), as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or (b) any claims or actions against any Indemnitee brought about by an Indemnitee (other than (i) claims or actions against any Person in its capacity or in fulfilling its role as the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Revolving Agent or a similar role under the Loan Documents and (ii) claims or actions arising out of any act or omission of any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates). Each Indemnitee shall be obligated to refund or return any and all amounts paid by the Loan Parties pursuant to this Section 12.15(a) to such Indemnitee for any fees, expenses, or damages to the extent such Indemnitee is not entitled to payment thereof in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

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(b) The indemnification for all of the foregoing losses, damages, fees, costs and expenses of the Indemnitees set forth in this Section 12.15 are chargeable against the Loan Account to the extent earned, due and payable and not paid. To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section 12.15 may be unenforceable because it is violative of any law or public policy, each Loan Party shall, jointly and severally, contribute the maximum portion which it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law, to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Matters incurred by the Indemnitees.

(c) No party hereto shall assert, and each party hereto hereby waives, any claim against the Indemnitees, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) (whether or not the claim therefor is based on contract, tort or duty imposed by any applicable legal requirement) arising out of, in connection with, as a result of, or in any way related to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or omission or event occurring in connection therewith, and each Loan Party hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any such claim or seek any such damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.

(d) The indemnities and waivers set forth in this Section 12.15 shall survive the repayment of the Obligations and discharge of any Liens granted under the Loan Documents.

(e) All such amounts payable under this Section 12.15 shall be due and payable within 20 days of written demand.

Section 12.16 Records. The unpaid principal of and interest on the Loans, the interest rate or rates applicable to such unpaid principal and interest, the duration of such applicability, the Commitments, and the accrued and unpaid fees payable pursuant to Section 2.06 hereof, shall at all times be ascertained from the records of the Agents, which shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.

Section 12.17 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by each Loan Party, each Agent and each Lender and when the conditions precedent set forth in Section 5.01 hereof have been satisfied or waived in writing by the Agents, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of each Loan Party, each Agent and each Lender, and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Loan Parties shall not have the right to assign their rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of each Agent and each Lender, and any assignment by any Lender shall be governed by Section 12.07 hereof.

 

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Section 12.18 Highest Lawful Rate. It is the intention of the parties hereto that each Agent and each Lender shall conform strictly to usury laws applicable to it. Accordingly, if the transactions contemplated hereby or by any other Loan Document would be usurious as to any Agent or any Lender under laws applicable to it (including the laws of the United States of America and the State of New York, the laws of Canada, or any other jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily applicable to such Agent or such Lender notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement) or would result in a receipt by the Agent or a Lender of “interest” at a “criminal rate” (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada), then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement entered into in connection with or as security for the Obligations, it is agreed as follows: (i) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest under law applicable to any Agent or any Lender that is contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by such Agent or such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or agreements or otherwise in connection with the Obligations shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, any excess shall be canceled automatically and if theretofore paid shall be credited by such Agent or such Lender on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Agent or such Lender, as applicable, to the Borrowers); and (ii) in the event that the maturity of the Obligations is accelerated by reason of any Event of Default under this Agreement or otherwise, or in the event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such consideration that constitutes interest under law applicable to any Agent or any Lender may never include more than the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law, and excess interest, if any, provided for in this Agreement or otherwise shall, subject to the last sentence of this Section 12.18, be canceled automatically by such Agent or such Lender, as applicable, as of the date of such acceleration or prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited by such Agent or such Lender, as applicable, on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Agent or such Lender to the Borrowers). All sums paid or agreed to be paid to any Agent or any Lender for the use, forbearance or detention of sums due hereunder shall, to the extent permitted by law applicable to such Agent or such Lender, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full term of the Loans until payment in full so that the rate or amount of interest on account of any Loans hereunder does not exceed the maximum amount allowed by such applicable law. If at any time and from time to time (x) the amount of interest payable to any Agent or any Lender on any date shall be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Agent or such Lender pursuant to this Section 12.18 and (y) in respect of any subsequent interest computation period the amount of interest otherwise payable to such Agent or such Lender would be less than the amount of interest payable to such Agent or such Lender computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Agent or such Lender, then the amount of interest payable to such Agent or such Lender in respect of such subsequent interest computation period shall continue to be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Agent or such Lender until the total amount of interest payable to such Agent or such Lender shall equal the total amount of interest which would have been payable to such Agent or such Lender if the total amount of interest had been computed without giving effect to this Section 12.18.

For purposes of this Section 12.18, the term “applicable law” shall mean that law in effect from time to time and applicable to the loan transaction between the Borrowers, on the one hand, and the Agents and the Lenders, on the other, that lawfully permits the charging and collection of the highest permissible, lawful non-usurious rate of interest on such loan transaction and this Agreement, including laws of the State of New York and, to the extent controlling, laws of the United States of America or Canada or any other jurisdiction from time to time where a Loan Party may be incorporated, formed or otherwise constituted.

 

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The right to accelerate the maturity of the Obligations does not include the right to accelerate any interest that has not accrued as of the date of acceleration.

Section 12.19 Confidentiality. Each Agent and each Lender agrees (on behalf of itself and each of its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees and representatives) to keep confidential any non-public information supplied to it by, or on behalf of, the Loan Parties pursuant to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (and which at the time is not, and does not thereafter become, publicly available or available to such Person or its Affiliates from another source not known to be subject to a confidentiality obligation to such Person not to disclose such information), provided that nothing herein shall limit the disclosure by any Agent or any Lender of any such information (i) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective equityholders (including, without limitation, partners), directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, counsel, advisors and representatives (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 in accordance with this Section 12.19) and the Lenders shall be liable for any breach hereof by such Person; (ii) to any other party hereto; (iii) to any assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or participant) or any party to a Securitization so long as such assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or participant) or party to a Securitization first agrees, in writing, to be bound by confidentiality provisions similar in substance to this Section 12.19 (other than a Competitor or, so long as no Event of Default under Section 9.01(a), Section 9.01(f) or Section 9.01(g) has occurred and is continuing, a Disqualified Institution); (iv) to the extent required by any Requirement of Law or judicial process or as otherwise requested by any Governmental Authority, provided that the Administrative Agent shall (A) use commercially reasonable efforts to give the applicable Loan Party written notice prior to disclosing the information to the extent permitted by such requirement, (B) reasonably cooperate with the Loan Party to obtain a protective order or similar confidential treatment, and (C) only disclose that portion of the confidential information as counsel for the Administrative Agent advises the Administrative Agent it must disclose pursuant to such requirement; (v) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or any similar organization, any examiner, auditor or accountant or any nationally recognized rating agency or otherwise to the extent consisting of general portfolio information that does not identify Loan Parties; (vi) in connection with any litigation to which any Agent or any Lender is a party (so long as such Agent or Lender provides the Administrative Borrower with prompt notice thereof to the extent permitted by applicable law); (vii) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder; or (viii) with the consent of the Administrative Borrower.

Section 12.20 Public Disclosure. Each Loan Party agrees that neither it nor any of its Affiliates will now or in the future issue any press release or other public disclosure using the name of an Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates without the prior written consent of such Agent or such Lender, except to the extent that such Loan Party or such Affiliate is required to do so under applicable law (in which event, such Loan Party or such Affiliate will consult with such Agent or such Lender before issuing such press release or other public

 

174


disclosure). Each Loan Party hereby authorizes each Agent and each Lender, with the consent of the Administrative Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), to advertise the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to make appropriate announcements of the financial arrangements entered into among the parties hereto, as such Agent or such Lender shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, on a home page or similar place for dissemination of information on the Internet or worldwide web, or in announcements commonly known as tombstones, in such trade publications, business journals, newspapers of general circulation and to such selected parties as such Agent or such Lender shall deem appropriate.

Section 12.21 Integration. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, reflects the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be contradicted or qualified by any other agreement, oral or written, before the Effective dDate hereof.

Section 12.22 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the entities composing the Borrowers, which information includes the name and address of each such entity and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the entities composing the Borrowers in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act. Each Loan Party agrees to take such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver at its sole cost and expense, such instruments and documents as any Lender may reasonably require from time to time in order to enable such Lender to comply with the USA PATRIOT Act.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

175


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

 

BORROWERS:
REGIS CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
[___________]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


GUARANTORS:
[___________]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

2


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND
COLLATERAL AGENT:
TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

3


LENDERS:
[______________]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

4


EXHIBIT B

Schedule 1.01(A)

First Amendment Term Loan A Commitments

 

First Amendment Term Loan A Lender

   First Amendment Term Loan A
Commitment
 

MIDCAP FINANCIAL TRUST

   $ 2,053,333.33  

MIDCAP FINANCIAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION

   $ 1,166,666.67  

AP LEAF, LLC

   $ 1,780,000.00  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 5,000,000  
  

 

 

 

First Amendment Term Loan B Commitments

 

First Amendment Term Loan B Lender

   First Amendment Term Loan B
Commitment
 

TCW RESCUE FINANCING FUND II LP

   $ 7,000,000.00  

ASILIA CREDIT FUND, LP

   $ 3,000,000.00  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 10,000,000  
  

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATES IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS WARRANT, THE ACT AND THE APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES MAY REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER TO THE EFFECT THAT ANY PROPOSED TRANSFER OR RESALE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

REGIS CORPORATION

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

December 19, 2024

(the “Issue Date”)

This certifies that, for value received, [•], with a principal office at the address set forth on the signature page hereto, or such person’s or entity’s permitted assigns (the “Holder”), is entitled to subscribe for and purchase from Regis Corporation, a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), the Exercise Shares at the Exercise Price (each subject to adjustment as provided herein), subject to the terms set forth herein.

This Warrant is being issued pursuant to that certain Amendment No. 1 to Financing Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2024 (the “Amendment”), by and among the Company, each other subsidiary of the Company listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages thereto, each subsidiary of the Company listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto, the lenders thereto (the “Lenders”), TCW Asset Management Company LLC a Delaware limited liability company (“TCW”), as collateral agent for the Lenders, TCW as administrative agent for the Lenders, TCW as joint lead arranger and MidCap Financial Trust, as revolving agent for the Revolving Loan Lenders, which amends that certain Financing Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2024 (as amended by the Amendment, and as may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Amended Financing Agreement”). All capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Amended Financing Agreement.

1. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms have the following respective meanings:

(a)Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

(b)Change of Control” means (i) any consolidation, merger, recapitalization, transfer, corporate reorganization or similar transaction involving the Company and any other corporation or other entity or person, other than any such consolidation, merger, recapitalization, transfer, reorganization or similar transaction in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization, continue to hold at least a majority of the voting power of the surviving entity in substantially the same proportions (or, if the surviving entity is a wholly owned subsidiary, its parent) immediately after such consolidation, merger, recapitalization, transfer, reorganization or similar transaction, (ii) any transaction or series of related transactions in which the stockholders of the Company transfer shares in excess of 50% of the Company’s then-outstanding combined voting power or (iii) a sale, lease, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.


(c)Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(d)Exercise Period” means any time after the date hereof until the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Issue Date.

(e)Exercise Price” means $23.86 per Exercise Share, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 6 below.

(f)Exercise Shares” means [64,372] shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.05 per share, issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, subject to adjustment as set forth herein.

(g)Governing Documents” means (i) the Bylaws of the Company and (ii) the 2020 Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), in each case, as in effect on the date hereof (as may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof).

(h)Principal Trading Market” means the exchange or other trading market on which the Common Stock is primarily listed on or quoted for trading, which, as of the Issue Date, shall be the Nasdaq Stock Market.

(i)Securities” means, collectively, this Warrant and the Exercise Shares.

(j)Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, for the Company’s primary trading market or quotation system with respect to the Common Stock that is in effect on the date of delivery of an applicable Notice of Exercise, which as of the Issue Date was “T+1”.

(k)Trading Day” means any weekday on which the Principal Trading Market is normally open for trading.

(l)VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if the foregoing does not apply, the bid price of the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such Common Stock as reported by Bloomberg L.P. as of such time of determination, (c) if no bid price is reported for the Common Stock by Bloomberg L.P. as of such time of determination, the average of the bid prices of all of the market makers for the Common Stock as reported in the Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices) as of such time of determination, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent nationally recognized investment bank or other qualified financial institution selected in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and reasonably acceptable to the Holder, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

2. Exercise of Warrant.

2.1 Exercise. The rights represented by this Warrant may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the Exercise Period by delivery of the following to the Company at its address set forth on the signature page hereto (or at such other address as it may designate by notice in writing to the Holder):

(a) an executed Notice of Exercise in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A;


(b) payment of the Exercise Price either (i) in cash or by check or wire transfer, or (ii) by cancellation of indebtedness, or (iii) by Net Exercise (as defined below) pursuant to Section 2.2; and

(c) this Warrant (solely in the event this Warrant is exercised in full).

The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder (until this Warrant has been exercised in full). Execution and delivery of the Notice of Exercise with respect to less than all of the Exercise Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Exercise Shares and the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until this Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation (or shall deliver to the Company a reasonable affidavit of loss and indemnity undertaking in lieu thereof) within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company.

2.2 Net Exercise. Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, in lieu of exercising all or any portion of this Warrant with payment of cash, check or wire transfer or by cancellation of indebtedness as provided in Section 2.1, the Holder may elect to exercise this Warrant (or any portion hereof) on a net basis without payment of the foregoing consideration, such that the Holder receives the number of Exercise Shares computed using the following formula (and any and all references in this Warrant to payment of the Exercise Price shall include exercise of this Warrant (or any portion hereof) pursuant to this Section 2.2) (such exercise, a “Net Exercise”):

 

     

X = Y (A-B)

   A

Where    X =    the number of Exercise Shares to be issued to the Holder
   Y =    the number of Exercise Shares purchasable under this Warrant or, if only a portion of this Warrant is being exercised, that portion of this Warrant being exercised (at the date of such calculation)
   A =    the fair market value of one Exercise Share (at the date of such calculation)
   B =    Exercise Price (as adjusted to the date of such calculation)

For purposes of the above calculation, if shares of Common Stock are then traded or quoted on a nationally recognized securities exchange, inter-dealer quotation system or over-the-counter market (a “Trading Market”), the fair market value of an Exercise Share shall be the closing price or last sale price of a share of Common Stock reported for the Business Day immediately before the date on which Holder delivers this Warrant (to the extent required) together with its Notice of Exercise to the Company; provided, however, that if this Warrant is exercised pursuant to this Section 2.2 in connection with a Change of Control, the fair market value per share shall be the value ascribed to the consideration to be paid in respect of one share of the Exercise Shares in the definitive agreement(s) relating to such Change of Control, or if no such value is set forth in the definitive agreements(s) relating to such Change of Control, as determined in good faith by the Board. If shares of Common Stock are not then traded in a Trading Market, the Board shall adopt the fair market value of an Exercise Share recommended by a nationally recognized independent investment bank or other qualified financial institution, which fair market value shall not give effect to minority or illiquidity discounts.


If Exercise Shares are issued in such a Net Exercise, the Company acknowledges and agrees that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Act, the Exercise Shares shall take on the registered characteristics of this Warrant, and the holding period of this Warrant may be tacked on to the holding period of the Exercise Shares (provided that the Securities and Exchange Commission continues to take the position that such treatment is proper at the time of such exercise). The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 2.2. For the avoidance of doubt, the Holder may utilize Net Exercise as contemplated by this Section 2.2 only if at the time of exercise hereof, there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus therein is not available for, the issuance of the Exercise Shares to the Holder. In all other scenarios, the Holder shall only be permitted to exercise this Warrant in cash in accordance with Section 2.1.

2.3 Mechanics of Exercise. On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Holder has delivered the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Company shall transmit by electronic mail an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of the Notice of Exercise, in the form attached to the Notice of Exercise, to the Holder and the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”). So long as the Holder delivers the Exercise Price (or notice of a cancellation of indebtedness or Net Exercise, if applicable) on or prior to the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Notice of Exercise has been delivered to the Company, then on or prior to the earlier of (i) the second (2nd) Trading Day and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period, in each case following the date on which the Notice of Exercise has been delivered to the Company, or, if the Holder does not deliver the aggregate Exercise Price (or notice of a cancellation of indebtedness or Net Exercise, if applicable) on or prior to the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Notice of Exercise has been delivered to the Company, then on or prior to the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the aggregate Exercise Price (or notice of a cancellation of indebtedness or Net Exercise, if applicable) is delivered to the Company (such earlier date, or if later, the earliest day on which the Company is required to deliver Exercise Shares pursuant to this Section 2.3, the “Delivery Date”), the Company shall credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian system provided that the Transfer Agent is then a participant in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program (“FAST”) and either (x) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of such Exercise Shares to or resale of such Exercise Shares by the Holder or (y) such Exercise Shares are eligible for resale by the Holder without limitations pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities, and otherwise issue such Exercise Shares in the name of the Holder or its designee in restricted book-entry form in the Company’s share register. The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in FAST so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable. The Company shall be responsible for all fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent and all fees and expenses with respect to the issuance of Exercise Shares via DTC, if any, including without limitation for same day processing. Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, if the Holder is exercising this Warrant for Exercise Shares, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record and beneficial owner of the Exercise Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Exercise Shares are credited to the Holder’s DTC account or the date of delivery of the book entry positions evidencing such Exercise Shares, as the case may be. If this Warrant is physically delivered to the Company in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 2.3 and the number of Exercise Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Exercise Shares being acquired upon an exercise, then the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue and deliver or cause to be issued and delivered to the Holder (or its designee) a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 12) representing the right to purchase the number of Exercise Shares issuable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Exercise Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. The Company shall pay any and all transfer, stamp, issuance and similar taxes, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent) which may be payable with respect to the issuance and


delivery of Exercise Shares upon exercise of this Warrant. The Company’s obligations to issue and deliver or cause to be issued and delivered Exercise Shares in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to deliver or cause to be delivered Exercise Shares with respect to an exercise prior to the Holder’s delivery of the aggregate Exercise Price (or notice of a cancellation of indebtedness or Net Exercise, if applicable) with respect to such exercise. If the Company fails to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Holder the Exercise Shares pursuant to this Section 2.3 by the Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise by delivering written notice to the Company at any time prior to the Company delivering or causing the delivery of such Exercise Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for any and all purposes hereunder (including, without limitation, the delivery of any Notice of Exercise hereunder) and is entitled to rely on instruction from such registered Holder of this Warrant without liability.

2.4 Call Provision. Until the second anniversary of the Issue Date, the Company may call for cancellation of up to [32,186] Exercise Shares (such right, a “Call”) for consideration equal to $51.13 per Exercise Share. To exercise this right, the Company must deliver to the Holder an irrevocable written notice (a “Call Notice”), indicating therein the portion of unexercised portion of this Warrant to which such Call Notice applies; provided, however, that in order to exercise such Call the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date the Company delivers the Call Notice to the Holders must exceed $68.17. If the conditions set forth below for such Call are satisfied from the period from the date of the Call Notice through and including the Call Date (as defined below), then this Warrant will be cancelled at 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the tenth Trading Day after the date of the Call Notice (such date and time, the “Call Date”). In furtherance thereof, the Company covenants and agrees that it will honor all Notices of Exercise with respect to Exercise Shares subject to a Call Notice that are tendered through 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the Call Date.

3. Covenants of the Company.

3.1 Covenants as to Exercise Shares. The Company covenants and agrees that all Exercise Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant will, upon issuance, be validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issuance thereof. The Company will take all actions as may be necessary to assure that such Exercise Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, of any requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Common Stock (or shares of such class and/or series of the Company’s equity securities comprising the Exercise Shares) may be listed or of any contract to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound. The Company further covenants and agrees that the Company will at all times during the Exercise Period have authorized and reserved a sufficient number of shares of the series of equity securities comprising the Exercise Shares to provide for the exercise of the rights represented by this Warrant. The issuance of the Exercise Shares will not be subject to any preemptive rights that have not been properly complied with or waived. If at any time during the Exercise Period the number of authorized but unissued shares of the Common Stock (or shares of such class and/or series of the Company’s equity securities comprising the Exercise Shares) shall not be sufficient to permit exercise of this Warrant, the Company will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel (and after reasonable consultation with the Holder), be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock (or shares of such class and/or series of the Company’s equity securities comprising the Exercise Shares) to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes.


3.2 Notices of Record Date. In the event of any taking by the Company of a record of the holders of the class and/or series of equity securities constituting the Exercise Shares for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any dividend or other distribution, the Company shall give to the Holder, at least ten (10) days prior to the date specified herein, a notice specifying the date on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend or distribution.

3.3 No Impairment. The Company will not, by amendment of any of its Governing Documents or through reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, sale of assets or any other voluntary action, willfully avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will, at all times in good faith, assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the Holder against wrongful impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) shall, so long as this Warrant is outstanding, take all actions necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of this Warrant, the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise).

4. Representations of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Holder as of the date hereof as follows:

4.1 Organization, Existence and Qualification. The Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, with all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as conducted. The Company is duly qualified to transact business in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the conduct of its business as now conducted requires it to be so qualified, except insofar as the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on its business.

4.2 Authorization. All corporate or other requisite action on the part of the Company, its officers, directors and stockholders necessary for the authorization, execution and delivery of this Warrant, the performance of all obligations of the Company hereunder, and the authorization, issuance (or reservation for issuance), sale and delivery of the Exercise Shares has been taken, and this Warrant constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies.

4.3 Valid Issuance of Warrant and Exercise Shares. This Warrant and the Exercise Shares, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Warrant for the consideration expressed herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will be validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issuance thereof.

4.4 No Preemptive Right. The issuance of this Warrant and the Exercise Shares is not subject to any preemptive rights of any person.


5. Representations, Warrants and Covenants of the Holder; Restrictive Legends. The Holder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as of the date hereof as follows:

5.1 Investment Representations. The Holder is acquiring this Warrant (together with the Exercise Shares, the “Restricted Securities”), for its own account for investment only and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, the distribution or other disposition thereof in violation of applicable federal or state securities laws. The Holder understands that the Restricted Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Holder’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Holder set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Holder to acquire such Restricted Securities. Holder agrees and acknowledges that it will not, directly or indirectly, offer, transfer or sell any Restricted Securities, or solicit any offers to purchase or acquire any Restricted Securities, unless the transfer or sale is (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Act and has been registered under any applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws or (ii) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws.

5.2 Additional Investment Representations. The Holder hereby represents and warrants to the Company that (i) it has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment hereunder, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act, (iii) it is able to incur a complete loss of such investment, (iv) it is able to bear the economic risk of such investment for an indefinite period of time, (v) it has received all the information from the Company and its management that Holder considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to acquire this Warrant and the Exercise Shares, (vi) it has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the Company, its financial condition, results of operations and prospects and the terms and conditions of the acquisition of this Warrant and Exercise Shares sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment and (vii) it is not subject to any of the “bad actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act.

5.3 Restrictive Legend. Holder acknowledges that (i) this Warrant and (ii) the Exercise Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, in each case, if not then registered and, with respect to the Exercise Shares, if the Holder (x) after giving effect to the issuance of the Exercise Shares is deemed to be an “affiliate” of the Company (as that term is defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) or (y) does not utilize Net Exercise after expiration of the Rule 144 holding period, will contain a legend to the effect that this Warrant and/or the Exercise Shares are not registered.

6. Adjustment of Exercise Price and Number of Exercise Shares; Fractional Shares.

6.1 Changes in Securities. In the event of any stock dividends, splits, recapitalizations, reclassifications, combinations or exchanges of shares, reorganizations, or other similar transactions (each, a “Reorganization”), the number of shares of such class and/or series of the Company’s equity securities comprising the Exercise Shares available under this Warrant in the aggregate and the Exercise Price shall be correspondingly adjusted to give the Holder of this Warrant, on exercise for the same aggregate Exercise Price, the same rights, preferences, interests and economic interests as were possessed by the Holder with respect to the Exercise Shares immediately prior to such Reorganization. The form of this Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment in the number of Exercise Shares subject to this Warrant.

6.2 Change of Control. In the event of any Change in Control of the Company, this Warrant will be deemed automatically exchanged (without the need to comply with the requirements of Section 2), immediately prior to the consummation of such Change in Control, for the same per share consideration paid to the holders of Common Stock to which the Holder would have been entitled upon such Change in Control had this Warrant been exercised in full immediately prior to such consummation, net of the then applicable Exercise Price attributable to the aggregate Exercise Shares remaining under this Warrant.


6.3 Fractional Shares. No fractional Exercise Shares are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of Exercise Shares to be issued shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.

6.4 Purchase Rights. If at any time on or after the Issue Date, the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property, in each case pro rata to the record holders of any class of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights. As used in this Section 6.4, (i) “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities and (ii) “Convertible Securities” mean any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

6.5 Notice of Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of each adjustment pursuant to this Section 6, the Company at its expense will, at the written request of the Holder, promptly compute such adjustment, in good faith, in accordance with the terms of this Warrant and prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment, including a statement of the adjusted Exercise Price and adjusted number or type of Exercise Shares or other securities issuable upon exercise of this Warrant (as applicable), describing the transactions giving rise to such adjustments and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based.

6.6 Notice of Corporate Events. If, while this Warrant is outstanding, the Company (i) declares a dividend or any other distribution of cash, securities or other property in respect of its Common Stock, including, without limitation, any granting of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any capital stock of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) authorizes or approves, enters into any agreement contemplating or solicits stockholder approval for any Change of Control or (iii) authorizes the voluntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then the Company shall deliver to the Holder a notice of such transaction at least ten (10) days prior to the applicable record or effective date on which a Person would need to hold Common Stock in order to participate in or vote with respect to such transaction; provided, however, that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be described in such notice. In addition, if while this Warrant is outstanding, the Company authorizes or approves, enters into any agreement contemplating or solicits stockholder approval for any Change of Control contemplated by Section 6.2, the Company shall deliver to the Holder a notice of such Change of Control at least ten (10) days prior to the date such Change of Control is consummated. Holder agrees to maintain any information disclosed pursuant to this Section 6.6 in confidence until such information is publicly available, and shall comply with applicable law with respect to trading in the Company’s securities following receipt of any such information.

7. No Stockholder Rights. This Warrant in and of itself shall not entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company.


8. Transfer of Warrant. In addition to any other restrictions on transfer set forth in this Warrant, neither this Warrant nor any interest therein shall be transferred or assigned, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, and any attempted transfer or assignment without such consent shall be void; provided, that the Holder may transfer all or any portion of this Warrant and/or the Exercise Shares to any Affiliate of the Holder without the prior written consent of the Company. Subject to the foregoing restrictions, applicable laws and the restriction on transfer set forth on the first page of this Warrant, in connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the Holder shall deliver this Warrant and the form of assignment attached hereto as Exhibit B to the Company, and the transferee shall sign an investment representation letter containing the same representations applicable to the Holder as set forth herein.

9. [Reserved].

10. Tax Matters.

10.1 The Lenders have agreed to extend certain credit facilities to Company in the aggregate principal amount of up to $15,000,000 (the “First Amendment Loans”) pursuant to the Amendment and the Amended Financing Agreement. Each of the parties hereto agrees that the First Amendment Loans and this Warrant, taken together, have been issued as an “investment unit” (the “Unit”) within the meaning of Section 1273(c)(2) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.1273-2(h).

10.2 For the purposes of determining the issue price (within the meaning of the Code) of the First Amendment Loans and the purchase price of this Warrant, each of the parties hereto agree to allocate the issue price of such investment unit among the First Amendment Loans and this Warrant in proportion to their fair market value as of the First Amendment Effective Date (as defined in the Amendment) in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.1273-2(h). The Company and Holder shall cooperate in good faith regarding the allocation of the issue price allocated between the First Amendment Loans and this Warrant.

10.3 Each of the parties hereto agrees, and will cause its respective Affiliates, not to take a position for federal, state, or local income tax purposes which is inconsistent with Section 10 of this Warrant (including without limitation, the filing of any tax or information returns, report or declaration), except as otherwise required following a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code to the contrary.

10.4 Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the terms of this Warrant shall not constitute the agreement of any of the parties hereto that the value ascribed, or amount allocated, to any component of the Unit pursuant hereto shall be used for any purpose other than federal, state, or local income tax law.

10.5 The Company represents and warrants that it has granted an exemption in favor of the Holder pursuant to Section 36 of the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, dated January 29, 2024, among the Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (the “Plan”), such that the Holder will not be deemed an “Acquiring Person” as defined in the Plan solely in connection with (i) the issuance of this Warrant nor (ii) the acquisition of beneficial ownership of securities of the Borrower pursuant to the exercise of the Holder’s rights under this Warrant.

10.6 The Company shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts payable with respect to this Warrant any taxes required to be so deducted and withheld under applicable law. To the extent that any amounts are so deducted or withheld and paid over to the appropriate Governmental Authority, such deducted or withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Warrant as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction or withholding was made. The Company shall cooperate in good faith with the Holders to minimize or eliminate any such withholding or deduction, including by giving the Holders an opportunity to provide additional information or to apply for an exemption from, or a reduced rate of, withholding.


11. Notice of Actions Under Governing Documents; Other Rights.

11.1 If the Company provides notice to (or is required under the terms of the Governing Documents to provide notice to) the holders of Common Stock (as each such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), the Company shall simultaneously provide such notice to Holder.

11.2 The Company shall not permit, at any time prior to or following exercise of this Warrant, any amendments or modifications to the Governing Documents without the Holder’s prior written consent that (i) require the Holder to make contributions to the Company or make the Holder liable for any debts or obligations of the Company, or (ii) by its terms has an adverse effect on the rights and obligations of the Holder (whether as a holder of this Warrant or a holder of Common Stock) that is disproportionate to the effect on holders of Common Stock other than the Holder.

12. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed Warrant. If this Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the Company may, on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as it may reasonably impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination and tenor as this Warrant so lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute an original contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

13. Cumulative Remedies. The rights and remedies provided in this Warrant are cumulative and are not exclusive of, and are in addition to and not in substitution for, any other rights or remedies available at law, in equity or otherwise.

14. Equitable Relief. Each of the Company and the Holder acknowledges that a breach or threatened breach by such party of any of its obligations under this Warrant would give rise to irreparable harm to the other party hereto for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy and hereby agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by such party of any such obligations, the other party hereto shall, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies that may be available to it in respect of such breach, be entitled to equitable relief, including a restraining order, an injunction, specific performance and any other relief that may be available from a court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post a bond or similar security.

15. Notices, etc. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by electronic transmission (unless any delivery failure notice or bounce-back message is received), (c) five days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to each of the Company and the Holder at the address listed on their respective signature pages hereto or at such other address as the Company or Holder may designate by ten days’ advance written notice to the other party.

16. Successor and Assigns. Subject to compliance with the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Warrant, this Warrant and the rights evidenced hereby shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the successors of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of the Holder, and such successors and/or permitted assigns of the Holder shall be deemed to be a Holder for all purposes hereunder.


17. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Warrant is for the sole benefit of the Company and the Holder and their respective successors and, in the case of the Holder, permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever, under or by reason of this Warrant.

18. Warrant Agent. The Company shall initially serve as warrant agent under this Warrant. Upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Holder, the Company may appoint a new warrant agent. Any corporation into which the Company or any new warrant agent may be merged or any corporation resulting from any consolidation to which the Company or any new warrant agent shall be a party or any corporation to which the Company or any new warrant agent transfers substantially all of its corporate trust or shareholders services business shall be a successor warrant agent under this Warrant without any further act. Any such successor warrant agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as warrant agent to be mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) to the Holder at the Holder’s last address as shown on the Warrant register.

19. Headings. The headings in this Warrant are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Warrant.

20. Amendment and Modification; Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Warrant may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by the Company and the Holder. No waiver by the Company or the Holder of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and signed by the party so waiving. No waiver by any party shall operate or be construed as a waiver in respect of any failure, breach or default not expressly identified by such written waiver, whether of a similar or different character, and whether occurring before or after that waiver. No failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, any rights, remedy, power or privilege arising from this Warrant shall operate or be construed 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.

21. Severability. If any term or provision of this Warrant is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Warrant or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.

22. Acceptance. Receipt of this Warrant by the Holder shall constitute acceptance of and agreement to all of the terms and conditions contained herein.

23. Governing Law. This Warrant and all rights, obligations and liabilities hereunder shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of New York as applied to agreements among Delaware residents, made and to be performed entirely within the State of New York without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles.

24. Counterparts. This Warrant may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or other applicable law) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered will be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

[Signature pages follow]


The parties have caused this Warrant to be executed by their duly authorized representatives effective as of the Issue Date.

 

COMPANY:
REGIS CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
Email:  

 

Address:  


HOLDER:
TCW RESCUE FINANCING FUND II LP
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
Email:  

 

Address:   [  ]


Exhibit A

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

TO: Regis Corporation

(1) ☐ The undersigned hereby elects to purchase _______ shares of Common Stock (the “Exercise Shares”) of Regis Corporation (the “Company”) pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant, and tenders herewith [payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any] [notice of cancellation of debt].

☐ The undersigned hereby elects to purchase _______ shares of Common Stock (the “Exercise Shares”) of Regis Corporation (the “Company”) pursuant to the terms of the net exercise provisions set forth in Section 2.2 of the attached Warrant, and shall tender payment of all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

(2) Please effect a book-entry issuance representing said Exercise Shares in the name of the undersigned.

(3) By its execution below and for the benefit of the Company, the undersigned hereby restates each of the representations and warranties in Section 5 of the attached Warrant as of the date hereof and further represents and warrants as follows:

(a) Without in any way limiting the representations set forth in Section 5 of the attached Warrant, the undersigned further agrees not to make any disposition of all or any portion of the Exercise Shares unless and until (i) there is then in effect a registration statement under the Act (as defined in the attached Warrant) covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement, (ii) the undersigned shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and furnished the Company with a detailed statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and if reasonably requested by the Company, the undersigned shall have furnished the Company with an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such disposition will not require registration under the Act or any applicable state securities laws; provided that no such opinion shall be required for dispositions in compliance with Rule 144 under the Act, except in unusual circumstances, or (iii) such disposition constitutes a permitted transfer in accordance with the Governing Documents or the terms of the attached Warrant.

(b) If the undersigned is not a United States person (as defined by Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), the undersigned hereby represents that the undersigned has satisfied itself as to the full observance of the laws of the undersigned’s jurisdiction in connection with any invitation to subscribe for the Exercise Shares or any use of the attached Warrant, including (i) the legal requirements within the undersigned’s jurisdiction for the purchase of the Exercise Shares, (ii) any foreign exchange restrictions applicable to such purchase, (iii) any governmental or other consents that may need to be obtained, and (iv) the income tax and other tax consequences, if any, that may be relevant to the purchase, holding, redemption, sale or transfer of the Exercise Shares. The undersigned’s subscription, payment for and continued beneficial ownership of the Exercise Shares will not violate any applicable securities or other laws of the undersigned’s jurisdiction.


(c) With respect to any forecasts, projections of results and other forward-looking statements and information provided to the undersigned, the undersigned acknowledges that such statements were prepared based upon assumptions deemed reasonable by the Company at the time of preparation. There is no assurance that such statements will prove accurate, and the Company has no obligation to update such statements unless otherwise required by applicable law.

[Signature page follows]


HOLDER:
TCW Rescue Financing Fund II LP
By:  

 

  Name: [_______]
  Title:  [_______]
Email:  

[_______]

Address:  

[_______]

[_______], [_______] [_______]

Dated:  

 


Exhibit B

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

   (To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to purchase shares.)   

For Value Received, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to

Name:                                                      

(Please Print)

 

HOLDER:
[•]
By:  

 

  Name:   [_______]
  Title:   [_______]
Email:  

[_______]

Address:  

[_______]

[_______], [_______] [_______]

Dated:  

 


Acknowledged and Agreed: Assignee
(if an individual)
Signature:  

 

(if a trust)
Signature:  

 

__________, as [co-]trustee of the _______
(if an entity)
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

Address:  

 

Email:  

 

NOTE: The Holder’s signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as it appears on the face of the foregoing Warrant, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing Warrant.

NOTE: As a condition to the assignment of the foregoing Warrant, if requested by the Company, the assignee of the foregoing Warrant shall execute and deliver any applicable securityholders’ agreement, investor rights agreement, voting agreement, drag along agreement, right of first refusal and co-sale agreement or similar agreement (or a joinder to any existing agreement) that the Company and/or the holders of its securities may enter into or that otherwise that may be in effect from time to time (and which may contain, among other provisions, additional restrictions on transfer).

NOTE: The assignee of the foregoing Warrant agrees to be bound by all the terms and obligations of the foregoing Warrant, including, without limitation, the representations and warranties of the Holder in Section 5 of the Warrant, as if assignee were the original Holder party thereto.

Any terms that are capitalized but not defined in this Exhibit B have the meanings ascribed to them in the foregoing Warrant.

Exhibit 99.1

Regis Corporation Acquires Alline Salon Group Adding $83M Revenue and $5.8M EBITDA

Strategic acquisition of 314 salons strengthens operational footprint while maintaining asset-light model with 93% franchise base

MINNEAPOLIS, December 19, 2024—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Regis Corporation (NasdaqGM: RGS), a leader in the haircare industry, announces the acquisition of Alline Salon Group (ASG), its largest franchisee, in a transaction valued at $22 million of initial consideration, with the ability for ASG to earn an additional $3 million ($1 million annually) through earn out payments over the next three years.

Highlights

 

   

314 salon portfolio operating under the Supercuts, Cost Cutters and Holiday Hair brands across five states, primarily Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania

 

  o

Trailing Twelve Month October 2024 (“TTM”) financial highlights:

 

   

$83 million in Revenue

 

   

$11.1 million in 4-Wall EBITDA

 

   

$5.8 million in EBITDA

 

   

Initial consideration represents 3.79x TTM EBITDA; total consideration including potential earn out represents 4.31x TTM EBITDA

 

   

Synergies of $1.0-1.5 million identified, to be achieved in calendar 2026

 

   

Financing structure maintains adequate balance sheet flexibility and leverage (deal financed at 2.58x TTM EBITDA)

 

   

Transaction provides Regis a turn-key operating infrastructure and gets the Company closer to salon operations alongside franchisees; salon portfolio provides testing ground for brand and operational initiatives

Matthew Doctor, Regis Corporation’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented:

“This acquisition marks another key milestone for Regis and further positions our company for future growth. The transaction represents a path towards strong EBITDA growth from a business that we know intimately, having previously owned and operated the salons that we are acquiring. With an attractive purchase multiple, combined with further operational initiatives and identified synergies, we believe there is substantial value creation potential for Regis and our stakeholders. The transaction structure, with a mix of cash and stock consideration and future earn out opportunities, aligns all stakeholders’ interests toward the success of this venture.”

“Beyond the financial aspects, this transaction has significant strategic benefits that we view equally as important. As we have entered a new chapter at Regis, we felt being closer to salon operations was important as we look to drive sales and profitability for our franchisees. The environment we are in has been ever evolving, and we are at a pivotal moment in time with new initiatives on the horizon to advance our brands. Bringing these salons into our operations, we now have an additional proving ground to test and learn business driving initiatives in a controlled environment before broader franchisee implementation, while continuing to engage with franchisees on participation in such pilots. While this transaction builds back up our corporate footprint, we are still very much an asset-light, franchisor with approximately 93% of salons still owned and operated by our franchisees – and continuing to drive their sales and profitability remains our main focus, which is now further aided by this acquisition.”


Mike Sarafa, CEO of Alline Salon Group said, “This transaction is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and resilience of our team members that led to the strong profitability we have achieved over the last several years. We believe our team members will have further opportunity to grow and drive results as part of the broader Regis organization, and we look forward to working with Matt and the rest of the Regis team for the years ahead.”

Strategic Rationale

 

   

Financial Returns and Value Creation: EBITDA accretive with high potential returns; source of revenue and profitability beyond royalties and provides further potential cash generation

 

   

Strengthen Connection to Operations and Franchisees: Regis is now operating salons across multiple brands and geographies and no longer a step removed from the business, providing further operational ties to franchisees in this dynamic environment

 

   

Testing Ground for Innovation: Regis can test and optimize customer and stylist initiatives to ensure recommendations to its franchisees for broader implementation drive results and is operationally feasible

 

   

Scaled Impact: Business drivers have scaled impact as Regis profitability driven not only by corporate-owned portfolio, but increased franchise system results increases value for the overall business

 

   

Business Flexibility: Ability to pursue both corporate and franchisee value creation strategies; flexibility to quickly implement changes or respond to market conditions

 

   

Partnership with Alline Team. Alline has built a strong infrastructure, culture and team who, in partnership with Regis, will operate the business. Combining their best practices with Regis operational expertise is an exciting combination for the future

Transaction Details

Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Regis will acquire all of Alline’s issued and outstanding membership interests for $22 million in a cash and stock transaction, of which $19 million of the initial consideration was delivered in cash, in addition to shares of Regis common stock valued at $3 million. Cash and stock was delivered at closing on December 19, 2024. The agreement also includes additional performance-based earnout opportunities of up to $3 million, in $1 million increments, over the next 3 years.

Regis funded the $19 million cash portion of the purchase price with $15 million in proceeds from an upsize of Regis’ credit agreement with existing lenders, and $4 million from available cash on hand. $3 million worth of stock was issued at the 30-day Volume Weighted trading price and subject to a 1-year lock up agreement.

The transaction is accretive to Adjusted EBITDA and leverage giving effect to the transaction will decrease slightly.


Advisors

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP served as legal counsel Regis, Greenwich Capital Group (“GCG”) acted as exclusive financial advisor and Foley & Lardner served as legal counsel to Alline Salon Group in the transaction.

About Regis Corporation

Regis Corporation (NasdaqGM:RGS) is a leader in the haircare industry. As of September 30, 2024, the Company franchised or owned 4,359 locations. Regis’ franchised and corporate locations operate under concepts such as Supercuts ®, SmartStyle ®, Cost Cutters ®, Roosters ® and First Choice Haircutters ®. For additional information about the Company, including a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial information and certain supplemental financial information, please visit the Investor Relations section of the corporate website at www.regiscorp.com.

This press release contains or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements in this document reflect management’s best judgment at the time they are made, but all such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements herein. Such forward-looking statements are often identified herein by use of words including, but not limited to, “may,” “will,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” and “plan.” In addition, the following factors could affect the Company’s actual results and cause such results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These factors include a potential material adverse impact on our business and results of operations as a result of changes in consumer shopping trends and changes in manufacturer distribution channels; laws and regulations could require us to modify current business practices and incur increased costs including increases in minimum wages; changes in general economic environment; changes in consumer tastes, hair product innovation, fashion trends and consumer spending patterns; compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements; reliance on franchise royalties and overall success of our franchisees’ salons; our salons’ dependence on a third-party supplier agreement for merchandise; our franchisees’ ability to attract, train and retain talented stylists and salon leaders; the success of our franchisees, which operate independently; data security and privacy compliance and our ability to manage cyber threats and protect the security of potentially sensitive information about our guests, franchisees, employees, vendors or company information; the ability of the Company to maintain a satisfactory relationship with Walmart; marketing efforts to drive traffic to our franchisees’ salons; our ability to maintain and enhance the value of our brands; reliance on legacy information technology systems; reliance on external vendors; the use of social media; the effectiveness of our enterprise risk management program; ability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt service obligations; compliance with covenants in our financing arrangement; premature termination of agreements with our franchisees; the continued ability of the Company to implement cost reduction initiatives and achieve expected cost savings; continued ability to compete in our business markets; reliance on our management team and other key personnel; the continued ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting; changes in tax exposure; the ability of our Tax Preservation Plan to protect the future availability of the Company’s tax assets; potential litigation and other legal or regulatory proceedings; or other factors not listed above. Additional information concerning potential factors that could affect future financial results is set forth under Item 1A on Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. However, your attention is directed to any further disclosures made in our subsequent annual and periodic reports filed or furnished with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A.


REGIS CORPORATION:

Kersten Zupfer

investorrelations@regiscorp.com

Hayden IR

James Carbonara

Hayden IR

(646)-755-7412

james@haydenir.com

Brett Maas

Hayden IR

(646) 536-7331

brett@haydenir.com

v3.24.4
Document and Entity Information
Dec. 19, 2024
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]  
Entity Registrant Name REGIS CORP
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Entity Central Index Key 0000716643
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Dec. 19, 2024
Entity Incorporation State Country Code MN
Entity File Number 1-12725
Entity Tax Identification Number 41-0749934
Entity Address, Address Line One 3701 Wayzata Boulevard
Entity Address, City or Town Minneapolis
Entity Address, State or Province MN
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 55416
City Area Code (952)
Local Phone Number 947-7777
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Entity Emerging Growth Company false
Common Stock [Member]  
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]  
Security 12b Title Common Stock, par value $0.05 per share
Trading Symbol RGS
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]  
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]  
Security 12b Title Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $0.05 par value
Trading Symbol RGS
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ

Regis (NASDAQ:RGS)
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