8-K
false 0001746473 0001746473 2022-05-04 2022-05-04

 

 

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): May 4, 2022

 

 

PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-39303   47-4272481

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

260 Littlefield Avenue,

South San Francisco, CA

    94080
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)     (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (650) 481-6770

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 $0.0001 per share   PLRX   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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

Emerging growth company

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On May 4, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (“Agreement”) by and among the Company, Oxford Finance LLC, as lender (in such capacity, the “Lender”), and Oxford Finance LLC, in its capacity as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Agent”), pursuant to which the Lender has agreed to lend the Company, subject to the terms and conditions therein, a series of term loans up to an aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million (the “Term Loans”), of which $25.0 million is subject to the Lender’s sole discretion.

Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company received an initial Term Loan of $10 million of an initial $25 million tranche at closing, with the remaining $15 million available through the end of the year. The Company has access to an additional $75 million over three tranches, $50 million of which is at its option upon the satisfaction of certain conditions related to the development of PLN-74809 and one of the Company’s preclinical product candidates, and $25 million at the Lender’s discretion.

The proceeds from the Term Loans may be used as working capital and to fund the Company’s general business requirements in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement. In connection with the Agreement, the Company granted the Collateral Agent a security interest in substantially all of the Company’s assets now owned or hereafter acquired, excluding intellectual property (but including the right to payments and proceeds of intellectual property) and certain customary exceptions, and a negative pledge on substantially all of the Borrower’s and its subsidiaries’ intellectual property.

The principal amount outstanding under the Term Loans shall accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to 1-month term SOFR plus eight and one half percent (8.50%) (subject to an agreed upon floor and cap). Interest is payable monthly in arrears on the first calendar day of each calendar month, commencing on July 1, 2022. Beginning on July 1, 2026, which may be extended to July 1, 2027 (subject to certain conditions set forth in the Agreement), the Company shall repay the Term Loans in consecutive equal monthly payments of principal, together with applicable interest, in arrears. All unpaid principal and accrued and unpaid interest with respect to each Term Loan is due and payable in full on May 1, 2027, which may be extended to May 1, 2028 (subject to certain conditions set forth in the Agreement).

The Company will be required to make a final payment of 5.50% (or 7.50% if the amortization date of the Term Loans has been extended to July 1, 2027 (as discussed above)) of the original principal amount of the Term Loans that were drawn, payable at maturity or upon any earlier acceleration or prepayment of the Term Loans. The Company may prepay the Term Loans in whole or in part, subject to a prepayment fee equal to (i) if prepaid on or before the first anniversary date of the funding date of such Term Loan, 3.0% of the principal amount of the applicable Term Loan prepaid, (ii) if prepaid after the first anniversary and on or before the second anniversary of the funding date of such Term Loan, 2.0% of the principal amount of the applicable Term Loan prepaid, and (iii) if prepaid after the second anniversary and on or before the third anniversary of the funding date of such Term Loan prepaid, 1.0% of the principal amount of the applicable Term Loan prepaid. All Term Loans will be subject to a facility fee of 0.5% of the principal amount of the such funded Term Loan.

The Agreement contains representations and warranties, affirmative, and negative covenants, and events of default that are customary for loans of this type. The occurrence of an event of default could result in the acceleration of the obligations under the Agreement, termination of the Term Loan commitments and the right to foreclose on the collateral securing the obligations. During the existence of an event of default, the Term Loans will accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to 5% above the otherwise applicable interest rate.

The foregoing description is a summary of the material terms of the Agreement, and does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.


Item 2.03

Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information contained in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

No.

   Description
10.1    Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2022, among Pliant Therapeutics, Inc., as borrower, Oxford Finance LLC, as collateral agent and lender.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).


SIGNATURES

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

 

    PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Date: May 4, 2022     By:  

/s/ Keith Cummings

      Keith Cummings, M.D., MBA
      Chief Financial Officer
EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

THIS LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”) dated as of May 4, 2022 (the “Effective Date”) among OXFORD FINANCE LLC, a Delaware limited liability company with an office located at 115 South Union Street, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314 (“Oxford”), as collateral agent (in such capacity, “Collateral Agent”), the Lenders listed on Schedule 1.1 hereof or otherwise a party hereto from time to time, including Oxford in its capacity as a Lender (each a “Lender” and collectively, the “Lenders”), and PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC., a Delaware corporation with offices located at 260 Littlefield Avenue, S San Francisco CA 94080 (“Borrower”), provides the terms on which the Lenders shall lend to Borrower and Borrower shall repay the Lenders. The parties agree as follows:

 

1.

ACCOUNTING AND OTHER TERMS

1.1 Accounting terms not defined in this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with GAAP. Calculations and determinations shall be made in accordance with GAAP (except with respect to unaudited financial statements for the absence of footnotes and subject to year-end audit adjustments), provided, however, that if at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any covenant or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either Borrower or any Lender shall so request, Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend such covenant or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP; provided, further, that, until so amended, (i) such covenant or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) Borrower shall provide the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP; provided, further, that (x) all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to the issuance by the Financial Accounting Standards Board on February 25, 2016 of an Accounting Standards Update (the “ASU”) shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases for purposes of all financial definitions, calculations and covenants for purpose of this Agreement (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with the ASU (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be treated as Capital Lease Obligations in accordance with GAAP. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in Section 13. All other terms contained in this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated, shall have the meaning provided by the Code to the extent such terms are defined therein. All references to “Dollars” or “$” are United States Dollars, unless otherwise noted.

 

2.

LOANS AND TERMS OF PAYMENT

2.1 Promise to Pay. Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay each Lender, the outstanding principal amount of all Term Loans advanced to Borrower by such Lender and accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any other amounts due hereunder as and when due in accordance with this Agreement.


2.2 Term Loans.

(a) Availability.

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders agree, severally and not jointly, during the Term A Draw Period, to make term loans to Borrower in an aggregate principal amount of up to Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00) to be disbursed in an amount equal to Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) on the Effective Date made by the Lenders ratably according to each Lender’s respective Term A Loan Commitment as set forth on Schedule 1.1 hereto (the “Term A-1 Loan”), with the remaining amount available to be disbursed in up to three (3) additional single advances ratably according to each Lender’s respective Term A Loan Commitment as set forth on Schedule 1.1 hereto (along with the Term A-1 Loan, such term loans are hereinafter referred to singly as a “Term A Loan”, and collectively as the “Term A Loans”). Each disbursement of Term A Loans after the Effective Date shall be in an aggregate amount of at least Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) and, unless the entire remaining amount of the Term A Loan Commitment will be disbursed at such disbursement, in a denomination that is a whole number multiple of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00). After repayment, no Term A Loan may be re-borrowed.

(ii) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders agree, severally and not jointly, during the Term B Draw Period, to make term loans to Borrower in an aggregate principal amount equal to Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00) and disbursed in a single advance ratably according to each Lender’s respective Term B Loan Commitment as set forth on Schedule 1.1 hereto (such term loans are hereinafter referred to singly as a “Term B Loan”, and collectively as the “Term B Loans”). After repayment, no Term B Loan may be re-borrowed.

(iii) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders agree, severally and not jointly, during the Term C Draw Period, to make term loans to Borrower in an aggregate principal amount equal to Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00) and disbursed in a single advance ratably according to each Lender’s respective Term C Loan Commitment as set forth on Schedule 1.1 hereto (such term loans are hereinafter referred to singly as a “Term C Loan”, and collectively as the “Term C Loans”). After repayment, no Term C Loan may be re-borrowed.

(iv) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lenders may, in their sole discretion upon Borrower’s request, agree to make term loans to Borrower prior to the Amortization Date in an aggregate principal amount equal to Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00) disbursed in a single advance and, if made, according to a commitment schedule to be provided by the Lenders prior to the Funding Date of such term loans (such term loans are hereinafter referred to singly as a “Term D Loan”, and collectively as the “Term D Loans”; each Term A Loan, Term B Loan, Term C Loan or Term D Loan is hereinafter referred to singly as a “Term Loan” and the Term A Loans, the Term B Loans, the Term C Loans and the Term D Loans are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Term Loans”). After repayment, no Term D Loan may be re-borrowed.

(b) Repayment.

(i) Borrower shall make monthly payments of interest only commencing on the first (1st) Payment Date following the first full calendar month to occur after the Funding Date of each Term Loan, and continuing on the Payment Date of each successive month thereafter through and including the Payment Date immediately preceding the Amortization Date. Borrower agrees to pay, on the Funding Date of each Term Loan, any initial partial monthly interest payment otherwise due for the period between the Funding Date of such Term Loan and the last calendar day of the calendar month in which such Funding Date occurs.

(ii) Commencing on the Amortization Date, and continuing on the Payment Date of each month thereafter, Borrower shall make consecutive equal monthly payments of principal, together with applicable interest, in arrears, to Collateral Agent, for the account of the Lenders (payable to each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share), as calculated by Collateral Agent (which calculations shall be deemed correct absent manifest error) based upon: (1) the amount of such Lender’s Term Loan, (2) the effective rate of interest, as determined in Section 2.3(a), and (3) a repayment schedule equal to eleven (11) months. All unpaid principal and accrued and unpaid interest with respect to each Term Loan is due and payable in full on the Maturity Date. Each Term Loan may only be prepaid in accordance with Sections 2.2(c) and 2.2(d).

 

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(c) Mandatory Prepayments. If the Term Loans are accelerated following the occurrence of an Event of Default, Borrower shall immediately pay to Collateral Agent, for the account of the Lenders (payable to each Lender in accordance with its respective Pro Rata Share), an amount equal to the sum of: (i) all outstanding principal of the Term Loans plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon through such prepayment date, (ii) the Final Payment, (iii) the Prepayment Fee, plus (iv) all other Obligations that are due and payable, including Lenders’ Expenses and interest at the Default Rate with respect to any past due amounts. Notwithstanding (but without duplication with) the foregoing, on the Maturity Date, if the Final Payment had not previously been paid in full in connection with the prepayment of the Term Loans in full, Borrower shall pay to Collateral Agent, for payment to each Lender in accordance with its respective Pro Rata Share, the Final Payment in respect of the Term Loans.

(d) Permitted Prepayment of Term Loans.

(i) Borrower shall have the option to prepay all, but not less than all, of the Term Loans advanced by the Lenders under this Agreement, provided Borrower (i) provides written notice to Collateral Agent of its election to prepay the Term Loans at least ten (10) Business Days (or such shorter period as Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) prior to such prepayment, and (ii) pays to the Collateral Agent, for the account of the Lenders, on the date of such prepayment, payable to each Lender in accordance with its respective Pro Rata Share, an amount equal to the sum of (A) all outstanding principal of the Term Loans plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the prepayment date, (B) the Final Payment, (C) the Prepayment Fee, plus (D) all other Obligations that are due and payable, including Lenders’ Expenses and interest at the Default Rate with respect to any past due amounts.

(ii) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Borrower shall also have the option to prepay part of Term Loans advanced by the Lenders under this Agreement, provided Borrower (i) provides written notice to Collateral Agent of its election to prepay the Term Loans at least ten (10) Business Days (or such shorter period as Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) prior to such prepayment, (ii) prepays such part of the Term Loans in a denomination that is a whole number multiple of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) (or such lesser amount as is acceptable to Collateral Agent in its sole discretion), and (iii) pays to the Collateral Agent, for the account of the Lenders, on the date of such prepayment, payable to each Lender in accordance with its respective Pro Rata Share, an amount equal to the sum of (A) the portion of outstanding principal of such Term Loans plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the prepayment date, (B) the applicable Final Payment, and (C) all other Obligations that are then due and payable, including Lenders’ Expenses and interest at the Default Rate with respect to any past due amounts, (D) the applicable Prepayment Fee with respect to the portion of such Term Loans being prepaid, and (E) without duplication, any fee that would have otherwise been required to be paid pursuant to Section 2.2(d)(i). For the purposes of clarity, any partial prepayment shall be applied pro-rata to all outstanding amounts under each Term Loan, and shall be applied pro-rata within each Term Loan tranche to reduce amortization payments under Section 2.2(b) on a pro-rata basis.

2.3 Payment of Interest on the Credit Extensions.

(a) Interest Rate. Subject to Section 2.3(b), the principal amount outstanding under the Term Loans shall accrue interest at a floating per annum rate equal to the Basic Rate, determined by Collateral Agent on the Funding Date of the applicable Term Loan and monthly thereafter, which interest shall be payable monthly in arrears in accordance with Sections 2.2(b) and 2.3(e). Interest shall accrue on each Term Loan commencing on, and including, the Funding Date of such Term Loan, and shall accrue on the principal amount outstanding under such Term Loan through and including the day on which such Term Loan is paid in full.

 

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(b) Default Rate. Immediately upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Obligations shall accrue interest at a floating per annum rate equal to the rate that is otherwise applicable thereto plus five percentage points (5.00%) (the “Default Rate”). Payment or acceptance of the increased interest rate provided in this Section 2.3(b) is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of Collateral Agent.

(c) 360-Day Year. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a three hundred sixty (360) day year, and the actual number of days elapsed.

(d) Debit of Accounts. Collateral Agent and each Lender may debit (or ACH) the Designated Deposit Account (or, if funds in the Designated Deposit Account are insufficient or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other account of a Loan Party which is subject to a Control Agreement in favor of Collateral Agent), for principal and interest payments or any other amounts Borrower owes Collateral Agent or the Lenders under the Loan Documents when due. Any such debits (or ACH activity) shall not constitute a set-off.

(e) Payments. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by Borrower under the Loan Documents shall be made to Collateral Agent (and Collateral Agent shall then make the payments to the respective Lender to which such payments are owed), at Collateral Agent’s office in immediately available funds on the date specified herein. Unless otherwise provided, interest is payable monthly on the Payment Date of each month. Payments of principal and/or interest received after 2:00 p.m. Eastern time are considered received at the opening of business on the next Business Day. When a payment is due on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment is due the next Business Day and additional fees or interest, as applicable, shall continue to accrue until paid. All payments to be made by Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document, including payments of principal and interest, and all fees, expenses, indemnities and reimbursements, shall be made without set-off, recoupment or counterclaim, in lawful money of the United States and in immediately available funds.

2.4 Secured Promissory Notes. The Term Loans shall be evidenced by a Secured Promissory Note or Notes in the form attached as Exhibit D hereto (each a “Secured Promissory Note”), and shall be repayable as set forth in this Agreement. Borrower irrevocably authorizes each Lender to make or cause to be made, on or about the Funding Date of any Term Loan or at the time of receipt of any payment of principal on such Lender’s Secured Promissory Note, an appropriate notation on such Lender’s Secured Promissory Note Record reflecting the making of such Term Loan or (as the case may be) the receipt of such payment. The outstanding amount of each Term Loan set forth on such Lender’s Secured Promissory Note Record shall be prima facie evidence, absent manifest error, of the principal amount thereof owing and unpaid to such Lender, but the failure to record, or any error in so recording, any such amount on such Lender’s Secured Promissory Note Record shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of Borrower under any Secured Promissory Note or any other Loan Document to make payments of principal of or interest on any Secured Promissory Note when due. Upon receipt of an affidavit of an officer of a Lender as to the loss, theft, destruction, or mutilation of its Secured Promissory Note with a customary indemnification with respect such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Secured Promissory Note, Borrower shall issue, in lieu thereof, a replacement Secured Promissory Note in the same principal amount thereof and of like tenor.

 

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2.5 Fees. Borrower shall pay to Collateral Agent, for the account of the Lenders (payable to each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share):

(a) Facility Fee. A non-refundable facility fee (the “Facility Fee”) to be shared between the Lenders pursuant to their respective Commitment Percentages, due and payable as follows: (i) Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) shall be fully earned due and payable on the Effective Date, and (ii) with respect to any Term Loan made by the Lenders after the Effective Date, an amount equal to the product of (A) one half percent (0.50%) and (B) the original principal amount of such Term Loan actually funded by the Lenders on the applicable Funding Date, which shall be fully earned and due and payable on the Funding Date of each such Term Loan;

(b) Final Payment. The Final Payment, when due hereunder, to be shared between the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares;

(c) Prepayment Fee. The Prepayment Fee, when due hereunder, to be shared between the Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares;

(d) Lenders’ Expenses. All Lenders’ Expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses for documentation and negotiation of this Agreement) incurred through and after the Effective Date, when due; and

(e) Good Faith Deposit. Each Lender hereby acknowledges that Borrower has paid to Collateral Agent prior to the Effective Date a deposit of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) (the “Good Faith Deposit”) to initiate Collateral Agent’s and Lenders’ due diligence review and documentation process. The Good Faith Deposit will be used to pay (whether in full or in part) Lenders’ Expenses and the Facility Fee due on the Effective Date.

2.6 Withholding. Payments received by the Lenders from Borrower hereunder will be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any governmental authority (including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto). Specifically, however, if at any time any Governmental Authority, applicable law, regulation or international agreement requires Borrower to make any withholding or deduction from any such payment or other sum payable hereunder to the Lenders, Borrower shall be permitted to make such withholding and deduction and hereby covenants and agrees that the amount due from Borrower with respect to such payment or other sum payable hereunder will be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of such required withholding or deduction, each Lender receives a net sum equal to the sum which it would have received had no withholding or deduction been required and Borrower shall pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority. The amount by which a payment is required to be increased pursuant to the prior sentence is referred to hereafter as the “Withholding Tax Indemnity Amount.” Borrower will, upon request, furnish the Lenders with proof reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders indicating that Borrower has made such withholding payment; provided, however, that Borrower need not make any withholding payment if the amount or validity of such withholding payment is contested in good faith by appropriate and timely proceedings and as to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books in accordance with GAAP. The agreements and obligations of Borrower contained in this Section 2.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. On the date of this Agreement, each Lender shall deliver, and upon a Lender Transfer, the applicable successor or assign shall deliver, to Borrower, a complete and properly executed IRS Form W-9 or Form W-8, as applicable, or any similar or successor certificate designated by the IRS (a “Tax Certificate”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.6, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, if a Lender fails to deliver a Tax Certificate, Borrower shall not be required to pay the Withholding Tax Indemnity Amount, if any, unless and until such Lender delivers the Tax Certificate.

 

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3.

CONDITIONS OF LOANS

3.1 Conditions Precedent to Initial Credit Extension. Each Lender’s obligation to make the initial Term A Loan is subject to the condition precedent that Collateral Agent and each Lender shall consent to or shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Collateral Agent and each Lender, such documents, and completion of such other matters, as Collateral Agent and each Lender may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate, including, without limitation:

(a) Loan Documents, each duly executed by Borrower and each Subsidiary, as applicable;

(b) a duly executed Control Agreement with respect to the Designated Deposit Account;

(c) duly executed original Secured Promissory Notes in favor of each Lender according to its Term A Loan Commitment Percentage in respect of the Term A Loans made by such Lender on the Effective Date;

(d) [reserved];

(e) Collateral Agent shall have received an Officer’s Certificate, and in the form attached hereto as Annex 2, (A) certifying as to (i) the Operating Documents of each Loan Party (which, to the extent filed with a Governmental Authority, shall be certified as of a recent date by such Governmental Authority), (ii) the resolutions of the governing body of each Loan Party and (iii) the incumbency (including specimen signatures) of the responsible officers of each Loan Party and (B) attaching certificates of the good standing, existence or its equivalent of each Loan Party, which shall be as of a date no earlier than thirty (30) days (or such earlier date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) prior to the Effective Date;

(f) a duly executed Perfection Certificate from Borrower (which covers Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries);

(g) the Annual Projections, for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022;

(h) certified copies, dated as of date no earlier than thirty (30) days (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) prior to the Effective Date, of financing statement searches, as Collateral Agent shall reasonably request, accompanied by written evidence (including any UCC termination statements) that the Liens indicated in any such financing statements either constitute Permitted Liens or have been or, in connection with the initial Credit Extension, will be terminated or released;

(i) a duly executed customary legal opinion of counsel to Borrower with respect to the Loan Documents, dated as of the Effective Date;

(j) evidence satisfactory to Collateral Agent and the Lenders that the insurance policies required by Section 6.5 hereof are in full force and effect, together with certificates of insurance policies naming Collateral Agent as loss payee and additional insured; and

 

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(k) payment of the fees and Lenders’ Expenses then due and payable as specified in Section 2.5 hereof.

3.2 Conditions Precedent to all Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to make each Credit Extension, including the initial Credit Extension, is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) receipt by Collateral Agent of an executed Disbursement Letter in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto;

(b) the representations and warranties in Section 5 hereof shall be true, accurate and complete in all material respects on the date of the Disbursement Letter and on the Funding Date of each Credit Extension; provided, however, that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof; and provided, further that those representations and warranties expressly referring to a specific date shall be true, accurate and complete in all material respects as of such date, and no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or result from the Credit Extension. Each Credit Extension shall be deemed to be Borrower’s representation and warranty on that date that the representations and warranties in Section 5 hereof are true, accurate and complete in all material respects; provided, however, that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof; and provided, further that those representations and warranties expressly referring to a specific date shall be true, accurate and complete in all material respects as of such date;

(c) in such Lender’s sole discretion, there has not been any Material Adverse Change or any material adverse deviation by Borrower from the Annual Projections of Borrower presented to and accepted by Collateral Agent and each Lender;

(d) to the extent not delivered at the Effective Date, duly executed original Secured Promissory Notes, in number, form and content acceptable to each Lender, and in favor of each Lender according to its Commitment Percentage, with respect to each Credit Extension made by such Lender after the Effective Date; and

(e) payment of the fees and Lenders’ Expenses then due as specified in Section 2.5 hereof.

3.3 Covenant to Deliver. Borrower agrees to deliver to Collateral Agent and the Lenders each item required to be delivered to Collateral Agent under this Agreement as a condition precedent to any Credit Extension. Borrower expressly agrees that a Credit Extension made prior to the receipt by Collateral Agent or any Lender of any such item shall not constitute a waiver by Collateral Agent or any Lender of Borrower’s obligation to deliver such item, and any such Credit Extension in the absence of a required item shall be made in each Lender’s sole discretion.

3.4 Procedures for Borrowing. Subject to the prior satisfaction of all other applicable conditions to the making of a Term Loan set forth in this Agreement, to obtain a Term Loan, Borrower shall notify the Lenders (which notice shall be irrevocable) by electronic mail, facsimile, or telephone by 12:00 noon Eastern time five (5) Business Days (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) prior to the date the Term Loan is to be made. Together with any such electronic, facsimile or telephonic notification, Borrower shall deliver to the Lenders by electronic mail or facsimile a completed Disbursement Letter executed by a Responsible Officer or his or her designee. The Lenders may rely on any telephone notice given by a person whom a Lender reasonably believes is a Responsible Officer or designee. On the Funding Date, each Lender shall credit and/or transfer (as applicable) to the Designated Deposit Account, an amount equal to its ratable portion of the Term Loan to be advanced on such Funding Date in accordance with its Commitment Percentage.

 

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4.

CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST

4.1 Grant of Security Interest. Borrower hereby grants Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, to secure the payment and performance in full of all of the Obligations, a continuing security interest in, and pledges to Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, the Collateral, wherever located, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising, and all proceeds and products thereof. Borrower represents, warrants, and covenants that the security interest granted herein is and shall at all times continue to be a first priority perfected security interest in the Collateral, subject only to Permitted Liens that are permitted by the terms of this Agreement to have priority to Collateral Agent’s Lien. If Borrower shall acquire a commercial tort claim (as defined in the Code), Borrower, shall promptly notify Collateral Agent in a writing signed by Borrower, as the case may be, of the general details thereof (and further details as may be required by Collateral Agent) and grant to Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, in such writing a security interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent.

If this Agreement is terminated, Collateral Agent’s Lien in the Collateral shall continue until the Obligations (other than inchoate indemnity obligations) are repaid in full in cash. Upon payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than inchoate indemnity obligations) and at such time as the Lenders’ obligation to make Credit Extensions has terminated, Collateral Agent shall, at the sole cost and expense of Borrower, release its Liens in the Collateral and all rights therein shall revert to Borrower. If any Collateral shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by any Loan Party (other than to a Loan Party or any Subsidiary) in a transaction permitted by this Agreement, then Collateral Agent, at the request and sole expense of such Loan Party, shall promptly execute and deliver to such Loan Party such documents as such Loan Party may reasonably request to evidence the release of such item of Collateral from the security interest granted hereunder.

4.2 Authorization to File Financing Statements. Borrower hereby authorizes Collateral Agent to file financing statements or take any other action required to perfect Collateral Agent’s security interests in the Collateral, without notice to Borrower, with all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect or protect Collateral Agent’s interest or rights under the Loan Documents, including a notice that any Transfer of the Collateral, except to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement, by Borrower, or any other Person, shall be deemed to violate the rights of Collateral Agent under the Code.

4.3 Pledge of Collateral. Borrower hereby pledges, assigns and grants to Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, a security interest in all the Shares, together with all proceeds and substitutions thereof, all cash, stock and other moneys and property paid thereon, all rights to subscribe for securities declared or granted in connection therewith, and all other cash and noncash proceeds of the foregoing, as security for the performance of the Obligations. On the Effective Date, or, to the extent not certificated as of the Effective Date, within ten (10) Business Days (or such longer period as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) of the certification of any Shares, the certificate or certificates for the Shares will be delivered to Collateral Agent, accompanied by an instrument of assignment duly executed in blank by Borrower. To the extent required by the terms and conditions governing the Shares, Borrower shall cause the books of each entity whose Shares are part of the Collateral and any transfer agent to reflect the pledge of the Shares. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default hereunder, Collateral Agent may effect the transfer of any securities included in the Collateral (including but not limited to the Shares) into the name of Collateral Agent and cause new (as applicable) certificates representing such securities to be issued in the name of Collateral Agent or its transferee. Borrower will

 

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execute and deliver such documents, and take or cause to be taken such actions, as Collateral Agent may reasonably request to perfect or continue the perfection of Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Shares. Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower shall be entitled to (i) exercise any voting rights with respect to the Shares and to give consents, waivers and ratifications in respect thereof; provided that no vote shall be cast or consent, waiver or ratification given or action taken which would be inconsistent with any of the terms of this Agreement or which would constitute or create any violation of any of such terms and (ii) receive and retain any and all cash dividends, payments or other distributions made in respect of the Shares (other than stock dividends and other dividends constituting Collateral which are addressed hereinabove) to the extent they are not prohibited by the Loan Documents. All such rights to vote and give consents, waivers and ratifications shall terminate upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default.

 

5.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Borrower represents and warrants to Collateral Agent and the Lenders as follows:

5.1 Due Organization, Authorization: Power and Authority. Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is duly existing and in good standing as a Registered Organization in its jurisdictions of organization or formation and Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is qualified and licensed to do business and is in good standing in any jurisdiction in which the conduct of its businesses or its ownership of property requires that it be qualified, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change. In connection with this Agreement, the Borrower has delivered to Collateral Agent on the Effective Date a duly executed perfection certificate, dated on or about the date hereof (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Section 5.1 and any additional perfection certificate for any Subsidiary which is formed or acquired after the Closing Date to the extent requested by Collateral Agent, each a “Perfection Certificate” and collectively, the “Perfection Certificates”). Borrower represents and warrants that (a) Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries’ exact legal name is that which is indicated on the Perfection Certificate and on the signature page of each Loan Document to which it is a party; (b) Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is an organization of the type and is organized in the jurisdiction set forth on the Perfection Certificate; (c) the Perfection Certificate accurately sets forth each of Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ organizational identification number or accurately states that Borrower or such Subsidiary has none; (d) the Perfection Certificate accurately sets forth Borrower’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ place of business, or, if more than one, its chief executive office as well as Borrower’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ mailing address (if different than its chief executive office); (e) Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries (and each of its respective predecessors) have not, in the past five (5) years prior to the Effective Date, changed its jurisdiction of organization, organizational structure or type, or any organizational number assigned by its jurisdiction; and (f) all other information set forth on the Perfection Certificates pertaining to Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is accurate and complete in all material respects (it being understood and agreed that Borrower may from time to time update certain information in the Perfection Certificates (including the information set forth in clause (d) above) after the Effective Date to the extent permitted by one or more specific provisions in this Agreement); provided that such updates to the Perfection Certificate are subject to the review and approval of Collateral Agent, unless such facts, events or circumstances being updated first arose or occurred after the Effective Date and do not constitute a breach, default or Event of Default under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. If Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is not now a Registered Organization but later becomes one, Borrower shall notify Collateral Agent of such occurrence and provide Collateral Agent with such Person’s organizational identification number within five (5) Business Days of receiving such organizational identification number.

 

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The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized, and do not (i) conflict with any Loan Party’s organizational documents, including its respective Operating Documents, (ii) contravene, conflict with, constitute a default under or violate any material Requirement of Law applicable thereto, (iii) contravene, conflict or violate, in any material respect, any applicable order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any Governmental Authority by which any Loan Party, or any of their property or assets may be bound or affected, (iv) require any action by, filing, registration, or qualification with, or Governmental Approval from, any Governmental Authority (except such Governmental Approvals which have already been obtained and are in full force and effect or are being obtained pursuant to Section 6.1(b)), or (v) constitute an event of default under any material agreement by which any Loan Party, or their respective properties, is bound. No Loan Party is in default under any agreement to which it is a party or by which it or any of its assets is bound in which such default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

5.2 Collateral.

(a) Borrower and each Guarantor has good title to, have rights in, and the power to transfer each item of the Collateral upon which it purports to grant a Lien under the Loan Documents, free and clear of any and all Liens except Permitted Liens, and neither Borrower nor any Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries have any Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts, Commodity Accounts or other investment accounts other than the Collateral Accounts or the other investment accounts, if any, described in the Perfection Certificates delivered to Collateral Agent in connection herewith with respect of which each Loan Party has given Collateral Agent notice and taken such actions as are necessary to give Collateral Agent a perfected security interest therein, in each case, to the extent required by Section 6.6. The Accounts are bona fide, existing obligations of the Account Debtors.

(b) On the Effective Date, and except as disclosed on the Perfection Certificate, (i) the Collateral is not in the possession of any third party bailee (such as a warehouse), and (ii) no such third party bailee possesses components of the Collateral with an aggregate value in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00). None of the components of the Collateral shall be maintained at locations other than as disclosed in the Perfection Certificates on the Effective Date or as permitted pursuant to Section 6.11.

(c) All Inventory is in all material respects of good and marketable quality, free from material defects.

(d) Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is the sole owner of the Intellectual Property each respectively purports to own, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. Except as noted on the Perfection Certificates, neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, nor is bound by, any material license or other material agreement with respect to which Borrower or such Subsidiary is the licensee that (i) prohibits or otherwise restricts Borrower or its Subsidiaries from granting a security interest in Borrower’s or such Subsidiaries’ interest in such material license or material agreement or any other property, or (ii) for which a default under or termination of could interfere with Collateral Agent’s or any Lender’s right to sell any Collateral. Borrower shall provide written notice to Collateral Agent within ten (10) Business Days of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries entering into or becoming bound by any material license or agreement with respect to which Borrower or any Subsidiary is the licensee (other than over-the-counter software that is commercially available to the public).

5.3 Litigation. Except as disclosed (i) on the Perfection Certificates, or (ii) in accordance with Section 6.9 hereof, there are no actions, suits, investigations, or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Responsible Officers, threatened in writing by or against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which if could reasonably be expected to result in damages or costs to Borrower or such Subsidiaries in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00).

 

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5.4 No Material Deterioration in Financial Condition; Financial Statements. All consolidated financial statements for Borrower and its Subsidiaries, delivered to Collateral Agent fairly present, in conformity with GAAP, in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods set forth therein, and the consolidated results of operations of Borrower and its Subsidiaries. There has not been a Material Adverse Change nor any event or circumstance since December 31, 2021 that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

5.5 Solvency. Borrower is Solvent, and Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are Solvent.

5.6 Regulatory Compliance. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (furthermore, strictly as of the Funding Date of each Term Loan, neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is “controlled” by an “investment company” that is required to register under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended). Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged as one of its important activities in extending credit for margin stock (under Regulations X, T and U of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors). Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “holding company” or an “affiliate” of a “holding company” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company” as each term is defined and used in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has violated any laws, ordinances or rules, the violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change. Neither Borrower’s nor any of its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets has been used by Borrower or such Subsidiary or, to Borrower’s knowledge, by previous Persons, in disposing, producing, storing, treating, or transporting any hazardous substance other than in material compliance with applicable laws. Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has obtained all consents, approvals and authorizations of, made all declarations or filings with, and given all notices to, all Governmental Authorities that are necessary to continue their respective businesses as currently conducted.

None of Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ controlled Affiliates or any of their respective agents acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is (i) in violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law, (ii) engaging in or conspiring to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law, or (iii) is a Blocked Person. None of Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of Borrower, and any of their controlled Affiliates or agents, acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (x) conducts any business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Blocked Person, or (y) deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any property or interest in property blocked pursuant to Executive Order No. 13224, any similar executive order or other Anti-Terrorism Law.

5.7 Investments. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any stock, shares, partnership interests or other equity securities except for Permitted Investments.

5.8 Tax Returns and Payments; Pension Contributions. Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed (or timely filed extensions to file) all required tax returns and reports, and Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, has timely paid all foreign, federal, material state, and material local taxes, assessments, deposits and contributions owed by Borrower and such Subsidiaries, in all jurisdictions in which Borrower or any such Subsidiary is subject to taxes, including the United States, unless (a) such taxes are being contested in accordance with the following sentence or (b) in the case of material state and material local taxes, assessments, deposits and contributions owed do not, individually or in the aggregate,

 

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exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00). Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, may defer payment of any contested taxes, provided that Borrower or such Subsidiary, (a) in good faith contests its obligation to pay the taxes by appropriate proceedings promptly and diligently instituted and conducted, (b) notifies Collateral Agent in writing of the commencement of, and any material development in, the proceedings, and (c) posts bonds or takes any other steps required to prevent the Governmental Authority levying such contested taxes from obtaining a Lien upon any of the Collateral that is other than a “Permitted Lien.” Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware of any claims or adjustments proposed for any of Borrower’s or such Subsidiaries’ prior tax years which could result in additional taxes in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) becoming due and payable by Borrower or its Subsidiaries. Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have paid all amounts necessary to fund all present pension, profit sharing and deferred compensation plans in accordance with their terms, and neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries have, withdrawn from participation in, and have not permitted partial or complete termination of, or permitted the occurrence of any other event with respect to, any such plan which could reasonably be expected to result in any liability of Borrower or its Subsidiaries, including any liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or its successors or any other Governmental Authority.

5.9 Use of Proceeds. Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions solely as working capital and to fund its general business requirements in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and not for personal, family, household or agricultural purposes.

5.10 Shares. Borrower has full power and authority to create a first lien on the Shares and no disability or contractual obligation exists that would prohibit Borrower from pledging the Shares pursuant to this Agreement. To Borrower’s knowledge, there are no subscriptions, warrants, rights of first refusal or other restrictions on transfer relative to, or options exercisable with respect to the Shares. The Shares have been and will be duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable. To Borrower’s knowledge, as of the Effective Date, the Shares are not the subject of any present or threatened suit, action, arbitration, administrative or other proceeding, and Borrower knows of no reasonable grounds for the institution of any such proceedings.

5.11 Full Disclosure. No written representation, warranty or other statement of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any certificate or written statement given in connection with the Loan Documents to Collateral Agent or any Lender, as of the date such representation, warranty, or other statement was made, taken together with all such written certificates and written statements given to Collateral Agent or any Lender, in each case, as such information may have heretofore been modified or supplemented by other information so furnished, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained in the certificates or statements not misleading in any material respect in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made (after giving effect to all supplements and updates thereto) (it being recognized that the projections and forecasts provided by Borrower in good faith and based upon reasonable assumptions are not viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections and forecasts may differ from the projected or forecasted results, and such difference may be material).

5.12 “Know Your Customer” Information. All materials and information provided to Collateral Agent and Lenders in connection with applicable “know your customer” and Anti-Terrorism Laws are true and correct in all material respects.

5.13 Definition of Knowledge.” For purposes of the Loan Documents, whenever a representation or warranty is made to Borrower’s knowledge or awareness, to the “best of” Borrower’s knowledge, or with a similar qualification, knowledge or awareness means the actual knowledge, after reasonable investigation, of the Responsible Officers.

 

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6.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Each Loan Party shall do all of the following:

6.1 Government Compliance.

(a) Maintain its and, except as permitted by the second sentence of Section 7.3, all its Subsidiaries’ legal existence and good standing in their respective jurisdictions of organization and maintain qualification in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change. Comply with all laws, ordinances and regulations to which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, the noncompliance with which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

(b) Obtain and keep in full force and effect, all of the material Governmental Approvals necessary for the performance by Borrower and its Subsidiaries of their respective businesses and obligations under the Loan Documents and the grant of a security interest to Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, in all of the Collateral. Borrower shall promptly notify Collateral Agent of any material Governmental Approvals obtained by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and, upon Collateral Agent’s request, provide copies of such Governmental Approvals to Collateral Agent.

6.2 Financial Statements, Reports, Certificates.

(a) Deliver to Collateral Agent:

(i) as soon as available, but no later than forty-five (45) days (or such later date as Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after the last day of the first three (3) fiscal quarters of the Borrower’s fiscal year, a company prepared consolidated and consolidating balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement covering the consolidated operations of Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, certified by a Responsible Officer and in a form reasonably acceptable to Collateral Agent (it being agreed that the financial statements delivered by the Borrower to the Collateral Agent prior to the Effective Date are in a form acceptable to the Collateral Agent), of Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition of Borrower and its Subsidiaries in all material respects, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(ii) as soon as available, but no later than ninety (90) days (or such later date as Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after the last day of Borrower’s fiscal year or within five (5) Business Days (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) of filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, audited consolidated financial statements all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to Collateral Agent (it being understood and agreed that Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited is acceptable), which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit, other than a going concern exception or explanatory note resulting (a) solely from the Maturity Date occurring within one year of such audit report or (b) a going concern qualification typical for a venture capital backed company similar to Borrower;

 

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(iii) as soon as available after approval thereof by Borrower’s Board of Directors, but no later than sixty (60) days (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after the last day of each fiscal year of Borrower, Borrower’s annual financial projections for the entire current fiscal year as approved by Borrower’s Board of Directors, which such annual financial projections shall be set forth in a quarter-by-quarter format (such annual financial projections as delivered to Collateral Agent and the Lenders are referred to herein as the “Annual Projections”; provided that, any revisions of the Annual Projections approved by Borrower’s Board of Directors shall be delivered to Collateral Agent and the Lenders no later than seven (7) days after such approval);

(iv) within five (5) Business Days of delivery, copies of all non-ministerial statements, reports and notices made available to Borrower’s security holders or holders of Subordinated Debt, in such holders’ capacities as security holders or holders of Subordinated Debt;

(v) within five (5) Business Days of filing, all reports on Form 10 K, 10 Q and 8 K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

(vi) prompt notice of (y) in the event that Borrower is no longer subject to reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, any material change to the capitalization table of Borrower, and (z) any amendments of the Operating Documents of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, together with any copies reflecting such amendments or changes with respect thereto;

(vii) prompt notice of any event that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the value of the Intellectual Property;

(viii) as soon as available, but no later than thirty (30) days (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after the last day of each month, copies of the month end account statements for each Collateral Account maintained by Borrower or its Subsidiaries which statements may be provided to Collateral Agent by Borrower or directly from the applicable institution(s);

(ix) no later than ten (10) Business Days after any Key Person ceases to be actively engaged in the management of Borrower, written notice of such change;

(x) promptly, after Borrower or any its Subsidiaries obtains knowledge thereof, notice of any Liens which have been levied or claims made against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating to unpaid employee payroll or benefits; and

(xi) other information as reasonably requested by Collateral Agent or any Lender.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, documents required to be delivered pursuant to the terms hereof (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto, on Borrower’s website on the internet at Borrower’s website address.

(b) Concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements specified in Section 6.2(a)(i)-(ii) above, deliver to Collateral Agent, a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer.

(c) Keep proper books of record and account in accordance with GAAP in all material respects, in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, allow, at the sole cost of Borrower, Collateral Agent or any Lender, during regular business hours upon reasonable prior notice (provided that no notice shall be required when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to visit

 

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and inspect any of its properties, to examine and make abstracts or copies from any of its books and records, and to conduct a collateral audit and analysis of its operations and the Collateral. Such audits shall be conducted no more often than once per calendar year; provided, that when an Event of Default exists Collateral Agent (or any of its respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

6.3 Inventory; Returns. Keep all Inventory of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries in good and marketable condition, free from material defects except for Inventory for which adequate reserves have been made. Returns and allowances between Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries, and their respective Account Debtors shall follow Borrower’s, or such Subsidiary’s, customary practices as they exist at the Effective Date. Borrower shall promptly notify Collateral Agent of all returns, recoveries, disputes and claims that involve more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) individually or in the aggregate in any calendar year.

6.4 Taxes; Pensions. Timely file and require each of its Subsidiaries to timely file, all required tax returns and reports and timely pay, and require each of its Subsidiaries to timely file, all foreign, federal, material state, and material local taxes, assessments, deposits and contributions owed by Borrower or its Subsidiaries, except for deferred payment of any taxes contested pursuant to the terms of Section 5.8 hereof, and shall deliver to Lenders, on demand, appropriate certificates attesting to such payments, and pay all amounts necessary to fund all present pension, profit sharing and deferred compensation plans in accordance with the terms of such plans; provided that, as used herein, “material state, and material local Taxes, assessments, deposits and contributions” mean those, individually or in the aggregate, equal to or exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00).

6.5 Insurance. Keep Borrower and its Subsidiaries’ business and the Collateral insured for risks and in amounts standard for companies in Borrower and its Subsidiaries’ industry and location and as Collateral Agent may reasonably request. Insurance policies shall be in a form, with companies, and in amounts that are reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent and Lenders. Subject to the Post-Closing Letter, all of the Loan Parties’ property policies shall have a lender’s loss payable endorsement showing Collateral Agent as lender loss payee and waive subrogation against Collateral Agent, and all liability policies shall show, or have endorsements showing, Collateral Agent, as additional insured. The Collateral Agent shall be named as lender loss payee and/or additional insured with respect to any such insurance providing coverage in respect of any Collateral, and each provider of any such insurance shall agree, subject to the Post-Closing Letter, by endorsement upon the policy or policies issued by it or by independent instruments furnished to the Collateral Agent, that it will give the Collateral Agent thirty (30) days prior written notice before any such policy or policies shall be materially altered or canceled. At Collateral Agent’s request, Borrower shall deliver certified copies of policies and evidence of all premium payments. Proceeds payable under any policy shall, at Collateral Agent’s option, be payable to Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, on account of the Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower shall have the option of applying the proceeds of any casualty policy up to One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) with respect to any loss, but not exceeding One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00), in the aggregate for all losses under all casualty policies in any one year, toward the replacement or repair of destroyed or damaged property; provided that any such replaced or repaired property (i) shall be of equal or like value as the replaced or repaired Collateral and (ii) shall be deemed Collateral in which Collateral Agent has been granted a first priority security interest, and (b) after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all proceeds payable under such casualty policy shall, at the option of Collateral Agent, be payable to Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, on account of the Obligations. If Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries fails to obtain insurance as required under this Section 6.5 or to pay any amount or furnish any required proof of payment to third persons, Collateral Agent and/or any Lender may make, at Borrower’s expense, all or part of such payment or obtain such insurance policies required in this Section 6.5, and take any action under the policies Collateral Agent or such Lender deems prudent.

 

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6.6 Operating Accounts.

(a) Maintain all of Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ Collateral Accounts at the banks and financial institutions as disclosed in the Perfection Certificates delivered on the Effective Date; provided that if Borrower desires to establish a Collateral Account with any bank or financial institution that is not disclosed in the Perfection Certificate delivered on the Effective Date, (i) such Person shall be acceptable to Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion (except for a new Excluded Account as Collateral Agent will not need to approve the bank or financial institution at which such new Excluded Account is maintained) and (ii) Borrower shall be in compliance with the requirements of Section 6.6(b); provided further that, subject to the Post-Closing Letter, such Loan Parties’ Collateral Accounts (other than the Excluded Accounts) shall at all times be subject to a Control Agreement or other appropriate instrument under applicable law in favor of Collateral Agent with respect to any such Collateral Accounts to perfect Collateral Agent’s Lien in such Collateral Accounts in accordance with the terms hereunder and provide Collateral Agent with the ability to assert control with respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, until all Collateral Accounts (other than Excluded Accounts) in existence on the Effective Date are subject to a Control Agreement in favor of the Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of this Section 6.6 and the Post Closing Letter, the Designated Deposit Account shall maintain funds of not less than an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans which have been funded.

(b) Borrower shall provide Collateral Agent five (5) days’ prior written notice before Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries establishes any Collateral Account, other than Excluded Accounts, at or with any Person following the Effective Date. In addition, for each Collateral Account that a Loan Party at any time maintains, such Loan Party shall cause the applicable bank or financial institution at or with which such Collateral Account is maintained to execute and deliver a Control Agreement or other appropriate instrument under applicable law with respect to such Collateral Account to perfect Collateral Agent’s Lien in such Collateral Account in accordance with the terms hereunder and provide Collateral Agent with the ability to assert control with respect thereto prior to the establishment of such Collateral Account, which Control Agreement or other appropriate instrument under applicable law may not be terminated without prior written consent of Collateral Agent. The provisions of the previous sentence shall not apply to Excluded Accounts.

(c) Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall maintain any Collateral Accounts except Collateral Accounts maintained in accordance with Sections 6.6(a) and (b).

6.7 Protection of Intellectual Property Rights. Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries shall: (a) use commercially reasonable efforts to protect, defend and maintain the validity and enforceability of its Intellectual Property that is material to Borrower’s business; (b) promptly, after Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries obtains knowledge thereof, advise Collateral Agent in writing of material infringement by a third party of its Intellectual Property; and (c) not allow any Intellectual Property material to Borrower’s business to be abandoned, forfeited or dedicated to the public without Collateral Agent’s prior written consent.

6.8 Litigation Cooperation. Commencing on the Effective Date and continuing through the termination of this Agreement, make available to Collateral Agent and the Lenders, without expense to Collateral Agent or the Lenders, Borrower and each of Borrower’s officers, employees and agents and Borrower’s Books, to the extent that Collateral Agent or any Lender may reasonably deem them necessary to prosecute or defend any third-party suit or proceeding instituted by or against Collateral Agent or any Lender with respect to any Collateral or relating to Borrower.

 

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6.9 Notices of Litigation and Default. Borrower will give prompt written notice to Collateral Agent of any litigation or governmental proceedings pending or threatened (in writing) against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which could reasonably be expected to result in damages or costs to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) or more or which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change. Without limiting or contradicting any other more specific provision of this Agreement, promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days) upon Borrower becoming aware of the existence of any Event of Default or event which, with the giving of notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default, Borrower shall give written notice to Collateral Agent and the Lenders of such occurrence, which such notice shall include a reasonably detailed description of such Event of Default or event which, with the giving of notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

6.10 Intentionally Omitted.

6.11 Landlord Waivers; Bailee Waivers. In the event that any Loan Party, after the Effective Date, adds any new offices or business locations, including warehouses, or otherwise stores any portion of the Collateral with, or delivers any portion of the Collateral to, a bailee, in each case in accordance with Section 7.2, then such Loan Party will promptly notify Collateral Agent in writing and, in the event that the new location is the chief executive office of a Loan Party or the Collateral at any such new location is valued in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate, such Loan Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such bailee or landlord, as applicable, to execute and deliver a bailee waiver or landlord waiver, as applicable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent within thirty (30) days of the addition of any new offices or business locations, or any such storage with or delivery to any such bailee, as the case may be.

6.12 Creation/Acquisition of Subsidiaries. In the event Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries creates or acquires any Subsidiary (including, without limitation, pursuant to a Division), Borrower shall provide prior written notice to Collateral Agent of the creation or acquisition of such new Subsidiary and take all such action as may be reasonably required by Collateral Agent (if any) to cause each such Subsidiary to become a co-Borrower hereunder or to guarantee the Obligations of Borrower under the Loan Documents and, in each case, grant a continuing pledge and security interest in and to the assets of such Subsidiary (substantially as described on Exhibit A hereto); and Borrower (or its Subsidiary, as applicable) shall grant and pledge to Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, a perfected security interest in the Shares of each such newly created Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the parties hereto agree that so long as the Loan Parties are in compliance with Section 7.12, (i) Pliant Belgium shall not be required to become a co-Borrower or provide a guarantee of the Obligations, (ii) Pliant Belgium shall not be required to grant a security interest in any of its assets and (iii) no Loan Party shall be required to provide a perfected security interest in the Shares of Pliant Belgium under the laws of Belgium or take any other actions in Belgium with respect to such Shares.

6.13 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions for working capital purposes, to fund its general business requirements in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and to fund cost and expenses incurred in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of the Loan Documents; provided that the Credit Extensions shall not be used for personal, family, household or agricultural purposes.

6.14 Further Assurances.

(a) Execute any further instruments and take further action as Collateral Agent or any Lender reasonably requests to perfect or continue Collateral Agent’s Lien in the Collateral or to effect the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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(b) Deliver to Collateral Agent and Lenders, within five (5) days after the same are sent or received, copies of all material correspondence, reports, documents and other filings with any Governmental Authority that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any of the Governmental Approvals material to Borrower’s business or otherwise could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.

 

7.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

The Loan Parties shall not:

7.1 Dispositions. Convey, sell, lease, transfer, assign, or otherwise dispose of (including, without limitation, pursuant to a Division) (collectively, “Transfer”), or permit any of its Subsidiaries to Transfer, all or any part of its business or property, except for Transfers:

(a) of Inventory in the ordinary course of business;

(b) of worn out or obsolete Equipment;

(c) of cash and Cash Equivalents in connection with transactions not prohibited hereunder to the extent such transactions are in the ordinary course of business;

(d) in connection with Permitted Liens, Permitted Investments and Permitted Licenses;

(e) other Transfers in the ordinary course of business not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate in any fiscal year of Borrower so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing or could reasonably be expected to result therefrom;

(f) Transfers to Borrower’s contract manufacturers to facilitate product manufacturing; provided that the fair market value of the assets or property sold or otherwise transferred pursuant to this clause (g) shall not exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months;

(g) the cancellation of intercompany Indebtedness owing between Loan Parties or by Loan Parties to Subsidiaries that are not Loan Parties; and

(h) Transfers of equipment or real property to the extent that (A) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (B) the proceeds of such Transfer are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property.

7.2 Changes in Business, Management, Ownership, or Business Locations. (a) Engage in or permit any of its Subsidiaries to engage in any business other than the businesses engaged in by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date or reasonably related or incidental thereto or constituting a reasonable extension thereof; (b) liquidate or dissolve; or (c) permit a Change of Control. Borrower shall not, without at least ten (10) Business Days’ (or such shorter period as the Collateral Agent may agree in its sole discretion) prior written notice to Collateral Agent: (A) add any new offices or business locations, including warehouses (unless such new offices or business locations (i) contain less than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in assets or property of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) are not Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ chief executive office); (B) change its jurisdiction of organization, (C) change its organizational structure or type, (D) change its legal name, or (E) change any organizational number (if any) assigned by its jurisdiction of organization.

 

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7.3 Mergers or Acquisitions. Merge or consolidate, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to merge or consolidate, with any other Person, or acquire, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to acquire, all or substantially all of the capital stock, shares or property of another Person (including, without limitation, pursuant to a Division). A Subsidiary may merge or consolidate (i) into any one or more other Subsidiaries of Borrower, provided that when any Loan Party is merging with another Subsidiary of a Loan Party that is not a Loan Party, such Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (ii) with (or into) Borrower provided Borrower is the surviving legal entity, and as long as no Event of Default is occurring prior thereto or arises as a result therefrom.

7.4 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume, or be liable for any Indebtedness, or permit any Subsidiary to do so, other than Permitted Indebtedness.

7.5 Encumbrance. Create, incur, allow, or suffer any Lien on any of its property, or assign or convey any right to receive income, including the sale of any Accounts, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, except for Permitted Liens, or permit any Collateral not to be subject to the first priority security interest granted herein (except for Permitted Liens that are permitted by the terms of this Agreement to have priority over Collateral Agent’s Lien), or enter into any agreement, document, instrument or other arrangement (except with or in favor of Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders) with any Person which directly or indirectly prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting Borrower, or any of its Subsidiaries, from assigning, mortgaging, pledging, granting a security interest in or upon, or encumbering any of Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s Intellectual Property, except as is otherwise permitted in Section 7.1 hereof and the definition of “Permitted Liens” herein.

7.6 Maintenance of Collateral Accounts. Maintain any Collateral Account except as permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 6.6 hereof.

7.7 Distributions; Investments.

(a) Pay any dividends or make any distribution or payment or redeem, retire or purchase any capital stock except:

(i) dividends with respect to Borrower’s capital stock payable solely in additional capital stock that constitute common stock (or the equivalent);

(ii) Borrower’s purchase, redemption, retirement, or other acquisition of its capital stock with the proceeds received from a substantially concurrent issue of new shares of its capital stock, provided that (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and (ii) the aggregate amount of all such dividends or other distributions permitted under this clause (ii) shall not exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate in any fiscal year of Borrower;

(iii) dividends paid by any Subsidiary to any other Loan Party;

(iv) Borrower may make dividends or other distributions pursuant to and in accordance with restricted stock agreements, stockholder rights plans, director or consultant stock option plans or other similar plans for management or employees of Borrower and its Subsidiaries or in connection with the satisfaction of withholding tax obligations; provided that the aggregate amount of all such dividends or other distributions permitted under this clause (iv) shall not exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate in any fiscal year of Borrower;

 

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(v) Borrower may pay cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares in an amount not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) in any fiscal year, provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or could result therefrom;

(vi) Borrower may honor any non-cash conversion requests in respect of any convertible securities of Borrower permitted under this Agreement into capital stock of Borrower pursuant to the terms of such convertible securities;

(vii) Borrower may honor any exercise request in respect of warrants to purchase capital stock of Borrower pursuant to the terms of such warrants, and so long as such exercise does not result in a payment of any cash by Borrower (other than cash in lieu of fractional shares which shall be subject to the cap set forth in clause (v) above), provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom; and

(viii) Borrower may agree to pay and accrue dividends on its capital stock payable so long as Borrower does not make actual payment of any such dividend until (x) all Obligations have been paid in full (other than unasserted indemnification and expense reimbursement Obligations) and (y) this Agreement has been terminated;

(b) directly or indirectly make any Investment (including, without limitation, by the formation of any Subsidiary) other than Permitted Investments.

7.8 Transactions with Affiliates. Directly or indirectly enter into or permit to exist any material transaction with any Affiliate of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except for:

(a) transactions that are in the ordinary course of Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s business, upon fair and reasonable terms that are no less favorable to Borrower or such Subsidiary than would be obtained in an arm’s length transaction with a non-affiliated Person;

(b) Subordinated Debt or equity investments by Borrower’s investors in Borrower or its Subsidiaries;

(c) Permitted Investment and Permitted Indebtedness;

(d) transactions among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of transfer pricing and cost-plus arrangements;

(e) normal and reasonable compensation and reimbursement of expenses of officers and directors entered into in the ordinary course of business and approved by Borrower’s Board of Directors to the extent required by Borrower’s organizational documents;

(f) transactions between and among Loan Parties;

(g) employment, compensation and benefits arrangements in the ordinary course of business with current or former officers, employees, directors, managers and consultants and transactions pursuant to stock option, stock appreciation rights, stock incentive or other equity compensation plans and employee benefit plans and arrangements in the ordinary course of business and approved by Borrower’s Board of Directors to the extent required by Borrower’s organizational documents; and

(h) transactions permitted by Sections 7.1(g), 7.3 and 7.7 hereof.

 

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7.9 Subordinated Debt. (a) Make or permit any payment on any Subordinated Debt, except as permitted under the terms of the subordination, intercreditor, or other similar agreement to which such Subordinated Debt is subject, or (b) amend any provision in any document relating to the Subordinated Debt which would increase the principal amount thereof or adversely affect the subordination thereof to Obligations owed to the Lenders.

7.10 Compliance. Become required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or undertake as one of its important activities extending credit to purchase or carry margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), or use the proceeds of any Credit Extension for that purpose; fail to meet the minimum funding requirements of ERISA, permit a Reportable Event or Prohibited Transaction, as defined in ERISA, to occur; fail to comply with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act or violate any other law or regulation, if the violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so; withdraw or permit any Subsidiary to withdraw from participation in, permit partial or complete termination of, or permit the occurrence of any other event with respect to, any present pension, profit sharing and deferred compensation plan which could reasonably be expected to result in any liability of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, including any liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or its successors or any other Governmental Authority.

7.11 Compliance with Anti-Terrorism Laws. Collateral Agent hereby notifies Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries that pursuant to the requirements of Anti-Terrorism Laws, and Collateral Agent’s policies and practices, Collateral Agent is required to obtain, verify and record certain information and documentation that identifies Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and their principals, which information includes the name and address of Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and their principals and such other information that will allow Collateral Agent to identify such party in accordance with Anti-Terrorism Laws. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, nor shall Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries permit any controlled Affiliate to, directly or indirectly, knowingly enter into any documents, instruments, agreements or contracts with any Person listed on the OFAC Lists. Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries shall immediately notify Collateral Agent if Borrower or such Subsidiary has knowledge that Borrower, or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of Borrower, is listed on the OFAC Lists or (a) is convicted on, (b) pleads nolo contendere to, (c) is indicted on, or (d) is arraigned and held over on charges involving money laundering or predicate crimes to money laundering. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, nor shall Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, permit any controlled Affiliate to, directly or indirectly, (i) conduct any business or engage in any transaction or dealing with any Blocked Person, including, without limitation, the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Blocked Person, (ii) deal in, or otherwise engage in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked pursuant to Executive Order No. 13224 or any similar executive order or other Anti-Terrorism Law, or (iii) engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in Executive Order No. 13224 or other Anti-Terrorism Law.

7.12 Pliant Belgium. (a) Permit the aggregate amount of cash and the value of assets held or maintained by Pliant Belgium to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) at any time or (b) permit Pliant Belgium to own or license any Intellectual Property.

 

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8.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Any one of the following shall constitute an event of default (an “Event of Default”) under this Agreement:

8.1 Payment Default. Borrower fails to (a) make any payment of principal or interest on any Credit Extension on its due date unless such failure is caused by Collateral Agent’s failing to auto debit Borrower’s Designated Deposit Account when sufficient funds were contained therein of the Obligations when due, (b) in the event Collateral Agent fails to auto debit Borrower’s Designated Deposit Account when sufficient funds were contained therein of the Obligations when due, pay any Obligations within three (3) Business Days after such Obligations are due and payable (which three (3) Business Day grace period shall not apply to payments due on the Maturity Date or the date of acceleration pursuant to Section 9.1 (a) hereof) or (c) pay any other Obligations within three (3) Business Days after such Obligations are due and payable (which three (3) Business Day grace period shall not apply to payments due on the Maturity Date or the date of acceleration pursuant to Section 9.1 (a) hereof). During the cure period, the failure to cure the payment default is not an Event of Default (but no Credit Extension will be made during the cure period).

8.2 Covenant Default.

(a) Any Loan Party fails or neglects to perform any obligation in Sections 6.2 (Financial Statements, Reports, Certificates), 6.4 (Taxes), 6.5 (Insurance), 6.6 (Operating Accounts), 6.9 (Notice of Litigation and Default) or 6.12 (Creation/Acquisition of Subsidiaries) or Borrower violates any covenant in Section 7; or

(b) Any Loan Party fails or neglects to perform, keep, or observe any other term, provision, condition, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or any Loan Documents, and as to any default (other than those specified in this Section 8) under such other term, provision, condition, covenant or agreement that can be cured, has failed to cure the default within fifteen (15) Business Days after the occurrence thereof; provided, however, that if the default cannot by its nature be cured within the ten (15) Business Day period or cannot after diligent attempts by Borrower be cured within such ten (10) day period, and such default is likely to be cured within a reasonable time, then Borrower shall have an additional period (which shall not in any case exceed thirty (30) days) to attempt to cure such default, and within such reasonable time period the failure to cure the default shall not be deemed an Event of Default (but no Credit Extensions shall be made during such cure period). Grace periods provided under this Section shall not apply, among other things, to the covenants set forth in subsection (a) above;

8.3 Material Adverse Change. A Material Adverse Change occurs.

8.4 Attachment; Levy; Restraint on Business.

(a) (i) The service of process seeking to attach, by trustee or similar process, any funds of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or of any entity under control of Borrower or its Subsidiaries on deposit with any Lender or any Lender’s Affiliate or any bank or other institution at which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries maintains a Collateral Account, or (ii) a notice of lien, levy, or assessment is filed against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective assets by any government agency, and the same under subclauses (i) and (ii) hereof are not, within fifteen (15) Business Days after the occurrence thereof, discharged or stayed (whether through the posting of a bond or otherwise); provided, however, no Credit Extensions shall be made during any fifteen (15) Business Day cure period; and

(b) (i) any material portion of Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets is attached, seized, levied on, or comes into possession of a trustee or receiver, or (ii) any court order enjoins, restrains, or prevents Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries from conducting any part of its business.

8.5 Insolvency. (a) Borrower is or becomes Insolvent, or Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are or become Insolvent; (b) Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries begins an Insolvency Proceeding; or (c) an Insolvency Proceeding is begun against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and not dismissed or stayed within forty-five (45) days (but no Credit Extensions shall be made while Borrower is, or Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are, Insolvent and/or until any Insolvency Proceeding is dismissed);

 

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8.6 Other Agreements. There is a default under any agreement to which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with a third party or parties resulting in a right by such third party or parties, whether or not exercised, to accelerate the maturity of any Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) or that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change; provided, however, that the Event of Default under this Section 8.6 caused by the occurrence of a breach or default under such other agreement shall be cured or waived for purposes of this Agreement upon Collateral Agent receiving written notice from the party asserting such breach or default of such cure or waiver of the breach or default under such other agreement, if at the time of such cure or waiver under such other agreement (x) Collateral Agent or any Lender has not declared an Event of Default under this Agreement and/or exercised any rights with respect thereto; (y) any such cure or waiver does not result in an Event of Default under any other provision of this Agreement or any Loan Document, and (z) in connection with any such cure or waiver under such other agreement, the terms of any agreement with such third party are not modified or amended in any manner which could in the good faith business judgment of Collateral Agent be materially less advantageous to Borrower;

8.7 Judgments. One or more judgments, orders, or decrees for the payment of money in an amount, individually or in the aggregate, of at least Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) (not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which liability has been accepted by such insurance carrier) shall be rendered against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and shall remain unsatisfied, unvacated, or unstayed for a period of fifteen (15) Business Days after the entry thereof (provided that no Credit Extensions will be made prior to the satisfaction, vacation, or stay of such judgment, order or decree);

8.8 Misrepresentations. Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Person acting for Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries makes any representation, warranty, or other statement of fact made by or on behalf of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries herein or in any other any Loan Document delivered in writing to Collateral Agent and/or Lenders or to induce Collateral Agent and/or the Lenders to enter this Agreement or any Loan Document, and such representation, warranty, or other statement of fact shall be incorrect in any material respect when made;

8.9 Subordinated Debt. (a) Any document, instrument, or agreement evidencing any Subordinated Debt shall for any reason be revoked or invalidated or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect, in each case, other than in accordance with the terms thereof; (b) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be in breach thereof or contest in any manner the validity or enforceability thereof or deny that it has any further liability or obligation thereunder, or (c) the Obligations shall for any reason be subordinated or shall not have the priority contemplated by this Agreement or any applicable subordination or intercreditor agreement;

8.10 Guaranty. (a) Any Guaranty terminates or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with its terms); (b) any Guarantor does not perform any material obligation or covenant under any Guaranty; (c) any circumstance described in Sections 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.7, or 8.8 occurs with respect to any Guarantor, or (d) the liquidation, winding up, or termination of existence of any Guarantor;

8.11 Governmental Approvals. Any Governmental Approval shall have been revoked, rescinded, suspended, modified in an adverse manner, or not renewed in the ordinary course for a full term and such revocation, rescission, suspension, modification or non-renewal has resulted in or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

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8.12 Lien Priority. Any Lien created hereunder or by any other Loan Document shall at any time fail to constitute a valid and perfected Lien on any material portion of the Collateral purported to be secured thereby, subject to no prior or equal Lien, other than Permitted Liens which are permitted to have priority in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided that such circumstance is not due to Collateral Agent’s failure to file an appropriate continuation financing statement, amendment financing statement or initial financing statement;

8.13 Delisting. The shares of common stock of Borrower are delisted from NASDAQ Global Select Market because of failure to comply with continued listing standards thereof or due to a voluntary delisting which results in such shares not being listed on any other nationally recognized stock exchange in the United States having listing standards at least as restrictive as the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

9.

RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

9.1 Rights and Remedies.

(a) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Collateral Agent may, and at the written direction of Required Lenders shall, without notice or demand, do any or all of the following: (i) deliver notice of the Event of Default to Borrower, (ii) by notice to Borrower declare all Obligations immediately due and payable (but if an Event of Default described in Section 8.5 occurs all Obligations shall be immediately due and payable without any action by Collateral Agent or the Lenders) or (iii) by notice to Borrower suspend or terminate the obligations, if any, of the Lenders to advance money or extend credit for Borrower’s benefit under this Agreement or under any other agreement between Borrower and Collateral Agent and/or the Lenders (but if an Event of Default described in Section 8.5 occurs all obligations, if any, of the Lenders to advance money or extend credit for Borrower’s benefit under this Agreement or under any other agreement between Borrower and Collateral Agent and/or the Lenders shall be immediately terminated without any action by Collateral Agent or the Lenders).

(b) Without limiting the rights of Collateral Agent and the Lenders set forth in Section 9.1(a) above, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Collateral Agent shall have the right at the written direction of the Required Lenders, without notice or demand, to do any or all of the following:

(i) foreclose upon and/or sell or otherwise liquidate, the Collateral;

(ii) apply to the Obligations any (a) balances and deposits of Borrower that Collateral Agent or any Lender holds or controls, or (b) any amount held or controlled by Collateral Agent or any Lender owing to or for the credit or the account of Borrower; and/or

(iii) commence and prosecute an Insolvency Proceeding or consent to Borrower commencing any Insolvency Proceeding.

(c) Without limiting the rights of Collateral Agent and the Lenders set forth in Sections 9.1(a) and (b) above, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Collateral Agent shall have the right, without notice or demand, to do any or all of the following:

(i) settle or adjust disputes and claims directly with Account Debtors for amounts on terms and in any order that Collateral Agent considers advisable, notify any Person owing Borrower money of Collateral Agent’s security interest in such funds, and verify the amount of such account;

 

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(ii) make any payments and do any acts it considers necessary or reasonable to protect the Collateral and/or its security interest in the Collateral. Borrower shall assemble the Collateral if Collateral Agent requests and make it available in a location as Collateral Agent reasonably designates. Collateral Agent may enter premises where the Collateral is located, take and maintain possession of any part of the Collateral, and pay, purchase, contest, or compromise any Lien which appears to be prior or superior to its security interest and pay all expenses incurred. Borrower grants Collateral Agent a license to enter and occupy any of its premises, without charge, to exercise any of Collateral Agent’s rights or remedies;

(iii) ship, reclaim, recover, store, finish, maintain, repair, prepare for sale, and/or advertise for sale, the Collateral. Collateral Agent is hereby granted a non-exclusive, royalty-free license or other right to use, without charge, each Loan Party’s labels, patents, copyrights, mask works, rights of use of any name, trade secrets, trade names, trademarks, service marks, and advertising matter, or any similar property as it pertains to the Collateral, in completing production of, advertising for sale, and selling any Collateral and, in connection with Collateral Agent’s exercise of its rights under this Section 9.1, each Loan Party’s rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements inure to Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders;

(iv) place a “hold” on any account maintained with Collateral Agent or the Lenders and/or deliver a notice of exclusive control, any entitlement order, or other directions or instructions pursuant to any Control Agreement or similar agreements providing control of any Collateral;

(v) demand and receive possession of Borrower’s Books;

(vi) appoint a receiver to seize, manage and realize any of the Collateral, and such receiver shall have any right and authority as any competent court will grant or authorize in accordance with any applicable law, including any power or authority to manage the business of any Loan Party; and

(vii) subject to Sections 9.1(a) and (b), exercise all rights and remedies available to Collateral Agent and each Lender under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the Code (including disposal of the Collateral pursuant to the terms thereof).

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 9.1 to the contrary, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, Collateral Agent shall have the right to exercise any and all remedies referenced in this Section 9.1 without the written consent of Required Lenders following the occurrence of an Exigent Circumstance. As used in the immediately preceding sentence, “Exigent Circumstance” means any event or circumstance that, in the reasonable judgment of Collateral Agent, imminently threatens the ability of Collateral Agent to realize upon all or any material portion of the Collateral, such as, without limitation, fraudulent removal, concealment, or abscondment thereof, destruction or material waste thereof, or failure of any Loan Party after reasonable demand to maintain or reinstate adequate casualty insurance coverage, or which, in the judgment of Collateral Agent, could reasonably be expected to result in a material diminution in value of the Collateral.

9.2 Power of Attorney. Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints Collateral Agent as its lawful attorney in fact, exercisable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to: (a) endorse any Loan Party’s name on any checks or other forms of payment or security; (b) sign any Loan Party’s name on any invoice or bill of lading for any Account or drafts against Account Debtors; (c) settle and adjust disputes and claims about the Accounts directly with Account Debtors, for amounts and on terms Collateral Agent determines reasonable; (d) make, settle, and adjust all claims under Borrower’s insurance policies; (e) pay, contest or settle any Lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, and adverse claim in or to the Collateral, or any judgment based thereon, or otherwise take any action to terminate or discharge the

 

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same; and (f) transfer the Collateral into the name of Collateral Agent or a third party as the Code or any applicable law permits. Borrower hereby appoints Collateral Agent as its lawful attorney in fact to sign Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ name on any documents necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Collateral regardless of whether an Event of Default has occurred until all Obligations (other than inchoate indemnity obligations) have been satisfied in full and Collateral Agent and the Lenders are under no further obligation to make Credit Extensions hereunder. Collateral Agent’s foregoing appointment as Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ attorney in fact, and all of Collateral Agent’s rights and powers, coupled with an interest, are irrevocable until all Obligations (other than inchoate indemnity obligations) have been fully repaid and performed and Collateral Agent’s and the Lenders’ obligation to provide Credit Extensions terminates.

9.3 Protective Payments. If any Loan Party fails to obtain the insurance called for by Section 6.5 or fails to pay any premium thereon or fails to pay any other amount which any Loan Party is obligated to pay under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, Collateral Agent may obtain such insurance or make such payment, and all amounts so paid by Collateral Agent are Lenders’ Expenses and immediately due and payable, bearing interest at the Default Rate, and secured by the Collateral. Collateral Agent will make reasonable efforts to provide Borrower with notice of Collateral Agent obtaining such insurance or making such payment at the time it is obtained or paid or within a reasonable time thereafter. No such payments by Collateral Agent are deemed an agreement to make similar payments in the future or Collateral Agent’s waiver of any Event of Default.

9.4 Application of Payments and Proceeds. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, (a) Borrower irrevocably waives the right to direct the application of any and all payments at any time or times thereafter received by Collateral Agent from or on behalf of any Loan Party of all or any part of the Obligations, and, as between Borrower on the one hand and Collateral Agent and Lenders on the other, Collateral Agent shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and to reapply any and all payments received against the Obligations in such manner as Collateral Agent may deem advisable notwithstanding any previous application by Collateral Agent, and (b) the proceeds of any sale of, or other realization upon all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied: first, to the Lenders’ Expenses; second, to accrued and unpaid interest on the Obligations (including any interest which, but for the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued on such amounts); third, to the principal amount of the Obligations outstanding; and fourth, to any other indebtedness or obligations of Borrower owing to Collateral Agent or any Lender under the Loan Documents. Any balance remaining shall be delivered to Borrower or to whoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such balance or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct. In carrying out the foregoing, (x) amounts received shall be applied in the numerical order provided until exhausted prior to the application to the next succeeding category, and (y) each of the Persons entitled to receive a payment in any particular category shall receive an amount equal to its pro rata share of amounts available to be applied pursuant thereto for such category. Any reference in this Agreement to an allocation between or sharing by the Lenders of any right, interest or obligation “ratably,” “proportionally” or in similar terms shall refer to Pro Rata Share unless expressly provided otherwise. Collateral Agent, or if applicable, each Lender, shall promptly remit to the other Lenders such sums as may be necessary to ensure the ratable repayment of each Lender’s portion of any Term Loan and the ratable distribution of interest, fees and reimbursements paid or made by Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Lender receiving a scheduled payment shall not be responsible for determining whether the other Lenders also received their scheduled payment on such date; provided, however, if it is later determined that a Lender received more than its ratable share of scheduled payments made on any date or dates, then such Lender shall remit to Collateral Agent or other Lenders such sums as may be necessary to ensure the ratable payment of such scheduled payments, as instructed by Collateral Agent. If any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, properties or securities, shall be received by a Lender in excess of its ratable share, then the portion of such payment or distribution in excess of such Lender’s ratable share shall be

 

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received by such Lender in trust for and shall be promptly paid over to the other Lender for application to the payments of amounts due on the other Lenders’ claims. To the extent any payment for the account of Borrower is required to be returned as a voidable transfer or otherwise, the Lenders shall contribute to one another as is necessary to ensure that such return of payment is on a pro rata basis. If any Lender shall obtain possession of any Collateral, it shall hold such Collateral for itself and as agent and bailee for Collateral Agent and other Lenders for purposes of perfecting Collateral Agent’s security interest therein.

9.5 Liability for Collateral. So long as Collateral Agent and the Lenders comply with reasonable banking practices regarding the safekeeping of the Collateral in the possession or under the control of Collateral Agent and the Lenders, Collateral Agent and the Lenders shall not be liable or responsible for: (a) the safekeeping of the Collateral; (b) any loss or damage to the Collateral; (c) any diminution in the value of the Collateral; or (d) any act or default of any carrier, warehouseman, bailee, or other Person. Borrower bears all risk of loss, damage or destruction of the Collateral.

9.6 No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. Failure by Collateral Agent or any Lender, at any time or times, to require strict performance by Borrower of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall not waive, affect, or diminish any right of Collateral Agent or any Lender thereafter to demand strict performance and compliance herewith or therewith. No waiver hereunder shall be effective unless signed by Collateral Agent and the Required Lenders and then is only effective for the specific instance and purpose for which it is given. The rights and remedies of Collateral Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are cumulative. Collateral Agent and the Lenders have all rights and remedies provided under the Code, any applicable law, by law, or in equity. The exercise by Collateral Agent or any Lender of one right or remedy is not an election, and Collateral Agent’s or any Lender’s waiver of any Event of Default is not a continuing waiver. Collateral Agent’s or any Lender’s delay in exercising any remedy is not a waiver, election, or acquiescence.

9.7 Demand Waiver. Borrower waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, demand, notice of default or dishonor, notice of payment and nonpayment, notice of any default, nonpayment at maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension, or renewal of accounts, documents, instruments, chattel paper, and guarantees held by Collateral Agent or any Lender on which any Loan Party is liable.

 

10.

NOTICES

All notices, consents, requests, approvals, demands, or other communication (collectively, “Communication”) by any party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been validly served, given, or delivered: (a) upon the earlier of actual receipt and three (3) Business Days after deposit in the U.S. mail, first class, registered or certified mail return receipt requested, with proper postage prepaid; (b) upon transmission, when sent by facsimile or electronic mail transmission; (c) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier with all charges prepaid; or (d) when delivered, if hand-delivered by messenger, all of which shall be addressed to the party to be notified and sent to the address, facsimile number, or email address indicated below. Any of Collateral Agent, Lender or Borrower may change its mailing address, facsimile number, or email address by giving the other party written notice thereof in accordance with the terms of this Section 10.

 

If to Borrower:   

PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Keith Cummings (CFO)

260 Littlefield Avenue

South San Francisco, CA 94080

[***]

 

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

SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP

Sharon Flanagan

555 California Street, Suite 2000

San Francisco, CA 94104

[***]

If to Collateral Agent:   

OXFORD FINANCE LLC

115 South Union Street

Suite 300

Alexandria, VA 22314

Attention: Legal Department

[***]

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

DLA PIPER LLP (US)

500 8th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20004

Attention: Eric Eisenberg

[***]

 

11.

CHOICE OF LAW, VENUE AND JURY TRIAL WAIVER, AND JUDICIAL REFERENCE

California law governs the Loan Documents without regard to principles of conflicts of law. Each party hereto submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State and Federal courts in Santa Clara County, California; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to operate to preclude Collateral Agent or any Lender from bringing suit or taking other legal action in any other jurisdiction to realize on the Collateral or any other security for the Obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court order in favor of Collateral Agent or any Lender and any Loan Party may respond action or proceeding or assert counterclaims relating thereto in such jurisdiction. Each party hereto expressly submits and consents in advance to such jurisdiction in any action or suit commenced in any such court, and each party hereto hereby waives any objection that it may have based upon lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue, or forum non conveniens and hereby consents to the granting of such legal or equitable relief as is deemed appropriate by such court. Each party hereto hereby waives personal service of the summons, complaints, and other process issued in such action or suit and agrees that service of such summons, complaints, and other process may be made by registered or certified mail addressed to such Person at the address set forth in, or subsequently provided by such Person in accordance with, Section 10 of this Agreement and that service so made shall be deemed completed upon the earlier to occur of such Person’s actual receipt thereof or three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mails, proper postage prepaid.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO WAIVES THEIR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTION, INCLUDING CONTRACT, TORT, BREACH OF DUTY AND ALL OTHER CLAIMS. THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR EACH PARTY TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS COUNSEL.

 

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WITHOUT INTENDING IN ANY WAY TO LIMIT THE PARTIES’ AGREEMENT TO WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY, if the above waiver of the right to a trial by jury is not enforceable, the parties hereto agree that any and all disputes or controversies of any nature between them arising at any time shall be decided by a reference to a private judge, mutually selected by the parties (or, if they cannot agree, by the Presiding Judge of the Santa Clara County, California Superior Court) appointed in accordance with California Code of Civil Procedure Section 638 (or pursuant to comparable provisions of federal law if the dispute falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts), sitting without a jury, in Santa Clara County, California; and the parties hereby submit to the jurisdiction of such court. The reference proceedings shall be conducted pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of California Code of Civil Procedure §§ 638 through 645.1, inclusive. The private judge shall have the power, among others, to grant provisional relief, including without limitation, entering temporary restraining orders, issuing preliminary and permanent injunctions and appointing receivers. All such proceedings shall be closed to the public and confidential and all records relating thereto shall be permanently sealed. If during the course of any dispute, a party desires to seek provisional relief, but a judge has not been appointed at that point pursuant to the judicial reference procedures, then such party may apply to the Santa Clara County, California Superior Court for such relief. The proceeding before the private judge shall be conducted in the same manner as it would be before a court under the rules of evidence applicable to judicial proceedings. The parties shall be entitled to discovery which shall be conducted in the same manner as it would be before a court under the rules of discovery applicable to judicial proceedings. The private judge shall oversee discovery and may enforce all discovery rules and orders applicable to judicial proceedings in the same manner as a trial court judge. The parties agree that the selected or appointed private judge shall have the power to decide all issues in the action or proceeding, whether of fact or of law, and shall report a statement of decision thereon pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure § 644(a). Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the right of any party at any time to exercise self-help remedies, foreclose against collateral, or obtain provisional remedies. The private judge shall also determine all issues relating to the applicability, interpretation, and enforceability of this paragraph.

 

12.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

12.1 Successors and Assigns.

(a) This Agreement binds and is for the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of each party. Borrower may not transfer, pledge or assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations under it without Collateral Agent’s and each Lender’s prior written consent (which may be granted or withheld in Collateral Agent’s and each Lender’s discretion, subject to Section 12.6). The Lenders have the right, without the consent of or notice to Borrower, to sell, transfer, assign, pledge, negotiate, or grant participation in (any such sale, transfer, assignment, negotiation, or grant of a participation, a “Lender Transfer”) all or any part of, or any interest in, the Lenders’ obligations, rights, and benefits under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided, however, that any such Lender Transfer (other than a transfer, pledge, sale or assignment to an Eligible Assignee) of its obligations, rights, and benefits under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall require the prior written consent of the Required Lenders (such approved assignee, an “Approved Lender”). Borrower and Collateral Agent shall be entitled to continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with the interests so assigned until Collateral Agent shall have received and accepted an effective assignment agreement in form satisfactory to Collateral Agent executed, delivered and fully completed by the applicable parties thereto, and shall have received such other information regarding such Eligible Assignee or Approved Lender as Collateral Agent reasonably shall require. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Lender Transfer (other than a Lender Transfer in connection with (i) assignments by a Lender due to a forced divestiture at the request of any regulatory agency; or (ii) upon the occurrence of a default, event of default or similar occurrence with respect to a Lender’s own financing or securitization transactions) shall be permitted, without Borrower’s consent, to any Person which is an Affiliate or Subsidiary of Borrower, a direct competitor of Borrower or a vulture hedge fund, each as determined by Collateral Agent.

 

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(b) Collateral Agent, acting as a non-fiduciary agent of Borrower (solely for tax purposes), shall maintain (a) a copy (or electronic equivalent) of the documentation for each Lender Transfer delivered to it, and (b) a register for recordation of the names, addresses, Term Loan Commitments of and Obligations owing to, each Lender. Entries in the register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and Borrower, Collateral Agent and Lenders shall treat each Person recorded in such register as a Lender for all purposes under the Loan Documents, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. The register shall be available for inspection by Borrower or any Lender, from time to time upon reasonable notice.

(c) Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting as a non-fiduciary agent of Borrower (solely for tax purposes), maintain a register in which it enters the participant’s name, address and interest in Term Loan Commitments and Obligations (the “Participant Register”). Entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive, absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person recorded in the register as the owner of the participation for all purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. No Lender shall have an obligation to disclose any information in such Participant Register, except to the extent necessary to establish that a participant’s interest is in registered form under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and Section 5f.103-1(c) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations. Collateral Agent (in its capacity as Collateral Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

12.2 Indemnification. Borrower agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Collateral Agent and the Lenders and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, or any other Person affiliated with or representing Collateral Agent or the Lenders (each, an “Indemnified Person”) harmless against: (a) all obligations, demands, claims, and liabilities (collectively, “Claims”) asserted by any other party in connection with; related to; following; or arising from, out of or under, the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents; and (b) all losses or Lenders’ Expenses incurred, or paid by Indemnified Person in connection with; related to; following; or arising from, out of or under, the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents between Collateral Agent, and/or the Lenders and Borrower (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and expenses), except for Claims and/or losses directly caused by such Indemnified Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Borrower hereby further indemnifies, defends and holds each Indemnified Person harmless from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, claims, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for such Indemnified Person) in connection with any investigative, response, remedial, administrative or judicial matter or proceeding, whether or not such Indemnified Person shall be designated a party thereto and including any such proceeding initiated by or on behalf of Borrower, and the reasonable expenses of investigation by engineers, environmental consultants and similar technical personnel and any commission, fee or compensation claimed by any broker (other than any broker retained by Collateral Agent or Lenders) asserting any right to payment for the transactions contemplated hereby which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Person as a result of or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the use or intended use of the loan proceeds except for liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, claims, costs, expenses and disbursements directly caused by such Indemnified Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. This Section 12.2 with respect to taxes other than any taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-tax claim.

12.3 Time of Essence. Time is of the essence for the performance of all Obligations in this Agreement.

 

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12.4 Severability of Provisions. Each provision of this Agreement is severable from every other provision in determining the enforceability of any provision.

12.5 Correction of Loan Documents. Collateral Agent and the Lenders may correct patent errors and fill in any blanks in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents consistent with the agreement of the parties, so long as Collateral Agent and Lenders provider Borrower with written notice of such correction and allows Borrower at least ten (10) Business Days to object to such correction. In the event of such objection, such correction shall not be made except by an amendment signed by Borrower and requisite Lenders, in accordance with Section 12.6 hereof.

12.6 Amendments in Writing; Integration. (a) No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, no approval or consent thereunder, or any consent to any departure by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Borrower, Collateral Agent and the Required Lenders provided that:

(i) no such amendment, waiver or other modification that would have the effect of increasing or reducing a Lender’s Term Loan Commitment or Commitment Percentage shall be effective as to such Lender without such Lender’s written consent;

(ii) no such amendment, waiver or modification that would affect the rights and duties of Collateral Agent shall be effective without Collateral Agent’s written consent or signature;

(iii) no such amendment, waiver or other modification shall, unless signed by all the Lenders directly affected thereby, (A) reduce the principal of, rate of interest on or any fees with respect to any Term Loan or forgive any principal, interest (other than default interest) or fees (other than late charges) with respect to any Term Loan (B) postpone the date fixed for, or waive, any payment of principal of any Term Loan or of interest on any Term Loan (other than default interest) or any fees provided for hereunder (other than late charges or for any termination of any commitment); (C) change the definition of the term “Required Lenders” or the percentage of Lenders which shall be required for the Lenders to take any action hereunder; (D) release all or substantially all of any material portion of the Collateral, authorize Borrower to sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all or any material portion of the Collateral or release any Guarantor of all or any portion of the Obligations or its guaranty obligations with respect thereto, except, in each case with respect to this clause (D), as otherwise may be expressly permitted under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including in connection with any disposition permitted hereunder); (E) amend, waive or otherwise modify this Section 12.6 or the definitions of the terms used in this Section 12.6 insofar as the definitions affect the substance of this Section 12.6; (F) consent to the assignment, delegation or other transfer by Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under any Loan Document or release Borrower of its payment obligations under any Loan Document, except, in each case with respect to this clause (F), pursuant to a merger or consolidation permitted pursuant to this Agreement; (G) amend any of the provisions of Section 9.4 or amend any of the definitions of Pro Rata Share, Term Loan Commitment, Commitment Percentage or that provide for the Lenders to receive their Pro Rata Shares of any fees, payments, setoffs or proceeds of Collateral hereunder; (H) subordinate the Liens granted in favor of Collateral Agent securing the Obligations; or (I) amend any of the provisions of Section 12.10. It is hereby understood and agreed that all Lenders shall be deemed directly affected by an amendment, waiver or other modification of the type described in the preceding clauses (C), (D), (E), (F), (G) and (H) of the preceding sentence;

(b) the provisions of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) are subject to the provisions of any interlender or agency agreement among the Lenders and Collateral Agent pursuant to which any Lender may agree to give its consent in connection with any amendment, waiver or modification of the Loan Documents only in the event of the unanimous agreement of all Lenders.

 

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(c) Other than as expressly provided for in Section 12.6(a)(i)-(iii), Collateral Agent may, if requested by the Required Lenders, from time to time designate covenants in this Agreement less restrictive by notification to a representative of Borrower.

(d) This Agreement and the Loan Documents represent the entire agreement about this subject matter and supersede prior negotiations or agreements. All prior agreements, understandings, representations, warranties, and negotiations between the parties about the subject matter of this Agreement and the Loan Documents merge into this Agreement and the Loan Documents.

12.7 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, is an original, and all taken together, constitute one Agreement.

12.8 Survival. All covenants, representations and warranties made in this Agreement continue in full force and effect until this Agreement has terminated pursuant to its terms and all Obligations (other than inchoate indemnity obligations and any other obligations which, by their terms, are to survive the termination of this Agreement) have been satisfied. The obligation of Borrower in Section 12.2 to indemnify each Lender and Collateral Agent, as well as the confidentiality provisions in Section 12.9 below, shall survive until the statute of limitations with respect to such claim or cause of action shall have run.

12.9 Confidentiality. In handling any confidential information of Borrower, the Lenders and Collateral Agent shall exercise the same degree of care that it exercises for their own proprietary information, but disclosure of information may be made: (a) subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, to the Lenders’ and Collateral Agent’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or in connection with a Lender’s own financing or securitization transactions and upon the occurrence of a default, event of default or similar occurrence with respect to such financing or securitization transaction; (b) to prospective transferees (other than those identified in (a) above) or purchasers of any interest in the Credit Extensions (provided, however, the Lenders and Collateral Agent shall, except upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, obtain such prospective transferee’s or purchaser’s agreement to the terms of this provision or to similar confidentiality terms); (c) as required by law, regulation, subpoena, or other order; (d) to Lenders’ or Collateral Agent’s regulators or as otherwise required in connection with an examination or audit; (e) as Collateral Agent reasonably considers appropriate in exercising remedies under the Loan Documents; and (f) to third party service providers of the Lenders and/or Collateral Agent so long as such service providers have executed a confidentiality agreement with the Lenders and Collateral Agent with terms no less restrictive than those contained herein. Confidential information does not include information that either: (i) is in the public domain or in the Lenders’ and/or Collateral Agent’s possession when disclosed to the Lenders and/or Collateral Agent, or becomes part of the public domain after disclosure to the Lenders and/or Collateral Agent; or (ii) is disclosed to the Lenders and/or Collateral Agent by a third party, if the Lenders and/or Collateral Agent does not know that the third party is prohibited from disclosing the information. Collateral Agent and the Lenders may use confidential information for any purpose relating to the administration of this Agreement, including, without limitation, for the development of client databases, reporting purposes, and market analysis, in each case on an aggregated basis without identifying information regarding the Borrower or its Subsidiaries. The provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall survive the termination of this Agreement. The agreements provided under this Section 12.9 supersede all prior agreements, understanding, representations, warranties, and negotiations between the parties about the subject matter of this Section 12.9.

 

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12.10 Public Announcement. Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, Borrower hereby agrees that Collateral Agent and each Lender may make a public announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and may publicize the same on its company website, in marketing materials, newspapers and other publications, and otherwise, and in connection therewith may use Borrower’s name, tradenames, logos, and any information related to the transactions to the extent such information is not confidential.

12.11 Right of Set Off. Borrower hereby grants to Collateral Agent and to each Lender, a lien, security interest and right of set off as security for all Obligations to Collateral Agent and each Lender hereunder, whether now existing or hereafter arising upon and against all deposits, credits, collateral and property, now or hereafter in the possession, custody, safekeeping or control of Collateral Agent or the Lenders or any entity under the control of Collateral Agent or the Lenders (including a Collateral Agent affiliate) or in transit to any of them. At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, without demand or notice, Collateral Agent or the Lenders may set off the same or any part thereof and apply the same to any liability or obligation of Borrower even though unmatured and regardless of the adequacy of any other collateral securing the Obligations. ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO REQUIRE COLLATERAL AGENT TO EXERCISE ITS RIGHTS OR REMEDIES WITH RESPECT TO ANY OTHER COLLATERAL WHICH SECURES THE OBLIGATIONS, PRIOR TO EXERCISING ITS RIGHT OF SETOFF WITH RESPECT TO SUCH DEPOSITS, CREDITS OR OTHER PROPERTY OF BORROWER ARE HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVED.

12.12 Cooperation of Borrower. If necessary, Borrower agrees to (i) execute any documents (including new Secured Promissory Notes) reasonably required to effectuate and acknowledge each assignment of a Term Loan Commitment or Term Loan to an assignee in accordance with Section 12.1, (ii) make Borrower’s management available to meet with Collateral Agent and prospective participants and assignees of Term Loan Commitments or Credit Extensions (which meetings shall be conducted no more often than twice every twelve months unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), and (iii) assist Collateral Agent or the Lenders in the preparation of information relating to the financial affairs of Borrower as any prospective participant or assignee of a Term Loan Commitment or Term Loan reasonably may request. Subject to the provisions of Section 12.9, Borrower authorizes each Lender to disclose to any prospective participant or assignee of a Term Loan Commitment, any and all information in such Lender’s possession concerning Borrower and its financial affairs which has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, or which has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of Borrower in connection with such Lender’s credit evaluation of Borrower prior to entering into this Agreement.

 

13.

DEFINITIONS

13.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

1-Month CME Term SOFR” is the 1-month CME Term SOFR reference rate as published by the CME Term SOFR Administrator on the CME Term SOFR Administrator’s Website.

Account” is any “account” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made, and includes, without limitation, all accounts receivable and other sums owing to Borrower.

Account Debtor” is any “account debtor” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.

 

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Affiliate” of any Person is a Person that owns or controls directly or indirectly the Person, any Person that controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the Person, and each of that Person’s senior executive officers, directors, partners and, for any Person that is a limited liability company, that Person’s managers and members. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” means, in respect of a particular Person, the possession, directly or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract, or otherwise.

Agreement” is defined in the preamble hereof.

Amortization Date” is July 1, 2026; provided that, if Borrower achieves the Interest-Only Extension Milestone, then, upon Borrower written request to Collateral Agent therefor prior to July 1, 2026 and within thirty (30) days after the later of (i) achievement of the Interest-Only Extension Milestone and (ii) June 4, 2023, “Amortization Date” shall be July 1, 2027.

Annual Projections” is defined in Section 6.2(a).

Anti-Terrorism Laws” are any laws relating to terrorism or money laundering, including Executive Order No. 13224 (effective September 24, 2001), the USA PATRIOT Act, the laws comprising or implementing the Bank Secrecy Act, and the laws administered by OFAC.

Approved Fund” is any (a) Person, investment company, fund, securitization vehicle or conduit that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender, or (iii) a Person (other than a natural person) or an Affiliate of a Person (other than a natural person) that administers or manages a Lender, or (b) any Person (other than a natural person) which temporarily warehouses loans, or provides financing or securitizations, in each case, for any Lender or any entity described in the preceding clause (a).

Approved Lender” is defined in Section 12.1.

Basic Rate” is with respect to each Term Loan, the per annum rate of interest (based on a year of three hundred sixty (360) days) equal to (a) the greater of (i) the 1-Month CME Term SOFR on the last Business Day of the month that immediately precedes the month in which the interest will accrue and (ii) one-quarter percent (0.25%), plus (b) eight and one-half percent (8.50%). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in no event shall the Basic Rate for any Term Loan be less than eight and three-quarters percent (8.75%), and (ii) upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Collateral Agent may, in good faith and with reference to the margin above such interest rate in this definition, amend this Agreement to replace the Benchmark with a replacement interest rate and replacement margin above such interest rate that results in a substantially similar interest rate floor and total rate in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness of such replacement interest rate and replacement margin, and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the third Business Day after Collateral Agent has notified Borrower of such amendment, and (iii) the Basic Rate for the Term Loan for the period from the Effective Date through and including May 31, 2022 shall be nine and twenty-six thousand six hundred thirty one hundred thousandths percent (9.26630%). Any determination, decision or election that may be made by Collateral Agent pursuant hereto will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in Collateral Agent’s sole discretion (except as set forth above) and without consent from any other party.

Benchmark” is, initially, the 1-Month CME Term SOFR; provided, that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the 1-Month CME Term SOFR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable replacement rate that has replaced the immediately preceding benchmark rate pursuant to the defined term “Basic Rate”.

 

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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 for such Benchmark announcing that such Person has ceased or will cease to provide such Benchmark, permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark;

(b) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator for such Benchmark, the U.S. Federal Reserve System, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark, which states that the administrator for such Benchmark has ceased or will cease to provide such Benchmark permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide such Benchmark; or

(c) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator for such Benchmark announcing that such Benchmark is no longer representative or in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions Principles for Financial Benchmarks.

Blocked Person is any Person: (a) listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, Executive Order No. 13224, (b) a Person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, any Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, Executive Order No. 13224, (c) a Person with which any Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law, (d) a Person that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as defined in Executive Order No. 13224, or (e) a Person that is named a “specially designated national” or “blocked person” on the most current list published by OFAC or other similar list.

Borrower” is defined in the preamble hereof.

Borrower’s Books” are Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ books and records including ledgers, federal, and state tax returns, records regarding Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’ assets or liabilities, the Collateral, business operations or financial condition, and all computer programs or storage or any equipment containing such information.

Business Day” is any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which Collateral Agent is closed.

Capital Lease” means any lease that has been or is required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded, classified and accounted for as a capitalized lease or financing lease.

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, as to any Person, any obligation of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as a Capital Lease on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for purposes of this Agreement, the amount of any such obligation shall be the capitalized amount thereof, determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

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Cash Equivalents” are (a) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the United States or any agency or any State thereof having maturities of not more than one (1) year from the date of acquisition; (b) commercial paper maturing no more than one (1) year after its creation and having the highest rating from either Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and (c) certificates of deposit maturing no more than one (1) year after issue provided that the account in which any such certificate of deposit is maintained is subject to a Control Agreement in favor of Collateral Agent. For the avoidance of doubt, the direct purchase by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of any Auction Rate Securities, or purchasing participations in, or entering into any type of swap or other derivative transaction, or otherwise holding or engaging in any ownership interest in any type of Auction Rate Security by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be conclusively determined by the Lenders as an ineligible Cash Equivalent, and any such transaction shall expressly violate each other provision of this Agreement governing Permitted Investments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash Equivalents does not include and Borrower, and each of its Subsidiaries, are prohibited from purchasing, purchasing participations in, entering into any type of swap or other equivalent derivative transaction, or otherwise holding or engaging in any ownership interest in any type of debt instrument, including, without limitation, any corporate or municipal bonds with a long-term nominal maturity for which the interest rate is reset through a dutch auction and more commonly referred to as an auction rate security (each, an “Auction Rate Security”).

Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which: any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of forty-nine percent (49%) or more of the equity securities of Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such “person” or “group” has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right).

Claims” are defined in Section 12.2.

CME Term SOFR Administrator” is CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited, as administrator of the forward-looking term SOFR, or any successor administrator.

CME Term SOFR Administrator’s Website is the website of the CME Group Benchmark Administrator at http://www.cmegroup.com, or any successor source.

Code” is the Uniform Commercial Code, as the same may, from time to time, be enacted and in effect in the State of California; provided, that, to the extent that the Code is used to define any term herein or in any Loan Document and such term is defined differently in different Articles or Divisions of the Code, the definition of such term contained in Article or Division 9 shall govern; provided further, that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection, or priority of, or remedies with respect to, Collateral Agent’s Lien on any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of California, the term “Code” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions thereof relating to such attachment, perfection, priority, or remedies and for purposes of definitions relating to such provisions.

Collateral” is any and all properties, rights and assets of Borrower described on Exhibit A.

 

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Collateral Account” is any Deposit Account, Securities Account, or Commodity Account, or any other bank account maintained by Borrower or any Subsidiary at any time.

Collateral Agent” is, Oxford, not in its individual capacity, but solely in its capacity as agent on behalf of and for the benefit of the Lenders.

Commitment Percentage” is set forth in Schedule 1.1, as amended from time to time.

Commodity Account” is any “commodity account” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.

Communication” is defined in Section 10.

Compliance Certificate” is that certain certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

Contingent Obligation” is, for any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or not, of that Person for (a) any indebtedness, lease, dividend, letter of credit or other obligation of another such as an obligation, in each case, directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed co made discounted or sold with recourse by such Person, or for which such Person is directly or indirectly liable; (b) any obligations for undrawn letters of credit for the account of that Person; and (c) all obligations from any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, interest rate cap or collar agreement, or other agreement or arrangement designated to protect a Person against fluctuation in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices; but “Contingent Obligation” does not include endorsements in the ordinary course of business. The amount of a Contingent Obligation is the stated or determined amount of the primary obligation for which the Contingent Obligation is made or, if not determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability for it determined by the Person in good faith; but the amount may not exceed the maximum of the obligations under any guarantee or other support arrangement.

Control Agreement” is any control agreement entered into among the depository institution at which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries maintains a Deposit Account or the securities intermediary or commodity intermediary at which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries maintains a Securities Account or a Commodity Account, Borrower and such Subsidiary, and Collateral Agent pursuant to which Collateral Agent obtains control (within the meaning of the Code) for the benefit of the Lenders over such Deposit Account, Securities Account, or Commodity Account.

Copyrights” are any and all copyright rights, copyright applications, copyright registrations and like protections in each work or authorship and derivative work thereof, whether published or unpublished and whether or not the same also constitutes a trade secret.

Credit Extension” is any Term Loan or any other extension of credit by Collateral Agent or Lenders for Borrower’s benefit.

Default Rate” is defined in Section 2.3(b).

Deposit Account” is any “deposit account” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.

Designated Deposit Account” is Borrower’s deposit account, account number ending in 5062, maintained with Silicon Valley Bank.

Disbursement Letter” is that certain form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

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Division” means, in reference to any Person which is an entity, the division of such Person into two (2) or more separate Persons, with the dividing Person either continuing or terminating its existence as part of such division, including, without limitation, as contemplated under Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act for limited liability companies formed under Delaware law, or any analogous action taken pursuant to any other applicable law with respect to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity.

Dollars, dollars” and “$” each mean lawful money of the United States.

Effective Date” is defined in the preamble of this Agreement.

Eligible Assignee” is (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender, (iii) an Approved Fund and (iv) any commercial bank, savings and loan association or savings bank or any other entity which is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and which extends credit or buys loans as one of its businesses, including insurance companies, mutual funds, lease financing companies and commercial finance companies, in each case, which either (A) has a rating of BBB or higher from Standard & Poor’s Rating Group and a rating of Baa2 or higher from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. at the date that it becomes a Lender or (B) has total assets in excess of Five Billion Dollars ($5,000,000,000.00), and in each case of clauses (i) through (iv), which, through its applicable lending office, is capable of lending to Borrower without the imposition of any withholding or similar taxes; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (i) Borrower or any of Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (ii) a direct competitor of Borrower or a vulture hedge fund, each as determined by Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) in connection with assignments by a Lender due to a forced divestiture at the request of any regulatory agency, the restrictions set forth herein shall not apply and Eligible Assignee shall mean any Person or party and (y) in connection with a Lender’s own financing or securitization transactions, the restrictions set forth herein shall not apply and Eligible Assignee shall mean any Person or party providing such financing or formed to undertake such securitization transaction and any transferee of such Person or party upon the occurrence of a default, event of default or similar occurrence with respect to such financing or securitization transaction; provided that no such sale, transfer, pledge or assignment under this clause (y) shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such Person or party for such Lender as a party hereto until Collateral Agent shall have received and accepted an effective assignment agreement from such Person or party in form reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent executed, delivered and fully completed by the applicable parties thereto, and shall have received such other information regarding such Eligible Assignee as Collateral Agent reasonably shall require.

Equipment” is all “equipment” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made, and includes without limitation all machinery, fixtures, goods, vehicles (including motor vehicles and trailers), and any interest in any of the foregoing.

ERISA” is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and its regulations.

Event of Default” is defined in Article 8.

Excluded Accounts” means any Deposit Account that is solely used for purposes of funding payroll, payroll taxes or employee wage and benefit payments, escrow accounts or other fiduciary accounts of such Person maintained solely for such purpose in the ordinary course of business.

Facility Fee” is defined in Section 2.5.

 

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Final Payment” is a payment (in addition to and not a substitution for the regular monthly payments of principal plus accrued interest) due on the earliest to occur of (a) the Maturity Date, or (b) the acceleration of any Term Loan, or (c) the prepayment of a Term Loan pursuant to Section 2.2(c) or (d), equal to the original principal amount of such Term Loan multiplied by the Final Payment Percentage, payable to Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares.

Final Payment Percentage” is five and one-half percent (5.50%); provided that, if the Amortization Date is extended to July 1, 2027, then the “Final Payment Percentage” shall automatically, upon election to extend the Amortization Date, be increased to seven and three-quarters percent (7.75%).

Funding Date” is any date on which a Credit Extension is made to or on account of Borrower which shall be a Business Day.

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

General Intangibles” are all “general intangibles” as defined in the Code in effect on the date hereof with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made, and includes without limitation, all copyright rights, copyright applications, copyright registrations and like protections in each work of authorship and derivative work, whether published or unpublished, any patents, trademarks, service marks and, to the extent permitted under applicable law, any applications therefor, whether registered or not, any trade secret rights, including any rights to unpatented inventions, payment intangibles, royalties, contract rights, goodwill, franchise agreements, purchase orders, customer lists, route lists, telephone numbers, domain names, claims, income and other tax refunds, security and other deposits, options to purchase or sell real or personal property, rights in all litigation presently or hereafter pending (whether in contract, tort or otherwise), insurance policies (including without limitation key man, property damage, and business interruption insurance), payments of insurance and rights to payment of any kind.

Good Faith Deposit” is defined in Section 2.6.

Governmental Approval” is any consent, authorization, approval, order, license, franchise, permit, certificate, accreditation, registration, filing or notice, of, issued by, from or to, or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority.

Governmental Authority” is any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, any securities exchange and any self-regulatory organization.

Guarantor” is any Person providing a Guaranty in favor of Collateral Agent.

Guaranty” is any guarantee of all or any part of the Obligations, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented.

Indebtedness” is (a) indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred price of property or services, such as reimbursement and other obligations for surety bonds and letters of credit, (b) obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (c) Capital Lease Obligations, and (d) Contingent Obligations.

 

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Indemnified Person” is defined in Section 12.2.

Insolvency Proceeding” is any proceeding by or against any Person under the United States Bankruptcy Code, or any other bankruptcy or insolvency law, including assignments for the benefit of creditors, compositions, extensions generally with its creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other relief.

Insolvent” means not Solvent.

Intellectual Property” means all of Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s right, title and interest in and to the following:

(a) its Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents;

(b) any and all trade secrets and trade secret rights, including, without limitation, any rights to unpatented inventions, know-how, operating manuals;

(c) any and all proprietary source code;

(d) any and all design rights which may be available to Borrower;

(e) any and all claims for damages by way of past, present and future infringement of any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect such damages for said use or infringement of the Intellectual Property rights identified above; and

(f) all amendments, renewals and extensions of any of the Copyrights, Trademarks or Patents.

Interest-Only Extension Milestone” means Borrower’s delivery to Collateral Agent and Lenders of evidence, reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent and Lenders in their sole discretion, that Borrower has achieved INTEGRIS-IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) Phase 2a Extension (320mg dosing) data, sufficient to advance PLN-74809 into pivotal Phase 2b/3 IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) clinical trials at the 320mg dose.

Inventory” shall have the meaning given to such term under GAAP.

Investment” is any beneficial ownership interest in any Person (including stock, partnership interest or other securities), and any loan, advance, or capital contribution to any Person.

Key Person” is each of Borrower’s (i) Chief Executive Officer, who is Bernard Coulie, MD, PhD, as of the Effective Date, (ii) Chief Financial Officer, who is Keith Cummings, MD, MBA, as of the Effective Date, (iii) Chief Business Officer, who is Hans Hull as of the Effective Date and (iv) Chief Medical Officer, who is Eric LeFebvre as of the Effective Date.

Lender” is any one of the Lenders.

Lenders” are the Persons identified on Schedule 1.1 hereto and each assignee that becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 12.1.

 

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Lenders’ Expenses” are all reasonable, documented out-of-pocket audit fees and expenses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and expenses, as well as reasonable and documented out-of-pocket appraisal fees, fees incurred on account of lien searches, inspection fees, and filing fees) for preparing, amending, negotiating, administering, defending and enforcing the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, those incurred in connection with appeals or Insolvency Proceedings) or otherwise incurred by Collateral Agent and/or the Lenders in connection with the Loan Documents.

Lien” is a claim, mortgage, deed of trust, levy, charge, pledge, security interest, or other encumbrance of any kind, whether voluntarily incurred or arising by operation of law or otherwise against any property.

Loan Documents” are, collectively, this Agreement, the Perfection Certificates, each Compliance Certificate, each Disbursement Letter, the Post Closing Letter, any subordination agreements, any note, or notes or any Guaranty, and any other present or future agreement entered into by any Loan Party for the benefit of the Lenders and Collateral Agent in connection with this Agreement; all as amended, restated, or otherwise modified.

Loan Party” means Borrower and any Guarantor.

Material Adverse Change” is (a) a material impairment in the perfection or priority of Collateral Agent’s Lien in the Collateral or in the value of such Collateral; (b) a material adverse change in the business, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of Borrower or of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or (c) a material impairment of the prospect of repayment of any portion of the Obligations.

Maturity Date” is (a) May 1, 2027, if the Amortization Date is July 1, 2026; or (b) May 1, 2028, if the Amortization Date is July 1, 2027.

Obligations” are all of Borrower’s obligations to pay when due any debts, principal, interest, Lenders’ Expenses, the Prepayment Fee, the Final Payment, and other amounts Borrower owes the Lenders now or later, in connection with, related to, or arising from, out of or under, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and including interest accruing after Insolvency Proceedings begin (whether or not allowed) and debts, liabilities, or obligations of Borrower assigned to the Lenders and/or Collateral Agent, and the performance of Borrower’s duties under the Loan Documents.

OFAC” is the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control.

OFAC Lists” are, collectively, the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by OFAC pursuant to Executive Order No. 13224, 66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (Sept. 25, 2001) and/or any other list of terrorists or other restricted Persons maintained pursuant to any of the rules and regulations of OFAC or pursuant to any other applicable Executive Orders.

Operating Documents” are, for any Person, such Person’s formation documents, as certified by the Secretary of State (or equivalent agency) of such Person’s jurisdiction of organization on a date that is no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Effective Date, and, (a) if such Person is a corporation, its bylaws in current form, (b) if such Person is a limited liability company, its limited liability company agreement (or similar agreement), and (c) if such Person is a partnership, its partnership agreement (or similar agreement), each of the foregoing with all current amendments or modifications thereto.

Patents” means all patents, patent applications and like protections including without limitation improvements, divisions, continuations, renewals, reissues, extensions and continuations-in-part of the same.

 

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Payment Date” is the first (1st) calendar day of each calendar month, commencing on July 1, 2022.

Perfection Certificate” and “Perfection Certificates” is defined in Section 5.1.

Permitted Indebtedness” is:

(a) Borrower’s Indebtedness to the Lenders and Collateral Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(b) Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date and disclosed on the Perfection Certificate(s);

(c) Subordinated Debt;

(d) unsecured Indebtedness to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(e) Indebtedness consisting of Capital Lease Obligations and purchase money Indebtedness, in each case incurred by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to finance the acquisition, repair, improvement or construction of fixed or capital assets of such person, provided that (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all such Indebtedness does not exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) at any time and (ii) the principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the lower of the cost or fair market value of the property so acquired or built or of such repairs or improvements financed with such Indebtedness (each measured at the time of such acquisition, repair, improvement or construction is made);

(f) Indebtedness that also constitutes a Permitted Investment;

(g) Guarantees by any of Borrower’s Subsidiaries in respect of Indebtedness of Borrower otherwise permitted hereunder;

(h) Indebtedness in respect of any cash management services, corporate credit cards, netting services, automatic clearinghouse arrangements, overdraft protections, employee credit card programs and other cash management and similar arrangements in the ordinary course of business and not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate at any time;

(i) Indebtedness consisting of obligations in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and performance and completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case in the ordinary course of business and not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate at any time;

(j) Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, warehouse receipts or similar instruments issued or created in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice and not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate at any time;

(k) Indebtedness with respect to Equipment rented or purchased in connection with advancing PLN-74809 into pivotal Phase 2b/3 PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis) clinical trials not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate at any time;

 

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(l) Indebtedness to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(m) other unsecured Indebtedness not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) in the aggregate at any time; and

(n) extensions, refinancings, modifications, amendments and restatements of any items of Permitted Indebtedness (a) through (n) above, provided that the principal amount thereof is not increased or the terms thereof are not modified to impose materially more burdensome terms upon Borrower, or its Subsidiary, as the case may be.

Permitted Investments” are:

(a) Investments disclosed on the Perfection Certificate(s) and existing on the Effective Date and any modification, replacement, renewal or extension of any such Investment so long as no such modification, renewal or extension thereof increases the amount of such Investment except as otherwise permitted by this definition;

(b) (i) Investments consisting of cash and Cash Equivalents held in Borrower’s Collateral Accounts that are maintained in accordance with Section 6.6, and (ii) any other Investments permitted by Borrower’s investment policy, as amended from time to time, provided that such investment policy (and any such amendment thereto) has been approved in writing by Collateral Agent (it being understood and agreed that certain Investment Guidelines of Pliant Therapeutics, Inc., dated as of November 10, 2021, and delivered to the Collateral Agent prior to the Effective Date is approved);

(c) Investments consisting of the endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of Borrower;

(d) Investments consisting of, or held in, (i) Excluded Accounts or (ii) other Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts, but in the case of this clause (ii), only to the extent that Collateral Agent has a perfected security interest in the amounts held in such accounts to the extent required pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents;

(e) Investments to the extent permitted by Sections 7.1 and 7.4;

(f) Investments (i) by a Loan Party in any other Loan Party, (ii) by any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party (x) in any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party or (y) in a Loan Party and (iii) by a Loan Party in any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in an aggregate amount, for purposes of this clause (iii) not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate in any fiscal year;

(g) Investments consisting of (i) travel advances and employee relocation loans and other employee loans and advances in the ordinary course of business not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate in any fiscal year, and (ii) loans to employees, officers or directors relating to the purchase of equity securities of Borrower or its Subsidiaries pursuant to employee stock purchase plans or agreements approved by Borrower’s Board of Directors not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) in the aggregate in any fiscal year; and (iii) non-cash loans and advances to employees, officers, directors, managers and consultants relating to the purchase of equity securities of Borrower or its Subsidiaries pursuant to employee stock purchase plans or agreements approved by Borrower’s board of directors;

 

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(h) Investments (including debt obligations) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of customers or suppliers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers or suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business;

(i) Investments consisting of notes receivable of, or prepaid royalties and other credit extensions, to customers and suppliers who are not Affiliates, in the ordinary course of business; provided that this paragraph (i) shall not apply to Investments of Borrower in any Subsidiary;

(j) non-cash Investments in joint ventures or strategic alliances in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business consisting of the non-exclusive licensing of technology, the development of technology or the providing of technical support; and

(k) other Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) per fiscal year of Borrower.

Permitted Licenses” are (A) licenses of over-the-counter software that is commercially available to the public and (B) non-exclusive and exclusive licenses and sublicenses for the use of the Intellectual Property of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business, provided, that, with respect to each such license described in clause (B), (i) no Event of Default has occurred or is continuing at the time of such license; (ii) the license constitutes an arms-length transaction, the terms of which, on their face, do not provide for a sale or assignment of any Intellectual Property and do not restrict the ability of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, to pledge, grant a security interest in or lien on, or assign or otherwise Transfer any Intellectual Property; (iii) in the case of any exclusive license, (x) Borrower delivers ten (10) days’ prior written notice and a brief summary of the terms of the proposed license to Collateral Agent and the Lenders and delivers to Collateral Agent and the Lenders copies of the final executed licensing documents in connection with the exclusive license promptly upon consummation thereof, and (y) any such license could not result in a legal transfer of title of the licensed property but may be exclusive in respects other than territory and may be exclusive as to territory only as to discrete geographical areas outside of the United States; and (iv) all upfront payments, royalties, milestone payments or other proceeds arising from the licensing agreement that are payable to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries are paid to a Deposit Account that is governed by a Control Agreement.

Permitted Liens” are:

(a) Liens existing on the Effective Date and disclosed on the Perfection Certificates or arising under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(b) Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other government charges or levies, either (i) not due and payable or (ii) being contested in good faith and for which Borrower maintains adequate reserves on Borrower’s Books, provided that no notice of any such Lien has been filed or recorded under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations adopted thereunder;

(c) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under clause (e) of the definition of “Permitted Indebtedness,” provided that (i) such Liens exist prior to the acquisition of, or attach substantially simultaneous with, or within twenty (20) days after the, acquisition, lease, repair, improvement or construction of, such property financed or leased by such Indebtedness and (ii) such Liens do not extend to any property of Borrower other than the property (and proceeds thereof) acquired, leased or built, or the improvements or repairs, financed by such Indebtedness;

 

44


(d) Liens of carriers, warehousemen, suppliers, or other Persons that are possessory in nature arising in the ordinary course of business so long as such Liens attach only to Inventory, securing liabilities in the aggregate amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) (excluding from such cap, however, any location or arrangement to the extent Collateral Agent is a party to bailee waiver with respect to such location or arrangement pursuant to Section 6.11), and which are not delinquent or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings which proceedings have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject thereto;

(e) Liens to secure payment of workers’ compensation, employment insurance, old-age pensions, social security and other like obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than Liens imposed by ERISA);

(f) Liens incurred in the extension, renewal or refinancing of the Indebtedness secured by Liens described in (a) through (c), but any extension, renewal or replacement Lien must be limited to the property encumbered by the existing Lien and the principal amount of the Indebtedness may not increase;

(g) leases or subleases of real property granted in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business (or, if referring to another Person, in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), and leases, subleases, non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses of personal property (other than Intellectual Property) granted in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business (or, if referring to another Person, in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), if the leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses do not prohibit granting Collateral Agent or any Lender a security interest therein;

(h) banker’s liens, rights of setoff and Liens in favor of financial institutions incurred in the ordinary course of business arising in connection with Borrower’s deposit accounts or securities accounts held at such institutions solely to secure payment of fees and similar costs and expenses and provided such accounts are maintained in compliance with Section 6.6(b) hereof;

(i) Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Sections 8.4 or 8.7;

(j) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payments of custom duties in connection with the importation of goods;

(k) Liens on insurance proceeds securing the payment of financed insurance premiums;

(l) Liens consisting of minor imperfections of title and easements, rights-of-way, covenants, consents, reservations, encroachments, variations and zoning and other similar restrictions, charges, encumbrances or title defects affecting real property which, in the aggregate, do not materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the conduct of the business conducted at the property subject to such encumbrance;

(m) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation), performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business; provided however the aggregate amount of such deposits does not exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) at any given time;

(n) Liens consisting of security deposits in connection with leases, utility services and similar transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business and in an aggregate amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00);

 

45


(o) Liens consisting of Permitted Licenses; and

(p) tax liens for unpaid property taxes provided that the Indebtedness associated with the same does not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) at any one time outstanding.

Person” is any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, firm, joint stock company, estate, entity or government agency.

Pliant Belgium” means Pliant Therapeutics Belgium BV, a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Borrower organized under the laws of Belgium.

Post Closing Letter” is that certain Post Closing Letter dated as of the Effective Date by and between Collateral Agent and Borrower.

Prepayment Fee” is, with respect to any Term Loan subject to prepayment prior to the Maturity Date, whether by mandatory or voluntary prepayment, acceleration or otherwise, an additional fee payable to the Lenders in amount equal to:

(i) for a prepayment made on or after the Funding Date of such Term Loan through and including the first anniversary of the Funding Date of such Term Loan, three percent (3.00%) of the principal amount of such Term Loan prepaid;

(ii) for a prepayment made after the date which is after the first anniversary of the Funding Date of such Term Loan through and including the second anniversary of the Funding Date of such Term Loan, two percent (2.00%) of the principal amount of the Term Loans prepaid;

(iii) for a prepayment made after the date which is after the second anniversary of the Funding Date of such Term Loan through and including the third anniversary of the Funding Date of such Term Loan, one percent (1.00%) of the principal amount of the Term Loans prepaid; and

(iv) for a prepayment made after the third anniversary of the Funding Date of such Term Loan and prior to the Maturity Date, no Prepayment Fee shall be applicable.

Pro Rata Share” is, as of any date of determination, with respect to each Lender, a percentage (expressed as a decimal, rounded to the ninth decimal place) determined by dividing the outstanding principal amount of Term Loans (or Term Loan Commitments, as applicable) held by such Lender by the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Term Loans (or all Term Loan Commitments, as applicable).

Registered Organization” is any “registered organization” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.

Required Lenders” means (i) for so long as all of the Persons that are Lenders on the Effective Date (each an “Original Lender”) have not assigned or transferred any of their interests in their Term Loan, Lenders holding one hundred percent (100.00%) of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan, or (ii) at any time from and after any Original Lender has assigned or transferred any interest in its Term Loan, Lenders holding at least sixty six percent (66.00%) of the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan and, in respect of this clause (ii), (A) each Original Lender that has not assigned or transferred any portion of its Term Loan, (B) each assignee or transferee of an Original Lender’s interest in the Term Loan, but only to the extent that such assignee or transferee is an Affiliate or Approved Fund of such Original Lender, and (C) any Person providing financing to any Person described in clauses (A) and (B) above; provided, however, that this clause (C) shall only apply upon the occurrence of a default, event of default or similar occurrence with respect to such financing.

 

46


Requirement of Law” is as to any Person, the organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law (statutory or common), treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Responsible Officer” is any of the President, Chief Executive Officer, or Chief Financial Officer of Borrower acting alone.

Secured Promissory Note” is defined in Section 2.4.

Secured Promissory Note Record” is a record maintained by each Lender with respect to the outstanding Obligations owed by Borrower to Lender and credits made thereto.

Securities Account” is any “securities account” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.

Shares” is one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock, membership units or other securities owned or held of record by Borrower or Borrower’s Subsidiary, in any Subsidiary.

Solvent” is, with respect to any Person: the fair salable value of such Person’s consolidated assets (including goodwill minus disposition costs) exceeds the fair value of such Person’s liabilities; such Person is not left with unreasonably small capital after the transactions in this Agreement; and such Person is able to pay its debts (including trade debts) as they mature.

Subordinated Debt” is indebtedness incurred by any Loan Party subordinated to all Indebtedness of the Loan Parties to the Lenders (pursuant to a subordination, intercreditor, or other similar agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Collateral Agent and the Lenders entered into between Collateral Agent, Loan Parties, and the other creditor), on terms acceptable to Collateral Agent and the Lenders.

Subsidiary” is, with respect to any Person, any Person of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting stock or other equity interests (in the case of Persons other than corporations) is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or through one or more intermediaries.

Term A Draw Period” is the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the earliest of (i) December 30, 2022 and (ii) the occurrence of an Event of Default (which has not been waived by Collateral Agent and the Required Lenders in writing in their sole discretion); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, such Term A Draw Period shall automatically be reinstated with the same force and effect upon the waiver by the Collateral Agent and Required Lenders in writing in their sole discretion of such Event of Default explicitly for the purposes of the commencement and/or reinstatement of the Term A Draw Period.

Term A-1 Loan” is defined in Section 2.2(a)(i) hereof.

Term A Loan” is defined in Section 2.2(a)(i) hereof.

 

47


Term B Draw Period” is the period commencing on the date of the occurrence of the Term B Milestone, provided that if the Term B Milestone is achieved prior to October 1, 2022, then the Term B Draw Period shall commence on October 1, 2022, and ending on the earliest of (i) December 30, 2022 and (ii) the occurrence of an Event of Default (which has not been waived by Collateral Agent and the Required Lenders in writing in their sole discretion); provided, however, that the Term B Draw Period shall not commence if on the date of the occurrence of the Term B Milestone an Event of Default has occurred. (unless and until such Event of Default has been waived by Collateral Agent and the Required Lenders in writing in their sole discretion explicitly for the purposes of the commencement and/or reinstatement of the Term B Draw Period); provided further that, for the avoidance of doubt, such Term B Draw Period shall automatically be reinstated with the same force and effect upon the waiver by the Collateral Agent and Required Lenders in writing in their sole discretion of such Event of Default explicitly for the purposes of the commencement and/or reinstatement of the Term B Draw Period.

Term B Loan” is defined in Section 2.2(a)(ii) hereof.

Term B Milestone” means Borrower’s delivery to Collateral Agent and Lenders of evidence, reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent and Lenders in their sole discretion, that Borrower has achieved INTEGRIS-IPF Phase 2a data, sufficient to advance PLN-74809 into pivotal Phase 2b/3 IPF clinical trials.

Term C Draw Period” is the period commencing on the date of the occurrence of the Term C Milestone, provided that if the Term C Milestone is achieved prior to July 1, 2023, then the Term C Draw Period shall commence on July 1, 2023, and ending on the earliest of (i) September 30, 2023 and (ii) the occurrence of an Event of Default (which has not been waived by Collateral Agent and the Required Lenders in writing in their sole discretion); provided, however, that the Term C Draw Period shall not commence if on the date of the occurrence of either clause (i) or (ii) of the Term C Milestone an Event of Default has occurred (unless and until such Event of Default has been waived by Collateral Agent and the Required Lenders in writing in their sole discretion explicitly for the purposes of the commencement and/or reinstatement of the Term C Draw Period); provided further that, for the avoidance of doubt, such Term C Draw Period shall automatically be reinstated with the same force and effect upon the waiver by the Collateral Agent and Required Lenders in writing in their sole discretion of such Event of Default explicitly for the purposes of the commencement and/or reinstatement of the Term C Draw Period.

Term C Loan” is defined in Section 2.2(a)(iii) hereof.

Term C Milestone” means Borrower’s delivery to Collateral Agent and Lenders of evidence, reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent and Lenders in their sole discretion, that Borrower has achieved both (i) INTEGRIS-PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis) Phase 2a data, sufficient to advance PLN-74809 into pivotal Phase 2b/3 PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis) clinical trials and (ii) IND approval for either the αvß8 oncology product candidate or the α7ß1 muscular dystrophy product candidate.

Term D Loan” is defined in Section 2.2(a)(iv) hereof.

Term Loan” is defined in Section 2.2(a)(iv) hereof.

Term Loan Commitment” is, for any Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make a Term Loan, up to the principal amount shown on Schedule 1.1.Term Loan Commitments” means the aggregate amount of such commitments of all Lenders.

Trademarks” means any trademark and servicemark rights, whether registered or not, applications to register and registrations of the same and like protections, and the entire goodwill of the business of Borrower connected with and symbolized by such trademarks.

Transfer” is defined in Section 7.1.

 

48


[Balance of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

49


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the Effective Date.

 

BORROWER:
PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By  

/s/ Keith Cummings

Name:  

Keith Cummings, M.D., MBA

Title:  

Chief Financial Officer

 

COLLATERAL AGENT AND LENDER:
OXFORD FINANCE LLC
By  

/s/ Colette H. Featherly

Name:  

Colette H. Featherly

Title:  

Senior Vice President

 


SCHEDULE 1.1

Lenders and Commitments

Term A Loans

 

Lender

   Term Loan Commitment      Commitment
Percentage
 

OXFORD FINANCE LLC

   $ 25,000,000.00        100.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 25,000,000.00        100.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Term B Loans

 

Lender

   Term Loan Commitment      Commitment
Percentage
 

OXFORD FINANCE LLC

   $ 25,000,000.00        100.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 25,000,000.00        100.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Term C Loans

 

Lender

   Term Loan Commitment      Commitment
Percentage
 

OXFORD FINANCE LLC

   $ 25,000,000.00        100.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 25,000,000.00        100.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Aggregate (all Term Loans A-C)

 

Lender

   Term Loan Commitment      Commitment
Percentage
 

OXFORD FINANCE LLC

   $ 75,000,000.00        100.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 75,000,000.00        100.00
  

 

 

    

 

 

 


EXHIBIT A

Description of Collateral

The Collateral consists of all of Borrower’s right, title and interest, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising, in, to and under the following personal property:

All goods, Accounts (including health-care receivables), Equipment, Inventory, contract rights or rights to payment of money, leases, license agreements, franchise agreements, General Intangibles (excluding any Intellectual Property except as noted below), commercial tort claims, documents, instruments (including any promissory notes), chattel paper (whether tangible or electronic), cash, deposit accounts and other Collateral Accounts, all certificates of deposit, fixtures, letters of credit rights (whether or not the letter of credit is evidenced by a writing), securities, and all other investment property, supporting obligations, and financial assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, wherever located; and

All Borrower’s Books relating to the foregoing, and any and all claims, rights and interests in any of the above and all substitutions for, additions, attachments, accessories, accessions and improvements to and replacements, products, proceeds and insurance proceeds of any or all of the foregoing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral does not include (i) any Intellectual Property; provided, however, the Collateral shall include all Accounts and all proceeds of Intellectual Property and if a judicial authority (including a U.S. Bankruptcy Court) would hold that a security interest in the underlying Intellectual Property is necessary to have a security interest in such Accounts and such property that are proceeds of Intellectual Property, then the Collateral shall automatically, and effective as of the Effective Date, include the Intellectual Property to the extent necessary to permit perfection of Collateral Agent’s security interest in such Accounts and such other property of Borrower that are proceeds of the Intellectual Property; (ii) Excluded Accounts; and (iii) any license or contract, in each case if the granting of a Lien in such license or contract is prohibited by or would constitute a default under the agreement governing such license or contract (but (A) only to the extent such prohibition is enforceable under applicable law and (B) other than to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Sections 9-406, 9-408 or 9-409 (or any other Section) of Section 9 of the Code); provided that upon the termination, lapsing or expiration of any such prohibition, such license or contract, as applicable, shall automatically be subject to the security interest granted in favor of Collateral Agent hereunder and become part of the “Collateral.”

Pursuant to the terms of a certain negative pledge arrangement with Collateral Agent and the Lenders, Borrower has agreed not to encumber any of its Intellectual Property.


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF DISBURSEMENT LETTER

[DATE]

The undersigned, being the duly elected and acting                      of PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC., a Delaware corporation with offices located at 260 Littlefield Avenue, S San Francisco CA 94080 (“Borrower”), does hereby certify, in such capacity and not individually, to OXFORD FINANCE LLC (“Oxford”), as collateral agent acting on behalf of the Lenders from time to time party to (as defined herein) the Loan Agreement (as defined below) (the “Collateral Agent”) in connection with that certain Loan and Security Agreement dated as of May 4, 2022, by and among Borrower, Collateral Agent and the Lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Loan Agreement”; with other capitalized terms used below having the meanings ascribed thereto in the Loan Agreement) that:

1. The representations and warranties made by Borrower in Section 5 of the Loan Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof; provided, however that such materiality qualifier is not applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof; and provided, further that those representations and warranties expressly referring to a specific date are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof.

2. As of the date hereof, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will result from the Credit Extension.

3. Borrower is in compliance with the covenants and requirements contained in Sections 4, 6 and 7 of the Loan Agreement.

4. All conditions referred to in Section [3.1/3.2] of the Loan Agreement to the making of the Term Loan to be made on or about the date hereof have been satisfied or waived by Collateral Agent.

5. No Material Adverse Change has occurred.

6. The undersigned is a Responsible Officer.

[Balance of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


7. The proceeds of the Term [A][B][C] Loan shall be disbursed as follows:

 

Disbursement from Collateral Agent:

  

Loan Amount

     $_______________  

Plus:

  

--Deposit Received

     $__________  

Less:

  

--Facility Fee

     ($_________

[--Interim Interest

     ($_________ )] 

--Lender’s Legal Fees

      ($_________ )* 

TOTAL TERM [A][B][C] LOAN NET PROCEEDS FROM Collateral Agent

     $_______________  

8. The Term [A][B][C] Loan shall amortize in accordance with the Amortization Table attached hereto as Annex 1.

9. The aggregate net proceeds of the Term Loans shall be transferred to the Designated Deposit Account as follows:

 

Account Name:   

[***]

Bank Name:   

[***]

Bank Address:   

[***]

Account Number:   

[***]

ABA Number:   

[***]

 

 

* 

Legal fees and costs are through the Effective Date. Post-closing legal fees and costs, payable after the Effective Date, to be invoiced and paid post-closing.

 

[Balance of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


Dated as of the date first set forth above.

 

BORROWER:
PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By    
Name:    
Title:    
 
COLLATERAL AGENT ON BEHALF OF LENDERS:
OXFORD FINANCE LLC
By    
Name:    
Title:    

 

[Signature Page to Disbursement Letter]


ANNEX 1

AMORTIZATION TABLE

(Term [A][B][C] Loan)

[see attached]


EXHIBIT C

Compliance Certificate

 

TO:    OXFORD FINANCE LLC, as Collateral Agent
FROM:    PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.

The undersigned authorized officer (“Officer”) of PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC. (“Borrower”), hereby certifies, in such capacity and not individually, that in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Loan and Security Agreement dated May 4, 2022 by and among Borrower, Collateral Agent, and the Lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Loan Agreement;” capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Loan Agreement),

(a) Borrower is in complete compliance for the period ending _______________ with all required covenants under the Loan Documents, except as noted below;

(b) No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as of date hereof, except as noted below;

(c) Except as noted below, all representations and warranties of Borrower stated in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on this date for the period described in clause (a) above; provided, however, that such materiality qualifier is not applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof; and provided, further that those representations and warranties expressly referring to a specific date are true and correct in all material respects as of such date;

(d) Borrower, and each of Borrower’s Subsidiaries, has timely filed all (i) required tax returns and reports and timely pay and (ii) foreign, federal, material state, and material local taxes, assessments, deposits and contributions owed by Borrower or its Subsidiaries, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 6.4 of the Loan Agreement.

Attached are the required documents, if any, supporting our certification(s). The Officer, on behalf of Borrower, further certifies, solely, in such capacity and not individually, that the attached financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and are consistently applied from one period to the next except as explained in an accompanying letter or footnotes and except, in the case of unaudited financial statements, for the absence of footnotes and subject to year-end audit adjustments as to the interim financial statements.


Please indicate compliance status since the last Compliance Certificate by circling Yes, No, or N/A under “Complies” column.

 

Reporting Covenant

  

Requirement

  

Actual

  

Complies

Quarterly Financial Statements    Within 45 days of first three FQE       Yes/No/N/A
Annual (CPA Audited) Financial Statements    Within 90 days after FYE       Yes/No/N/A
Annual Financial Projections    Annually (within 60 days of FYE), and when revised within 7 Business Days       Yes/No/N/A
8-K, 10-K and 10-Q Filings    Within 5 Business Days of filing      
Compliance Certificate    Concurrently with quarterly and annual financials       Yes/No/N/A
Month End Account Statements of each Borrower    Total amount of Borrower’s cash and cash equivalents at the last day of the measurement period    $________   
Month End Account Statements of each Subsidiary    Total amount of Borrower’s cash and cash equivalents at the last day of the measurement period    $________   

Deposit and Securities Accounts

(Please list all accounts; attach separate sheet if additional space needed)

 

     Institution Name    Account Number    New Account?    Account Control Agreement in place?
1)          Yes    No    Yes    No
2)          Yes    No    Yes    No
3)          Yes    No    Yes    No
4)          Yes    No    Yes    No


Other Matters

 

1)    Has any Key Persons departed since the last Compliance Certificate?    Yes    No
2)    Have there been any Transfers of Collateral or Intellectual Property prohibited by the Loan Agreement?    Yes    No
3)    Have there been any litigation or governmental proceedings pending or threatened (in writing) against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which could reasonably be expected to result in damages or costs to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) or more or which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change?    Yes    No
4)    Have there been any amendments of the Operating Documents of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries? If Borrower is no longer subject to the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, has there been a material change to the capitalization table of Borrower? If yes, provide copies of any such amendments or changes with this Compliance Certificate.    Yes    No


Exceptions

Please explain any exceptions with respect to the certification above: (If no exceptions exist, state “No exceptions.” Attach separate sheet if additional space needed.)

 

PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By    
Name:    
Title:    

Date:

 

LENDER USE ONLY
Received by:                             Date:                    
Verified by:                               Date:                    
Compliance Status:    Yes        No


SCHEDULE 1

Financial Statements


EXHIBIT D

FORM OF SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

(Term [A][B][C] Loan)

 

$ ____________________    Dated: [DATE]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC., a Delaware corporation with offices located at 260 Littlefield Avenue, S San Francisco CA 94080 (“Borrower”) HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the order of OXFORD FINANCE LLC (“Lender”) or its registered assigns the principal amount of [___________] MILLION DOLLARS ($______________) or such lesser amount as shall equal the outstanding principal balance of the Term [A][B][C] Loan made to Borrower by Lender, plus interest on the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Term [A][B][C] Loan, at the rates and in accordance with the terms of the Loan and Security Agreement dated May 4, 2022 by and among Borrower, Lender, Oxford Finance LLC, as Collateral Agent, and the other Lenders from time to time party thereto (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”). If not sooner paid, the entire principal amount and all accrued and unpaid interest hereunder shall be due and payable on the Maturity Date as set forth in the Loan Agreement. Any capitalized term not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning attributed to such term in the Loan Agreement.

Principal, interest and all other amounts due with respect to the Term [A][B][C] Loan, are payable in lawful money of the United States of America to Lender as set forth in the Loan Agreement and this Secured Promissory Note (this “Note”). The principal amount of this Note and the interest rate applicable thereto, and all payments made with respect thereto, shall be recorded by Lender and, prior to any transfer hereof, endorsed on the grid attached hereto as Annex 1 which is part of this Note.

The Loan Agreement, among other things, (a) provides for the making of a secured Term [A][B][C] Loan by Lender to Borrower, and (b) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events.

This Note may not be prepaid except as set forth in Section 2.2 (c) and Section 2.2(d) of the Loan Agreement.

This Note and the obligation of Borrower to repay the unpaid principal amount of the Term [A][B][C] Loan, interest on the Term [A][B][C] Loan and all other amounts due Lender under the Loan Agreement is secured under the Loan Agreement.

Presentment for payment, demand, notice of protest and all other demands and notices of any kind in connection with the execution, delivery, performance and enforcement of this Note are hereby waived.

Borrower shall pay all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and costs, incurred by Lender in the enforcement or attempt to enforce any of Borrower’s obligations hereunder not performed when due, all in accordance with the Loan Agreement.

THE TERMS OF SECTION 11 (CHOICE OF LAW, VENUE, JURY TRIAL WAIVER AND JUDICIAL REFERENCE) ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, MUTATIS MUTANDIS.


The ownership of an interest in this Note shall be registered on a record of ownership maintained by Lender or its agent. Notwithstanding anything else in this Note to the contrary, the right to the principal of, and stated interest on, this Note may be transferred only if (i) the transfer is registered on such record of ownership and the transferee is identified as the owner of an interest in the obligation and (ii) such transfer is made in accordance with Section 12.1 of the Loan Agreement. Borrower shall be entitled to treat the registered holder of this Note (as recorded on such record of ownership) as the owner in fact thereof for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in this Note on the part of any other person or entity.

[Balance of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has caused this Note to be duly executed by one of its officers thereunto duly authorized on the date hereof.

 

BORROWER:
PLIANT THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By     
Name:    
Title:    


ANNEX 1

LOAN INTEREST RATE AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

 

Date

   Principal
Amount
   Interest Rate    Scheduled
Payment Amount
   Notation By