SEC Filing - Griffon Corporation

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Unassociated Document

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): June 24, 2008

GRIFFON CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	1-6620	11-1893410
(State or Other Jurisdiction	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation)	File Number)	Identification Number)

100 Jericho Quadrangle
Jericho, New York	11753
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(516) 938-5544

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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

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

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

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

Item 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On June 24, 2008, Clopay Building Products Company, Inc. and Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc. (collectively, the “Borrowers”), each a wholly-owned subsidiary of Griffon Corporation (the “Company”), entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) for their domestic operations with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (collectively, the “Lenders”), pursuant to which the Lenders agreed to provide the Borrower with a five-year senior secured revolving credit facility of $100,000,000. Availability under the Credit Agreement is based upon certain eligible accounts receivable, inventory, cash and cash equivalents and property, plant and equipment. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at rates based upon LIBOR or the prime rate and are collateralized by the stock and assets of the Borrowers and stock of the Borrowers’ subsidiaries. The Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive and financial covenants. Upon the occurrence of certain events of default specified in the Credit Agreement, amounts due under the Credit Agreement may be declared immediately due and payable.

Loan proceeds of approximately $33 million were used to refinance an existing lease obligation for certain property, plant and equipment.

The description of the Credit Agreement contained herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Credit Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.03.

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

The information set forth in Item 1.01 is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

10.1	Credit Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2008, among Clopay Building Products Company, Inc., Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc., the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, among others.

SIGNATURES

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

GRIFFON CORPORATION

By:	/s/ Patrick L. Alesia
	Patrick L. Alesia
	Chief Financial Officer

Date: June 27, 2008

Exhibit Index

10.1	Credit Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2008, among Clopay Building Products Company, Inc., Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc., the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, among others.

Unassociated Document

EXECUTION COPY

____________________________

CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

June 24, 2008

among

CLOPAY BUILDING PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.,

and

CLOPAY PLASTIC PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.,

as Borrowers,

The Lenders Party Hereto

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

____________________________

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES, INC.,

as Bookrunner and Lead Arranger

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
	ARTICLE I

	Definitions

Section 1.01.	Defined Terms	1
Section 1.02.	Classification of Loans and Borrowings	30
Section 1.03.	Terms Generally	30
Section 1.04.	Accounting Terms; GAAP	30
	ARTICLE II

	The Credits

Section 2.01.	Commitments	31
Section 2.02.	Loans and Borrowings	31
Section 2.03.	Requests for Revolving Borrowings	32
Section 2.04.	Protective Advances	33
Section 2.05.	Swingline Loans and Overadvances	33
Section 2.06.	Letters of Credit	35
Section 2.07.	Funding of Borrowings	39
Section 2.08.	Interest Elections	40
Section 2.09.	Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Increase in Revolving Commitments	41
Section 2.10.	Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt	43
Section 2.11.	Prepayment of Loans	44
Section 2.12.	Fees	45
Section 2.13.	Interest	46
Section 2.14.	Alternate Rate of Interest	47
Section 2.15.	Increased Costs	47
Section 2.16.	Break Funding Payments	49
Section 2.17.	Taxes	49
Section 2.18.	Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs	51
Section 2.19.	Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders	54
Section 2.20.	Returned Payments	55
	ARTICLE III

	Representations and Warranties

Section 3.01.	Organization; Powers	55
Section 3.02.	Authorization; Enforceability	55
Section 3.03.	Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts	56

-i-

Section 3.04.	Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect	56
Section 3.05.	Properties	57
Section 3.06.	Litigation and Environmental Matters	57
Section 3.07.	Compliance with Laws and Contractual Obligations	58
Section 3.08.	Investment Company Status	58
Section 3.09.	Taxes	58
Section 3.10.	ERISA; Employee Benefit Plans	58
Section 3.11.	Disclosure	58
Section 3.12.	Use of Credit	59
Section 3.13.	Burdensome Agreements	59
Section 3.14.	Insurance	59
Section 3.15.	Capitalization and Subsidiaries	59
Section 3.16.	Labor Matters	59
Section 3.17.	Security Interest in Collateral	60
Section 3.18.	Holdings	60

	ARTICLE IV

	Conditions

Section 4.01.	Closing	60
Section 4.02.	Each Credit Event	64

	ARTICLE V

	AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Section 5.01.	Financial Statements, Borrowing Base and Other Information	65
Section 5.02.	Notices of Material Events	71
Section 5.03.	Existence; Conduct of Business	72
Section 5.04.	Payment of Obligations	72
Section 5.05.	Maintenance of Properties	72
Section 5.06.	Maintenance of Insurance	72
Section 5.07.	Books and Records	72
Section 5.08.	Inspection Rights; Collateral Reports	73
Section 5.09.	Compliance with Laws and Contractual Obligations	73
Section 5.10.	Use of Proceeds	73
Section 5.11.	Casualty and Condemnation	74
Section 5.12.	Depository Banks	74
Section 5.13.	Collateral; Further Assurances	74
Section 5.14.	Collateral Access Agreements; Control Agreements	76
Section 5.15.	Post-closing Deliverables	76

	ARTICLE VI

	NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Section 6.01.	Indebtedness; Guarantees	77
Section 6.02.	Liens	79
Section 6.03.	Mergers, Consolidations, Etc.	81
Section 6.04.	Dispositions	81
Section 6.05.	Lines of Business	83
Section 6.06.	Investments and Acquisitions	83
Section 6.07.	Restricted Payments	84
Section 6.08.	Transactions with Affiliates	86
Section 6.09.	Restrictive Agreements	86
Section 6.10.	Swap Agreements	87
Section 6.11.	Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio	87
Section 6.12.	Stock Issuance	87
Section 6.13.	Modifications of Certain Documents	88
Section 6.14.	Passive Holding Company Status	88
Section 6.15.	Sale and Leaseback Transactions	88
Section 6.16.	Capital Expenditures	88
Section 6.17.	Fiscal Year	89

	ARTICLE VII

	EVENTS OF DEFAULT

	ARTICLE VIII

	The Administrative Agent

	ARTICLE IX

	Miscellaneous

Section 9.01.	Notices	94
Section 9.02.	Waivers; Amendments	95
Section 9.03.	Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver	97
Section 9.04.	Successors and Assigns	98
Section 9.05.	Survival	101
Section 9.06.	Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness	102
Section 9.07.	Severability	102
Section 9.08.	Right of Setoff	102
Section 9.09.	Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process	103
Section 9.10.	WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL	103
Section 9.11.	Headings	104
Section 9.12.	Confidentiality	104

iii

Section 9.13.	Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law	105
Section 9.14.	USA PATRIOT Act	105
Section 9.15.	Disclosure	105
Section 9.16.	Appointment for Perfection	105
Section 9.17.	Interest Rate Limitation	106

	ARTICLE X

	Guaranty

Section 10.01.	Guaranty	106
Section 10.02.	Guaranty of Payment	106
Section 10.03.	No Discharge or Diminishment of Guaranty	106
Section 10.04.	Defenses Waived	107
Section 10.05.	Rights of Subrogation	108
Section 10.06.	Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration	108
Section 10.07.	Information	108
Section 10.08.	[Reserved]	108
Section 10.09.	Maximum Liability	108
Section 10.10.	Contribution	109
Section 10.11.	Liability Cumulative	109

	ARTICLE XI

	The Borrower Representative

Section 11.01.	Appointment; Nature of Relationship	110
Section 11.02.	Powers	110
Section 11.03.	Employment of Agents	110
Section 11.04.	Notices	110
Section 11.05.	Successor Borrower Representative	110
Section 11.06.	Execution of Loan Documents; Borrowing Base Certificate	111
Section 11.07.	Reporting	111

SCHEDULES:

Commitment Schedule

Schedule 1.01(a) – Account Debtors

Schedule 1.01(b) – Eligible Equipment

Schedule 1.01(c) – Griffon Letters of Credit

Schedule 3.05 – Properties

Schedule 3.06 – Disclosed Matters

Schedule 3.13 – Burdensome Agreements

Schedule 3.14 – Insurance

Schedule 3.15 – Capitalization and Subsidiaries

Schedule 3.16 – Labor Matters

Schedule 3.17 – Perfection Schedule

Schedule 5.02 – Material Contracts

Schedule 5.15 – Post-closing Deliverables

Schedule 6.01(a) – Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 6.01(b) – Existing Guaranties

Schedule 6.02 – Existing Liens

Schedule 6.06 – Existing Investments

Schedule 6.09 – Existing Restrictive Agreements

Schedule 6.15 – Sale – Leaseback Transactions

EXHIBITS:

Exhibit A – Form of Assignment and Assumption

Exhibit B – Form of Opinion of Borrower’s Counsel

Exhibit C – Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

Exhibit D – Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit E – Joinder Agreement

Exhibit F – Security Agreement

CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of June 24, 2008 (as it may be amended or modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), among CLOPAY BUILDING PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC., a Delaware corporation, CLOPAY PLASTIC PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC., a Delaware corporation, as Borrowers, the other Loan Parties party hereto, the Lenders party hereto, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

Section 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

“ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan bears, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing bear, interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

“Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

“Account Debtor” means any Person obligated on an Account.

“Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

“Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.

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

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

“Aggregate Credit Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate Credit Exposure of all the Lenders.

“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, (a) with respect to Revolving Loans, LC Exposure, Swingline Loans or Overadvances, a percentage equal to a fraction the numerator of which is such Lender’s Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate Commitments of all the Lenders (if the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon such Lender’s share of the aggregate Revolving Exposures at that time), and (b) with respect to Protective Advances or with respect to the Aggregate Credit Exposure, a percentage based upon its share of the Aggregate Credit Exposure and the unused Commitments.

“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan or Eurodollar Loan, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “ABR Spread” or “Eurodollar Spread”, as the case may be, based upon average Availability for the most recently completed fiscal quarter, provided that, the first such adjustment shall be made in respect of the second full fiscal quarter ended after the Effective Date and, until such adjustment is made, the “Applicable Rate” shall be the applicable rate per annum set forth below in Category 2:

Average Availablity	ABR Spread	Eurodollar Spread
Category 1 ≥75,000,000	0.75%	2.25%
Category 2 ≥ 25,000,000 but < 75,000,000	1.00%	2.50%
Category 3 <$25,000,000	1.25%	2.75%

For purposes of the foregoing, (a) the Applicable Rate shall be determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter (commencing after the end of the second full fiscal quarter ended after the Effective Date) based upon the average Availability for such fiscal quarter and (b) each change in the Applicable Rate as determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (a) shall be effective on the first day of the next succeeding quarter (with such change to be effective until the next successive change) and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of the determination of the average Availability for the applicable quarter, provided that the average Availability shall be deemed to be in Category 3 (A) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (B) at the option of the Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Lenders if the Borrowers fail to deliver a Borrowing Base Certificate required to be delivered by them pursuant to Section 5.01(j), during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until such Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered.

“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.

“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

“Availability” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a) the lesser of (i) the Revolving Commitment and (ii) the Borrowing Base minus (b) the Aggregate Credit Exposure of all Lenders.

“Availability Block” means an amount equal to 10% of the Revolving Commitments.

“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.

“Available Revolving Commitments” means, at any time, the Revolving Commitments then in effect minus the Revolving Exposure of all Lenders at such time.

“Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to any Loan Party by any Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards and (c) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

“Banking Services Obligations” of the Loan Parties means any and all obligations of the Loan Parties, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

“Banking Services Reserves” means all Reserves which the Administrative Agent from time to time establishes in its Permitted Discretion for Banking Services then provided or outstanding Banking Services Obligations.

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

“Borrower” or “Borrowers” means, individually or collectively, Clopay Building Products Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

“Borrower Representative” means Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc., in its capacity as contractual representative of the Borrowers pursuant to Article XI.

“Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect, (b) a Swingline Loan, (d) a Protective Advance and (e) an Overadvance.

“Borrowing Base” means, at any time, the sum of (a) 85% of the Borrowers’ Eligible Accounts at such time, plus (b) the lesser of (i) 70% of the Borrowers’ Eligible Inventory, valued at the lower of cost or market value, determined on a first-in-first-out basis, at such time and (ii) the product of 85% multiplied by the Net Orderly Liquidation Value percentage identified in the most recent inventory appraisal ordered by the Administrative Agent multiplied by the Borrowers’ Eligible Inventory, valued at the lower of cost or market value, determined on a first-in-first-out basis, at such time, plus (c) 100% of cash and Permitted Investments in Controlled Accounts with the Administrative Agent, plus (d) the PP&E Component, minus (e) Reserves, minus (f) to the extent applicable pursuant to Section 6.11, the Availability Block. The Administrative Agent may, in its Permitted Discretion, adjust Reserves, with any such changes to be effective two Business Days after delivery of notice thereof to the Borrower Representative and the Lenders. The Borrowing Base at any time shall be determined by reference to the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(j) of the Agreement.

“Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate, signed and certified as accurate and complete by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative, in substantially the form of Exhibit C or another form which is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower Representative for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.02.

“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

“Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, expenditures during such period for any purchase or other acquisition of any asset which would be classified as a fixed or capital asset on a consolidated balance sheet of the Group Members prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that expenditures in respect of the sale and leaseback transactions described on Schedule 6.15, and expenditures in respect of the payoff on the Effective Date of the synthetic lease with SunTrust Bank, as agent, in the approximate principal amount of $32,700,000, shall not be treated as “Capital Expenditures”.

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

“Change of Control” means: (a) Holdings shall cease to own, free and clear of all Liens or other encumbrances, directly or indirectly, at least 100% of the outstanding voting Equity Interests of each Borrower on a fully diluted basis; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of Holdings by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of Holdings nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of Holdings by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) other than Griffon or the Parent; or (d) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the SEC thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), other than Griffon in the case of the Parent, of Equity Interests representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Griffon or the Parent.

“Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender or the Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

“Chase” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association, in its individual capacity, and its successors.

“Class”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans, Protective Advances, or Overadvances.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

“Collateral” means any and all assets on which a Lien is granted to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to any Collateral Document to secure the Secured Obligations.

“Collateral Access Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

“Collection Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Mortgages and any other documents granting a Lien upon the Collateral as security for payment of the Secured Obligations.

“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the sum of such Lender’s Revolving Commitment, together with the commitment of such Lender to acquire participations in Protective Advances hereunder. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on the Commitment Schedule, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.

“Commitment Schedule” means the Schedule attached hereto identified as such.

“Consolidated Pre-tax Income” means, for any period, net income of the Group Members for such period plus foreign, Federal, state and local income taxes deducted in determining net income for such period.

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

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

“Control Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

“Controlled Accounts” means deposit accounts maintained with the Administrative Agent or with respect to which a Control Agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent shall been executed and delivered by the applicable Loan Party and depositary institution.

“Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of (a) such Lender’s Revolving Exposure at such time, plus (b) an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage, if any, of the aggregate principal amount of Protective Advances outstanding at such time.

“Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

“Dilution Factors” shall mean, without duplication, with respect to any period, the aggregate amount of all deductions, credit memos, returns, adjustments, allowances, bad debt write-offs and other non-cash credits which are recorded to reduce accounts receivable in a manner consistent with current and historical accounting practices of the Borrowers.

“Dilution Ratio” shall mean, at any date, the amount (expressed as a percentage) equal to (a) the aggregate amount of the applicable Dilution Factors for the twelve most recently ended fiscal months divided by (b) total gross sales for the twelve most recently ended fiscal months.

“Dilution Reserve” shall mean, at any date on which the Dilution Ratio exceeds 5%, an amount equal to the product of (i) the percentage by which the applicable Dilution Ratio exceeds 5% multiplied by (ii) the Eligible Accounts, in each case, on such date.

“Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06.

“Documents” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

“dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

“EBITDA” means, for any period, the sum of (i) Net Income, (ii) Interest Expense, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense deducted in determining Net Income, (iv) foreign, Federal, state and local income taxes deducted in determining Net Income, in each case, for such period, computed in accordance with GAAP, and (v) to the extent deducted in determining Net Income, transaction costs, fees and expenses relating to the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

“Eligible Accounts” means, at any time, the Accounts of the Borrowers which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion are eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder (it being understood that any representation and warranty by the Borrowers as to whether Accounts constitute Eligible Accounts shall be based on the eligibility criteria set forth in this Agreement and any additional standards of eligibility or changes to eligibility or standard of eligibility effected by the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Agreement). Without limiting the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion provided herein, Eligible Accounts shall not include any Account:

(a) which is not subject to a first priority perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent;

(b) which is subject to any Lien other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent and (ii) a Permitted Encumbrance which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent;

(c) with respect to which the scheduled due date is more than 90 days after the original invoice date, is unpaid more than 120 days after the date of the original invoice therefor or more than 60 days after the original due date, or which has been written off the books of the applicable Borrower or otherwise designated as uncollectible;

(d) which is owing by an Account Debtor for which more than 50% of the aggregate amount of Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates are ineligible pursuant to clause (c) above;

(e) which is owing by an Account Debtor to the extent the aggregate amount of Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates to such Borrowers exceeds, except as set forth on Schedule 1.01(a), 10% of the aggregate amount of Eligible Accounts of such Borrowers;

(f) with respect to which any covenant, representation, or warranty contained in this Agreement or in the Security Agreement has been breached or is not true;

(g) which (i) does not arise from the sale of goods or performance of services in the ordinary course of business, (ii) is not evidenced by an invoice or other documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent which has been sent to the Account Debtor, (iii) represents a progress billing, (iv) is contingent upon the applicable Borrower’s completion of any further performance, (v) represents a sale on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-and-return, sale on approval, consignment, cash-on-delivery or any other repurchase or return basis or (vi) relates to payments of interest;

(h) for which the goods giving rise to such Account have not been shipped to the Account Debtor or for which the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by the applicable Borrower or if such Account was invoiced more than once;

(i) with respect to which any check or other instrument of payment has been returned uncollected for any reason;

(j) which is owed by an Account Debtor which has at the time of the determination (i) applied for, suffered, or consented to the appointment of any receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of its assets, (ii) has had possession of all or a material part of its property taken by any receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator, (iii) filed, or had filed against it, any request or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, adjudication as bankrupt, winding-up, or voluntary or involuntary case under any state or federal bankruptcy laws (other than post-petition accounts payable of an Account Debtor that is a debtor-in-possession under the Bankruptcy Code and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent), (iv) has admitted in writing its inability, or is generally unable to, pay its debts as they become due, (v) become insolvent, or (vi) ceased operation of its business;

(k) which is owed by any Account Debtor which has sold all or a substantially all of its assets;

(l) which is owed by an Account Debtor which, (i) does not maintain its chief executive office in the U.S. or Canada, or (ii) is not organized under applicable law of the U.S., any state of the U.S., Canada or any province of Canada, unless, in either case, (x) such Account is backed by a Letter of Credit reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is in the possession of, has been assigned to and is directly drawable by the Administrative Agent or (y) such Account Debtor is either Proctor & Gamble International Operations S.A., Kimberly Clark Argentina S.A. or Colombiana Kimberly Colpapel, S.A. but only to the extent to which the Eligible Accounts of such Account Debtors do not exceed in the aggregate $5,000,000 at any time;

(m) which is owed in any currency other than U.S. dollars;

(n) which is owed by (i) the government (or any department, agency, public corporation, or instrumentality thereof) of any country other than the U.S. unless such Account is backed by a Letter of Credit acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is in the possession of the Administrative Agent, or (ii) the government of the U.S., or any department, agency, public corporation, or instrumentality thereof, unless the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. § 3727 et seq. and 41 U.S.C. § 15 et seq.), and any other steps reasonably necessary to perfect the Lien of the Administrative Agent in such Account have been complied with to the Administrative Agent’s reasonable satisfaction;

(o) which is owed by any Affiliate, employee, officer, director, agent or stockholder of any Loan Party;

(p) which is owed by an Account Debtor or any Affiliate of such Account Debtor to which the applicable Borrower is indebted, but only to the extent of such indebtedness or is subject to any security, deposit, progress payment, retainage or other similar advance made by or for the benefit of an Account Debtor, in each case to the extent thereof;

(q) which is subject to any counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute but only to the extent of any such counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute;

(r) which is evidenced by any promissory note, chattel paper, or instrument;

(s) which is owed by an Account Debtor located in any jurisdiction which requires filing of a “Notice of Business Activities Report” or other similar report in order to permit the applicable Borrower to seek judicial enforcement in such jurisdiction of payment of such Account, unless such Borrower has filed such report or qualified to do business in such jurisdiction;

(t) with respect to which the applicable Borrower has made any agreement with the Account Debtor for any reduction thereof, other than discounts and adjustments given in the ordinary course of business, or any Account which was partially paid and the applicable Borrower created a new receivable for the unpaid portion of such Account;

(u) which does not comply in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations, whether Federal, state or local, including without limitation the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, the Federal Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z of the Board;

(v) which is for goods that have been sold under a purchase order or pursuant to the terms of a contract or other agreement or understanding (written or oral) that indicates or purports that any Person other than the applicable Borrower has an ownership interest in such goods, or which indicates any party other than the applicable Borrower as payee or remittance party; or

(w) which was created on cash on delivery terms.

In the event that a material Account which was previously an Eligible Account ceases to be an Eligible Account hereunder, the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof on and at the time of submission to the Administrative Agent of the next Borrowing Base Certificate. In determining the amount of an Eligible Account, the face amount of an Account may, in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion, be reduced by, without duplication, to the extent not reflected in such face amount (without duplication of any Reserve taken therefor), (i) the amount of all accrued and actual discounts, claims, credits or credits pending, promotional program allowances, price adjustments, finance charges or other allowances (including any amount that the applicable Borrower may be obligated to rebate to an Account Debtor pursuant to the terms of any agreement or understanding (written or oral)) and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect of such Account but not yet applied by such Borrower to reduce the amount of such Account. Standards of eligibility may be made more restrictive from time to time solely by the Administrative Agent in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion, with any such changes to be effective two Business Days after delivery of written notice thereof to the Borrower Representative and the Lenders.

“Eligible Equipment” means the equipment owned by a Borrower described on Schedule 1.01(b) and meeting each of the following requirements:

(a) the applicable Borrower has good title to such equipment;

(b) the applicable Borrower has the right to subject such equipment to a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent; such equipment is subject to a first priority perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent and is free and clear of all other Liens of any nature whatsoever (except for Permitted Encumbrances which do not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent);

(d) such equipment is located on premises (i) owned by the applicable Borrower, which premises are subject to a first priority perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, or (ii) leased by the applicable Borrower where (x) the lessor has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Collateral Access Agreement or (y) a Reserve for rent, charges, and other amounts due or to become due with respect to such facility has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion; provided that equipment shall not be excluded from Eligible Equipment pursuant to this clause (ii) prior to the day which is 90 days after the Effective Date;

(e) such equipment is in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and is used or held for use by the applicable Borrower in the ordinary course of business of such Borrower;

(f) such equipment is not subject to any agreement which restricts in any material respect the ability of the applicable Borrower to use, sell, transport or dispose of such equipment or which restricts the Administrative Agent’s ability to take possession of, sell or otherwise dispose of such equipment; and

(g) such equipment does not constitute “fixtures” under the applicable laws of the jurisdiction in which such equipment is located, except for “fixtures” located on Mortgaged Properties.

“Eligible Inventory” means, at any time, the Inventory of a Borrower which the Administrative Agent determines in its Permitted Discretion is eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder (it being understood that any representation and warranty by the Borrowers as to whether Inventory constitutes Eligible Inventory shall be based on the eligibility criteria set forth in this Agreement and any additional standards of eligibility or changes to eligibility or standards of eligibility effected by the Administrative Agent in accordance with this Agreement). Without limiting the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion provided herein, Eligible Inventory shall not include any Inventory:

(a) which is not subject to a first priority perfected Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent;

(b) which is subject to any Lien other than (i) a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent or (ii) a Permitted Encumbrance which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent;

(c) which is, in the Administrative Agent’s opinion as notified to the Borrowers, slow moving, obsolete, unmerchantable, defective, used, unfit for sale, not salable at prices approximating at least the cost of such Inventory in the ordinary course of business or unacceptable due to age, type, category and/or quantity;

(d) with respect to which any covenant, representation, or warranty contained in this Agreement or the Security Agreement has been breached or is not true and which does not conform in any material respect to all reasonably applicable standards imposed by any Governmental Authority;

(e) in which any Person other than the applicable Borrower shall (i) have any direct or indirect ownership, interest or title to such Inventory or (ii) be indicated on any purchase order or invoice with respect to such Inventory as having or purporting to have an interest therein;

(f) which is not finished goods or which constitutes work-in-process, spare or replacement parts, subassemblies, packaging and shipping material, manufacturing supplies, samples, prototypes, displays or display items, bill-and-hold goods, goods that are returned or marked for return, repossessed goods, defective or damaged goods, goods held on consignment, or goods which are not of a type held for sale in the ordinary course of business;

(g) which is not located in the U.S. or is in transit with a common carrier from vendors and suppliers;

(h) on or after the date which is 90 days after the Effective Date, which is located in any location leased by the applicable Borrower where Inventory valued in excess of $500,000 is located unless (i) the lessor has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Collateral Access Agreement or (ii) a Rent Reserve has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;

(i) which is located in any third party warehouse or is in the possession of a bailee (other than a third party processor) and is not evidenced by a Document unless (i) such warehouseman or bailee has delivered to the Administrative Agent a Collateral Access Agreement and such other documentation as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require or (ii) an appropriate Reserve has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion;

(j) which is being processed offsite at a third party location or outside processor, or is in-transit to or from said third party location or outside processor;

(k) which is a discontinued product or component thereof;

(l) which is the subject of a consignment by the applicable Borrower as consignor;

(m) which contains or bears any intellectual property rights licensed to the applicable Borrower unless the Administrative Agent is reasonably satisfied that it may sell or otherwise dispose of such Inventory without (i) infringing the rights of such licensor, (ii) violating any contract with such licensor, or (iii) incurring any liability with respect to payment of royalties other than royalties incurred pursuant to sale of such Inventory under the current licensing agreement;

(n) which is not reflected in a current perpetual inventory report of the applicable Borrower (unless such Inventory is reflected in a report to the Administrative Agent as “in transit” Inventory); or

(o) for which reclamation rights have been asserted by the seller.

In the event that Inventory which was previously Eligible Inventory ceases to be Eligible Inventory hereunder, the applicable Borrower or the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof on and at the time of submission to the Administrative Agent of the next Borrowing Base Certificate. Standards of eligibility may be made more restrictive from time to time solely by the Administrative Agent in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion, with any such changes to be effective two Business Days after delivery of written notice thereof to the Borrower Representative and the Lenders.

“Eligible Real Property” means the real property listed on Schedule 3.05 owned by a Borrower, but no such real property shall be included in the Borrowing Base until (i) it has been accepted for inclusion in the Borrowing Base in the Permitted Discretion of the Administrative Agent, (ii) an appraisal report has been delivered to the Administrative Agent in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (iii) the Administrative Agent is reasonably satisfied that all actions necessary or desirable in order to create a perfected first priority Lien on such real property have been taken, including, the filing and recording of Mortgages (it being understood that the Mortgages on the real property located in Nashville, Tennessee and Mason, Ohio, each as specified on Schedule 3.05, shall be executed and delivered on the Effective Date and the Mortgage on the real property in Augusta, Kentucky, as specified on Schedule 3.05, may be delivered on or prior to the day which is 90 days after the Effective Date), (iv) an environmental assessment report has been completed and delivered to the Administrative Agent in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders and which does not indicate any material pending, threatened or existing Environmental Liability, or material non compliance with any Environmental Law (it being understood that the real property located in Augusta, Kentucky, as specified on Schedule 3.05, shall not be included in Eligible Real Property unless (a) a Phase II environmental assessment report shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent within 180 days after the Effective Date, (b) such environmental report is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (including any required remediation identified thereunder), and (c) the Administrative Agent shall have established, in its Permitted Discretion, a Reserve to cover any remediation identified in any such report), (v) such real property is adequately protected by fully-paid valid title insurance with endorsements and in amounts acceptable to the Administrative Agent, insuring that the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, shall have a perfected first priority Lien on such real property, evidence of which shall have been provided in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (vi) if required by the Administrative Agent: (A) within 90 days after the Effective Date, an ALTA survey has been delivered for which all necessary fees have been paid and which is dated no more than 90 days prior to the date on which the applicable Mortgage is recorded, certified to Administrative Agent and the issuer of the title insurance policy in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent by a land surveyor duly registered and licensed in the state in which such Eligible Real Property is located and acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and shows all buildings and other improvements, the location of any easements, parking spaces, rights of way, building setback lines and other dimensional regulations and the absence of encroachments, either by such improvements or on to such property, and other defects, other than encroachments and other defects which do not materially adversely affect the Property and which are otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; (B) in respect of which local counsel for the applicable Borrower in states in which the Eligible Real Property is located have delivered a letter of opinion with respect to the enforceability and perfection of the Mortgages and any related fixture filings in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and (C) in respect of which the applicable Borrower shall have used its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain estoppel certificates executed by all tenants of such Eligible Real Property and such other consents, agreements and confirmations of lessors and third parties have been delivered as the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable, together with evidence that all other actions that the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to create perfected first priority Liens on the property described in the Mortgages have been taken.

“Environmental Laws” means all applicable laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, written notices of non-compliance or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

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

“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with Holdings, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code, or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(m) of the Code.

“ERISA Event” means (a) any Reportable Event; (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of a Prohibited Transaction; (c) any failure by any Plan to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (d) the filing pursuant to Section 412 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan, the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 414(m) of the Code with respect to any Plan or the failure by Holdings or any of its ERISA Affiliates to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (e) the incurrence by Holdings or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan, including but not limited to the imposition of any Lien in favor of the PBGC or any Plan; (f) a determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA); (g) the receipt by Holdings or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA; (h) the incurrence by Holdings or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (i) the receipt by Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, Insolvent, in endangered or critical status, or in reorganization within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 or Title IV of ERISA.

“Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income or any similar tax imposed in lieu of net income taxes by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction referred to in clause (a), and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by a Borrower under Section 2.19(b)), any United States withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrowers with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.17(a).

“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

“Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of a Loan Party, a Borrower or the Borrower Representative, as the case may be.

“Fixed Charges” means, with reference to any period, without duplication, cash Interest Expense, plus prepayments and scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement) made during such period, plus expense for taxes paid in cash, plus dividends, distributions or management fees paid in cash, all calculated for the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties) in accordance with GAAP.

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, the ratio, determined as of the end of each fiscal month of the Loan Parties for the most-recently ended twelve fiscal months (or, if less, the number of full fiscal months elapsed since the Effective Date), of (a) EBITDA minus Capital Expenditures paid in cash (excluding cash payments financed with Indebtedness other than Revolving Loans) to (b) Fixed Charges, all calculated for the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties) in accordance with GAAP.

“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

“Foreign Plan” means each employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA) that is not subject to US law and is maintained or contributed to by Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate.

“Funding Accounts” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(h).

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

“German Subsidiaries” means, collectively, Clopay Europe GmbH, Clopay Dombühl GmbH, Clopay Aschersleben GmbH & Co. KG and Clopay Advance Printing Aschersleben GmbH, and any of their Subsidiaries.

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

“Griffon” means Griffon Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

“Griffon Letters of Credit” means the outstanding letters of credit issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. described on Schedule 1.01(c).

“Group Members” means the collective reference to Holdings, the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries.

“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

“Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.01.

“Guarantor” means each Loan Party.

“Guaranty” means Article X of this Agreement.

“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, hazardous or toxic polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

“Holdings” means Clopay Holding Co., a Delaware corporation.

“Immaterial Subsidiary” means, as of any date, any Subsidiary with total assets of less than $250,000, provided that the aggregate assets of all Immaterial Subsidiaries may not exceed $1,000,000, collectively, at any time (and the Borrowers will designate in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time the Subsidiaries which will cease to be treated as “Immaterial Subsidiaries” in order to comply with the foregoing limitation).

“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

“Information Memorandum” means the Confidential Information Memorandum, dated May 2008, relating to the Borrowers and the Transactions.

“Insolvent” with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, means insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

“Intercompany Note” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower Representative to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07.

“Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, total cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of the Loan Parties for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Loan Parties (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP), calculated on a consolidated basis for the Loan Parties (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties) for such period in accordance with GAAP.

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the first day of each calendar month and the Maturity Date, and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and the Maturity Date.

“Interest Period” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months (or, if available to all Lenders, nine or twelve months) thereafter, as the Borrower Representative may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

“Inventory” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

“Investment” means, by any Person, (a) the amount paid or committed to be paid, or the value of property or services contributed or committed to be contributed, by such person for or in connection with the acquisition by such Person of any stock, bonds, notes, debentures, partnership or other ownership interests or other securities of any other Person and (b) the amount of any advance, loan or extension of credit by such Person, to any other Person, or guaranty or other similar obligation of such Person with respect to any Indebtedness of such other Person (other than Indebtedness constituting trade payables in the ordinary course of business), and (without duplication) any amount committed to be advanced, loans, or extended by such Person to any other Person, or any amount the payment of which is committed to be assured by a guaranty or similar obligation by such Person for the benefit of, such other Person.

“Issuing Bank” means Chase, in its capacity as the issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.06(i). The Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of the Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate.

“Joinder Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.13.

“LC Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(j).

“LC Disbursement” means a payment made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrowers at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.

“Lead Arranger” means J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., in its capacity as the arranger of the Commitments.

“Lenders” means the Persons listed on the Commitment Schedule and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender.

“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

“LIBOR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, shall refer to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

“LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to eurodollar deposits in dollars in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for eurodollar deposits in dollars with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit applications, the Collateral Documents, the Guaranty, and all other agreements, instruments, documents and certificates executed and delivered to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any Lenders whether heretofore, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of any Loan Party, or any employee of any Loan Party, and delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby. Any reference in the Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to the Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.

“Loan Parties” means Holdings, the Borrowers, the Borrowers’ domestic Subsidiaries, other than any Immaterial Subsidiaries, which are or become parties to this Agreement and any other Person who becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to a Joinder Agreement and their successors and assigns.

“Loans” means the loans and advances made by the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement, including Swingline Loans, Overadvances and Protective Advances.

“Management Agreement” means that certain Management Agreement, dated as of July 8, 1986, between Griffon and the Parent.

“Margin Stock” means “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X of the Board.

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the Collateral, or the Administrative Agent’s Liens (on behalf of the Secured Parties) on the Collateral or the priority of such Liens, in each case, taken as a whole, or (c) the validity and enforceability of the material provisions of the Loans Documents or the material rights of or benefits available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Lenders thereunder.

“Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of Griffon, the Parent or any one or more Group Members in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $7,500,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “obligations” of Griffon, the Parent or any one or more Group Members in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that Griffon, the Parent or any Group Member would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

“Maturity Date” means June 24, 2013 or any earlier date on which the Commitments are reduced to zero or otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

“Maximum Liability” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.09.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

“Mortgaged Properties” means the owned real properties located in the United States of America and specified as “Mortgaged Properties” on Schedule 3.05, as to which the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties shall be granted a Lien pursuant to the Mortgages.

“Mortgages” means any mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement which conveys or evidences a Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, on owned real property in the United States of America of a Loan Party, including any amendment, modification or supplement thereto.

“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

“Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Loan Parties, determined on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties) in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with any Loan Party, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary which is a Loan Party) in which any Loan Party has an ownership interest, except the income of such Person shall be included to the extent that any such income is actually received by such Loan Party in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (c) any extraordinary gains or losses in accordance with GAAP.

“Net Orderly Liquidation Value” means, with respect to Inventory or Equipment of any Person, the orderly liquidation value thereof as determined in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent by an appraiser reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, net of all costs of liquidation thereof.

“Net Proceeds” means, with respect to any event, (a) the cash proceeds received in respect of such event including (i) any cash received in respect of any non-cash proceeds (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received and excluding any interest payments), but only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a casualty, insurance proceeds and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, condemnation awards and similar payments, net of (b) the sum of (i) all reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid to third parties (other than Affiliates) in connection with such event, (ii) in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of an asset (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction or a casualty or a condemnation or similar proceeding), the amount of all payments required to be made as a result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than Loans), including all interest thereon and all premiums and penalties, if any, secured by such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event, (iii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) and the amount of any reserves established to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, in each case during the year that such event occurred or the next succeeding year and that are directly attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative), and (iv) reserves for purchase price adjustments reasonably expected to be payable in connection therewith (with any so reserved purchase price adjustments to be “Net Cash Proceeds” when such reserve is no longer required).

“Non-Consenting Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(d).

“Non-Paying Guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.10.

“Obligated Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.02.

“Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all LC Exposure, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations of the Loan Parties to the Lenders or to any Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any indemnified party arising under the Loan Documents.

“Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement.

“Overadvance” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(b).

“Parent” means Clopay Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

“Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(b)(v)(1).

“Paying Guarantor” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.10.

“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

“Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition by any Loan Party, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets of, at least 51% of the Equity Interests of, or a business line or unit or a division of, any Person; provided, that:

(a) such acquisition shall be consummated in accordance with all applicable laws and in conformity with all applicable governmental authorizations, except where the failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b) in the case of the acquisition of Equity Interests, (i) at least 51% of the Equity Interests acquired or otherwise issued by such Person or any newly formed Subsidiary of any Loan Party in connection with such acquisition shall be directly and beneficially owned by a Loan Party and (ii) the Person whose Equity Interests are acquired shall become a Subsidiary and, unless such a Subsidiary is an Immaterial Subsidiary, a Guarantor and shall otherwise comply with the requirements of Section 5.13;

(c) in the case of any acquisition of $5,000,000 or more (whether paid in cash, securities, the assumption of debt or otherwise), the Borrower Representative shall have delivered to Administrative Agent at least five Business Days prior to such proposed acquisition, a certificate evidencing compliance with Section 6.06(e), together with a reasonably detailed description of such acquisition, including the aggregate consideration for such acquisition, and any other information reasonably required to demonstrate such compliance;

(d) such acquisition shall be consensual; and

(e) if the assets acquired are to be included in the Borrowing Base, the Borrowers shall have delivered all information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion and the Administrative Agent shall have received acceptable field examinations and Inventory appraisals to include the acquired assets within the Borrowing Base.

“Permitted Discretion” means a determination made in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable (from the perspective of a secured asset-based lender) business judgment.

“Permitted Encumbrances” means:

(a) Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments and governmental charges or claims that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

(b) landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

(c) pledges, deposits and statutory trusts made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, governmental contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII; and

(f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, licenses, covenants and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of any Borrower or any Subsidiary;

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.

“Permitted Investments” means:

(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

(b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s;

(c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000; and

(d) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000.

“Permitted Subordinated Debt” means unsecured Indebtedness which (a) matures no earlier than, and does not require any scheduled principal payments prior to, six months after the Maturity Date, (b) is not subject to any mandatory prepayment, redemption, repurchase, sinking fund or other similar obligation prior to six months after the Maturity Date, in each case that could require any payment on account of principal in respect thereof prior to six months after the Maturity Date, (c) is not guaranteed by any Subsidiary which is not a Guarantor and (d) is subordinated to the Obligations on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion.

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

“Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan), subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

“Pledged Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

“PP&E Component” shall mean, at the time of any determination, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the lesser of (A) 70% of the fair market value of the Borrowers’ Eligible Real Property as of the Effective Date and (B) $12,500,000 (with the lesser of (A) and (B) to amortize monthly on a straight-line basis to zero over ten years) plus (ii) the lesser of (A) 80% of the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of the Borrowers’ Eligible Equipment as of the Effective Date and (B) $12,500,000 (with the lesser of (A) and (B) to amortize monthly on a straight-line basis to zero over five years).

“Prepayment Event” means:

(a) any sale, transfer or other disposition (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) of any property or asset of any Loan Party, other than dispositions described in Section 6.04(a), (b), (c), (d), (f), (g), (k) or (l), excluding such sales, transfers or other dispositions in an aggregate amount not exceeding $500,000 in any fiscal year; or

(b) any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of any Loan Party with a fair value immediately prior to such event equal to or greater than $750,000; or

(c) the issuance by Holdings of any Equity Interests, other than any Equity Interest issued (i) in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, (ii) pursuant to Section Section 6.07(a)(i) or (iii) to any of its officers, directors, employees or consultants pursuant to any employee benefit plan, stock purchase plan or employment agreement approved by the Board of Directors of Holding in the ordinary course of business, or the receipt by Holdings of any capital contribution; or

(d) the incurrence by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 or otherwise permitted by the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 9.02.

“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by Chase as its prime rate at its offices at 270 Park Avenue in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

“Prohibited Transaction” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975(f)(3) of the Code.

“Projections” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01(g).

“Protective Advance” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04.

“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

“Rent Reserve” means, with respect to any leased location or storage facility not owned by any Borrower where any Inventory equal to or in excess of $500,000 is located, a reserve equal to three months’ rent (or, in the absence of rent, storage fees, if applicable) applicable to location or such storage facility.

“Report” means reports prepared by the Administrative Agent or another Person showing the results of appraisals, field examinations or audits pertaining to the Borrowers’ assets from information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrowers, after the Administrative Agent has exercised its rights of inspection pursuant to this Agreement, which Reports may be distributed to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent.

“Reportable Event” means any “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 (c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than those events as to which the 30-day notice period referred to in Section 4043(c) of ERISA has been waived, with respect to a Plan (other than a Plan maintained by an ERISA Affiliate that is considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code).

“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Credit Exposure and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Credit Exposure and unused Commitments at such time.

“Requirement of Law” means, as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, 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.

“Reserves” means any and all reserves which the Administrative Agent deems necessary, in its Permitted Discretion, to maintain (including, without limitation, reserves for accrued and unpaid interest on the Secured Obligations, Banking Services Reserves, Rent Reserves, Dilution Reserves, reserves for consignee’s, warehousemen’s and bailee’s charges, reserves for Inventory shrinkage, reserves for customs charges and shipping charges related to any Inventory in transit, reserves for Swap Obligations, reserves for contingent liabilities of any Loan Party, reserves for uninsured losses of any Loan Party, reserves for uninsured, underinsured, un-indemnified or under-indemnified liabilities or potential liabilities with respect to any litigation and reserves for taxes, fees, assessments, and other governmental charges) with respect to the Collateral or any Loan Party.

“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in any Group Member, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in any Group Member or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in any Group Member.

“Revolving Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit, Overadvances and Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum possible aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to (a) Section 2.09 and (b) assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s Revolving Commitment is set forth on the Commitment Schedule, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Revolving Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments is $100,000,000.

“Revolving Exposure” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum (without duplication) of (a) the outstanding principal amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure, plus (b) an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Swingline Loans at such time, plus (c) an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the aggregate principal amount of Overadvances outstanding at such time.

“Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01(a).

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any regulatory body that succeeds to the functions thereof.

“Secured Obligations” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

“Secured Parties” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

“Security Agreement” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F, and any other pledge or security agreement entered into, after the date of this Agreement by any other Loan Party (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), or any other Person, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

“Settlement” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(d).

“Settlement Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(d).

“Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

“Subordinated Indebtedness” of a Person means any Indebtedness of such Person the payment of which is subordinated in writing to payment of the Secured Obligations to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.

“subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

“Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of any Borrower or any other Group Member, as applicable.

“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrowers or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

“Swap Obligations” of a Person means any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Swap Agreement transaction.

“Swingline Lender” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.

“Swingline Loan” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(a).

“Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

“Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrowers of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

“Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.

“Unliquidated Obligations” means, at any time, any Secured Obligations (or portion thereof) that are contingent in nature or unliquidated at such time, including any Secured Obligation that is: (i) an obligation to reimburse a bank for drawings not yet made under a letter of credit issued by it; (ii) any other obligation (including any guarantee) that is contingent in nature at such time; or (iii) an obligation to provide collateral to secure any of the foregoing types of obligations.

“Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

Section 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a “Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing”).

Section 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

Section 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower Representative notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrowers request an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

ARTICLE II

The Credits

Section 2.01. Commitments. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Loans, denominated in dollars, to the Borrowers from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Lender’s Revolving Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Revolving Commitment or (ii) the total Revolving Exposures exceeding the lesser of (x) the aggregate Revolving Commitments, or (y) the Borrowing Base, subject to the Administrative Agent’s authority, in its sole discretion, to make Protective Advances and Overadvances pursuant to the terms of Section 2.04 and Section 2.05.

(b) Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

Section 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Class and Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments of the applicable Class. Any Protective Advance, any Overadvance and any Swingline Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.04 and Section 2.05.

(b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower Representative may request in accordance herewith, provided that all Borrowings made on the Effective Date must be made as ABR Borrowings but may be converted into Eurodollar Borrowings in accordance with Section 2.08. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000. ABR Revolving Borrowings may be in any amount. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of ten Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower Representative shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

Section 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request either in writing (delivered by hand or facsimile) in a form approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion and signed by the Borrower Representative or by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than noon, Chicago time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.06(e) may be given not later than 9:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or facsimile to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower Representative. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.01:

(i) the name of the applicable Borrower;

(ii) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing and a breakdown of the separate wires comprising such Borrowing;

(iii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;

(iv) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

(v) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period.”

If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then the applicable Borrower(s) shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender, as applicable, of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

Section 2.04. Protective Advances. (a) Subject to the limitations set forth below, the Administrative Agent is authorized by the Borrowers and the Lenders, from time to time in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion (but shall have absolutely no obligation to), to make Loans to the Borrowers, on behalf of all Lenders, which the Administrative Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, deems necessary or desirable (i) to preserve or protect the Collateral, or any portion thereof, (ii) to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Loans and other Obligations, or (iii) to pay any other amount chargeable to or required to be paid by the Borrowers pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including payments of reimbursable expenses (including costs, fees, and expenses as described in Section 9.03) and other sums payable under the Loan Documents (any of such Loans are herein referred to as “Protective Advances”); provided that, the aggregate amount of Protective Advances outstanding at any time shall not at any time exceed $5,000,000; provided further that, the aggregate amount of outstanding Protective Advances plus the aggregate Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the aggregate Revolving Commitments. Protective Advances may be made even if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have not been satisfied. The Protective Advances shall be secured by the Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent in and to the Collateral and shall constitute Obligations hereunder. All Protective Advances shall be ABR Borrowings. The Administrative Agent’s authorization to make Protective Advances may be revoked at any time by the Required Lenders. Any such revocation must be in writing and shall become effective prospectively upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof. At any time that there is sufficient Availability and the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have been satisfied, the Administrative Agent may request the Lenders to make a Loan to repay a Protective Advance. At any other time the Administrative Agent may require the Lenders to fund their risk participations described in Section 2.04(b).

(b) Upon the making of a Protective Advance by the Administrative Agent (whether before or after the occurrence of a Default), each Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from the Administrative Agent without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in such Protective Advance in proportion to its Applicable Percentage. From and after the date, if any, on which any Lender is required to fund its participation in any Protective Advance purchased hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to such Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of all payments of principal and interest and all proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent in respect of such Protective Advance.

Section 2.05. Swingline Loans and Overadvances. (a)The Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Lenders agree that in order to facilitate the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, promptly after the Borrower Representative requests an ABR Borrowing, the Swingline Lender may elect to have the terms of this Section 2.05(a) apply to such Borrowing Request by advancing, on behalf of the Lenders and in the amount requested, same day funds to the Borrowers, on the applicable Borrowing date to the Funding Account(s) (each such Loan made solely by the Swingline Lender pursuant to this Section 2.05(a) is referred to in this Agreement as a “Swingline Loan”), with settlement among them as to the Swingline Loans to take place on a periodic basis as set forth in Section 2.05(d). Each Swingline Loan shall be subject to all the terms and conditions applicable to other ABR Loans funded by the Lenders, except that all payments thereon shall be payable to the Swingline Lender solely for its own account. In addition, the Borrowers hereby authorize the Swingline Lender to, and the Swingline Lender shall, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein (but without any further written notice required), not later than 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, on each Business Day, make available to the Borrowers by means of a credit to the Funding Account(s), the proceeds of a Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent shall, upon request of the Borrower Representative, notify the Borrower Representative of the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans outstanding as of end of the immediately preceding day. The aggregate amount of Swingline Loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed $10,000,000. The Swingline Lender shall not make any Swingline Loan if the requested Swingline Loan exceeds the Availability (before giving effect to such Swingline Loan). All Swingline Loans shall be ABR Borrowings.

(b) Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, at the request of the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent may in its sole discretion (but with absolutely no obligation), make Revolving Loans to the Borrowers, on behalf of the Lenders, in amounts that exceed the Availability (any such excess Revolving Loans are herein referred to collectively as “Overadvances”); provided that, no Overadvance shall result in a Default due to Borrowers’ failure to comply with Section 2.01 for so long as such Overadvance remains outstanding in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, but solely with respect to the amount of such Overadvance. In addition, Overadvances may be made even if the condition precedent set forth in Section 4.02(c) has not been satisfied. All Overadvances shall constitute ABR Borrowings. The authority of the Administrative Agent to make Overadvances is limited to an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time, no Overadvance may remain outstanding for more than thirty days and no Overadvance shall cause any Lender’s Revolving Exposure to exceed its Revolving Commitment; provided that, the Required Lenders may at any time revoke the Administrative Agent’s authorization to make Overadvances. Any such revocation must be in writing and shall become effective prospectively upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof.

(c) Upon the making of a Swingline Loan or an Overadvance (whether before or after the occurrence of a Default and regardless of whether a Settlement has been requested with respect to such Swingline Loan or Overadvance), each Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from the Swingline Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in such Swingline Loan or Overadvance in proportion to its Applicable Percentage of the Revolving Commitment. The Swingline Lender or the Administrative Agent may, at any time, require the Lenders to fund their participations. From and after the date, if any, on which any Lender is required to fund its participation in any Swingline Loan or Overadvance purchased hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall promptly distribute to such Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of all payments of principal and interest and all proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent in respect of such Loan.

(d) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Swingline Lender, shall request settlement (a “Settlement”) with the Lenders on at least a weekly basis or on any date that the Administrative Agent elects, by notifying the Lenders of such requested Settlement by facsimile, telephone, or e-mail no later than 12:00 noon, Chicago time, on the date of such requested Settlement (the “Settlement Date”). Each Lender (other than the Swingline Lender, in the case of the Swingline Loans) shall transfer the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the outstanding principal amount of the applicable Loan with respect to which Settlement is requested to the Administrative Agent, to such account of the Administrative Agent as the Administrative Agent may designate, not later than 2:00 p.m., Chicago time, on such Settlement Date. Settlements may occur during the existence of a Default and whether or not the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have then been satisfied. Such amounts transferred to the Administrative Agent shall be applied against the amounts of the Swingline Lender’s Swingline Loans and, together with Swingline Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan, shall constitute Revolving Loans of such Lenders, respectively. If any such amount is not transferred to the Administrative Agent by any Lender on such Settlement Date, the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender together with interest thereon as specified in Section 2.07.

Section 2.06. Letters of Credit. (a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower Representative may request the issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account or for the account of another Borrower, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the Borrowers to, or entered into by the Borrowers with, the Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. The Griffon Letters of Credit outstanding on the Effective Date shall, at the option of the Borrowers at any time on or before September 30, 2008 by written notice to such effect to the Administrative Agent, be deemed Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, so long as the conditions to the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder are satisfied at such time.

(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower Representative shall hand deliver or facsimile (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Issuing Bank) to the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent (prior to 9:00 am, Chicago time, at least three Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the Issuing Bank, the applicable Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the Borrowers shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed $17,000,000 and (ii) the total Revolving Exposures shall not exceed the lesser of the total Revolving Commitments and the Borrowing Base.

(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

(d) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrowers on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

(e) Reimbursement. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 11:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the Business Day that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrowers Representative shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 9:00 a.m., Chicago time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by the Borrower Representative prior to such time on such date, then not later than 11:00 a.m., Chicago time, on (i) the Business Day that the Borrower Representative receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 9:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that the Borrower Representative receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that, if such LC Disbursement is not less than $500,000, the Borrowers may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the Borrowers’ obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing. If the Borrowers fail to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from the Borrowers in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due from the Borrowers, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.07 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.07 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrowers pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and the Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.

(f) Obligations Absolute. The Borrowers’ joint and several obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrowers’ obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrowers to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by any Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), the Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

(g) Disbursement Procedures. The Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of such demand for payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrowers of their obligation to reimburse the Issuing Bank and the Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.

(h) Interim Interest. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the Borrowers reimburse such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to, ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if the Borrowers fail to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.13(d)) shall apply. Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.

(i) Replacement of the Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower Representative, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Issuing Bank. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the Borrowers shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12(b). From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

(j) Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the Borrower Representative receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrowers shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders (the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to 103% of the LC Exposure as of such date plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII. Such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the applicable Secured Obligations. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account and the Borrowers hereby grant the Administrative Agent a security interest in the LC Collateral Account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrowers’ risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrowers for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other applicable Secured Obligations. If the Borrowers are required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrowers within three Business Days after such Event of Default has been cured or waived.

Section 2.07. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.05. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower Representative by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to the Funding Account(s); provided, further, that ABR Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of (i) an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.06(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Issuing Bank and (ii) a Protective Advance or an Overadvance shall be retained by the Administrative Agent.

(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrowers severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the applicable Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, (ii) in the case of the Borrowers, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

Section 2.08. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower Representative may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower Representative may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, Overadvances or Protective Advances, which may not be converted or continued.

(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrowers were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or facsimile to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower Representative.

(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.03:

(i) the Borrower and the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

(d) If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the applicable Borrowers shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

(e) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

(f) If the Borrower Representative fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower Representative, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing and, at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

Section 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments; Increase in Revolving Commitments. (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

(b) The Borrowers may at any time terminate the Commitments upon (i) the payment in full of all outstanding Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon and on any Letters of Credit, (ii) the cancellation and return of all outstanding Letters of Credit (or alternatively, with respect to each such Letter of Credit, the furnishing to the Administrative Agent of a cash deposit (or at the discretion of the Administrative Agent a back up standby letter of credit satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) equal to 103% of the LC Exposure as of such date), (iii) the payment in full of the accrued and unpaid fees, and (iv) the payment in full of all reimbursable expenses and other Obligations (other than any Unliquidated Obligation) together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

(c) The Borrowers may from time to time reduce the Revolving Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000 and (ii) the Borrowers shall not reduce the Revolving Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.10, the sum of the Revolving Exposures would exceed the lesser of the total Revolving Commitments and the Borrowing Base.

(d) The Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower Representative pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower Representative may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower Representative (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.

(e) The Borrowers shall have the right to increase the Revolving Commitment up to an aggregate amount of $150,000,000 by obtaining additional Revolving Commitments, either from one or more of the Lenders or other lending institutions provided that (i) any such request for an increase shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, (ii) the Borrower Representative, on behalf of the Borrowers, may make a maximum of five such requests, (iii) the Administrative Agent has approved the identity of any such new Lender, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, (iv) any such new Lender assumes all of the rights and obligations of a “Lender” hereunder, and (v) the procedure described in Section 2.09(f) have been satisfied.

(f) Any amendment hereto for such an increase or addition shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and shall only require the written signatures of the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and the Lender(s) being added or increasing their Commitment, subject only to the approval of all Lenders if any such increase would cause the Revolving Commitment to exceed $150,000,000. As a condition precedent to such an increase, the Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Loan Party (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by an authorized officer of such Loan Party (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Loan Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (ii) in the case of the Borrowers, certifying that, as of the effective date of such increase, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article III and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, provided that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects on such date, and (B) no Default exists;.

(g) Within a reasonable time after the effective date of any increase, the Administrative Agent shall, and is hereby authorized and directed to, revise the Commitment Schedule to reflect such increase and shall distribute such revised Commitment Schedule to each of the Lenders and the Borrowers, whereupon such revised Commitment Schedule shall replace the old Commitment Schedule and become part of this Agreement. On the Business Day following any such increase, all outstanding Alternate Base Rate Advances shall be reallocated among the Lenders (including any newly added Lenders) in accordance with the Lenders’ respective revised Applicable Percentages. Eurodollar Advances shall not be reallocated among the Lenders prior to the expiration of the applicable Interest Period in effect at the time of any such increase.

Section 2.10. Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrowers hereby unconditionally promise to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender (or Swingline Lender) the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan (and Swingline Loans) on the Maturity Date, (ii) to the Administrative Agent the then unpaid amount of each Protective Advance on the earlier of the Maturity Date and demand by the Administrative Agent, and (iii) to the Administrative Agent the then unpaid principal amount of each Overadvance on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the 30^th day after such Overadvance is made.

(b) At all times that full cash dominion is in effect pursuant to Section 7.3 of the Security Agreement, on each Business Day, the Administrative Agent shall apply all funds credited to the Collection Account the previous Business Day (whether or not immediately available) first to prepay any Protective Advances and Overadvances that may be outstanding, pro rata, and second to prepay the Revolving Loans (including Swingline Loans) and to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure, with any such prepayment of the Revolving Loans being ratable.

(c) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrowers to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrowers to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

(e) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(f) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrowers shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

Section 2.11. Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (f) of this Section.

(b) Except for Overadvances permitted under Section 2.05, in the event and on such occasion that the total Revolving Exposure exceeds the lesser of (A) the aggregate Revolving Commitments, or (B) the Borrowing Base, the Borrowers shall prepay the Revolving Loans, LC Exposure and/or Swingline Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

(c) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of any Group Member in respect of any Prepayment Event, the Borrowers shall, promptly after such Net Proceeds are received by such Group Member, prepay the Obligations as set forth in Section 2.11(e) below in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds.

(d) If a Loan is prepaid pursuant to Section 2.11(a), (b) or (c) on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay any amounts owing pursuant to Section 2.15.

(e) All such amounts pursuant Section 2.11(c) shall be applied, first to prepay any Protective Advances and Overadvances that may be outstanding, pro rata, and second to prepay the Revolving Loans (including Swingline Loans) without a corresponding reduction in the Revolving Commitment and to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure.

(f) The Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Chicago time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.09, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.09. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Revolving Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13.

Section 2.12. Fees. (a) The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at a rate equal to 0.375% on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which the Lenders’ Revolving Commitments terminate; provided that, if, on any day the Revolving Exposure is less than 50% of the Revolving Commitment, the commitment fee shall accrue at a rate equal to 0.50% on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of such Lender for each such day during such period. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the first day of each calendar month and on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed.

(b) The Borrowers agree to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to the Issuing Bank a fronting fee, which shall accrue at the rate of 0.125% per annum on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the Revolving Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as the Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of each calendar month shall be payable on the first day of each calendar month following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed.

(c) The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times set forth in the Fee Letter, dated as of May 28, 2008, between the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger.

(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the Issuing Bank, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees and participation fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

Section 2.13. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.

(c) Each Protective Advance and each Overadvance shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans plus 2%.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the occurrence and continuance of a Default, the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the Borrower Representative (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any provision of Section 9.02 requiring the consent of “each Lender affected thereby” for reductions in interest rates), declare that (i) all Loans shall bear interest at 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount outstanding hereunder, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans, as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

(e) Accrued interest on each Loan (for ABR Loans, accrued through the last day of the prior calendar month) shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon termination of the Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

(f) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed. The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(g) In the event that any Borrowing Base Certificate or related information delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 is inaccurate (regardless of whether this Agreement or the Revolving Commitments are in effect when such inaccuracy is discovered), and such inaccuracy, if corrected, would have led to the application of a higher Applicable Rate for any period than the Applicable Rate actually used to determine interest rates for such period, then (a) the Borrowers shall promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent a corrected Borrowing Base Certificate for such period, (b) the Applicable Rate for such period shall be retroactively determined based on the average Availability as set forth in the corrected Borrowing Base Certificate and (c) the Borrower shall promptly pay to the Administrative Agent (for the account of the Lenders during such period or their successors and assigns) the accrued additional interest owing as a result of such increased Applicable Rate for such period. This Section 2.13(g) shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent under this Section 2.13 or Article VII, and shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

Section 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower Representative and the Lenders by telephone or facsimile as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower Representative and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.

Section 2.15. Increased Costs (a) If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate) or the Issuing Bank; or

(ii) impose on any Lender or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender or the Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) If any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrowers will pay to such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) A certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower Representative and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower Representative of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

Section 2.16. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.09(d) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower Representative pursuant to Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the Borrowers shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower Representative and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrowers shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

Section 2.17. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if any Loan Party shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the applicable Loan Party shall make such deductions and (iii) the applicable Loan Party shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b) In addition, the Borrowers shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c) The Borrowers shall jointly and severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Lender and the Issuing Bank, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrowers hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower Representative by a Lender or the Issuing Bank, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the Issuing Bank, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the applicable Loan Party to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower Representative shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which any Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower Representative (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower Representative as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrowers are resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement or under an Assignment and Assumption (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

(i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

(ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,

(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of any Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or

(iv) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrowers to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

Any Lender that is not a Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement or under an Assignment and Assumption (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of any Borrower or the Administrative Agent). Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (e), a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this paragraph that such Lender is not legally able to deliver.

(f) If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by a Loan Party or with respect to which a Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall pay over such refund to the applicable Loan Party (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the applicable Loan Party under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Loan Parties, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agree to repay the amount paid over to the Borrowers (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This paragraph (f) shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to any Loan Party or any other Person.

Section 2.18. Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs. (a) The Borrowers shall make each payment required to be made by them hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, Section 2.16 or Section 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 2:00 p.m., Chicago time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 120 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois, except payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Section 2.15, Section 2.16, Section 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars. At all times that full cash dominion is in effect pursuant to Section 7.3 of the Security Agreement, solely for purposes of determining the amount of Loans available for borrowing purposes, checks (in addition to immediately available funds applied pursuant to Section 2.10(b)) from collections of items of payment and proceeds of any Collateral shall be applied in whole or in part against the Obligations, on the Business Day after receipt, subject to actual collection.

(b) Any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent (i) not constituting either (A) a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by the Borrowers), (B) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.11) or (C) amounts to be applied from the Collection Account when full cash dominion is in effect (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.10(b)) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, such funds shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank from the Borrowers (other than Banking Services Obligations or Swap Obligations), second, to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Borrowers (other than Banking Services Obligations or Swap Obligations), third, to pay interest due in respect of the Overadvances and Protective Advances, fourth, to pay the principal of the Overadvances and Protective Advances, fifth, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans (other than the Overadvances and Protective Advances) ratably, sixth, to prepay principal on the Loans (other than the Overadvances and Protective Advances) and unreimbursed LC Disbursements ratably, seventh, to pay an amount to the Administrative Agent equal to one hundred three percent (103%) of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and the aggregate amount of any unpaid LC Disbursements, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations, eighth, to payment of any amounts owing with respect to Banking Services Obligations and Swap Obligations, and ninth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by the Borrowers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by the Borrower Representative, or unless a Default is in existence, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall apply any payment which it receives to any Eurodollar Loan of a Class, except (a) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Eurodollar Loan or (b) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding ABR Loans of the same Class and, in any such event, the Borrowers shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.16. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations.

(c) At the election of the Administrative Agent, all payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including, without limitation, all reimbursement for fees and expenses pursuant to Section 9.03), and other sums payable under the Loan Documents, may be paid from the proceeds of Borrowings made hereunder whether made following a request by the Borrower Representative pursuant to Section 2.03 or a deemed request as provided in this Section or may be deducted from any deposit account of any Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes (i) the Administrative Agent to make a Borrowing for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents and agrees that all such amounts charged shall constitute Loans (including Swingline Loans and Overadvances, but such a Borrowing may only constitute a Protective Advance if it is to reimburse costs, fees and expenses as described in Section 9.03) and that all such Borrowings shall be deemed to have been requested pursuant to Section 2.03, Section 2.04 or Section 2.05, as applicable and (ii) the Administrative Agent to charge any deposit account of any Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.

(d) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations in LC Disbursements of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and participations in LC Disbursements; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). Each Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.

(e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower Representative prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank hereunder that the Borrowers will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrowers have made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrowers have not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

(f) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it hereunder, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations hereunder until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

Section 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrowers are required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then:

(a) such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or Section 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender (and the Borrowers hereby agree to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment);

(b) the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort, require such Lender or any Lender that defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder (herein, a “Departing Lender”), upon notice to the Departing Lender and the Administrative Agent, to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrowers shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and if a Revolving Commitment is being assigned, the Issuing Bank), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) the Departing Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Departing Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrowers to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

Section 2.20. Returned Payments. If after receipt of any payment which is applied to the payment of all or any part of the Obligations, the Administrative Agent or any Lender is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment or proceeds to any Person because such payment or application of proceeds is invalidated, declared fraudulent, set aside, determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, or a diversion of trust funds, or for any other reason, then the Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued and this Agreement shall continue in full force as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative Agent or such Lender. The provisions of this Section 2.20 shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in reliance upon such payment or application of proceeds. The provisions of this Section 2.20 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Lenders that:

Section 3.01. Organization; Powers. Each of the Loan Parties and each of its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

Section 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within each Loan Party’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, by all necessary shareholder action. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party party thereto and constitutes, or when executed and delivered by such Loan Party will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general applicability affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and (b) the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

Section 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except for (i) such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and (ii) filings and recordings in respect of the Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate in any material respect any Requirement of Law, (c) will not violate in any material respect or result in a material default under any Contractual Obligation upon any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or their assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any such Person, and (d) except for the Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents, will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) Griffon has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, reported on by Grant Thornton LLP, and its unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and the related unaudited consolidated and consolidating statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter and six-month period ended March 31, 2008. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of Griffon and its subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods and in accordance with GAAP. As of the Effective Date, there are no liabilities of Griffon or any of its subsidiaries, fixed or contingent, which are material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of Griffon and its subsidiaries that are not reflected in such financial statements or in the notes thereto, other than liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business since September 30, 2007 or as disclosed in the quarterly report filed by Griffon with the SEC on Form 10-Q with respect to the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2008.

(b) The Loan Parties have heretofore furnished to the Lenders their unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and related unaudited consolidated and consolidating statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007 and their unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and the related unaudited consolidated and consolidating statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter and the six-month period ended March 31, 2008. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects and in accordance with GAAP, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries as of such dates. As of the Effective Date, there are no liabilities of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, fixed or contingent, which are material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries that are not reflected in such financial statements or in the notes thereto, other than liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business since September 30, 2007.

(c) Since September 30, 2007, there has not occurred any event, development or circumstance that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.05. Properties.

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, Schedule 3.05 sets forth the address of each parcel of real property that is located in the United States and is owned or leased by the Loan Parties. Each of such leases and subleases is valid and enforceable in all material respects in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect in all material respects, and to the Loan Parties’ knowledge, no default by any party to any such lease or sublease exists. Each of the Loan Parties and its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, subject only to Liens permitted by Section 6.02 and except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.

(b) Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and Schedule 3.05 sets forth a correct and complete list of all registrations and applications to register such intellectual property, as of the date of this Agreement, and, to such Loan Party’ knowledge, the use thereof by the Loan Parties and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters.

(a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority now pending against or, to the knowledge of such Loan Party, threatened against or affecting any Loan Parties or any of their Subsidiaries that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.

(b) Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received written notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) has actual knowledge of any event or circumstance which is reasonably expected to give rise to any Environmental Liability.

(c) Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred or is continuing.

Section 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Contractual Obligations. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property or all Contractual Obligations binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.08. Investment Company Status. No Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Section 3.09. Taxes. Each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which such Person has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.10. ERISA; Employee Benefit Plans.

(a) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $15,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $15,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.

(b) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the accrued benefit obligations of each Foreign Plan (based on those assumptions used to fund such Foreign Plan) with respect to all current and former participants do not exceed the assets of such Foreign Plan.

Section 3.11. Disclosure. Each Loan Party has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Information Memorandum nor any of the other reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Loan Parties represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that were believed by the Loan Parties to be reasonable at the time made, it being understood that the actual results may vary from the results projected therein.

Section 3.12. Use of Credit. No Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or carrying Margin Stock, and no part of the proceeds of any extension of credit hereunder will be used to buy or carry any Margin Stock.

Section 3.13. Burdensome Agreements. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13, to such Loan Party’s knowledge, no Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by, nor are any of the properties or assets owned by any Group Member used in the conduct of their respective businesses affected by, any agreement, ordinance, resolution, decree, bond, note, indenture, order or judgment, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing relating to any Environmental Liability, that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.14. Insurance. Schedule 3.14 sets forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date. As of the Effective Date, all premiums in respect of such insurance have been paid. The Borrowers believe that the insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries is reasonably adequate.

Section 3.15. Capitalization and Subsidiaries. Schedule 3.15 sets forth (a) a correct and complete (in all material respects) list of the name and relationship to Holdings of each and all of Holdings’ Subsidiaries, (b) a true and complete (in all material respects) listing of each class of each of the Borrowers’ authorized Equity Interests, of which all of such issued shares are validly issued, outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and owned beneficially and of record by the Persons identified on Schedule 3.15, and (c) the type of entity of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests owned by any Loan Party have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

Section 3.16. Labor Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16, (a) no collective bargaining agreement or other labor contract to which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a signatory will expire during the term of this Agreement, (b) to such Loan Party’s knowledge, no union or other labor organization is seeking to organize, or to be recognized as bargaining representative for, a bargaining unit of employees of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) there is no pending or, to such Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened strike, work stoppage, material unfair labor practice claim or charge, arbitration or other material dispute with any union or other labor organization affecting any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or its union-represented employees, in each case the consequences of which could reasonably be expected to affect aggregate business (regardless of division or entity) of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries which business generated gross revenues in excess of $50,000,000 individually or in the aggregate in the prior fiscal year, (d) there are no actions, suits, charges, demands, claims, counterclaims or proceedings pending or, to the best of such Loan Party’s knowledge, threatened against any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, by or on behalf of, or with, its employees, other than any such actions, suits charges, demands, claims, counterclaims or proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business that could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 3.17. Security Interest in Collateral. (a) The Security Agreement is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable security interest under the laws of the United States in the Collateral as further described therein and proceeds thereof. In the case of: (i) the Pledged Collateral constituting Equity Interests, which are securities for the purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code and are evidenced by certificates, when certificates representing such Pledged Collateral constituting Equity Interests are delivered to the Administrative Agent, (ii) other Collateral as further described in the Security Agreement, when financing statements and other filings specified on Schedule 3.17 in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 3.17, (iii) property acquired after the date hereof any other action required pursuant to Section 5.13, the security interest created pursuant to the Security Agreement shall constitute valid perfected security interests under the laws of the United States in such Collateral and the proceeds thereof (to the extent a security interest in such Collateral can be perfected through the filing of such financing statements, the delivery of such Pledged Collateral constituting Equity Interests, the taking of such actions required pursuant to Section 5.13, as security for the Secured Obligations, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person (except, in the case of Collateral other than Pledged Stock, Liens permitted by Section 6.02).

(b) Each of the Mortgages is effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on the Mortgaged Properties described therein and proceeds thereof, and when the Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 3.17, each such Mortgage shall constitute a fully perfected Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Mortgaged Properties and the proceeds thereof, as security for the Secured Obligations, in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person.

Section 3.18. Holdings. Holdings is a newly formed special purpose wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent whose business and assets consist exclusively of ownership of Equity Interests of the Borrowers.

ARTICLE IV

Conditions

Section 4.01. Closing. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):

(a) Credit Agreement and Loan Documents. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto either (A) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (B) written evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include facsimile transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement and (ii) duly executed copies of the Loan Documents and such other certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including any promissory notes requested by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.10 payable to the order of each such requesting Lender and a written opinion of the Borrowers’ counsel, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders in substantially the form of Exhibit B.

(b) Financial Statements and Projections. The Lenders shall have received (i) audited consolidated financial statements of Griffon and its subsidiaries for the 2007 fiscal year, (ii) unaudited interim consolidated and consolidating financial statements of Griffon and its subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter and the six-month period ended March 31, 2008, (iii) unaudited consolidated and consolidating financial statements of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries for the 2007 fiscal year, (iv) unaudited interim consolidated and consolidating financial statements of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter and the six-month period ended March 31, 2008 and (v) satisfactory projections of the Borrowers through 2012.

(c) Closing Certificates; Certified Certificate of Incorporation; Good Standing Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a certificate of each Loan Party, dated the Effective Date and executed by its Secretary, Assistant Secretary or Financial Officer, which shall (A) certify the resolutions of its Board of Directors, members or other body authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (B) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the Financial Officers and any other officers of such Loan Party authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and (C) contain appropriate attachments, including the certificate or articles of incorporation or organization of each Loan Party certified by the relevant authority of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party and a true and correct copy of its by-laws or operating, management or partnership agreement, and (ii) a long form good standing certificate for each Loan Party from its jurisdiction of organization.

(d) No Default Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, signed by the chief financial officer of each Borrower, on the initial Borrowing date (i) stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) stating that the representations and warranties contained in Article III are true and correct as of such date, and (iii) certifying any other factual matters as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

(e) Fees. The Lenders, the Lead Arranger and the Administrative Agent shall have received all fees required to be paid, and all expenses for which invoices have been presented (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsels) at least two Business Days prior to the Effective Date. All such amounts will be paid with proceeds of Loans made on the Effective Date and will be reflected in the funding instructions given by the Borrower Representative to the Administrative Agent on or before the Effective Date.

(f) Lien Searches. The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a recent lien search in each of the jurisdictions of organization of each of the Loan Parties and where any of the Mortgaged Properties is located, and such search results shall reveal no liens on any of the assets of the Loan Parties except for liens permitted by Section 6.02 or discharged on or prior to the Effective Date pursuant to a pay-off letter or other documentation satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(g) Pay-Off Letter. The Administrative Agent shall have received reasonably satisfactory pay-off letters for all existing Indebtedness to be repaid from the proceeds the initial Borrowing, confirming that all Liens upon any of the property of any Loan Party constituting Collateral will be terminated concurrently with such payment and all letters of credit issued or guaranteed as part of such Indebtedness shall have been cash collateralized or supported by a Letter of Credit.

(h) Funding Accounts. The Administrative Agent shall have received a notice setting forth the deposit account(s) of the Borrowers (the “Funding Accounts”) to which the Lender is authorized by the Borrowers to transfer the proceeds of any Borrowings requested or authorized pursuant to this Agreement.

(i) Customer List. The Administrative Agent shall have received a true and complete list of customers of each Loan Party.

(j) Solvency. The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate from a Financial Officer of each Borrower.

(k) Borrowing Base Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate which calculates the Borrowing Base as of the end of the month immediately preceding the Effective Date.

(l) Closing Availability. After giving effect to all Borrowings to be made on the Effective Date and the issuance of any Letters of Credit on the Effective Date and payment of all fees and expenses due hereunder, and with all of the Loan Parties’ indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations current (other than in the ordinary course of business), the Borrowers’ Availability shall not be less than $30,000,000.

(m) Pledged Stock; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes. The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the certificates representing the shares of Capital Stock pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof and (ii) each promissory note (if any) pledged to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Security Agreement endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof.

(n) Filings, Registrations and Recordings. Each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by the Collateral Documents or under law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.

(o) Environmental Reports. The Administrative Agent shall have received environmental review reports with respect to the real properties of the Group Members and located in the United States of America specified by the Administrative Agent from firm(s) designated by the Borrowers, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and with no direct or indirect interest, financial or otherwise, in the such real properties or the Transaction, which review reports shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; provided, that such reports shall be limited to Phase I Environmental Site Assessments and such further reports as are reasonably necessary to confirm any material environmental condition identified in such Phase I Report Environmental Site Assessment; provided further that, with respect to real property not owned by any Group Member, conducting an environmental assessment necessary to deliver such environmental review reports does not violate any contractual restrictions or any Requirement of Law applicable to such Group Member. Any such environmental review reports shall, or shall be supplemented to, indicate such Group Member’s plans with respect to any material environmental hazard or liability identified in any such environmental report and known to such Group Member, for which such Group Member is required to respond pursuant to applicable Environmental Laws.

(p) Mortgages, etc. The Administrative Agent shall have received, with respect to each Mortgaged Property (other than the real property located in Augusta, Kentucky, as specified on Schedule 3.05), each of the following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) a Mortgage on such property;

(ii) evidence that a counterpart of the Mortgage has been recorded in the place necessary, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable judgment, to create a valid and enforceable first priority Lien in favor of the Secured Parties;

(iii) ALTA or other mortgagee’s title insurance policy (each a “Title Policy”);

(iv) an opinion of counsel in the state in which such parcel of real property is located in form and substance and from counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

(v) such other information, documentation, and certifications as may be reasonably required by the Administrative Agent.

(q) Insurance. The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of insurance coverage in form, scope, and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and otherwise in compliance in all material respects with the terms of Section 5.06 and Section 4.12 of the Security Agreement.

(r) Letter of Credit Application. The Administrative Agent shall have received a properly completed letter of credit application if the issuance of a Letter of Credit will be required on the Effective Date. The Borrowers shall have executed the Issuing Bank’s master agreement for the issuance of commercial Letters of Credit.

(s) Approvals. The Administrative Agent shall have received on reasonably satisfactory terms all domestic and foreign governmental and third party approvals reasonably necessary in connection with the Transaction and the continuing operations of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries (including shareholder approvals, if any). Such approvals shall be in full force and effect in all material respects.

(t) Collateral Reports. The Administrative Agent shall have received asset appraisals of Inventory, Equipment and real property and field examinations of the Accounts, Inventory and related working capital matters and financial information of the Loan Parties and of the related data processing and other systems (which is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) performed by the Administrative Agent or from firms and appraisers with no direct or indirect interest, financial or otherwise, in such property and the Transaction.

(u) Other Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents as the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender or their respective counsel may have reasonably requested.

The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior to 2:00 p.m., Chicago time, on June 24, 2008 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).

Section 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and of the Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable; provided that, any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct in all respects on such date.

(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrowers on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

ARTICLE V

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, each Loan Party, jointly and severally with all of the Loan Parties, covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:

Section 5.01. Financial Statements, Borrowing Base and Other Information. The Borrowers will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) on the date that is the earliest of (i) the date on which Holdings’ or Griffon’s financial statements shall have been filed with the SEC, (ii) the date Holdings’ or Griffon’s financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (without regard to any extension of the SEC’s filing requirements) and (iii) the day which is 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of Holdings, (x) the audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Griffon and its subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year, together with consolidating balance sheets and statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows by business unit consistent with past practice and, within each business unit, a further breakdown of consolidating financial information between Subsidiaries which are Loan Parties within such business unit and Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties within such business unit (which consolidating financial information shall have been subject to the audit procedures applied in the audit and shall be accompanied by an opinion of the accountants performing the audit that such consolidating financial information, in their opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole), setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on, in the case of the consolidated financial statements, by Grant Thornton LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Griffon and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, and (y) an unaudited consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Loan Parties (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties) as of the end of and for such year, together with a reconciliation to the financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (x) of this paragraph, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties) in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(b) (x) on the date that is the earliest of (i) the date on which Holdings’ or Griffon’s financial statements shall have been filed with the SEC, (ii) the date Holdings’ or Griffon’s financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (without regard to any extension of the SEC’s filing requirements) and (iii) the day which is 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly periods of each fiscal year of Holdings, commencing with respect to the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2008, (A) the consolidated and consolidating balance sheets and related consolidated and consolidating statements of income and cash flows of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the corresponding period or periods of the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, and (B) the consolidated and consolidating balance sheets and related consolidated and consolidating statements of income and cash flows of the Loan Parties (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties) as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the corresponding period or periods of the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties) in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, and (y) on the date that is the earliest of (i) the date on which Griffon’s financial statements shall have been filed with the SEC, (ii) the date Griffon’s financial statements are required to be filed with the SEC (without regard to any extension of the SEC’s filing requirements) and (iii) the day which is 60 days after the end of the quarterly period of the Parent ending June 30, 2008, the consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and related consolidated and consolidating statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent and its subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figure for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c) (x) within 30 days after the end of each fiscal month of Holdings (or, in the case of a fiscal month which is the last fiscal month of a fiscal quarter of Holdings, by the date on which the quarterly financial statements of Holdings are due pursuant to Section 5.01(b)), commencing with respect to the fiscal month ended September 30, 2008, (i) the consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and related consolidated and consolidating statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal month and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, and (ii) the consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and related consolidated and consolidating statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Loan Parties (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties) as of the end of and for such fiscal month and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Loan Parties on a consolidated basis (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties) in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and (y) within 30 days after the end of each fiscal month of the Parent ending prior to September 30, 2008 (or, in the case of a fiscal month which is the last fiscal month of a fiscal quarter of the Parent, by the date on which the quarterly financial statements of the Parent are due pursuant to Section 5.01(b)), the consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and related consolidated and consolidating statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent and its subsidiaries as of the end of and for such fiscal month and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figure for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Parent and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(d) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative in substantially the form of Exhibit D (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) commencing with the certificate for the period ending September 30, 2008, setting forth reasonably detailed calculations of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio and, if applicable, demonstrating compliance with Section 6.11, and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 or since the date of any such notice and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;

(e) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under paragraph (a) of this Section, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination of such financial statements of any Default arising as a result of non-compliance with Article VI, including Section 6.11, if applicable (which certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);

(f) promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all other reports submitted to Holdings and its Subsidiaries by its independent certified public accountants in connection with any annual or interim audit or review of the books of Holdings and its Subsidiaries made by such accountants;

(g) annually, as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the last day of each fiscal year of Holdings, consolidated and consolidating projections of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and for the Loan Parties for the following three fiscal years thereafter (with such projections to be provided on a quarterly basis for the first year and on an annual basis for the next two years) (the “Projections”);

(h) promptly following receipt thereof, copies of any documents described in Sections 101(k) or 101(l) of ERISA that Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided, that if Holdings or any of its ERISA Affiliates have not requested such documents or notices from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, then, upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent, Holdings and/or their ERISA Affiliates shall promptly make a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and Holdings shall provide copies of such documents and notices promptly after receipt thereof;

(i) if applicable, promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by any Group Member with the SEC, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by any Group Member to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

(j) as soon as available but in any event within 20 days of the end of each calendar month (in case Availability is less than 15% of the Revolving Commitments, within 3 days (but in no event earlier than two Business Days) after the end of each week), as of the period then ended, a Borrowing Base Certificate and supporting information in connection therewith, together with any additional reports with respect to Borrowing Base as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request; and the PP&E Component of the Borrowing Base shall be updated (i) concurrent with the sale or commitment to sell any assets constituting part of the PP&E Component, (ii) in the event such assets are idled for any reason other than routine maintenance or repairs for a period in excess of ten consecutive days, or (iii) in the event that the value of such assets is otherwise materially impaired, as determined in the Administrative Agent’s Permitted Discretion;

(k) as soon as available but in any event within 20 days of the end of each calendar month (with respect to clause (iii) below, in case Availability is less than 15% of Revolving Commitments, within 3 days (but in no event earlier than two Business Days) after the end of each week) and at such other times as may be requested by the Administrative Agent, as of the period then ended, all delivered electronically in a text formatted file acceptable to the Administrative Agent:

(i) a detailed aging of the Borrowers’ Accounts (1) including all invoices aged by invoice date and due date (with an explanation of the terms offered) and (2) reconciled to the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered as of such date prepared in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, together with a summary specifying the name, address, and balance due for each Account Debtor;

(ii) a schedule detailing the Borrowers’ Inventory, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (1) by location (showing Inventory in transit, any Inventory located with a third party under any consignment, bailee arrangement, or warehouse agreement), by class (raw material, work-in-process and finished goods), by product type, and by volume on hand, which Inventory shall be valued at the lower of cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or market and adjusted for Reserves as the Administrative Agent has previously indicated to the Borrower Representative in writing are deemed by the Administrative Agent to be reasonably appropriate, (2) including a report of any variances or other results of Inventory counts performed by the Borrowers since the last Inventory schedule (including information regarding sales or other reductions, additions, returns, credits issued by the Borrowers and complaints and claims made against the Borrowers), and (3) reconciled to the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered as of such date;

(iii) a worksheet of calculations prepared by the Borrowers to determine Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory, such worksheets detailing the Accounts and Inventory excluded from Eligible Accounts and Eligible Inventory and the reason for such exclusion;

(iv) a reconciliation of the Borrowers’ Accounts and Inventory between the amounts shown in the Borrowers’ general ledger and financial statements and the reports delivered pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above; and

(v) a reconciliation of the loan balance per the Borrowers’ general ledger to the loan balance under this Agreement;

(l) as soon as available but in any event within 20 days of the end of each calendar month (commencing with the first calendar month ended at least 90 days after the Effective Date), as of the month then ended, a schedule and aging of the Borrowers’ accounts payable, delivered electronically in a text formatted file acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(m) as soon as available but in any event within 20 days of the end of each March 31 and September 30, an updated customer list for each Loan Party, which list shall state the customer’s name, mailing address and phone number and shall be certified as true and correct by a Financial Officer of each Borrower, delivered electronically in a text formatted file acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(n) promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s reasonable request:

(i) copies of invoices issued by the Borrowers in connection with any Accounts, credit memos, shipping and delivery documents, and other information related thereto;

(ii) copies of purchase orders, invoices, and shipping and delivery documents in connection with any Inventory or Equipment purchased by any Borrower; and

(iii) a schedule detailing the balance of all intercompany accounts of the Loan Parties;

(o) as soon as reasonably practicable but in any event within 20 days of the end of each calendar month (in case Availability is less than 15% of Revolving Commitments, within 3 days (but in no event earlier than two Business Days) after the end of each week) and at such other times as may be requested by the Administrative Agent, as of the period then ended, the Borrowers’ sales journal, cash receipts journal (identifying trade and non-trade cash receipts) and debit memo/credit memo journal;

(p) as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 30 days of filing thereof, copies of all tax returns filed by any Loan Party with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service;

(q) as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within ten Business Days after the end of each calendar month, a detailed listing of all intercompany loans made by the Loan Parties during such calendar month;

(r) within 10 days of the first Business Day of each December, a certificate of good standing for each Loan Party from the appropriate governmental officer in its jurisdiction of incorporation, formation, or organization;

(s) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a), (b), (c) or, if applicable (i) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which any of Griffon, the Parent, Holdings or any of the Borrowers posts such documents or provides a link thereto on Griffon’s, the Parent’s, Holdings’ or either Borrower’s website or (ii) on which such documents are posted on Griffon’s, the Parent’s, Holdings’ or either Borrower’s behalf on Intralinks/IntraAgency or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that the Borrower Representative shall notify the Administrative Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide the Administrative Agent with electronic mail versions of such documents.

Section 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Borrowers and Holdings will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the following:

(a) the occurrence of any Default;

(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting Holdings or any of its Affiliates, other than disputes in the ordinary course of business or, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, disputes involving amounts exceeding $5,000,000 (excluding, however, any actions relating to workers’ compensation claims or negligence claims relating to use of motor vehicles, if fully covered by insurance, subject to deductibles);

(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of Holdings and any of its ERISA Affiliates in an aggregate amount exceeding $15,000,000;

(d) any Lien (other than Permitted Encumbrances) or claim made or asserted against any of the Collateral;

(e) any loss, damage, or destruction to the Collateral in the amount of $1,000,000 or more, whether or not covered by insurance;

(f) any and all default notices received under or with respect to any leased location or public warehouse where Collateral with a value in excess of $500,000 is located (which shall be delivered within three Business Days after receipt thereof);

(g) all material amendments to the material contracts set forth on Schedule 5.02 to which any Borrower is a party, together with a copy of each such amendment;

(h) the fact that a Loan Party has entered into a Swap Agreement or an amendment to a Swap Agreement, together with copies of all agreements evidencing such Swap Agreement or amendments thereto (which shall be delivered within three Business Days following execution and delivery thereof);

(i) the assertion in writing of any environmental claim by any Person against, or with respect to the activities of, any Group Member and any alleged violation of or non compliance with any Environmental Laws or any permits, licenses or authorizations, other than any environmental claim or alleged violation that, alone or together with any other such matters that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Group Members in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000,000; and

(j) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower Representative setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

Section 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.

Section 5.04. Payment of Obligations. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) such Loan Party has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.05. Maintenance of Properties. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

Section 5.06. Maintenance of Insurance. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations; provided that the Borrowers may maintain self-insurance consistent with its past practices and policies.

Section 5.07. Books and Records. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries in all material respects are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities.

Section 5.08. Inspection Rights; Collateral Reports. (a) Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including any consultants, lawyers and appraisers retained by the Administrative Agent), upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties (including field examinations to ensure the adequacy of the Collateral to support the Borrowing Base and related reporting and control systems), to examine and make extracts from its books and records, including environmental assessment reports, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at the sole expense of such Loan Party and at such reasonable time as requested and as often as reasonably requested; provided that the Loan Parties shall not be required to reimburse the Administrative Agent for the reasonable costs of more than one field examination per calendar year unless the Administrative Agent, in its Permitted Discretion, decides to perform a second field examination in any calendar year (in which case the Loan Parties shall also be required to reimburse the Administrative Agent for the reasonable costs of such second field examination); provided, however, that there shall be no limitation on the Loan Parties’ obligation to reimburse for, or the number or frequency of, such field examinations if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or if the Availability is less than 15% of the Revolving Commitments at the time such field examination is scheduled or commenced.

(b) At any time that the Administrative Agent reasonably requests, each Loan Party will, at its sole expense, provide the Administrative Agent and, to the extent requested by any Lender, such Lender, with appraisals or updates thereof of their Inventory, Equipment and real property from an appraiser selected and engaged by the Administrative Agent, and prepared on a basis reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such appraisals and updates to include, without limitation, information required by applicable law and regulations; provided that the Loan Parties shall not be required to reimburse the Administrative Agent for the reasonable costs of more than one appraisal of each Inventory, Equipment or real property per calendar year; provided, however, that there shall be no limitation on the Loan Parties’ obligation to reimburse for, or the number or frequency of, such appraisals if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or if the Availability is less than 15% of the Revolving Commitments at the time such appraisal process is scheduled or commenced.

Section 5.09. Compliance with Laws and Contractual Obligations. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all Requirements of Law (including any Environmental Laws) applicable to it or its property, and all Contractual Obligations binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 5.10. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans, and the Letters of Credit issued hereunder, will only be used by the Borrowers to finance the working capital needs and general corporate purposes of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries. No part of the proceeds of any Loan or any Letter of Credit issued hereunder will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations U and X.

Section 5.11. Casualty and Condemnation. The Borrowers (a) will furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders prompt written notice of any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion of the Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral or interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding and (b) will ensure that the Net Proceeds of any such event (whether in the form of insurance proceeds, condemnation awards or otherwise) are collected and applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents.

Section 5.12. Depository Banks. On and after the date which is 90 days after the Effective Date, the Loan Parties will maintain the Administrative Agent (or any Lender reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) as their principal depository bank, including for the maintenance of operating, administrative, cash management, collection activity, and other deposit accounts for the conduct of its business.

Section 5.13. Collateral; Further Assurances.

(a) With respect to any property acquired after the Effective Date by any Loan Party (other than (i) any property described in paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of this Section and (ii) any property subject to a Lien expressly permitted by Section 6.02(d), (e) or (f)), such Loan Party will promptly, (A) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Collateral Documents or such other documents as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in such property and (B) take all actions reasonably necessary to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first priority security interest in such property (subject to Permitted Encumbrances), including the filing of UCC financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be reasonably required by the Collateral Documents or by law or as reasonably may be requested by the Administrative Agent.

(b) With respect to any new Subsidiary (other than a foreign Subsidiary or an Immaterial Subsidiary) created or acquired after the Effective Date by any Loan Party, such Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, promptly (i) subject to paragraph (c) of this Section, execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Collateral Documents as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first priority security interest in the Equity Interests of such new Subsidiary that is owned by such Loan Party, (ii) subject to paragraph (c) of this Section, deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing such Equity Interests, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of such Loan Party, (iii) cause such new Subsidiary (A) to become a Loan Party by executing the Joinder Agreement set forth as Exhibit E hereto (the “Joinder Agreement”), (B) to take such actions reasonably necessary to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral described in the Security Agreement with respect to such new Subsidiary, including the filing of UCC financing statements in such jurisdictions as reasonably may be required by the Security Agreement or by law or as reasonably may be requested by the Administrative Agent and (C) to deliver to the Administrative Agent a closing certificate of such new Subsidiary, which certificate shall be in the form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (iv) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described above, which opinions shall be in customary form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(c) With respect to any new foreign Subsidiary created or acquired after the Effective Date by any Loan Party which after such creation or acquisition is directly owned by a Borrower or any of its domestic Subsidiaries, such Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, promptly (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such amendments to the Security Agreement as the Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary to grant to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected first priority security interest in the Equity Interests of such new Subsidiary that is then owned by such Borrower or any of its domestic Subsidiary (provided that in no event shall more than 65% of the total outstanding voting Equity Interests of any such new foreign Subsidiary be required to be so pledged), (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent the certificates representing such pledged Equity Interests, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of such Borrower or its domestic Subsidiary, as applicable, and take such other action as reasonably may be necessary to perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interest therein, and (iii) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described above, which opinions shall be in customary form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(d) With respect to any fee interest in any real property having a value (together with improvements thereof) of at least $50,000 acquired (or which ceases to be subject to a restriction limiting Liens in favor of the Administrative Agent) after the Effective Date by any Loan Party, promptly (i) execute and deliver a first priority Mortgage, in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, covering such real property, (ii) if requested by the Administrative Agent, provide the Secured Parties with (x) title and extended coverage insurance covering such real property in an amount at least equal to the purchase price of such real property (or such other amount as shall be reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent) as well as a current ALTA survey thereof, together with a surveyor’s certificate and (y) any consents or estoppels reasonably deemed necessary or advisable by the Administrative Agent in connection with such Mortgage, each of the foregoing in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (iii) if requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver to the Administrative Agent legal opinions relating to the matters described above, which opinions shall be in form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, take such action from time to time as shall reasonably be requested by the Administrative Agent to effectuate the purposes and objectives of this Agreement, including this Section, and the other Loan Documents.

Section 5.14. Collateral Access Agreements; Control Agreements. Within 90 days after the Effective Date, the Loan Parties will use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Administrative Agent each (i) Collateral Access Agreement required to be provided pursuant to Section 4.13 of the Security Agreement and (ii) Control Agreement required to be provided pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Security Agreement.

Section 5.15. Post-closing Deliverables. (a) Within 90 days after the Effective Date (except as set forth on Schedule 5.15), the Loan Parties will (i) deliver to the Administrative Agent each item specified under the heading “Environmental Deliverables” on Schedule 5.15 (except as set forth on Schedule 5.15), (ii) resolve each item specified under the heading “Issues to be Resolved” on Schedule 5.15 in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (iii) deliver to the Administrative Agent an ALTA survey prepared and certified to the Administrative Agent by a surveyor reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent for each Mortgaged Property (other than the Mortgaged Property located in Augusta, Kentucky, as specified on Schedule 3.05), (iv) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent such documents which shall be required, in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent, to perfect under German law the pledge under the Security Agreement of 65% of the Equity Interests in German Subsidiaries owned directly by a Loan Party and (v) deliver to the Administrative Agent, with respect to the real property located in Augusta, Kentucky as specified on Schedule 3.05, each of the following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(1) a Mortgage on such property;

(2) evidence that a counterpart of the Mortgage has been recorded in the place necessary, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable judgment, to create a valid and enforceable first priority Lien in favor of the Secured Parties;

(3) a Title Policy;

(4) an opinion of counsel in the state in which such parcel of real property is located;

(5) an ALTA survey prepared and certified to the Administrative Agent by a surveyor reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent; and

(6) such other information, documentation, and certifications as may be reasonably required by the Administrative Agent.

Within ten days of the delivery of surveys pursuant to clause (iii) above, the applicable Loan Party will (x) cause the title insurance company which issued each Title Policy to issue an endorsement to each such Title Policy which removes the general survey exception and to issue the following endorsements to such Title Policy: survey endorsement; contiguity endorsement (if applicable), comprehensive endorsement and land same as survey endorsement; and (y) if reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, enter into an amendment to the applicable Mortgage which amends the legal description attached to such Mortgage to reflect the matters shown on the applicable new survey.

(b) Within 30 days after the Effective Date, the Loan Parties will deliver to the Administrative Agent (i) a copy of a demand promissory note in the aggregate principal amount of $23,000,000, bearing interest at 5% per annum, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent evidencing Indebtedness of the Borrowers owed to Griffon as of the date hereof and permitted under Section 6.01(a)(xv) and (ii) any Intercompany Note which is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Security Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, the Loan Parties, jointly and severally, covenant and agree with the Lenders that:

Section 6.01. Indebtedness; Guarantees. (a) No Borrower will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(i) Indebtedness of any Loan Party pursuant to any Loan Document (including, without limitation, any additional Indebtedness incurred pursuant to any increase of Commitments) and Secured Obligations;

(ii) Indebtedness of any Borrower to any other Group Member and of any Subsidiary of a Borrower to any other Group Member; provided Indebtedness of Group Members which are not Loan Parties to Group Members which are Loan Parties must also be expressly permitted by Section 6.06(d) or (p);

(iii) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 6.01(a) and any refinancings, refundings, renewals, replacement, waivers, amendments, amendments and restatements or extensions thereof (without increasing, or shortening the maturity of, the principal amount thereof);

(iv) Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Capital Lease Obligations) secured by Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02(e) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(v) Guarantees expressly permitted by Section 6.01(b);

(vi) Indebtedness arising from the endorsement of instruments, the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn in the ordinary course of business against insufficient funds, or in respect of netting services, overdraft protections or otherwise in connection with the operation of customary deposit accounts in the ordinary course of business;

(vii) Indebtedness arising from agreements providing for indemnification or similar obligations in each case incurred in connection with an acquisition or other Investment expressly permitted by Section 6.06 or any disposition expressly permitted by Section 6.04;

(viii) Indebtedness in the form of customary obligations under indemnification, incentive, non-compete, consulting, deferred compensation, earn-out (based on the income of the assets acquired after the acquisition thereof) or other customary similar arrangements otherwise permitted hereunder;

(ix) Indebtedness resulting from judgments not resulting in an Event of Default under paragraph (k) of Article VII;

(x) Indebtedness resulting from unfunded pension fund and other employee benefit plan obligations and liabilities to the extent that they are permitted to remain unfunded under applicable law;

(xi) Indebtedness resulting from Swap Agreements permitted hereunder;

(xii) Indebtedness consisting of guaranties of loans made to officers, directors or employees of any Group Member in an aggregate amount which shall not exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(xiii) (I) Indebtedness that is unsecured so long as, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness on a pro forma basis, (A) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be at least 1.20 to 1.0 as of the end of the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been delivered, (B) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (C) the aggregate amount of such unsecured Indebtedness (other than Permitted Subordinated Debt) incurred shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any time outstanding, and, (II) without limiting any of the forgoing, any refinancings, refundings, renewals, replacement, waivers, amendments, amendments and restatements or extensions thereof (without increasing, or shortening the maturity of, the principal amount thereof), provided that, after giving effect to any such refinancings, refundings, renewals, replacement, waivers, amendments, amendments and restatements or extensions of Permitted Subordinated Debt, the resulting Indebtedness shall constitute Permitted Subordinated Debt; and

(xiv) unsecured or secured Indebtedness of the German Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(xv) Indebtedness of the Borrowers owed to Griffon as of the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $23,000,000; provided that such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(xvi) any Indebtedness arising as a result of sale and leaseback transactions specified on Schedule 6.15; and

(xvii) in addition to Indebtedness otherwise expressly permitted by this Section, Indebtedness of the Group Members in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding.

(b) The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, assume, endorse, be or become liable for, or Guarantee, the obligations of any other Person (except by the endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business), except for:

(i) Guarantees existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.01(b);

(ii) Guarantees by any Group Member of obligations of any Loan Party (including, without limitation, all Indebtedness expressly permitted under Section 6.01(a));

(iii) Guarantees by any Loan Party of obligations incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(a) (xiv) to the extent such Guarantees are subordinated to the Obligations on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and

(iv) in addition to Guarantees otherwise expressly permitted by this Section, Guarantees of the Group Members not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time outstanding.

Section 6.02. Liens. The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any of their Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

(a) Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents;

(b) Permitted Encumbrances;

(c) any Lien on any property or asset of any Group Member existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.02 (excluding, however, following the making of the initial Loans hereunder as of the Effective Date, Liens securing Indebtedness to be repaid with the proceeds of such Loans, as indicated on Schedule 6.02); provided that (i) no such Lien shall extend to any other property or asset of any Group Member and (ii) any such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals, replacements and combinations thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof or commitment therefor, in each case, as in effect on the date hereof;

(d) any Lien existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts and Inventory) prior to the acquisition thereof by any Group Member or existing on any property or asset (other than Accounts and Inventory) of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (including in connection with an acquisition explicitly permitted by Section 6.04); provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of any Group Member and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the original outstanding principal amount thereof;

(e) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by any Group Member; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness expressly permitted by Section 6.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within six months after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of any Group Member;

(f) Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-208 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the relevant jurisdiction covering only the items being collected upon;

(g) Liens granted by a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in favor of any Borrower or another Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness owed by such Subsidiary;

(h) Liens granted by any German Subsidiaries on their assets to secure Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(a)(xiv)

(i) any interest or title of a lessor under any lease entered into by any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of its business and covering only the assets so leased, and any financing statement filed in connection with any such lease;

(j) Liens held by third parties on consigned goods incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(k) bankers' liens and rights to setoff with respect to deposit accounts, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(l) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the insurance premiums with the providers of such insurance or their Affiliates in respect thereof;

(m) Liens on any assets that are the subject of an agreement for a disposition thereof expressly permitted under Section Section 6.04 that arise due to the existence of such agreement;

(n) Liens on assets subject to the sale and leaseback transactions specified on Schedule 6.15; and

(o) additional Liens not otherwise expressly permitted by this Section on any property or asset of any Group Member securing obligations in an aggregate amount not exceeding $7,500,000 at any time outstanding.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Liens permitted pursuant to this Section 6.02 may at any time attach to any Loan Party’s (1) Accounts, other than those permitted under clause (a) and (e) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrance and clause (a) above and (2) Inventory, other than those permitted under clauses (a), (b) and (e) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrance and clause (a) above.

Section 6.03. Mergers, Consolidations, Etc. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction of merger or consolidation or amalgamation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), except that (i) any Subsidiary of any Borrower may be merged or consolidated with or into a Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving corporation) or with or into any Subsidiary which is a Loan Party (provided that such Subsidiary which is a Loan Party shall be the continuing or surviving corporation), (ii) any other Subsidiary of any Borrower which is not a Loan Party may be merged or consolidated with or into any other Subsidiary of any Borrower, and (iii) any Loan Party may make Permitted Acquisitions in compliance with Section 6.06(e).

Section 6.04. Dispositions. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, convey, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, any part of its business or property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (including receivables and leasehold interests), except:

(a) obsolete or worn out property, tools or equipment no longer used or useful in its business;

(b) any inventory or other property sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business and for fair consideration;

(c) any Subsidiary of any Borrower may sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of its property (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to any Group Member (provided that, in the case of any such transfer by a Subsidiary that is a Loan Party, the transferee must also be a Loan Party);

(d) any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of any Borrower may be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of to any Borrower or any other Subsidiary of a Borrower (provided that, in the case of any such transfer by a Loan Party, the transferee must also be a Loan Party);

(e) any Group Member may sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of (i) its property and assets the fair market value of which does not exceed in the aggregate in any fiscal year 5% of the consolidated assets of the Group Members as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year (for which financial statements have been delivered) of the Borrowers for fair consideration and (ii) Equity Interests of any Subsidiary of any Borrower (x) the net revenues of which do not exceed in the aggregate in any fiscal year 5% of the consolidated net revenues of the Group Members or (y) the assets of which do not exceed in the aggregate in any fiscal year 10% of the consolidated assets of the Group Members, in each case, as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year (for which financial statements have been delivered) of the Borrowers for fair consideration;

(f) the cross-licensing or licensing of intellectual property, in the ordinary course of business;

(g) the dispositions expressly permitted by Section 6.03;

(h) the leasing, occupancy or sub-leasing of real property in the ordinary course of business that would not materially interfere with the required use of such real property by any Group Member;

(i) the sale or discount, in the ordinary course of business, of overdue or otherwise ineligible accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business, in connection with the compromise or collection thereof;

(j) transfers of condemned property as a result of the exercise of “eminent domain” or other similar policies to the respective Governmental Authority or agency that has condemned the same (whether by deed in lieu of condemnation or otherwise), and transfers of properties that have been subject to a casualty to the respective insurer of such property as part of an insurance settlement;

(k) Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02;

(l) Restricted Payments expressly permitted by Section 6.07; and

(m) sales necessary to effect sale and leaseback transactions specified on Schedule 6.15;

provided that all sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted hereby (other than those permitted by paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (f), (g), (i), (j), (k) and (l) above) shall be made for fair value and for at least 75% cash consideration.

Section 6.05. Lines of Business. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Group Members on the date hereof and businesses reasonably related thereto.

Section 6.06. Investments and Acquisitions. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make or suffer to exist any Investment in any Person or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except:

(a) Permitted Investments, subject to Control Agreements in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties or otherwise subject to a perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties to the extent required under the Loan Documents;

(b) Guarantees expressly permitted by Section 6.01(b) and any payments made in respect of such Guarantees;

(c) Investments (other than Investments expressly permitted under paragraph (a) and (b) of this Section) existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 6.06;

(d) Investments by (i) any Borrower in any Subsidiary which is a Loan Party or by any Subsidiary of a Borrower in any Subsidiary which is a Loan Party or in a Borrower; (ii) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party in any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party and (iii) any Loan Party in a Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party not exceeding in the aggregate $1,000,000;

(e) Permitted Acquisitions if, after giving pro forma effect thereto, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be at least 1.20 to 1.0 as of the end of the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been delivered and (iii) Availability shall be at least 30% of the Revolving Commitments; provided that the aggregate consideration in respect of all such Permitted Acquisitions shall not exceed $100,000,000 during the Availability Period;

(f) purchases of inventory and other property to be sold or used in the ordinary course of business;

(g) any Restricted Payments expressly permitted by Section 6.07;

(h) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

(i) Investments arising in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness expressly permitted by Section 6.01(a);

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

(k) Investments of any Group Member under Swap Agreements expressly permitted hereunder;

(l) Investments of any Person in existence at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary pursuant to a transaction expressly permitted by any other paragraph of this Section; provided that such Investment was not made in connection with or anticipation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary;

(m) Investments resulting from pledges and deposits referred to in paragraphs (c) and (d) of the definition of “Permitted Encumbrances”;

(n) the forgiveness or conversion to equity of any Indebtedness expressly permitted by Section 6.01(a)(ii);

(o) negotiable instruments and deposits held in the ordinary course of business; and

(p) in addition to Investments otherwise expressly permitted by this Section, Investments not exceeding in the aggregate $7,500,000.

Section 6.07. Restricted Payments. (a) No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except:

(i) each of Holdings and each Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to its common stock payable solely in additional shares of its common stock;

(ii) any Borrower may declare and pay to Holdings (for distribution to the Parent and ultimately to Griffon, if applicable) dividends, or make other payments, to pay the Borrowers’ allocated share of overhead and expenses incurred by Griffon, the Parent or Holdings (other than interest expense) in accordance with the exercise of the reasonable business judgment of Griffon, the Parent or Holdings, as applicable; provided that such amounts are used for such purposes within 60 days after such amounts are paid;

(iii) any Borrower may declare and pay to Holdings (for distribution to the Parent and ultimately to Griffon, if applicable) dividends, the proceeds of which will be used to pay, or to make payments to allow Griffon, the Parent or Holdings to pay Taxes (including in respect of any consolidated, combined, unitary or affiliated group or tax returns of Holdings, the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries) attributable to the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, determined as if the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries filed separately; provided that, in each case, the amount of such payments in any year does not exceed the amount that the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries would be required to pay in respect of federal, state and/or local income Taxes, as applicable, for such year were the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries required to pay such taxes separately from Holdings, the Parent and Griffon, less the amount of any such taxes paid directly by the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries; provided that such amounts are used for such purposes within 60 days after such amounts are paid;

(iv) the Borrowers may declare and pay to Holdings (for distribution to the Parent and ultimately to Griffon, if applicable) dividends, or make other payments, not otherwise permitted hereunder in any fiscal year so long as, after giving pro forma effect to such payment, (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and (ii) Availability shall be at least 30% of the Revolving Commitment for the most recent 30 days (or, if less, the number of days elapsed since the Effective Date) and, after giving effect thereto;

provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the payment of dividends by any Subsidiary of any Borrower to any Borrower, any other Subsidiary of any Borrower or, if applicable, any minority shareholder of such Subsidiary (in accordance with the percentage of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary owned by such minority shareholder).

(b) No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, make or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Indebtedness, except:

(i) payment of Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents or payments on Indebtedness owned by a Subsidiary of a Loan Party to a Loan Party or by a Loan Party to any other Loan Party;

(ii) payment of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as and when due in respect of any Indebtedness, other than payments in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof, provided that principal payments (including, without limitation, any payment due at maturity or any partial or full repayment upon demand or otherwise) in respect of Indebtedness owed to Griffon or the Parent shall only be permitted so long as, after giving pro forma effect to such payment, (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (B) Availability shall be at least 30% of the Revolving Commitments for the most recent 30 days (or, if less, the number of days elapsed since the Effective Date) and, after giving effect thereto;

(iii) refinancings of Indebtedness to the extent expressly permitted by Section 6.01; and

(iv) payment of secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness.

Section 6.08. Transactions with Affiliates. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except:

(a) transactions in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to such Group Member than could be obtained on an arm’s length basis from a Person that is not an Affiliate;

(b) payments of management fees to Griffon pursuant to the Management Agreement in an aggregate amount not to exceed, in any fiscal year, the greater of (i) $250,000 or (ii) 7.5% of the Consolidated Pre-tax Income; provided that such management fees, insofar as such management fees relate to the Consolidated Pre-tax Income of Subsidiaries which are not Loan Parties, shall be paid in cash directly or indirectly by such Subsidiaries;

(d) any Investments expressly permitted by Section 6.06;

(e) any Restricted Payment expressly permitted by Section 6.07; and

(f) any Affiliate who is a natural person may serve as an employee or director of any Loan Party and receive reasonable compensation for his services in such capacity.

Section 6.09. Restrictive Agreements. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (i) the ability of any Group Member to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (ii) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any shares of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to any Group Member or to Guarantee Indebtedness of any Group Member, except:

(a) restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement;

(b) restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.09 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition);

(c) customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided that such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder; and

(d) (solely with respect to paragraph (i) above) (i) restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness and (ii) customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.

Section 6.10. Swap Agreements. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Swap Agreement, other than Swap Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which any Group Member is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management of its liabilities.

Section 6.11. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. In the event that Availability is less than 17.5% of the Revolving Commitments at any time, the Borrowers will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the most-recently ended twelve fiscal months (or, if less, the number of full fiscal months elapsed since the Effective Date) of the Borrowers as of the end of the most recent fiscal month for which financial statements have been delivered and each fiscal month thereafter to be less than 1.0 to 1.0, provided that this covenant shall cease to apply (until any subsequent time, if any, at which Availability is less than 17.5% of the Revolving Commitments, as so determined) if Availability exceeds 22.5% of the Revolving Commitments for 90 consecutive calendar days; provided, further, that, by notifying the Administrative Agent on or prior to the delivery of financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01 with respect to any fiscal year or fiscal quarter and so long as Availability at such time is not less than 10% of the Revolving Commitments, the Borrowers may elect to include in the calculation of Net Income for the purpose of determining the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio with respect to the applicable fiscal period the undistributed net income of their foreign Subsidiaries; provided that (a) such undistributed net income may only be so included to the extent that such foreign Subsidiaries have cash at such time to make payment of dividends or similar distribution to any Loan Party and such distributions are not restricted by any contractual restrictions or any Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary, (b) the amount of net income so included shall be net of any reasonably anticipated taxes payable in connection with such distribution, (c) the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower Representative (i) certifying as to the accuracy and compliance of the calculations pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above, (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail such calculations and (iii) attaching supporting materials reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion, and (d) until the date on which Availability exceeds 22.5% of the Revolving Commitments for 90 consecutive calendar days, the Borrowers shall be subject to an Availability Block.

Section 6.12. Stock Issuance. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue any additional shares, or any right or option to acquire any shares or any security convertible into any shares, of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary, except (a) in connection with dividends in Equity Interests expressly permitted by Section 6.07 and (b) to any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Section 6.13. Modifications of Certain Documents. No Loan Party will, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, consent to any modification, amendment, supplement or waiver of any of the provisions of (A) its charter, by-laws or other organizational documents or any other agreement or instrument to which any Group Member is a party or is bound that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (B) except as permitted by Section 6.01(a)(xiii)(II), any Permitted Subordinated Debt, in each case, without the prior consent of the Administrative Agent (with the approval of the Required Lenders).

Section 6.14. Passive Holding Company Status. Holdings will not (i) conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, or commit to conduct, transact or otherwise engage in, any business or operations other than those incidental to its ownership of the Equity Interests of the Borrowers and Holdings’ other Subsidiaries, (ii) incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness or other liabilities or financial obligations, except (x) nonconsensual obligations imposed by operation of law, (y) obligations pursuant to the Loan Documents to which it is a party and (z) obligations with respect to its Equity Interests, or (iii) own, lease, manage or otherwise operate any properties or assets (other than cash, cash equivalents or other than the ownership of shares of Equity Interests of the Borrowers or Holdings’ other Subsidiaries).

Section 6.15. Sale and Leaseback Transactions. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.15, no Loan Party will, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred, except for any such sale of any fixed or capital assets by any Group Member that is made for cash consideration in an amount not less than the fair value of such fixed or capital asset and is consummated within 90 days after such Group Member acquires or completes the construction of such fixed or capital asset. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no transaction or arrangement shall be restricted under this Section 6.15 if, in connection with such transaction or arrangement, any Indebtedness or Lien incurred is permitted to be incurred under Section 6.01 and Section 6.02 or any disposition of property is permitted under Section 6.04.

Section 6.16. Capital Expenditures. (a) The Borrowers will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, incur or make any Capital Expenditures in any fiscal year in an amount exceeding $25,000,000.

(b) The amount of any Capital Expenditures permitted to be made in respect of any fiscal year shall be increased by 60% of the unused amount of Capital Expenditures that were permitted to be made during the immediately preceding fiscal year pursuant to Section 6.16(a), without giving effect to any carryover amount. Capital Expenditures in any fiscal year shall be deemed to use first, the amount for such fiscal year set forth in Section 6.16(a) and, second, any amount carried forward to such fiscal year pursuant to this Section 6.16(b).

Section 6.17. Fiscal Year. Holdings shall not permit its fiscal year or the fiscal year of any of its Subsidiaries to end on a day other than September 30.

ARTICLE VII

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:

(a) the Borrowers shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

(b) the Borrowers shall fail to pay any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement or any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in paragraph (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five or more Business Days;

(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof, shall prove to have been false or misleading when made or deemed made in any material respect;

(d) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02 or Section 5.03 (with respect to a Loan Party’s existence) or in Article VI or any Loan Party shall default in the performance of any of its obligations contained in Sections 4.1(d), (e) or (f), 4.6(a) or (b), 4.11 or 4.14 of the Security Agreement or Article VII of the Security Agreement;

(e) any Loan Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (d) of this Article) or any other Loan Document and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 or more days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent (given at the request of any Lender);

(f) Griffon, the Parent or any Group Member shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period (except in the case of principal, beyond any applicable grace period) of five or more Business Days;

(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this paragraph (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of Griffon, the Parent or any Group Member or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Griffon, the Parent or any Group Member or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed or undischarged for a period of 60 or more days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

(i) Griffon, the Parent or any Group Member shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in paragraph (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for it or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

(j) Griffon, the Parent or any Group Member shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $7,500,000 shall be rendered against Griffon, the Parent or any Group Member or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed or vacated or, in respect with such judgment, any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of Griffon, the Parent or any Group Member to enforce any such judgment;

(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(m) a Change of Control shall occur;

(n) any material provision of any Loan Document for any reason ceases to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (or any Loan Party shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or shall assert in writing, or engage in any action based on any such written assertion, that any provision of any of the Loan Documents has ceased to be or otherwise is not valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms)

(o) the Guaranty contained in Article X shall for whatever reason cease to be in full force and effect or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert; or

(p) the Liens created by the Collateral Documents shall at any time not constitute a valid and perfected Lien on the Collateral intended to be covered thereby (to the extent perfection by filing, registration, recordation or possession is required herein or therein), free and clear of all other Liens (other than Liens expressly permitted under Section 6.02 or under the Collateral Documents), or, except for expiration in accordance with its terms, any of the Collateral Documents shall for whatever reason be terminated or cease to be in full force and effect, or any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party shall so assert, or the enforceability thereof shall be contested by any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party;

then, and in every such event (other than any event described in paragraphs (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower Representative, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers; and in case of any event described in paragraph (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers.

ARTICLE VIII

The Administrative Agent

Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf, including execution of the other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary of a Loan Party or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.

The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower Representative or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection with any Loan Document, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral or the existence of the Collateral, or (vi) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrowers), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Borrower Representative. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrowers, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a commercial bank or an Affiliate of any such commercial bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrowers to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrowers and such successor. After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.

Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

To the extent requested, the Administrative Agent shall promptly upon receipt thereof forward to each Lender a copy of each Report. Each Lender hereby agrees that (a) it has requested a copy of each Report prepared by or on behalf of the Administrative Agent; (b) the Administrative Agent (i) makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the completeness or accuracy of any Report or any of the information contained therein or any inaccuracy or omission contained in or relating to a Report and (ii) shall not be liable for any information contained in any Report; (c) the Reports are not comprehensive audits or examinations, and that any Person performing any field examination will inspect only specific information regarding the Loan Parties and will rely significantly upon the Loan Parties’ books and records, as well as on representations of the Loan Parties’ personnel and that the Administrative Agent undertakes no obligation to update, correct or supplement the Reports; (d) it will keep all Reports confidential and strictly for its internal use, not share the Report with any Loan Party or any other Person except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this Agreement; and (e) without limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in this Agreement, it will pay and protect, and indemnify, defend, and hold the Administrative Agent and any such other Person preparing a Report harmless from and against, the claims, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and other amounts (including reasonable attorney fees) incurred by as the direct or indirect result of any third parties who might obtain all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

Section 9.01. Notices. (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile, as follows:

(i) if to any Loan Party, to the Borrower Representative at:

Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc.

8585 Duke Blvd.

Mason, Ohio 45040

Attention: Treasurer

Fax: 513-770-6544

with a copy to:

Griffon Corporation

100 Jericho Quadrangle Suite 224

Jericho, NY 11753-2702

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Fax: 516-932-1169

(ii) if to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. at:

Mailcode: NY1-K855

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Donna DiForio

Fax: 646-534-2274

(iii) if to any other Lender, to it at its address or facsimile number set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

All such notices and other communications (i) sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received or (ii) sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent, provided that if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient.

(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications (including e-mail and internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower Representative (on behalf of the Loan Parties) may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. All such notices and other communications (i) sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if not given during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (b)(i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c) Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.

Section 9.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under any other Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

(b) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except (i) in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrowers and the Required Lenders or, (ii) in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) (A) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (provided that the Administrative Agent may make Protective Advances as set forth in Section 2.04) or (B) change Section 2.09(f) or otherwise increase the aggregate Revolving Commitments such that, in either case, the aggregate Revolving Commitments would exceed $150,000,000, without the written consent of each Lender, (ii) reduce or forgive the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce or forgive any interest, fees or other Obligations payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iii) postpone any scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or LC Disbursement, or any date for the payment of any interest, fees or other Obligations payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.18(b) or (d) in a manner that would alter the manner in which payments are shared, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) increase the advance rates set forth in the definition of Borrowing Base (or change the constituent definitional provisions thereof in a manner having the effect of increasing the advance rates) or add new categories of eligible assets, without the written consent of each Lender, (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Class) required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender, (vii) release any Guarantor from its obligation under its Guaranty (except as otherwise permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents), without the written consent of each Lender, (viii) except as provided in clauses (c) and (d) of this Section or in any Collateral Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral, without the written consent of each Lender or (ix) subordinate the Obligations to any other obligation without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be. The Administrative Agent may also amend the Commitment Schedule to reflect assignments entered into pursuant to Section 9.04.

(c) The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its Permitted Discretion, to release any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent by the Loan Parties on any Collateral (i) upon the termination of all Commitments, payment and satisfaction in full of all Secured Obligations (other than Unliquidated Obligations), and the cash collateralization of all Unliquidated Obligations in a manner satisfactory to each affected Lender, (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if the Loan Party disposing of such property certifies to the Administrative Agent that the sale or disposition is made in compliance with the terms of this Agreement (and the Administrative Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry), (iii) constituting property leased to a Loan Party under a lease which has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement, or (iv) as required to effect any sale or other disposition of such Collateral in connection with any exercise of remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article VII. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent will not release any Liens on Collateral without the prior written authorization of the Required Lenders; provided that, the Administrative Agent may in its Permitted Discretion, release its Liens on Collateral valued in the aggregate not in excess of $7,500,000 during any calendar year without the prior written authorization of the Required Lenders. Any such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Secured Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of the Loan Parties in respect of) all interests retained by the Loan Parties, including the proceeds of any sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.

(d) If, in connection with any proposed amendment, waiver or consent requiring the consent of “each Lender” or “each Lender affected thereby,” the consent of the Required Lenders is obtained, but the consent of other necessary Lenders is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is necessary but not obtained being referred to herein as a “Non-Consenting Lender”), then the Borrowers may elect to replace a Non-Consenting Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent shall agree, as of such date, to purchase for cash the Loans and other Obligations due to the Non-Consenting Lender pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption and to become a Lender for all purposes under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Non-Consenting Lender to be terminated as of such date and to comply with the requirements of clause (b) of Section 9.04, and (ii) the Borrowers shall pay to such Non-Consenting Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (1) all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Non-Consenting Lender by the Borrowers hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments due to such Non-Consenting Lender under Section 2.14 and Section 2.16, and (2) an amount, if any, equal to the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section 2.16 had the Loans of such Non-Consenting Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the replacement Lender. Any such replaced Non-Consenting Lender shall not be responsible for any assignment fee.

Section 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrowers shall pay (i) all reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication and distribution (including, without limitation, via the internet or through a service such as Intralinks) of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions of the Loan Documents (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit. Expenses being reimbursed by the Borrowers under this Section include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, costs and expenses incurred in connection with:

(i) appraisals and insurance reviews;

(ii) field examinations and the preparation of Reports based on the fees charged by a third party retained by the Administrative Agent or the internally allocated fees for each Person employed by the Administrative Agent with respect to each field examination;

(iii) taxes, fees and other charges for (A) lien and title searches and title insurance and (B) recording the Mortgages, filing financing statements and continuations, and other actions to perfect, protect, and continue the Administrative Agent’s Liens;

(iv) sums paid or incurred to take any action required of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents that such Loan Party fails to pay or take; and

(v) forwarding loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment, and establishing and maintaining the accounts and lock boxes, and costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the Collateral.

(vi) All of the foregoing costs and expenses may be charged to the Borrowers as Revolving Loans or to another deposit account, all as described in Section 2.18(c).

(b) The Borrowers shall, jointly and severally, indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by any Group Member, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to any Group Member, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

(c) To the extent that the Borrowers fail to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, penalty, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in its capacity as such.

(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.

(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.

Section 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) the Borrowers may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrowers without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:

(A) the Borrower Representative, provided that no consent of the Borrower Representative shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee;

(B) the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans of any Class, the amount of the Commitment or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower Representative shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and

(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in which the assignee designates one or more Credit Contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about Griffon, the Parent, any Group Member and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and state securities laws.

For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the term “Approved Fund” has the following meaning:

“Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.14, Section 2.15, Section 2.16, Section 2.17 and Section 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrowers, the Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05, Section 2.06(d) or (e), Section 2.07(b), Section 2.18(d) or Section 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

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(1) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.15, Section 2.16 and Section 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(d) as though it were a Lender.

(2) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or Section 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower Representative’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.17 unless the Borrower Representative is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrowers, to comply with Section 2.17(e) as though it were a Lender.

(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

Section 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Section 2.15, Section 2.16, Section 2.17 and Section 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

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Section 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

Section 9.07. Severability. Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrowers or such Guarantor against any of and all the Secured Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured. The applicable Lender shall notify the Borrower Representative and the Administrative Agent of such set-off or application, provided that any failure to give or any delay in giving such notice shall not affect the validity of any such set-off or application under this Section. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

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Section 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) The Loan Documents (other than those containing a contrary express choice of law provision) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, but giving effect to federal laws applicable to national banks.

(b) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any U.S. Federal or New York State court sitting in New York, New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

Section 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

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Section 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

Section 9.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent required by Requirement of Laws or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Loan Parties and their obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower Representative or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrowers. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrowers relating to the Borrowers or their business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrowers; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrowers after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN Section 9.12 FURNISHED TO IT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING GRIFFON AND ITS AFFILIATES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

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ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWERS OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE LOAN PARTIES AND THEIR RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWERS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

Section 9.13. Several Obligations; Nonreliance; Violation of Law. The respective obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and the failure of any Lender to make any Loan or perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of its obligations hereunder. Each Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin stock for the repayment of the Borrowings provided for herein. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, neither the Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the Borrowers in violation of any Requirement of Law.

Section 9.14. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”) hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrowers, which information includes the names and addresses of the Borrowers and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrowers in accordance with the Act.

Section 9.15. Disclosure. Each Loan Party and each Lender hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Administrative Agent and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with any of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates.

Section 9.16. Appointment for Perfection. Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable law can be perfected only by possession. Should any Lender (other than the Administrative Agent) obtain possession of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Administrative Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s instructions.

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Section 9.17. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

ARTICLE X

Guaranty

Section 10.01. Guaranty. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to the Secured Parties the prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of the Secured Obligations and all costs and expenses including, without limitation, all court costs and attorneys’ and paralegals’ fees (including allocated costs of in-house counsel and paralegals) and expenses paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Secured Parties in endeavoring to collect all or any part of the Secured Obligations from, or in prosecuting any action against, any Borrower, any Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Secured Obligations (such costs and expenses, together with the Secured Obligations, collectively the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may, to the extent permitted by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, be extended or renewed in whole or in part without notice to or further assent from it, and that it remains bound upon its guarantee notwithstanding any such extension or renewal. All terms of this Guaranty apply to and may be enforced by or on behalf of any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of any Lender that extended any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations.

Section 10.02. Guaranty of Payment. This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. Each Guarantor waives any right to require the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender to sue any Borrower, any Guarantor, any other guarantor, or any other person obligated for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations (each, an “Obligated Party”), or otherwise to enforce its payment against any collateral securing all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations.

Section 10.03. No Discharge or Diminishment of Guaranty. (a) Except as otherwise provided for herein or in any other Loan Document, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations), including: (i) any claim of waiver, release, extension, renewal, settlement, surrender, alteration, or compromise of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, by operation of law or otherwise; (ii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any Borrower or any other guarantor of or other person liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting any Obligated Party, or their assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of any Obligated Party; or (iv) the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which any Guarantor may have at any time against any Obligated Party, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, any Lender, or any other person, whether in connection herewith or in any unrelated transactions.

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(b) The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are not subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise, or any provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit payment by any Obligated Party, of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof.

(c) Further, the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder are not discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by: (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy with respect to all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; (ii) any waiver or modification of or supplement to any provision of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations; (iii) any release, non-perfection, or invalidity of any indirect or direct security for the obligations of any Borrower for all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any obligations of any other guarantor of or other person liable for any of the Guaranteed Obligations; (iv) any action or failure to act by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender with respect to any collateral securing any part of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (v) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the payment or performance of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other circumstance, act, omission or delay that might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations).

Section 10.04. Defenses Waived. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of any Borrower or any Guarantor or the unenforceability of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any Borrower or any Guarantor, other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor irrevocably waives acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any person against any Obligated Party, or any other person. The Administrative Agent may, at its election, foreclose on any Collateral held by it by one or more judicial or non-judicial sales, accept an assignment of any such Collateral in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise act or fail to act with respect to any collateral securing all or a part of the Guaranteed Obligations, compromise or adjust any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, make any other accommodation with any Obligated Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to it against any Obligated Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of such Guarantor under this Guaranty except to the extent the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully and indefeasibly paid in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though that election may operate, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of any Guarantor against any Obligated Party or any security.

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Section 10.05. Rights of Subrogation. No Guarantor will assert any right, claim or cause of action, including, without limitation, a claim of subrogation, contribution or indemnification that it has against any Obligated Party, or any collateral, until the Loan Parties and the Guarantors have fully performed all their obligations to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Secured Parties.

Section 10.06. Reinstatement; Stay of Acceleration. If at any time any payment of any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of any Borrower or otherwise, each Guarantor’s obligations under this Guaranty with respect to that payment shall be reinstated at such time as though the payment had not been made and whether or not the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Secured Parties are in possession of this Guaranty. If acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of any agreement relating to the Guaranteed Obligations shall nonetheless be payable by the Guarantors forthwith on demand by the Lender.

Section 10.07. Information. Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrowers’ financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each Guarantor assumes and incurs under this Guaranty, and agrees that neither the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank nor any Lender shall have any duty to advise any Guarantor of information known to it regarding those circumstances or risks.

Section 10.08. [Reserved].

Section 10.09. Maximum Liability. The provisions of this Guaranty are severable, and in any action or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any state, federal or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty would otherwise be held or determined to be avoidable, invalid or unenforceable on account of the amount of such Guarantor’s liability under this Guaranty, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Guaranty to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by the Guarantors or the Secured Parties, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding (such highest amount determined hereunder being the relevant Guarantor’s “Maximum Liability”). This Section with respect to the Maximum Liability of each Guarantor is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Secured Parties to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no Guarantor nor any other person or entity shall have any right or claim under this Section with respect to such Maximum Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law. Each Guarantor agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the Maximum Liability of each Guarantor without impairing this Guaranty or affecting the rights and remedies of the Secured Parties hereunder, provided that, nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any Guarantor’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum Liability.

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Section 10.10. Contribution. In the event any Guarantor (a “Paying Guarantor”) shall make any payment or payments under this Guaranty or shall suffer any loss as a result of any realization upon any collateral granted by it to secure its obligations under this Guaranty, each other Guarantor (each a “Non-Paying Guarantor”) shall contribute to such Paying Guarantor an amount equal to such Non-Paying Guarantor’s “Applicable Percentage” of such payment or payments made, or losses suffered, by such Paying Guarantor. For purposes of this Article X, each Non-Paying Guarantor’s “Applicable Percentage” with respect to any such payment or loss by a Paying Guarantor shall be determined as of the date on which such payment or loss was made by reference to the ratio of (i) such Non-Paying Guarantor’s Maximum Liability as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder) or, if such Non-Paying Guarantor’s Maximum Liability has not been determined, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Non-Paying Guarantor from the Borrowers after the date hereof (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means) to (ii) the aggregate Maximum Liability of all Guarantors hereunder (including such Paying Guarantor) as of such date (without giving effect to any right to receive, or obligation to make, any contribution hereunder), or to the extent that a Maximum Liability has not been determined for any Guarantor, the aggregate amount of all monies received by such Guarantors from the Borrowers after the date hereof (whether by loan, capital infusion or by other means). Nothing in this provision shall affect any Guarantor’s several liability for the entire amount of the Guaranteed Obligations (up to such Guarantor’s Maximum Liability). Each of the Guarantors covenants and agrees that its right to receive any contribution under this Guaranty from a Non-Paying Guarantor shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations. This provision is for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank, the Secured Parties and the Guarantors and may be enforced by any one, or more, or all of them in accordance with the terms hereof.

Section 10.11. Liability Cumulative. The liability of each Loan Party as a Guarantor under this Article X is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all liabilities of each Loan Party to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Secured Parties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party or in respect of any obligations or liabilities of the other Loan Parties, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary.

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ARTICLE XI

The Borrower Representative

Section 11.01. Appointment; Nature of Relationship. Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc. is hereby appointed by each of the Borrowers as its contractual representative (herein referred to as the “Borrower Representative”) hereunder and under each other Loan Document, and each of the Borrowers irrevocably authorizes the Borrower Representative to act as the contractual representative of such Borrower with the rights and duties expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. The Borrower Representative agrees to act as such contractual representative upon the express conditions contained in this Article XI. Additionally, the Borrowers hereby appoint the Borrower Representative as their agent to receive all of the proceeds of the Loans in the Funding Account(s), at which time the Borrower Representative shall promptly disburse such Loans to the appropriate Borrower, provided that, in the case of a Revolving Loan, such amount shall not exceed the Availability. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and their respective officers, directors, agents or employees, shall not be liable to the Borrower Representative or any Borrower for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Borrower Representative or the Borrowers pursuant to this Section 11.01.

Section 11.02. Powers. The Borrower Representative shall have and may exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are specifically delegated to the Borrower Representative by the terms of each thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Borrower Representative shall have no implied duties to the Borrowers, or any obligation to the Lenders to take any action thereunder except any action specifically provided by the Loan Documents to be taken by the Borrower Representative.

Section 11.03. Employment of Agents. The Borrower Representative may execute any of its duties as the Borrower Representative hereunder and under any other Loan Document by or through authorized officers.

Section 11.04. Notices. Any notice provided to the Borrower Representative hereunder shall constitute notice to each Borrower on the date received by the Borrower Representative.

Section 11.05. Successor Borrower Representative. Upon the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower Representative may resign at any time, such resignation to be effective upon the appointment of a successor Borrower Representative. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt written notice of such resignation to the Lenders.

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Section 11.06. Execution of Loan Documents; Borrowing Base Certificate. The Borrowers hereby empower and authorize the Borrower Representative, on behalf of the Borrowers, to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the Loan Documents and all related agreements, certificates, documents, or instruments as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of the Loan Documents, including without limitation, the Borrowing Base Certificate and the Compliance Certificate. Each Borrower agrees that any action taken by the Borrower Representative or the Borrowers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and the exercise by the Borrower Representative of its powers set forth therein or herein, together with such other powers that are reasonably incidental thereto, shall be binding upon all of the Borrowers.

Section 11.07. Reporting. Each Borrower hereby agrees that such Borrower shall furnish promptly after each fiscal month to the Borrower Representative a copy of its part of the Borrowing Base Certificate and any other certificate or report required hereunder or requested by the Borrower Representative on which the Borrower Representative shall rely to prepare the Borrowing Base Certificate and Compliance Certificate required pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

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

	BORROWERS:

	CLOPAY BUILDING PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.,

	By:	/s/ Thomas D. Gibbons
	Name: Thomas D. Gibbons
	Title: Treasurer

	CLOPAY PLASTIC PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.,


	By:	/s/ Thomas D. Gibbons
	Name: Thomas D. Gibbons
	Title: Treasurer

	CLOPAY HOLDING CO.,


	By:	/s/ Thomas D. Gibbons
	Name: Thomas D. Gibbons
	Title: Treasurer

	JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., individually, as Administrative Agent, Issuing Bank and Swingline Lender

	By	/s/ Kathleen C. Maggi
		Name: Kathleen C. Maggi
		Title: Senior Vice President

	WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	By	/s/ Robert Milhorat
		Name: Robert Milhorat
		Title: Director

	HSBC BUSINESS CREDIT (USA) INC.

	By	/s/Jimmy Schwartz
		Name: Jimmy Schwartz
		Title: Vice President

	US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	By	/s/ Joseph Scaglione
		Name: Joseph J. Scaglione
		Title: Vice President

	DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

	By	/s/ Stephen R. Lapidus
		Name: Stephen R. Lapidus
		Title: Director

	By	/s/ Marguerite Sutton
		Name: Marguerite Sutton
		Title: Director

	FIFTH THIRD BANK

	By	/s/ Brooke Balcom
		Name: Brooke Balcom
		Title: Vice President

	MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS TRUST COMPANY

	By	/s/ William H. Moul Jr.
		Name: William H. Moul Jr.
		Title: Vice President

	PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	By	/s/ David B. Thayer
		Name: David B. Thayer
		Title: Vice President