UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015
or
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 1-12297
Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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22-3086739 |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
|
(I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) |
|
Identification No.) |
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2555 Telegraph Road, |
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Bloomfield Hills, Michigan |
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48302-0954 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code:
(248) 648-2500
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
Large accelerated filer x |
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Accelerated filer o |
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Non-accelerated filer o |
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Smaller reporting company o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
As of April 24, 2015, there were 90,243,407 shares of voting common stock outstanding.
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
||||
|
|
March 31, |
|
||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
||
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
||||
|
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(In millions, except per share amounts) |
|
||||
Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Retail automotive dealership |
|
$ |
4,175.0 |
|
$ |
3,919.2 |
|
Retail commercial truck dealership |
|
192.7 |
|
|
|
||
Commercial vehicle distribution and other |
|
103.4 |
|
96.0 |
|
||
Total revenues |
|
$ |
4,471.1 |
|
$ |
4,015.2 |
|
Cost of sales: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Retail automotive dealership |
|
3,546.9 |
|
3,321.5 |
|
||
Retail commercial truck dealership |
|
159.9 |
|
|
|
||
Commercial vehicle distribution and other |
|
75.6 |
|
79.7 |
|
||
Total cost of sales |
|
3,782.4 |
|
3,401.2 |
|
||
Gross profit |
|
688.7 |
|
614.0 |
|
||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
|
534.5 |
|
477.2 |
|
||
Depreciation |
|
18.6 |
|
16.1 |
|
||
Operating income |
|
135.6 |
|
120.7 |
|
||
Floor plan interest expense |
|
(10.1 |
) |
(11.1 |
) |
||
Other interest expense |
|
(16.3 |
) |
(12.4 |
) |
||
Equity in earnings of affiliates |
|
6.7 |
|
5.1 |
|
||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes |
|
115.9 |
|
102.3 |
|
||
Income taxes |
|
(38.8 |
) |
(34.7 |
) |
||
Income from continuing operations |
|
77.1 |
|
67.6 |
|
||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax |
|
(1.2 |
) |
0.3 |
|
||
Net income |
|
75.9 |
|
67.9 |
|
||
Less: Income attributable to non-controlling interests |
|
0.7 |
|
0.4 |
|
||
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders |
|
$ |
75.2 |
|
$ |
67.5 |
|
Basic earnings per share attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Continuing operations |
|
$ |
0.85 |
|
$ |
0.74 |
|
Discontinued operations |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
0.00 |
|
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders |
|
$ |
0.83 |
|
$ |
0.75 |
|
Shares used in determining basic earnings per share (Note 6) |
|
90.3 |
|
90.4 |
|
||
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Continuing operations |
|
$ |
0.85 |
|
$ |
0.74 |
|
Discontinued operations |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
0.00 |
|
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders |
|
$ |
0.83 |
|
$ |
0.75 |
|
Shares used in determining diluted earnings per share (Note 6) |
|
90.3 |
|
90.5 |
|
||
Amounts attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Income from continuing operations |
|
$ |
77.1 |
|
$ |
67.6 |
|
Less: Income attributable to non-controlling interests |
|
0.7 |
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
Income from continuing operations, net of tax |
|
76.4 |
|
67.2 |
|
||
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax |
|
(1.2 |
) |
0.3 |
|
||
Net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders |
|
$ |
75.2 |
|
$ |
67.5 |
|
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
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Three Months Ended |
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||||
|
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March 31, |
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||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
||
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
||||
|
|
(In millions) |
|
||||
Net income |
|
$ |
75.9 |
|
$ |
67.9 |
|
Other comprehensive income: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
|
(52.8 |
) |
9.3 |
|
||
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Unrealized gain (loss) arising during the period, net of tax benefits |
|
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
||
Reclassification adjustment for loss included in floor plan interest expense, net of tax provision of $0.7 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
||
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps, net of tax |
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
||
Other adjustments to comprehensive income, net |
|
(2.3 |
) |
(4.0 |
) |
||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes |
|
(55.1 |
) |
6.2 |
|
||
Comprehensive income |
|
20.8 |
|
74.1 |
|
||
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests |
|
0.1 |
|
0.2 |
|
||
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders |
|
$ |
20.7 |
|
$ |
73.9 |
|
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
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Three Months Ended |
|
||||
|
|
March 31, |
|
||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
||
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
||||
|
|
(In millions) |
|
||||
Operating Activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net income |
|
$ |
75.9 |
|
$ |
67.9 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from continuing operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Depreciation |
|
18.6 |
|
16.1 |
|
||
Earnings of equity method investments |
|
(6.7 |
) |
(5.1 |
) |
||
(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of tax |
|
1.2 |
|
(0.3 |
) |
||
Deferred income taxes |
|
(22.6 |
) |
(0.1 |
) |
||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accounts receivable |
|
(45.1 |
) |
(75.8 |
) |
||
Inventories |
|
(19.7 |
) |
(0.8 |
) |
||
Floor plan notes payable |
|
103.2 |
|
36.9 |
|
||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
67.9 |
|
84.6 |
|
||
Other |
|
20.9 |
|
9.1 |
|
||
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities |
|
193.6 |
|
132.5 |
|
||
Investing Activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Purchase of equipment and improvements |
|
(33.6 |
) |
(39.8 |
) |
||
Acquisitions net, including repayment of sellers floor plan notes payable of $41.2 and $22.4, respectively |
|
(86.4 |
) |
(81.8 |
) |
||
Net cash used in continuing investing activities |
|
(120.0 |
) |
(121.6 |
) |
||
Financing Activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Proceeds from borrowings under U.S. credit agreement revolving credit line |
|
398.9 |
|
323.0 |
|
||
Repayments under U.S. credit agreement revolving credit line |
|
(398.9 |
) |
(313.0 |
) |
||
Repayment of U.S. commercial truck capital loan |
|
(60.5 |
) |
|
|
||
Net repayments of other long-term debt |
|
(78.8 |
) |
(36.3 |
) |
||
Net borrowings of floor plan notes payable non-trade |
|
101.0 |
|
6.8 |
|
||
Payment of deferred financing fees |
|
(1.2 |
) |
|
|
||
Repurchases of common stock |
|
(14.0 |
) |
|
|
||
Dividends |
|
(19.9 |
) |
(16.2 |
) |
||
Net cash used in continuing financing activities |
|
(73.4 |
) |
(35.7 |
) |
||
Discontinued operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operating activities |
|
13.6 |
|
(17.8 |
) |
||
Net cash provided by discontinued investing activities |
|
105.4 |
|
33.6 |
|
||
Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued financing activities |
|
(85.6 |
) |
13.8 |
|
||
Net cash provided by discontinued operations |
|
33.4 |
|
29.6 |
|
||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
|
(3.1 |
) |
|
|
||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
|
30.5 |
|
4.8 |
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
|
36.3 |
|
50.3 |
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
|
$ |
66.8 |
|
$ |
55.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash paid for: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest |
|
$ |
13.6 |
|
$ |
17.6 |
|
Income taxes |
|
13.3 |
|
9.2 |
|
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
Common Stock |
|
Additional |
|
|
|
Other |
|
Penske |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
Issued
|
|
Amount |
|
Paid-in
|
|
Retained
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
Automotive Group
|
|
Non-controlling
|
|
Total
|
|
|||||||
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
(Dollars in millions) |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2015 |
|
90,244,840 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
690.7 |
|
$ |
1,015.4 |
|
$ |
(53.3 |
) |
$ |
1,652.8 |
|
$ |
28.4 |
|
$ |
1,681.2 |
|
Equity compensation |
|
280,567 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
3.6 |
|
|
|
3.6 |
|
|||||||
Repurchase of common stock |
|
(283,000 |
) |
|
|
(14.0 |
) |
|
|
|
|
(14.0 |
) |
|
|
(14.0 |
) |
|||||||
Dividends |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(19.9 |
) |
|
|
(19.9 |
) |
|
|
(19.9 |
) |
|||||||
Distributions to non-controlling interests |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.3 |
) |
(0.3 |
) |
|||||||
Foreign currency translation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(52.2 |
) |
(52.2 |
) |
(0.6 |
) |
(52.8 |
) |
|||||||
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2.3 |
) |
(2.3 |
) |
|
|
(2.3 |
) |
|||||||
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
75.2 |
|
|
|
75.2 |
|
0.7 |
|
75.9 |
|
|||||||
Balance, March 31, 2015 |
|
90,242,407 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
680.3 |
|
$ |
1,070.7 |
|
$ |
(107.8 |
) |
$ |
1,643.2 |
|
$ |
28.2 |
|
$ |
1,671.4 |
|
See Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In millions, except per share amounts)
1. Interim Financial Statements
Business Overview
Unless the context otherwise requires, the use of the terms PAG, we, us, and our in these Notes to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements refers to Penske Automotive Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
We are an international transportation services company that operates automotive and commercial truck dealerships principally in the United States and Western Europe, and distributes commercial vehicles, diesel engines, gas engines, power systems and related parts and services principally in Australia and New Zealand.
Retail Automotive Dealership . We believe we are the second largest automotive retailer headquartered in the U.S. as measured by the $16.6 billion in total retail automotive dealership revenue we generated in 2014. As of March 31, 2015, we operated 328 automotive retail franchises, of which 180 franchises are located in the U.S. and 148 franchises are located outside of the U.S. The franchises outside the U.S. are located primarily in the U.K. In the three months ended March 31, 2015, we retailed and wholesaled more than 122,000 vehicles. We are diversified geographically, with 60% of our total retail automotive dealership revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2015 generated in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and 40% generated outside the U.S. We offer over 40 vehicle brands, with 72% of our retail automotive dealership revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2015 generated from premium brands, such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Each of our dealerships offer a wide selection of new and used vehicles for sale. In addition to selling new and used vehicles, we generate higher-margin revenue at each of our dealerships through maintenance and repair services and the sale and placement of third-party finance and insurance products, third-party extended service and maintenance contracts and replacement and aftermarket automotive products. We operate these dealerships under franchise agreements with a number of automotive manufacturers and distributors which are subject to certain rights and restrictions typical of the industry.
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we acquired one U.S. retail automotive franchise, Land Rover Darien, in Connecticut which complements our existing franchises in Danbury, Fairfield and Greenwich, Connecticut.
Retail Commercial Truck Dealership. In November 2014, we acquired a controlling interest (91%) in a heavy and medium duty truck dealership group located in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, which we have renamed Penske Commercial Vehicles US (PCV US). Prior to this transaction, we held a 32% interest in PCV US and accounted for this investment under the equity method. PCV US operates sixteen locations, including ten full-service dealerships offering principally Freightliner, Western Star, and Sprinter-branded trucks. Two of these locations, Freightliner of Chattanooga and Freightliner of Knoxville, were acquired in February 2015. PCV US also offers a full range of used trucks available for sale as well as service and parts departments, many of which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Commercial Vehicle Distribution. Since August 2013, we have been the exclusive importer and distributor of Western Star heavy duty trucks (a Daimler brand), MAN heavy and medium duty trucks and buses (a VW Group brand), and Dennis Eagle refuse collection vehicles, together with associated parts across Australia, New Zealand and portions of the Pacific. The business, known as Penske Commercial Vehicles Australia, distributes commercial vehicles and parts to a network of more than 70 dealership locations, including three company-owned retail commercial vehicle dealerships.
In October 2014, we acquired MTU Detroit Diesel Australia Pty Ltd., a leading distributor of diesel and gas engines and power systems, representing MTU, Detroit Diesel, Mercedes-Benz Industrial, Allison Transmission and MTU Onsite Energy. We have renamed this business Penske Power Systems. Penske Power Systems offers products across the on- and off-highway markets in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific and supports full parts and aftersales service through a network of branches, field locations and independent dealers across the region. The on-highway portion of this business complements our existing Penske Commercial Vehicles Australia distribution business.
Penske Truck Leasing. We hold a 9.0% limited partnership interest in Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. (PTL), a leading provider of transportation and supply chain services.
Basis of Presentation
The following unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of PAG have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and disclosures normally included in our annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the SEC rules and regulations. The information presented as of March 31, 2015 and for the three month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 is unaudited, but includes all adjustments which our management believes to be necessary for the fair presentation of results for the periods presented. We have changed the presentation of revenue and cost of sales within the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income to reflect the addition of the retail commercial truck dealership business for the current and comparative periods presented. We have also identified the retail commercial truck dealership business as a new reportable segment and have retroactively presented the segment data for all periods presented within the segment information footnote. Additionally, the consolidated condensed financial statements for the prior periods have been revised for entities that have been treated as discontinued operations, and results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year. These consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2014, which are included as part of our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360) Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. ASU No. 2014-08 changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operations to only allow presentation of a disposal of an entity or component of an entity as a discontinued operation if it represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entitys operations or financial results. We adopted this accounting standard update effective January 1, 2015. See Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations below for additional discussion.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. ASU No. 2014-09 will require an entity to recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers using a five-step model that requires entities to exercise judgment when considering the terms of the contracts. This ASU can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. In April 2015, the FASB proposed a one-year deferral of the effective date from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018 but would allow for early adoption as of January 1, 2017. We are currently assessing the impact the adoption of this update will have on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) - Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. This ASU is effective for us beginning after January 1, 2016. We are currently assessing the impact the adoption of this update will have on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations
We classify an entity as held for sale in the period in which all of the following criteria are met:
· management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a plan to sell the entity;
· the entity is available for immediate sale in its present condition;
· an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the plan to sell have been initiated;
· the sale is probable and transfer is expected to be completed within one year;
· the entity is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value; and
· actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn.
As discussed previously, in April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08 that changes the definition of a discontinued operation to include only those disposals of components of an entity or components of an entity that are classified as held for sale that represent a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entitys operations and financial results. We adopted this accounting standard update effective January 1, 2015.
Prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2014-08, we accounted for dispositions as discontinued operations when it was evident that the operations and cash flows of an entity being disposed of would be eliminated from ongoing operations and we would not have any significant continuing involvement in its operations. The results of operations for those entities that were classified as discontinued operations prior to adoption of ASU No. 2014-08 are included in Income (loss) from discontinued operations in the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for all periods presented and will continue to be reported within discontinued operations in the future. Beginning with disposals or entities classified as held for sale subsequent to January 1, 2015, only those that represent a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major impact on our operations and financial results will be included in discontinued operations.
We had no entities newly classified as held for sale during the three months ended March 31, 2015. As such, the combined financial information presented below represents only retail automotive dealerships and our car rental business that were classified as discontinued operations prior to adoption of ASU No. 2014-08:
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
||
Revenues |
|
$ |
40.3 |
|
$ |
79.4 |
|
Pre-tax income (loss) |
|
$ |
(4.1 |
) |
$ |
(10.0 |
) |
Pre-tax gain on disposal |
|
$ |
2.3 |
|
$ |
14.8 |
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
||
Inventories |
|
$ |
33.6 |
|
$ |
34.7 |
|
Other assets |
|
28.6 |
|
151.4 |
|
||
Total assets |
|
$ |
62.2 |
|
$ |
186.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Floor plan notes payable (including non-trade) |
|
$ |
29.0 |
|
$ |
27.9 |
|
Other liabilities |
|
14.3 |
|
104.8 |
|
||
Total liabilities |
|
$ |
43.3 |
|
$ |
132.7 |
|
Divestitures
In February 2015, we divested our car rental business which included Hertz car rental franchises in the Memphis, Tennessee market and certain markets throughout Indiana. We received proceeds of $17.8 million from the sale excluding sales of car rental vehicles. The results of operations of our car rental business are included in discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The accounts requiring the use of significant estimates include accounts receivable, inventories, income taxes, intangible assets and certain reserves.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Accounting standards establish a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value and also establishes the following three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1 |
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities |
|
|
Level 2 |
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted market prices in markets that are not active; or model-derived valuations or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities |
|
|
Level 3 |
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities |
Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, debt, floor plan notes payable, forward exchange contracts and interest rate swaps used to hedge future cash flows. Other than our fixed rate debt, the carrying amount of all significant financial instruments approximates fair value due either to length of maturity, the existence of variable interest rates that approximate prevailing market rates, or as a result of mark to market accounting.
Our fixed rate debt consists of amounts outstanding under our senior subordinated notes and mortgage facilities. We estimate the
fair value of our senior unsecured notes using quoted prices for the identical liability (Level 2), and we estimate the fair value of our mortgage facilities using a present value technique based on our current market interest rates for similar types of financial instruments (Level 2). A summary of the carrying values and fair values of our 5.75% senior subordinated notes, 5.375% senior subordinated notes and our fixed rate mortgage facilities are as follows:
|
|
March 31, 2015 |
|
December 31, 2014 |
|
||||||||
|
|
Carrying Value |
|
Fair Value |
|
Carrying Value |
|
Fair Value |
|
||||
5.75% senior subordinated notes due 2022 |
|
$ |
550.0 |
|
$ |
580.3 |
|
$ |
550.0 |
|
$ |
558.4 |
|
5.375% senior subordinated notes due 2024 |
|
300.0 |
|
309.8 |
|
300.0 |
|
306.0 |
|
||||
Mortgage facilities |
|
170.5 |
|
173.7 |
|
169.7 |
|
171.6 |
|
||||
2. Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following:
|
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
||
Retail automotive new vehicles |
|
$ |
1,814.3 |
|
$ |
1,792.5 |
|
Retail automotive used vehicles |
|
670.2 |
|
639.9 |
|
||
Retail automotive parts, accessories and other |
|
101.7 |
|
103.5 |
|
||
Commercial truck dealership vehicles and parts |
|
119.5 |
|
85.5 |
|
||
Commercial vehicle distribution vehicles and parts |
|
180.0 |
|
197.8 |
|
||
Total inventories |
|
$ |
2,885.7 |
|
$ |
2,819.2 |
|
We receive credits from certain vehicle manufacturers that reduce cost of sales when the vehicles are sold. Such credits amounted to $9.1 million and $8.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
3. Business Combinations
We acquired one retail automotive franchise and two retail commercial truck dealerships during the three months ended March 31, 2015. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we acquired one retail automotive franchise as well as made an additional investment in an entity previously accounted under the equity method. Our financial statements include the results of operations of the acquired entities from the date of acquisition. The fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been recorded in our consolidated condensed financial statements, and may be subject to adjustment pending completion of final valuation. A summary of the aggregate consideration paid and the aggregate amounts of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 follows:
|
|
March 31, |
|
||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
||
Accounts receivable |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
0.7 |
|
Inventory |
|
46.8 |
|
27.2 |
|
||
Other current assets |
|
0.2 |
|
1.1 |
|
||
Property and equipment |
|
4.4 |
|
3.8 |
|
||
Indefinite-lived intangibles |
|
38.8 |
|
54.5 |
|
||
Current liabilities |
|
(1.2 |
) |
(2.0 |
) |
||
Non-current liabilities |
|
|
|
(2.2 |
) |
||
Total consideration |
|
89.0 |
|
83.1 |
|
||
Seller financed/assumed debt |
|
(2.6 |
) |
(1.3 |
) |
||
Total cash used in acquisitions |
|
$ |
86.4 |
|
$ |
81.8 |
|
The following unaudited consolidated pro forma results of operations of PAG for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 give effect to acquisitions consummated during 2015 and 2014 as if they had occurred effective at the beginning of the periods:
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
||
Revenues |
|
$ |
4,497.8 |
|
$ |
4,345.8 |
|
Income from continuing operations |
|
76.8 |
|
69.4 |
|
||
Net income |
|
75.6 |
|
69.7 |
|
||
Income from continuing operations per diluted common share |
|
$ |
0.85 |
|
$ |
0.77 |
|
Net income per diluted common share |
|
$ |
0.84 |
|
$ |
0.77 |
|
4. Intangible Assets
Following is a summary of the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets during the three months ended March 31, 2015:
|
|
Goodwill |
|
Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible
|
|
||
Balance, January 1, 2015 |
|
$ |
1,266.3 |
|
$ |
386.2 |
|
Additions |
|
30.6 |
|
8.2 |
|
||
Foreign currency translation |
|
(25.8 |
) |
(7.8 |
) |
||
Balance, March 31, 2015 |
|
$ |
1,271.1 |
|
$ |
386.6 |
|
The additions during the three months ended March 31, 2015 were within our Retail Automotive and Retail Commercial Truck reportable segments. As of March 31, 2015, the goodwill balance within our Retail Automotive, Retail Commercial Truck, and Other reportable segments was $1,040.9 million, $147.3 million and $82.9 million, respectively.
5. Vehicle Financing
We finance substantially all of the commercial vehicles we purchase for distribution, new vehicles for retail sale and a portion of our used vehicle inventories for retail sale under floor plan and other revolving arrangements with various lenders, including the captive finance companies associated with automotive manufacturers. In the U.S., the floor plan arrangements are due on demand; however, we have not historically been required to repay floor plan advances prior to the sale of the vehicles that have been financed. We typically make monthly interest payments on the amount financed. Outside of the U.S., substantially all of the floor plan arrangements are payable on demand or have an original maturity of 90 days or less, and we are generally required to repay floor plan advances at the earlier of the sale of the vehicles that have been financed or the stated maturity.
The agreements typically grant a security interest in substantially all of the assets of our dealership and distribution subsidiaries, and in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand are guaranteed or partially guaranteed by us. Interest rates under the arrangements are variable and increase or decrease based on changes in the prime rate, defined London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the Finance House Bank Rate, the Euro Interbank Offered Rate, or the Australian or New Zealand Bank Bill Swap Rate (BBSW). To date, we have not experienced any material limitation with respect to the amount or availability of financing from any institution providing us vehicle financing. We also receive non-refundable credits from certain of our vehicle manufacturers, which are treated as a reduction of cost of sales as vehicles are sold.
The weighted average interest rate on floor plan borrowings was 1.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 1.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2014, including for 2014 the effect of the interest rate swap discussed in Note 8. We classify floor plan notes payable to a party other than the manufacturer of a particular new vehicle, and all floor plan notes payable relating to pre-owned vehicles, as floor plan notes payablenon-trade on our consolidated balance sheets and classify related cash flows as a financing activity on our consolidated statements of cash flows.
6. Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed using net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders and the number of weighted average shares of voting common stock outstanding, including outstanding unvested equity awards which contain rights to non-forfeitable dividends. Diluted earnings per share is computed using net income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders and the number of weighted average shares of voting common stock outstanding, adjusted for any dilutive
effects. A reconciliation of the number of shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 follows:
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
||
|
|
March 31, |
|
||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding |
|
90,252,488 |
|
90,437,732 |
|
Effect of non-participatory equity compensation |
|
36,000 |
|
36,000 |
|
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, including effect of dilutive securities |
|
90,288,488 |
|
90,473,732 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
|
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
||
U.S. credit agreement revolving credit line |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
U.S. credit agreement term loan |
|
88.0 |
|
88.0 |
|
||
U.K. credit agreement revolving credit line |
|
54.8 |
|
121.5 |
|
||
U.K. credit agreement term loan |
|
15.6 |
|
18.7 |
|
||
U.K. credit agreement overdraft line of credit |
|
|
|
5.7 |
|
||
5.375% senior subordinated notes due 2024 |
|
300.0 |
|
300.0 |
|
||
5.75% senior subordinated notes due 2022 |
|
550.0 |
|
550.0 |
|
||
U.S. commercial truck capital loan |
|
|
|
60.5 |
|
||
Australia working capital loan |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Mortgage facilities |
|
170.5 |
|
169.7 |
|
||
Other |
|
29.7 |
|
38.5 |
|
||
Total long-term debt |
|
1,208.6 |
|
1,352.6 |
|
||
Less: current portion |
|
(34.5 |
) |
(36.6 |
) |
||
Net long-term debt |
|
$ |
1,174.1 |
|
$ |
1,316.0 |
|
U.S. Credit Agreement
On May 1, 2015, we amended and restated our U.S. credit agreement (the U.S. credit agreement) with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC and Toyota Motor Credit Corporation, principally to increase the revolving borrowing capacity from $450.0 million to $700.0 million, to extend the term through September of 2018, and to eliminate the term loan. The amounts previously owing under the term loan have been repaid using the expanded revolving capacity.
As amended, the U.S. credit agreement provides for up to $700.0 million in revolving loans for working capital, acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments and other general corporate purposes, which includes $250.0 million in revolving loans solely for future U.S. acquisitions. The loans mature on the termination date of the facility which is September 30, 2018. The revolving loans bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.00%, subject to an incremental 1.50% for uncollateralized borrowings in excess of a defined borrowing base.
The U.S. credit agreement is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by substantially all of our U.S. subsidiaries and contains a number of significant covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to dispose of assets, incur additional indebtedness, repay other indebtedness, pay dividends, create liens on assets, make investments or acquisitions and engage in mergers or consolidations. We are also required to comply with specified financial and other tests and ratios, each as defined in the U.S. credit agreement including: a ratio of current assets to current liabilities, a fixed charge coverage ratio, a ratio of debt to stockholders equity and a ratio of debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). A breach of these requirements would give rise to certain remedies under the agreement, the most severe of which is the termination of the agreement and acceleration of the amounts owed.
The U.S. credit agreement also contains typical events of default, including change of control, non-payment of obligations and cross-defaults to our other material indebtedness. Substantially all of our U.S. assets are subject to security interests granted to the lenders under the U.S. credit agreement. As of March 31, 2015, we had $88.0 million outstanding under our prior term loan and no outstanding revolver borrowings under the U.S. credit agreement.
U.K. Credit Agreement
Our subsidiaries in the U.K. (the U.K. subsidiaries) are party to a revolving credit agreement with the Royal Bank of Scotland plc (RBS) and BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited, and an additional demand overdraft line of credit with RBS (collectively, the U.K. credit agreement) to be used for working capital, acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments and general corporate purposes. In April 2015, we amended the U.K. credit agreement principally to increase the revolving borrowing capacity from £100.0 million to £150.0 million. The loans mature on the termination date of the facility, which is December 19, 2019. The revolving loans bear interest between defined LIBOR plus 1.35% and defined LIBOR plus 3.0% and the demand overdraft line of credit bears interest at the Bank of England Base Rate plus 1.75%. As of March 31, 2015, outstanding loans under the U.K. credit agreement amounted to £37.0 million ($54.8 million).
The U.K. Credit Agreement is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by our U.K. subsidiaries, and contains a number of significant covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of our U.K. subsidiaries to pay dividends, dispose of assets, incur additional indebtedness, repay other indebtedness, create liens on assets, make investments or acquisitions and engage in mergers or consolidations. In addition, our U.K. subsidiaries are required to comply with defined ratios and tests, including: a ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, amortization, and rental payments (EBITAR) to interest plus rental payments, a measurement of maximum capital expenditures, and a debt to EBITDA ratio. A breach of these requirements would give rise to certain remedies under the agreement, the most severe of which is the termination of the agreement and acceleration of any amounts owed.
The U.K. credit agreement also contains typical events of default, including change of control and non-payment of obligations and cross-defaults to other material indebtedness of our U.K. subsidiaries. Substantially all of our U.K. subsidiaries assets are subject to security interests granted to the lenders under the U.K. credit agreement.
In 2012, our U.K. subsidiaries entered into a separate agreement with RBS, as agent for National Westminster Bank plc, providing for a £30.0 million term loan which was used for working capital and an acquisition. The term loan is repayable in £1.5 million quarterly installments through 2015 with a final payment of £7.5 million due December 31, 2015. The term loan bears interest between 2.675% and 4.325%, depending on the U.K. subsidiaries ratio of net borrowings to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (as defined). As of March 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under the U.K. term loan was £10.5 million ($15.6 million).
5.375% Senior Subordinated Notes
In November 2014, we issued $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.375% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2024 (the 5.375% Notes). Interest on the 5.375% Notes is payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year. The 5.375% Notes mature on December 1, 2024, unless earlier redeemed or purchased by us. The 5.375% Notes are unsecured senior subordinated obligations and are guaranteed on an unsecured senior subordinated basis by our existing 100% owned U.S. subsidiaries. The 5.375% Notes also contain customary negative covenants and events of default.
On or after December 1, 2019, we may redeem the 5.375% Notes for cash at the redemption prices noted in the indenture, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. We may also redeem up to 40% of the 5.375% Notes using the proceeds of specified equity offerings at any time prior to December 1, 2017 at a price specified in the indenture. If we experience certain change of control events specified in the indenture, holders of the 5.375% Notes will have the option to require us to purchase for cash all or a portion of their notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, if we make certain asset sales and do not reinvest the proceeds thereof or use such proceeds to repay certain debt, we will be required to use the proceeds of such asset sales to make an offer to purchase the notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
5.75% Senior Subordinated Notes
In August 2012, we issued $550.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022 (the 5.75% Notes). Interest on the 5.75% Notes is payable semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year. The 5.75% Notes mature on October 1, 2022, unless earlier redeemed or purchased by us. The 5.75% Notes are our unsecured senior subordinated obligations and are guaranteed on an unsecured senior subordinated basis by our existing 100% owned U.S. subsidiaries. The 5.75% Notes also contain customary negative covenants and events of default.
On or after October 1, 2017, we may redeem the 5.75% Notes for cash at the redemption prices noted in the indenture, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. We may also redeem up to 40% of the 5.75% Notes using the proceeds of specified equity offerings at any time prior to October 1, 2015 at a price specified in the indenture. If we experience certain change of control events specified in the indenture, holders of the 5.75% Notes will have the option to require us to purchase for cash all or a portion of their notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, if we make certain asset sales and do not reinvest the proceeds thereof or use such proceeds to repay certain debt, we will be required to use the proceeds of such
asset sales to make an offer to purchase the notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
U.S. Commercial Truck Capital Loan
The principal source of working capital of our PCV US business was a working capital loan agreement with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC with an amount outstanding of $60.5 million as of December 31, 2014. In February 2015, we repaid the outstanding principal balance using our U.S. revolving credit facility.
Australia Working Capital Loan Agreement
In December 2013, we entered into a working capital loan agreement with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd that provides us with up to AU $28.0 million ($21.3 million) of working capital availability. This agreement provides the lender with a secured interest in certain inventory and receivables of our commercial vehicle distribution business. The loan bears interest at the Australian BBSW 30-day Bill Rate plus 2.35%. As of March 31, 2015, no loans were outstanding under the working capital loan agreement.
Mortgage Facilities
We are party to several mortgages which bear interest at defined rates and require monthly principal and interest payments. These mortgage facilities also contain typical events of default, including non-payment of obligations, cross-defaults to our other material indebtedness, certain change of control events, and the loss or sale of certain franchises operated at the properties. Substantially all of the buildings and improvements on the properties financed pursuant to the mortgage facilities are subject to security interests granted to the lender. As of March 31, 2015, we owed $170.5 million of principal under our mortgage facilities.
8. Derivatives and Hedging
Our commercial vehicle distribution business sells vehicles, engines, parts and other products purchased from manufacturers in the U.S., Germany, and the U.K. In order to protect against exchange rate movements, we enter into foreign exchange forward contracts against anticipated cash flows. The contracts are timed to mature when major shipments are scheduled to arrive in Australia and when receipt of payment from customers is expected. We classify our foreign exchange forward contracts as cash flow hedges and state them at fair value. We used Level 2 inputs to estimate the fair value of the foreign exchange forward contracts. The fair value of the contracts designated as hedging instruments was estimated to be an asset of $1.5 million and $1.1 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
We previously were party to interest rate swap agreements through December 2014 pursuant to which the LIBOR portion of $300.0 million of our floating rate floor plan debt was fixed at a rate of 2.135% and $100.0 million of our floating rate floor plan debt was fixed at a rate of 1.55%. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the swaps increased the weighted average interest rate on our floor plan borrowings by approximately 28 basis points. We are not party to any interest rate swap agreements as of March 31, 2015.
9. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
We are involved in litigation which may relate to claims brought by governmental authorities, issues with customers, and employment related matters, including class action claims and purported class action claims. As of March 31, 2015, we were not party to any legal proceedings, including class action lawsuits that, individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. However, the results of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, and an unfavorable resolution of one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
We have historically structured our operations so as to minimize ownership of real property. As a result, we lease or sublease substantially all of our facilities. These leases are generally for a period between five and 20 years, and are typically structured to include renewal options at our election. Pursuant to the leases for some of our larger facilities, we are required to comply with specified financial ratios, including a rent coverage ratio and a debt to EBITDA ratio, each as defined. For these leases, non-compliance with the ratios may require us to post collateral in the form of a letter of credit. A breach of the other lease covenants gives rise to certain remedies by the landlord, the most severe of which include the termination of the applicable lease and acceleration of the total rent payments due under the lease.
We have sold a number of dealerships to third parties and, as a condition to certain of those sales, remain liable for the lease payments relating to the properties on which those businesses operate in the event of non-payment by the buyer. We are also party to lease agreements on properties that we no longer use in our retail operations that we have sublet to third parties. We rely on subtenants
to pay the rent and maintain the property at these locations. In the event the subtenant does not perform as expected, we may not be able to recover amounts owed to us and we could be required to fulfill these obligations.
We hold a 9.0% ownership interest in PTL. Historically, General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC) provided PTL with a majority of its financing though PTL has refinanced all of its GECC indebtedness. As part of that refinancing, we and the other PTL partners created a new company (Holdings), which, together with GECC, co-issued $700.0 million of 3.8% senior unsecured notes due 2019 (the Holdings Bonds). GECC agreed to be a co-obligor of the Holdings Bonds in order to achieve lower interest rates on the Holdings Bonds. Additional capital contributions from the members may be required to fund interest and principal payments on the Holdings Bonds to the extent Holdings is unable to pay those amounts. We have agreed to indemnify GECC for 9.0% of any principal or interest that GECC is required to pay on these bonds and pay GECC an annual fee of approximately $0.95 million for acting as obligor. The maximum amount of our obligations to GECC under this agreement is 9.0% of the required principal repayment due in 2019 (which is expected to be $63.1 million) and 9.0% of interest payments under the Holdings Bonds, plus fees and default interest, if any.
In March 2015, Mitsui & Co. purchased a 20% ownership interest in PTL from GECC. PTL is currently owned 41.1% by Penske Corporation, 9.0% by us, 29.9% by GECC and 20.0% by Mitsui & Co.
Our floor plan credit agreement with Mercedes Benz Financial Services Australia (MBA) provides us revolving loans for the acquisition of commercial vehicles for distribution to our retail network. This facility includes a limited parent guarantee and a commitment to repurchase dealer vehicles in the event the dealers floor plan agreement with MBA is terminated.
We have $22.9 million of letters of credit outstanding as of March 31, 2015, and have posted $14.3 million of surety bonds in the ordinary course of business.
10. Equity
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we repurchased 283,000 shares of our outstanding common stock for $14.0 million, or an average of $49.25 per share, under our securities repurchase program approved by our Board of Directors. As of March 31, 2015, our remaining authorization under the program was $136.0 million.
11. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) by component and the reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders follows:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
|
|
Foreign
|
|
Other |
|
Total |
|
|||
Balance at December 31, 2014 |
|
$ |
(51.7 |
) |
$ |
(1.6 |
) |
$ |
(53.3 |
) |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |
|
(52.2 |
) |
(2.3 |
) |
(54.5 |
) |
|||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income - net of tax |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
(52.2 |
) |
(2.3 |
) |
(54.5 |
) |
|||
Balance at March 31, 2015 |
|
$ |
(103.9 |
) |
$ |
(3.9 |
) |
$ |
(107.8 |
) |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
|
|
Foreign
|
|
Other |
|
Total |
|
|||
Balance at December 31, 2013 |
|
$ |
11.4 |
|
$ |
0.2 |
|
$ |
11.6 |
|
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |
|
9.5 |
|
(4.2 |
) |
5.3 |
|
|||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income - net of tax |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
1.1 |
|
|||
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
9.5 |
|
(3.1 |
) |
6.4 |
|
|||
Balance at March 31, 2014 |
|
$ |
20.9 |
|
$ |
(2.9 |
) |
$ |
18.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Within the amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income during the three months ended March 31, 2014, amounts associated with Other relate to interest rate swaps and are included in floor plan interest expense.
12. Segment Information
Our operations are organized by management into operating segments by line of business and geography. We have determined that we have three reportable segments as defined in generally accepted accounting principles for segment reporting: (i) Retail Automotive, consisting of retail automotive dealership operations, (ii) Retail Commercial Truck, consisting of our U.S. retail commercial truck dealership operations, and (iii) Other, consisting of our commercial vehicle distribution operations and our investments in non-automotive retail operations. The Retail Automotive reportable segment includes all automotive dealerships and all departments relevant to the operation of the dealerships and the retail automotive joint ventures. The individual dealership operations included in the Retail Automotive reportable segment have been grouped into four geographic operating segments: Eastern, Central, and Western United States and International. The geographic operating segments have been aggregated into one reportable segment as their operations (A) have similar economic characteristics (all are automotive dealerships having similar margins), (B) offer similar products and services (all sell new and used vehicles, service, parts and third-party finance and insurance products), (C) have similar target markets and customers (generally individuals) and (D) have similar distribution and marketing practices (all distribute products and services through dealership facilities that market to customers in similar fashions). Revenue and segment income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 follows:
Three Months Ended March 31
|
|
Retail
|
|
Retail
|
|
Other |
|
Intersegment
|
|
Total |
|
|||||
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
2015 |
|
$ |
4,175.0 |
|
$ |
192.7 |
|
$ |
103.7 |
|
$ |
(0.3 |
) |
$ |
4,471.1 |
|
2014 |
|
3,919.2 |
|
|
|
96.7 |
|
(0.7 |
) |
4,015.2 |
|
|||||
Segment income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
2015 |
|
$ |
103.1 |
|
$ |
7.4 |
|
$ |
5.4 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
115.9 |
|
2014 |
|
93.9 |
|
0.6 |
|
7.8 |
|
|
|
102.3 |
|
13. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
The following tables include condensed consolidating financial information as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and for the three month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 for Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (as the issuer of the 5.75% and 5.375% Notes), guarantor subsidiaries and non-guarantor subsidiaries (primarily representing non-U.S. entities). Guarantor subsidiaries are directly or indirectly 100% owned by PAG, and the guarantees are full and unconditional, and joint and several. The guarantees may be released under certain circumstances upon resale, or transfer by us of the stock of the related guarantor or all or substantially all of the assets of the guarantor to a non-affiliate.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
March 31, 2015
|
|
Total
|
|
Eliminations |
|
Penske
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|||||
|
|
(In millions) |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
66.8 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
66.8 |
|
Accounts receivable, net |
|
746.4 |
|
(415.0 |
) |
415.0 |
|
364.2 |
|
382.2 |
|
|||||
Inventories |
|
2,885.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,488.4 |
|
1,397.3 |
|
|||||
Other current assets |
|
106.7 |
|
|
|
5.3 |
|
27.4 |
|
74.0 |
|
|||||
Assets held for sale |
|
62.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
28.2 |
|
34.0 |
|
|||||
Total current assets |
|
3,867.8 |
|
(415.0 |
) |
420.3 |
|
1,908.2 |
|
1,954.3 |
|
|||||
Property and equipment, net |
|
1,326.6 |
|
|
|
4.5 |
|
761.7 |
|
560.4 |
|
|||||
Intangible assets |
|
1,657.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
834.2 |
|
823.5 |
|
|||||
Equity method investments |
|
350.9 |
|
|
|
288.1 |
|
|
|
62.8 |
|
|||||
Other long-term assets |
|
24.6 |
|
(2,014.8 |
) |
2,031.4 |
|
2.4 |
|
5.6 |
|
|||||
Total assets |
|
$ |
7,227.6 |
|
$ |
(2,429.8 |
) |
$ |
2,744.3 |
|
$ |
3,506.5 |
|
$ |
3,406.6 |
|
Floor plan notes payable |
|
$ |
1,915.8 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
1,089.8 |
|
$ |
826.0 |
|
Floor plan notes payable non-trade |
|
1,021.5 |
|
|
|
131.8 |
|
389.0 |
|
500.7 |
|
|||||
Accounts payable |
|
454.1 |
|
|
|
2.2 |
|
149.1 |
|
302.8 |
|
|||||
Accrued expenses |
|
342.9 |
|
(415.0 |
) |
0.9 |
|
162.9 |
|
594.1 |
|
|||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
34.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
6.9 |
|
27.6 |
|
|||||
Liabilities held for sale |
|
43.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
17.8 |
|
25.5 |
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
|
3,812.1 |
|
(415.0 |
) |
134.9 |
|
1,815.5 |
|
2,276.7 |
|
|||||
Long-term debt |
|
1,174.1 |
|
(274.2 |
) |
938.0 |
|
112.6 |
|
397.7 |
|
|||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
|
385.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
362.0 |
|
23.0 |
|
|||||
Other long-term liabilities |
|
185.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
67.5 |
|
117.5 |
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
|
5,556.2 |
|
(689.2 |
) |
1,072.9 |
|
2,357.6 |
|
2,814.9 |
|
|||||
Total equity |
|
1,671.4 |
|
(1,740.6 |
) |
1,671.4 |
|
1,148.9 |
|
591.7 |
|
|||||
Total liabilities and equity |
|
$ |
7,227.6 |
|
$ |
(2,429.8 |
) |
$ |
2,744.3 |
|
$ |
3,506.5 |
|
$ |
3,406.6 |
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
December 31, 2014
|
|
Total
|
|
Eliminations |
|
Penske
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|||||
|
|
(In millions) |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
36.3 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
36.3 |
|
Accounts receivable, net |
|
701.4 |
|
(409.6 |
) |
409.6 |
|
392.6 |
|
308.8 |
|
|||||
Inventories |
|
2,819.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,481.5 |
|
1,337.7 |
|
|||||
Other current assets |
|
124.7 |
|
|
|
4.5 |
|
58.3 |
|
61.9 |
|
|||||
Assets held for sale |
|
186.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
150.4 |
|
35.7 |
|
|||||
Total current assets |
|
3,867.7 |
|
(409.6 |
) |
414.1 |
|
2,082.8 |
|
1,780.4 |
|
|||||
Property and equipment, net |
|
1,328.8 |
|
|
|
4.3 |
|
754.6 |
|
569.9 |
|
|||||
Intangible assets |
|
1,652.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
818.4 |
|
834.1 |
|
|||||
Equity method investments |
|
352.8 |
|
|
|
285.5 |
|
|
|
67.3 |
|
|||||
Other long-term assets |
|
26.4 |
|
(1,990.8 |
) |
2,005.0 |
|
4.4 |
|
7.8 |
|
|||||
Total assets |
|
$ |
7,228.2 |
|
$ |
(2,400.4 |
) |
$ |
2,708.9 |
|
$ |
3,660.2 |
|
$ |
3,259.5 |
|
Floor plan notes payable |
|
$ |
1,812.6 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
1,102.0 |
|
$ |
710.6 |
|
Floor plan notes payable non-trade |
|
920.5 |
|
|
|
86.8 |
|
398.1 |
|
435.6 |
|
|||||
Accounts payable |
|
417.6 |
|
|
|
2.9 |
|
208.3 |
|
206.4 |
|
|||||
Accrued expenses |
|
310.3 |
|
(409.6 |
) |
|
|
123.3 |
|
596.6 |
|
|||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
36.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
4.6 |
|
32.0 |
|
|||||
Liabilities held for sale |
|
132.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
105.9 |
|
26.8 |
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
|
3,630.3 |
|
(409.6 |
) |
89.7 |
|
1,942.2 |
|
2,008.0 |
|
|||||
Long-term debt |
|
1,316.0 |
|
(247.0 |
) |
938.0 |
|
116.1 |
|
508.9 |
|
|||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
|
409.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
385.6 |
|
24.3 |
|
|||||
Other long-term liabilities |
|
190.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
66.9 |
|
123.9 |
|
|||||
Total liabilities |
|
5,547.0 |
|
(656.6 |
) |
1,027.7 |
|
2,510.8 |
|
2,665.1 |
|
|||||
Total equity |
|
1,681.2 |
|
(1,743.8 |
) |
1,681.2 |
|
1,149.4 |
|
594.4 |
|
|||||
Total liabilities and equity |
|
$ |
7,228.2 |
|
$ |
(2,400.4 |
) |
$ |
2,708.9 |
|
$ |
3,660.2 |
|
$ |
3,259.5 |
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
|
|
Total
|
|
Eliminations |
|
Penske
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|||||
|
|
(In millions) |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Revenues |
|
$ |
4,471.1 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
2,348.3 |
|
$ |
2,122.8 |
|
Cost of sales |
|
3,782.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,971.6 |
|
1,810.8 |
|
|||||
Gross profit |
|
688.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
376.7 |
|
312.0 |
|
|||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
|
534.5 |
|
|
|
6.7 |
|
293.2 |
|
234.6 |
|
|||||
Depreciation |
|
18.6 |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
10.2 |
|
8.0 |
|
|||||
Operating income |
|
135.6 |
|
|
|
(7.1 |
) |
73.3 |
|
69.4 |
|
|||||
Floor plan interest expense |
|
(10.1 |
) |
|
|
(0.7 |
) |
(5.2 |
) |
(4.2 |
) |
|||||
Other interest expense |
|
(16.3 |
) |
|
|
(9.8 |
) |
(1.3 |
) |
(5.2 |
) |
|||||
Equity in earnings of affiliates |
|
6.7 |
|
|
|
5.8 |
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|||||
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries |
|
|
|
(127.0 |
) |
127.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes |
|
115.9 |
|
(127.0 |
) |
115.2 |
|
66.8 |
|
60.9 |
|
|||||
Income taxes |
|
(38.8 |
) |
42.8 |
|
(38.8 |
) |
(28.3 |
) |
(14.5 |
) |
|||||
Income from continuing operations |
|
77.1 |
|
(84.2 |
) |
76.4 |
|
38.5 |
|
46.4 |
|
|||||
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax |
|
(1.2 |
) |
1.2 |
|
(1.2 |
) |
(1.1 |
) |
(0.1 |
) |
|||||
Net income |
|
75.9 |
|
(83.0 |
) |
75.2 |
|
37.4 |
|
46.3 |
|
|||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |
|
(55.1 |
) |
52.3 |
|
(55.1 |
) |
|
|
(52.3 |
) |
|||||
Comprehensive income |
|
20.8 |
|
(30.7 |
) |
20.1 |
|
37.4 |
|
(6.0 |
) |
|||||
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests |
|
0.1 |
|
0.6 |
|
(0.6 |
) |
|
|
0.1 |
|
|||||
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders |
|
$ |
20.7 |
|
$ |
(31.3 |
) |
$ |
20.7 |
|
$ |
37.4 |
|
$ |
(6.1 |
) |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF INCOME
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
|
|
Total
|
|
Eliminations |
|
Penske
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|||||
|
|
(In millions) |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Revenues |
|
$ |
4,015.2 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
2,157.8 |
|
$ |
1,857.4 |
|
Cost of sales |
|
3,401.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,811.0 |
|
1,590.2 |
|
|||||
Gross profit |
|
614.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
346.8 |
|
267.2 |
|
|||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
|
477.2 |
|
|
|
5.8 |
|
277.4 |
|
194.0 |
|
|||||
Depreciation |
|
16.1 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
8.9 |
|
6.9 |
|
|||||
Operating income |
|
120.7 |
|
|
|
(6.1 |
) |
60.5 |
|
66.3 |
|
|||||
Floor plan interest expense |
|
(11.1 |
) |
|
|
(2.4 |
) |
(5.0 |
) |
(3.7 |
) |
|||||
Other interest expense |
|
(12.4 |
) |
|
|
(7.1 |
) |
(0.5 |
) |
(4.8 |
) |
|||||
Equity in earnings of affiliates |
|
5.1 |
|
|
|
4.2 |
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|||||
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries |
|
|
|
(113.4 |
) |
113.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes |
|
102.3 |
|
(113.4 |
) |
102.0 |
|
55.0 |
|
58.7 |
|
|||||
Income taxes |
|
(34.7 |
) |
38.6 |
|
(34.8 |
) |
(24.6 |
) |
(13.9 |
) |
|||||
Income from continuing operations |
|
67.6 |
|
(74.8 |
) |
67.2 |
|
30.4 |
|
44.8 |
|
|||||
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax |
|
0.3 |
|
(0.3 |
) |
0.3 |
|
5.8 |
|
(5.5 |
) |
|||||
Net income |
|
67.9 |
|
(75.1 |
) |
67.5 |
|
36.2 |
|
39.3 |
|
|||||
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax |
|
6.2 |
|
(6.8 |
) |
6.2 |
|
(2.4 |
) |
9.2 |
|
|||||
Comprehensive income |
|
74.1 |
|
(81.9 |
) |
73.7 |
|
33.8 |
|
48.5 |
|
|||||
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests |
|
0.2 |
|
0.2 |
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
0.2 |
|
|||||
Comprehensive income attributable to Penske Automotive Group common stockholders |
|
$ |
73.9 |
|
$ |
(82.1 |
) |
$ |
73.9 |
|
$ |
33.8 |
|
$ |
48.3 |
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
|
|
Total
|
|
Penske
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
||||
|
|
(In millions) |
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operating activities |
|
$ |
193.6 |
|
$ |
(10.6 |
) |
$ |
17.1 |
|
$ |
187.1 |
|
Investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Purchase of equipment and improvements |
|
(33.6 |
) |
(0.5 |
) |
(19.2 |
) |
(13.9 |
) |
||||
Acquisitions, net |
|
(86.4 |
) |
|
|
(21.7 |
) |
(64.7 |
) |
||||
Net cash used in continuing investing activities |
|
(120.0 |
) |
(0.5 |
) |
(40.9 |
) |
(78.6 |
) |
||||
Financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net repayments of long-term debt |
|
(139.3 |
) |
|
|
(1.3 |
) |
(138.0 |
) |
||||
Net borrowings (repayments) of floor plan notes payable non-trade |
|
101.0 |
|
45.0 |
|
(9.1 |
) |
65.1 |
|
||||
Payment of deferred financing fees |
|
(1.2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
(1.2 |
) |
||||
Repurchases of common stock |
|
(14.0 |
) |
(14.0 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Dividends |
|
(19.9 |
) |
(19.9 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Distributions from (to) parent |
|
|
|
|
|
1.2 |
|
(1.2 |
) |
||||
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing financing activities |
|
(73.4 |
) |
11.1 |
|
(9.2 |
) |
(75.3 |
) |
||||
Net cash provided by discontinued operations |
|
33.4 |
|
|
|
33.0 |
|
0.4 |
|
||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
|
(3.1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
(3.1 |
) |
||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
|
30.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
30.5 |
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
|
36.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
36.3 |
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
|
$ |
66.8 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
66.8 |
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
|
|
Total
|
|
Penske
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
||||
|
|
(In millions) |
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities |
|
$ |
132.5 |
|
$ |
9.7 |
|
$ |
109.8 |
|
$ |
13.0 |
|
Investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Purchase of equipment and improvements |
|
(39.8 |
) |
(0.3 |
) |
(28.0 |
) |
(11.5 |
) |
||||
Acquisitions, net |
|
(81.8 |
) |
|
|
(80.0 |
) |
(1.8 |
) |
||||
Net cash used in continuing investing activities |
|
(121.6 |
) |
(0.3 |
) |
(108.0 |
) |
(13.3 |
) |
||||
Financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net (repayments) borrowings of long-term debt |
|
(26.3 |
) |
10.0 |
|
(5.3 |
) |
(31.0 |
) |
||||
Net borrowings (repayments) of floor plan notes payable non-trade |
|
6.8 |
|
(3.2 |
) |
(29.4 |
) |
39.4 |
|
||||
Dividends |
|
(16.2 |
) |
(16.2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Distributions from (to) parent |
|
|
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
(0.5 |
) |
||||
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing financing activities |
|
(35.7 |
) |
(9.4 |
) |
(34.2 |
) |
7.9 |
|
||||
Net cash provided by discontinued operations |
|
29.6 |
|
|
|
27.2 |
|
2.4 |
|
||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
|
4.8 |
|
|
|
(5.2 |
) |
10.0 |
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
|
50.3 |
|
|
|
13.1 |
|
37.2 |
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
|
$ |
55.1 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
7.9 |
|
$ |
47.2 |
|
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed in Forward-Looking Statements. We have acquired and initiated a number of businesses during the periods presented and addressed in this Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Our financial statements include the results of operations of those businesses from the date acquired or when they commenced operations. This Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations has been updated to reflect the revision of our financial statements for entities which have been treated as discontinued operations.
Overview
We are an international transportation services company that operates automotive and commercial truck dealerships principally in the United States and Western Europe, and distributes commercial vehicles, diesel engines, gas engines, power systems and related parts and services principally in Australia and New Zealand. We employ approximately 22,000 people worldwide.
In the first quarter of 2015, our business generated $4.5 billion in total revenue which is comprised of $4.2 billion from retail automotive dealerships, $192.7 million from retail commercial truck dealerships and $103.4 million from commercial vehicle distribution and other operations.
Retail Automotive Dealership. We believe we are the second largest automotive retailer headquartered in the U.S. as measured by the $16.6 billion in total retail automotive dealership revenue we generated in 2014. As of March 31, 2015, we operated 328 automotive retail franchises, of which 180 franchises are located in the U.S. and 148 franchises are located outside of the U.S. The franchises outside the U.S. are located primarily in the U.K. In the three months ended March 31, 2015, we retailed and wholesaled more than 122,000 vehicles. We are diversified geographically, with 60% of our total retail automotive dealership revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2015 generated in the U.S. and Puerto Rico and 40% generated outside the U.S. We offer over 40 vehicle brands, with 72% of our retail automotive dealership revenue in the three months ended March 31, 2015 generated from premium brands, such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Each of our dealerships offer a wide selection of new and used vehicles for sale. In addition to selling new and used vehicles, we generate higher-margin revenue at each of our dealerships through maintenance and repair services and the sale and placement of third-party finance and insurance products, third-party extended service and maintenance contracts and replacement and aftermarket automotive products.
Retail automotive dealerships represented 93% of our total revenues and 91% of our total gross profit in the three months ended March 31, 2015.
Retail Commercial Truck Dealership. In November 2014, we acquired a controlling interest (91%) in a heavy and medium duty truck dealership group located in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, which we have renamed Penske Commercial Vehicles US (PCV US). Prior to this transaction, we held a 32% interest in PCV US and accounted for this investment under the equity method. PCV US operates sixteen locations, including ten full-service dealerships offering principally Freightliner, Western Star, and Sprinter-branded trucks. Two of these locations, Freightliner of Chattanooga and Freightliner of Knoxville, were acquired in February 2015. PCV US also offers a full range of used trucks available for sale as well as service and parts departments, many of which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Retail commercial truck dealerships represented 4.3% of our total revenues and 4.8% of our total gross profit in the three months ended March 31, 2015.
Commercial Vehicle Distribution. Since August 2013, we have been the exclusive importer and distributor of Western Star heavy duty trucks (a Daimler brand), MAN heavy and medium duty trucks and buses (a VW Group brand), and Dennis Eagle refuse collection vehicles, together with associated parts across Australia, New Zealand and portions of the Pacific. The business, known as Penske Commercial Vehicles Australia, distributes commercial vehicles and parts to a network of more than 70 dealership locations, including three company-owned retail commercial vehicle dealerships.
In October 2014, we acquired MTU Detroit Diesel Australia Pty Ltd., a leading distributor of diesel and gas engines and power systems, representing MTU, Detroit Diesel, Mercedes-Benz Industrial, Allison Transmission and MTU Onsite Energy. We have renamed this business Penske Power Systems. Penske Power Systems offers products across the on- and off-highway markets in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific and supports full parts and aftersales service through a network of branches, field locations and dealers across the region. The on-highway portion of this business complements our existing Penske Commercial Vehicles Australia distribution business.
Our commercial vehicle distribution business represented 2.3% of our total revenues and 3.9% of our total gross profit in the three months ended March 31, 2015.
Penske Truck Leasing. We hold a 9.0% ownership interest in Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. (PTL), a leading provider of transportation and supply chain services. PTL operates and maintains approximately 215,000 vehicles and serves customers in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia and is one of the largest purchasers of commercial trucks in North America. Product lines include full-service truck leasing, contract maintenance, commercial and consumer truck rentals, used truck sales, transportation and warehousing management and supply chain management solutions. In March 2015, Mitsui & Co. purchased a 20% ownership interest in PTL from General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC). PTL is currently owned 41.1% by Penske Corporation, 9.0% by us, 29.9% by GECC and 20.0% by Mitsui & Co. We account for our investment in PTL under the equity method, and we therefore record our share of PTLs earnings on our statements of income under the caption Equity in earnings of affiliates, which also includes the results of our other investments.
Outlook
The level of new automotive unit sales in our markets affects our results. The new vehicle market continues to perform well and for the three months ended March 31, 2015, the U.S. light vehicle retail market grew 5.6% to 3.95 million units. Based upon the current economic environment, generally strong credit availability, the age of vehicles on the road, new model introductions planned by many different OEMs, and the decline in oil prices contributing to lower consumer fuel costs, there are expectations for continued growth in the new light vehicle sales market in 2015.
During the first three months of 2015, U.K. new vehicle registrations increased 6.8% from 2014 to 734,588 registrations. Based on industry forecasts from entities such as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (www.smmt.co.uk), we believe the U.K. market will maintain current registration levels as a result of continued positive conditions in the U.K. economy, improving new car efficiency, the latest technologically advanced vehicles, particularly in the area of premium brand sales, and attractive financing offers.
During the first three months of 2015, North America sales of Class 5-8 medium and heavy-duty trucks, the principal vehicles for our PCV US business, were approximately 119,700 units, an increase of 14.8% from 2014. The largest market, Class 8 heavy-duty trucks, increased 19.5% to 69,700 units from 58,300 units in 2014. Based on a growing economy, the strength of the order backlog, strong freight metrics, the drop in oil prices which may help trucking profitability and boost discretionary spending, there are expectations for continued strength in the Class 5-8 medium and heavy-duty truck market in 2015.
Our commercial vehicle distribution business, including the on-highway portion of our Penske Power Systems business, operates principally in the Australian and New Zealand heavy and medium duty truck markets. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Australian heavy duty truck market reported sales of 2,041 units representing a decrease of 14.3% from the same period in 2014. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the New Zealand market reported sales of 766 units representing an increase of 9.0% from the same period in 2014. The brands we represent in Australia hold a 10.1% market share in the heavy duty truck market, while the brands we represent in New Zealand hold a 6.7% market share. We expect the Australian commercial vehicle market to lag behind historical sales levels in part because of difficult macro-economic conditions resulting in part from lower commodity prices in these markets. The commercial parts distribution portion of our business has been increasing and we expect the parts distribution business will continue to be resilient as a result of the increasing average fleet age in Australia to approximately 14 years combined with the delayed vehicle replacement cycle as a result of the difficult macro-economic conditions.
We expect PTL to benefit from continued strong economic conditions in the United States and in particular that PTL will be favorably impacted by increased demand for freight movement and increased costs of owning and maintaining fleet vehicles due in part to increasingly advance vehicle technology and regulatory requirements.
As described in Forward-Looking Statements, there are a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations.
Operating Overview
Automotive and commercial truck dealerships represent the majority of our results of operations. New and used vehicle revenues include sales to retail customers and to leasing companies providing consumer leasing. We generate finance and insurance revenues from sales of third-party extended service contracts, sales of third-party insurance policies, commissions relating to the sale of finance and lease contracts to third parties and the sales of certain other products. Service and parts revenues include fees paid by customers for repair, maintenance and collision services, and the sale of replacement parts and other aftermarket accessories as well as warranty repairs which are reimbursed directly by various OEMs.
Our gross profit tends to vary with the mix of revenues we derive from the sale of new vehicles, used vehicles, finance and insurance products, and service and parts transactions. Our gross profit varies across product lines, with vehicle sales usually resulting in lower gross profit margins and our other revenues resulting in higher gross profit margins. Factors such as inventory and vehicle
availability, customer demand, consumer confidence, unemployment, general economic conditions, seasonality, weather, credit availability, fuel prices and manufacturers advertising and incentives also impact the mix of our revenues, and therefore influence our gross profit margin.
Aggregate revenue and gross profit increased $455.9 million and $74.7 million, or 11.4% and 12.2%, respectively, during the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. The increases are largely attributable to same-store increases in new and used vehicle, finance and insurance and service and parts revenue and gross profit in addition to our acquisitions of PCV US and Penske Power Systems in the fourth quarter of 2014. Additionally, as exchange rates fluctuate, our revenue and results of operations as reported in U.S. Dollars fluctuate. For example, if the British Pound were to strengthen against the U.S. Dollar, our U.K. results of operations would translate into more U.S. Dollar reported results. The British Pound weakened against the U.S. Dollar by 8.5% during the three months ended March 31, 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014 which negatively impacted our reported results of operations. Foreign currency fluctuations decreased revenue and gross profit by $184.7 million and $27.0 million, respectively, and reduced earnings per share from continuing operations by approximately $0.05 per share. Excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, revenue and gross profit increased 16.0% and 16.6% during the three months ended March 31, 2015.
The results of our commercial vehicle distribution business in Australia and New Zealand are principally driven by the number and types of products and vehicles ordered by our customers.
Our selling expenses consist of advertising and compensation for sales personnel, including commissions and related bonuses. General and administrative expenses include compensation for administration, finance, legal and general management personnel, rent, insurance, utilities and other expenses. As the majority of our selling expenses are variable, and we believe a significant portion of our general and administrative expenses are subject to our control, we believe our expenses can be adjusted over time to reflect economic trends.
Floor plan interest expense relates to financing incurred in connection with the acquisition of new and used vehicle inventories that is secured by those vehicles. Other interest expense consists of interest charges on all of our interest-bearing debt, other than interest relating to floor plan financing and includes interest relating to our retail commercial truck dealership and commercial vehicle distribution operations. The cost of our variable rate indebtedness is based on the prime rate, defined London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), the Bank of England Base Rate, the Finance House Base Rate, the Euro Interbank Offered Rate, or the Australian or New Zealand Bank Bill Swap Rate (BBSW). Our floor plan interest expense decreased during 2015 primarily as a result of the expiration of our interest rate swaps. Our other interest expense has increased during the three months ended March 31, 2015 primarily due to an increased level of borrowing relating to the issuance of our $300.0 million 5.375% senior subordinated notes in November 2014.
Equity in earnings of affiliates represents our share of the earnings from our investments in joint ventures and other non-consolidated investments, including PTL. Because PTL is engaged in different businesses than we are, its operating performance may vary significantly from ours.
During the first quarter of 2015, we divested our car rental business which included Hertz car rental franchises in the Memphis, Tennessee market and certain markets throughout Indiana in light of our perceived inability to grow that business. The results of operations of our car rental business are included in discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.
The future success of our business is dependent upon, among other things, general economic and industry conditions, our ability to consummate and integrate acquisitions, the level of vehicle sales in the markets where we operate, our ability to increase sales of higher margin products, especially service and parts services, our ability to realize returns on our significant capital investment in new and upgraded dealership facilities, our ability to integrate acquisitions, the success of our distribution of commercial vehicles, engines, and power systems and the return realized from our investments in various joint ventures and other non-consolidated investments. See Forward-Looking Statements below.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the application of accounting policies that often involve making estimates and employing judgments. Such judgments influence the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses recognized in our financial statements. Management, on an ongoing basis, reviews these estimates and assumptions. Management may determine that modifications in assumptions and estimates are required, which may result in a material change in our results of operations or financial position.
The following are the accounting policies applied in the preparation of our financial statements that management believes are most dependent upon the use of estimates and assumptions.
Revenue Recognition
Dealership Vehicle, Parts and Service Sales. We record revenue when vehicles are delivered and title has passed to the customer, when vehicle service or repair work is completed and when parts are delivered to our customers. Sales promotions that we offer to customers are accounted for as a reduction of revenues at the time of sale. Rebates and other incentives offered directly to us by manufacturers are recognized as a reduction of cost of sales. Reimbursements of qualified advertising expenses are treated as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses. The amounts received under certain manufacturer rebate and incentive programs are based on the attainment of program objectives, and such earnings are recognized either upon the sale of the vehicle for which the award was received, or upon attainment of the particular program goals if not associated with individual vehicles. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are recorded on a net basis (excluded from revenue). During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we earned $144.8 million, and $134.5 million, respectively, of rebates, incentives and reimbursements from manufacturers, of which $141.5 million, and $131.3 million, respectively, was recorded as a reduction of cost of sales. The remaining $3.3 million and $3.2 million was recorded as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses.
Dealership Finance and Insurance Sales. Subsequent to the sale of a vehicle to a customer, we sell installment sale contracts to various financial institutions on a non-recourse basis (with specified exceptions) to mitigate the risk of default. We receive a commission from the lender equal to either the difference between the interest rate charged to the customer and the interest rate set by the financing institution or a flat fee. We also receive commissions for facilitating the sale of various products to customers, including guaranteed vehicle protection insurance, vehicle theft protection and extended service contracts. These commissions are recorded as revenue at the time the customer enters into the contract. In the case of finance contracts, a customer may prepay or fail to pay their contract, thereby terminating the contract. Customers may also terminate extended service contracts and other insurance products, which are fully paid at purchase, and become eligible for refunds of unused premiums. In these circumstances, a portion of the commissions we received may be charged back based on the terms of the contracts. The revenue we record relating to these transactions is net of an estimate of the amount of chargebacks we will be required to pay. Our estimate is based upon our historical experience with similar contracts, including the impact of refinance and default rates on retail finance contracts and cancellation rates on extended service contracts and other insurance products. Aggregate reserves relating to chargeback activity were $26.2 million and $25.8 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.
Commercial Vehicle Distribution. Revenue from the distribution of vehicles, engines, power systems and parts is recognized at the time of delivery of goods to the independent retailer or the ultimate customer.
Impairment Testing
Other indefinite-lived intangible assets are assessed for impairment annually on October 1 and upon the occurrence of an indicator of impairment through a comparison of its carrying amount and estimated fair value. An indicator of impairment exists if the carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value and an impairment loss may be recognized up to that excess. The fair value is determined using a discounted cash flow approach, which includes assumptions about revenue and profitability growth, profit margins, and the cost of capital. We also evaluate in connection with the annual impairment testing whether events and circumstances continue to support our assessment that the other indefinite-lived intangible assets continue to have an indefinite life.
Goodwill impairment is assessed at the reporting unit level annually on October 1 and upon the occurrence of an indicator of impairment. Our operations are organized by management into operating segments by line of business and geography. We have determined that we have three reportable segments as defined in generally accepted accounting principles for segment reporting: (i) Retail Automotive, consisting of our retail automotive dealership operations, (ii) Retail Commercial Truck, consisting of our U.S. retail commercial truck dealership operations, and (iii) Other, consisting of our commercial vehicle distribution operations and our investments in non-automotive retail operations. We have determined that the dealerships in each of our operating segments within the Retail Automotive reportable segment are components that are aggregated into four geographical reporting units for the purpose of goodwill impairment testing, as they (A) have similar economic characteristics (all are automotive dealerships having similar margins), (B) offer similar products and services (all sell new and used vehicles, service, parts and third-party finance and insurance products), (C) have similar target markets and customers (generally individuals) and (D) have similar distribution and marketing practices (all distribute products and services through dealership facilities that market to customers in similar fashions). The geographic reporting units are Eastern, Central, and Western United States and International. The goodwill included in our Other reportable segment relates to our commercial vehicle distribution operating segment.
An indicator of goodwill impairment exists if the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill, is determined to exceed its estimated fair value. We estimate the fair value of our reporting units using an income valuation approach. The income valuation approach estimates our enterprise value using a net present value model, which discounts projected free cash flows of our business using the weighted average cost of capital as the discount rate. In connection with this process, we also reconcile the estimated aggregate fair values of our reporting units to our market capitalization. We believe this reconciliation process is consistent with a market participant perspective. This consideration would also include a control premium that represents the estimated amount
an investor would pay for our equity securities to obtain a controlling interest, and other significant assumptions including revenue and profitability growth, franchise profit margins, residual values and the cost of capital.
Investments
We account for each of our investments under the equity method, pursuant to which we record our proportionate share of the investees income each period. The net book value of our investments was $350.9 million and $352.8 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, including $281.9 million relating to PTL as of March 31, 2015. Investments for which there is not a liquid, actively traded market are reviewed periodically by management for indicators of impairment. If an indicator of impairment is identified, management estimates the fair value of the investment using a discounted cash flow approach, which includes assumptions relating to revenue and profitability growth, profit margins, and our cost of capital. Declines in investment values that are deemed to be other than temporary may result in an impairment charge reducing the investments carrying value to fair value.
Self-Insurance
We retain risk relating to certain of our general liability insurance, workers compensation insurance, vehicle physical damage insurance, property insurance, employment practices liability insurance, directors and officers insurance and employee medical benefits in the U.S. As a result, we are likely to be responsible for a significant portion of the claims and losses incurred under these programs. The amount of risk we retain varies by program, and, for certain exposures, we have pre-determined maximum loss limits for certain individual claims and/or insurance periods. Losses, if any, above the pre-determined loss limits are paid by third-party insurance carriers. Certain insurers have limited available property coverage in response to the natural catastrophes experienced in recent years. Our estimate of future losses is prepared by management using our historical loss experience and industry-based development factors. Aggregate reserves relating to retained risk were $26.3 million and $24.6 million as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Changes in the reserve estimate during 2015 relate primarily to our workers compensation programs.
Income Taxes
Tax regulations may require items to be included in our tax returns at different times than the items are reflected in our financial statements. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not deductible on our tax return, and some are temporary differences, such as the timing of depreciation expense. Temporary differences create deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets generally represent items that will be used as a tax deduction or credit in our tax returns in future years which we have already recorded in our financial statements. Deferred tax liabilities generally represent deductions taken on our tax returns that have not yet been recognized as expense in our financial statements. We establish valuation allowances for our deferred tax assets if the amount of expected future taxable income is not likely to allow for the use of the deduction or credit.
Classification in Continuing and Discontinued Operations
We classify the results of our operations in our consolidated financial statements based on generally accepted accounting principles relating to discontinued operations, which requires judgments, including whether a business will be divested, the period required to complete the divestiture, the likelihood of changes to the divestiture plans, and whether the divestiture represents a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major impact on our operations. If we determine that a business should be either reclassified from continuing operations to discontinued operations or from discontinued operations to continuing operations, our consolidated financial statements for prior periods are revised to reflect such reclassification. Refer to the disclosures provided under Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations in Part I, Item 1, Note 1 of the Notes to our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for a detailed description of the factors we consider for classification in discontinued operations.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Please see the disclosures provided under Recent Accounting Pronouncements in Part I, Item 1, Note 1 of the Notes to our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements which are incorporated by reference herein.
Results of Operations
The following tables present comparative financial data relating to our operating performance in the aggregate and on a same-store basis. Dealership results are included in same-store comparisons when we have consolidated the acquired entity during the entirety of both periods being compared. As an example, if a dealership was acquired on January 15, 2013, the results of the acquired entity would be included in annual same-store comparisons beginning with the year ended December 31, 2015 and in quarterly same store comparisons beginning with the quarter ended June 30, 2014.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
Retail Automotive Dealership New Vehicle Data
(In millions, except unit and per unit amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 vs. 2014 |
|
|||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
|||
New retail unit sales |
|
53,293 |
|
49,994 |
|
3,299 |
|
6.6 |
% |
|||
Same-store new retail unit sales |
|
52,384 |
|
49,857 |
|
2,527 |
|
5.1 |
% |
|||
New retail sales revenue |
|
$ |
2,136.3 |
|
$ |
2,017.3 |
|
$ |
119.0 |
|
5.9 |
% |
Same-store new retail sales revenue |
|
$ |
2,093.0 |
|
$ |
2,010.0 |
|
$ |
83.0 |
|
4.1 |
% |
New retail sales revenue per unit |
|
$ |
40,086 |
|
$ |
40,350 |
|
$ |
(264 |
) |
(0.7 |
)% |
Same-store new retail sales revenue per unit |
|
$ |
39,956 |
|
$ |
40,316 |
|
$ |
(360 |
) |
(0.9 |
)% |
Gross profit new |
|
$ |
167.6 |
|
$ |
156.4 |
|
$ |
11.2 |
|
7.2 |
% |
Same-store gross profit new |
|
$ |
164.9 |
|
$ |
155.8 |
|
$ |
9.1 |
|
5.8 |
% |
Average gross profit per new vehicle retailed |
|
$ |
3,146 |
|
$ |
3,127 |
|
$ |
19 |
|
0.6 |
% |
Same-store average gross profit per new vehicle retailed |
|
$ |
3,148 |
|
$ |
3,126 |
|
$ |
22 |
|
0.7 |
% |
Gross margin % new |
|
7.8 |
% |
7.8 |
% |
0.0 |
% |
0.0 |
% |
|||
Same-store gross margin % new |
|
7.9 |
% |
7.8 |
% |
0.1 |
% |
1.3 |
% |
Units
Retail unit sales of new vehicles increased from 2014 to 2015, including a 5.6% increase in the U.S. and an 8.6% increase internationally. The increase is due to a 2,527 unit, or 5.1%, increase in same-store new retail unit sales, coupled with a 772 unit increase from net dealership acquisitions. Same-store units increased 3.6% in the U.S. and 7.8% internationally due in part to more favorable macro-economic conditions in the U.S. and in the U.K. The overall same-store increase was driven by an 8.3% increase in our premium brands. Overall, we believe our premium and volume non-U.S. brands are being positively impacted by favorable market conditions including credit availability, pent-up demand, and the introduction of new models.
Revenues
New vehicle retail sales revenue increased from 2014 to 2015 due to an $83.0 million, or 4.1%, increase in same-store revenues, coupled with a $36.0 million increase from net dealership acquisitions. Excluding foreign currency fluctuations, same-store new retail revenue increased 8.4%. Same-store new retail revenue increased 5.8% in the U.S. and 1.5% internationally due in part to more favorable macro-economic conditions in the U.S. and in the U.K. The same-store revenue increase is due to the increase in same-store new retail unit sales, which increased revenue by $100.9 million, somewhat offset by a decrease in comparative average selling prices per unit as a result of foreign currency fluctuations, which decreased revenue by $17.9 million.
Gross Profit
Retail gross profit from new vehicle sales increased from 2014 to 2015 due to a $9.1 million, or 5.8%, increase in same-store gross profit, coupled with a $2.1 million increase from net dealership acquisitions. Excluding foreign currency fluctuations, same-store gross profit increased 10.8%. The increase in same-store gross profit is due to the increase in same-store new retail unit sales, which increased gross profit by $8.0 million, coupled with an increase in the average gross profit per new vehicle retailed, which increased gross profit by $1.1 million.
Retail Automotive Dealership Used Vehicle Data
(In millions, except unit and per unit amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 vs. 2014 |
|
|||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
|||
Used retail unit sales |
|
48,057 |
|
45,028 |
|
3,029 |
|
6.7 |
% |
|||
Same-store used retail unit sales |
|
47,364 |
|
44,976 |
|
2,388 |
|
5.3 |
% |
|||
Used retail sales revenue |
|
$ |
1,276.1 |
|
$ |
1,195.2 |
|
$ |
80.9 |
|
6.8 |
% |
Same-store used retail sales revenue |
|
$ |
1,259.5 |
|
$ |
1,193.5 |
|
$ |
66.0 |
|
5.5 |
% |
Used retail sales revenue per unit |
|
$ |
26,554 |
|
$ |
26,544 |
|
$ |
10 |
|
0.0 |
% |
Same-store used retail sales revenue per unit |
|
$ |
26,591 |
|
$ |
26,537 |
|
$ |
54 |
|
0.2 |
% |
Gross profit used |
|
$ |
84.5 |
|
$ |
86.5 |
|
$ |
(2.0 |
) |
(2.3 |
)% |
Same-store gross profit used |
|
$ |
83.5 |
|
$ |
86.4 |
|
$ |
(2.9 |
) |
(3.4 |
)% |
Average gross profit per used vehicle retailed |
|
$ |
1,758 |
|
$ |
1,922 |
|
$ |
(164 |
) |
(8.5 |
)% |
Same-store average gross profit per used vehicle retailed |
|
$ |
1,763 |
|
$ |
1,921 |
|
$ |
(158 |
) |
(8.2 |
)% |
Gross margin % used |
|
6.6 |
% |
7.2 |
% |
(0.6 |
)% |
(8.3 |
)% |
|||
Same-store gross margin % used |
|
6.6 |
% |
7.2 |
% |
(0.6 |
)% |
(8.3 |
)% |
Units
Retail unit sales of used vehicles increased from 2014 to 2015, including a 2.7% increase in the U.S. and a 14.6% increase internationally. The increase is due to a 2,388 unit, or 5.3%, increase in same-store used retail unit sales, coupled with a 641 unit increase from net dealership acquisitions. Same-store units increased 1.1% in the U.S. and 13.4% internationally. The overall same-store increase was driven by a 7.3% increase in premium brands. Overall, we believe that our same-store used vehicle sales are being positively impacted by our retail first initiative which focuses on reducing the number of vehicles we wholesale to third parties by offering and promoting these vehicles for retail sale in our dealerships, favorable market conditions including credit availability, pent-up demand, an increase in trade-in units due to an increase in new unit sales, and an increase in lease returns.
Revenues
Used vehicle retail sales revenue increased from 2014 to 2015 due to a $66.0 million, or 5.5%, increase in same-store revenues, coupled with a $14.9 million increase from net dealership acquisitions. Excluding foreign currency fluctuations, same-store used retail revenue increased 10.4%. Same-store used retail revenue increased 3.6% in the U.S. and 7.7% internationally. The same-store revenue increase is due to the increase in same-store used retail unit sales, which increased revenue by $63.6 million, coupled with an increase in comparative average selling prices per unit, which increased revenue by $2.4 million.
Gross Profit
Retail gross profit from used vehicle sales decreased from 2014 to 2015 due to a $2.9 million, or 3.4%, decrease in same-store gross profit, somewhat offset by a $0.9 million increase from net dealership acquisitions. Excluding foreign currency fluctuations, same-store gross profit increased 0.8%. The decrease in same-store gross profit is due to a decrease in average gross profit per used vehicle retailed, which decreased gross profit by $7.1 million, somewhat offset by the increase in same-store used retail unit sales, which increased gross profit by $4.2 million. We believe the decline in average gross profit per unit and gross margin of used vehicles is due to an increasing availability of lower mileage, late model used vehicles, the relative affordability of new vehicles when compared to used vehicles and a reduction of manufacturer incentives on used vehicles in the U.K.
Retail Automotive Dealership Finance and Insurance Data
(In millions, except unit and per unit amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 vs. 2014 |
|
|||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
|||
Total retail unit sales |
|
101,350 |
|
95,022 |
|
6,328 |
|
6.7 |
% |
|||
Total same-store retail unit sales |
|
99,748 |
|
94,833 |
|
4,915 |
|
5.2 |
% |
|||
Finance and insurance revenue |
|
$ |
111.1 |
|
$ |
104.5 |
|
$ |
6.6 |
|
6.3 |
% |
Same-store finance and insurance revenue |
|
$ |
109.7 |
|
$ |
104.3 |
|
$ |
5.4 |
|
5.2 |
% |
Finance and insurance revenue per unit |
|
$ |
1,096 |
|
$ |
1,099 |
|
$ |
(3 |
) |
(0.3 |
)% |
Same-store finance and insurance revenue per unit |
|
$ |
1,100 |
|
$ |
1,100 |
|
$ |
|
|
0.0 |
% |
Finance and insurance revenue increased from 2014 to 2015 due to a $5.4 million, or 5.2%, increase in same-store revenues, coupled with a $1.2 million increase from net dealership acquisitions. Excluding foreign currency fluctuations, same-store finance and insurance revenue increased 8.9%. The same-store revenue increase is due to the increase in same-store retail unit sales, which increased revenue by $5.4 million. Finance and insurance revenue per unit increased 5.3% to $1,105 per unit in the U.S. but decreased
9.6% to $1,081 per unit internationally due primarily to foreign currency fluctuations. We believe the overall increase is due to our efforts to increase finance and insurance revenue, which include adding resources to drive additional training, product penetration and targeting underperforming locations.
Retail Automotive Dealership Service and Parts Data
(In millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 vs. 2014 |
|
|||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
|||
Service and parts revenue |
|
$ |
437.3 |
|
$ |
415.4 |
|
$ |
21.9 |
|
5.3 |
% |
Same-store service and parts revenue |
|
$ |
429.2 |
|
$ |
414.2 |
|
$ |
15.0 |
|
3.6 |
% |
Gross profit service and parts |
|
$ |
260.3 |
|
$ |
246.0 |
|
$ |
14.3 |
|
5.8 |
% |
Same-store gross profit service and parts |
|
$ |
255.9 |
|
$ |
245.4 |
|
$ |
10.5 |
|
4.3 |
% |
Gross margin % service and parts |
|
59.5 |
% |
59.2 |
% |
0.3 |
% |
0.5 |
% |
|||
Same-store gross margin % service and parts |
|
59.6 |
% |
59.2 |
% |
0.4 |
% |
0.7 |
% |
Revenues
Service and parts revenue increased from 2014 to 2015, including an 8.2% increase in the U.S. offset by a 1.2% decrease internationally due to foreign currency fluctuations. The overall increase in service and parts revenue is due to a $15.0 million, or 3.6%, increase in same-store revenues during the period, coupled with a $6.9 million increase from net dealership acquisitions. Excluding foreign currency fluctuations, same-store service and parts revenue increased 6.7%. The increase in same-store revenue is due to a $14.4 million, or 16.4%, increase in warranty revenue, and a $0.6 million, or 1.8%, increase in vehicle preparation and body shop revenue. Overall, we believe that our service and parts business is being positively impacted by increasing units in operation due to increasing new vehicle sales in recent years and recall activity as a result of manufacturer initiated programs to correct safety related issues.
Gross Profit
Service and parts gross profit increased from 2014 to 2015 due to a $10.5 million, or 4.3%, increase in same-store gross profit during the period, coupled with a $3.8 million increase from net dealership acquisitions. Excluding foreign currency fluctuations, same-store gross profit increased 7.4%. The same-store gross profit increase is due to the increase in same-store revenues, which increased gross profit by $9.0 million, coupled with a 0.7% increase in gross margin, which increased gross profit by $1.5 million. The same-store gross profit increase is comprised of a $7.9 million, or 17.1%, increase in warranty gross profit, a $2.6 million, or 6.5%, increase in vehicle preparation gross profit, a $0.3 million, or 0.2%, increase in customer pay gross profit, all offset by a $0.3 million, or 1.6%, decrease in body shop gross profit.
Retail Commercial Truck Dealership Data
(In millions, except unit and per unit amounts)
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the U.S. retail commercial truck dealership business generated $192.7 million of revenue and $32.8 million of gross profit principally through the retail sale of 1,335 new and used medium and heavy-duty trucks and service and parts sales.
New Commercial Truck Data |
|
2015 |
|
|
New retail unit sales |
|
1,039 |
|
|
New retail sales revenue |
|
$ |
102.2 |
|
New retail sales revenue per unit |
|
$ |
98,345 |
|
Gross profit new |
|
$ |
4.9 |
|
Average gross profit per new truck retailed |
|
$ |
4,691 |
|
Gross margin % new |
|
4.8 |
% |
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we generated $102.2 million of new commercial truck retail sales revenue and $4.9 million of gross profit through the sale of 1,039 new commercial trucks. As discussed previously in the Outlook section, we see continued strength in the North American medium and heavy duty Class 5 8 truck market which will positively impact our new truck retail sales.
Used Commercial Truck Data |
|
2015 |
|
|
Used retail unit sales |
|
296 |
|
|
Used retail sales revenue |
|
$ |
15.9 |
|
Used retail sales revenue per unit |
|
$ |
53,700 |
|
Gross profit used |
|
$ |
1.7 |
|
Average gross profit per used truck retailed |
|
$ |
5,882 |
|
Gross margin % used |
|
10.7 |
% |
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we generated $15.9 million of used commercial truck retail sales revenue and $1.7 million of gross profit through the sale of 296 used commercial trucks. We believe there is opportunity to grow used truck sales partially due to the continued strength of the North American medium and heavy duty Class 5 8 truck market combined with e-commerce initiatives aimed at expanding our remarketing efforts.
Service and Parts Data |
|
2015 |
|
|
Service and parts revenue |
|
$ |
63.1 |
|
Gross profit service and parts |
|
$ |
23.4 |
|
Gross margin % service and parts |
|
37.1 |
% |
During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we generated $63.1 million of service and parts revenue and $23.4 million of gross profit. We generate service and parts revenue in connection with warranty and non-warranty work (customer pay) performed at each of our truck dealerships and through retail sales of parts and accessories. Customer pay work represents approximately 86% of our service and parts revenue. We expect the strength of the North American economy coupled with the current strength of the Class 5 8 medium and heavy duty truck market will favorably impact our service and parts revenue and gross profit.
Commercial Vehicle Distribution Data
Our commercial vehicle distribution business is comprised of our Penske Commercial Vehicles Australia business and our Penske Power Systems business which we acquired on August 30, 2013 and October 1, 2014, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, Penske Commercial Vehicles Australia generated $56.3 million of revenue and $9.6 million of gross profit through the distribution and retail sale of 348 vehicles and parts. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, this business generated $94.5 million of revenue and $16.0 million of gross profit through the distribution and retail sale of 442 vehicles and parts. We believe the decline in revenue and gross profit from 2014 is due to lagging sales levels attributable to difficult macro-economic conditions resulting from the declining price of commodities such as copper, iron ore and oil. Penske Power Systems generated $44.0 million of revenue and $17.4 million of gross profit during the three months ended March 31, 2015.
Selling, General and Administrative Data
(In millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 vs. 2014 |
|
|||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
|||
Personnel expense |
|
$ |
307.4 |
|
$ |
266.9 |
|
$ |
40.5 |
|
15.2 |
% |
Advertising expense |
|
$ |
22.6 |
|
$ |
21.3 |
|
$ |
1.3 |
|
6.1 |
% |
Rent & related expense |
|
$ |
71.4 |
|
$ |
65.5 |
|
$ |
5.9 |
|
9.0 |
% |
Other expense |
|
$ |
133.1 |
|
$ |
123.5 |
|
$ |
9.6 |
|
7.8 |
% |
Total SG&A expenses |
|
$ |
534.5 |
|
$ |
477.2 |
|
$ |
57.3 |
|
12.0 |
% |
Same-store SG&A expenses |
|
$ |
486.3 |
|
$ |
475.4 |
|
$ |
10.9 |
|
2.3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Personnel expense as % of gross profit |
|
44.6 |
% |
43.5 |
% |
1.1 |
% |
2.5 |
% |
|||
Advertising expense as % of gross profit |
|
3.3 |
% |
3.5 |
% |
(0.2 |
)% |
(5.7 |
)% |
|||
Rent & related expense as % of gross profit |
|
10.4 |
% |
10.7 |
% |
(0.3 |
)% |
(2.8 |
)% |
|||
Other expense as % of gross profit |
|
19.3 |
% |
20.1 |
% |
(0.8 |
)% |
(4.0 |
)% |
|||
Total SG&A expenses as % of gross profit |
|
77.6 |
% |
77.7 |
% |
(0.1 |
)% |
(0.1 |
)% |
|||
Same-store SG&A expenses as % of same-store gross profit |
|
77.4 |
% |
77.7 |
% |
(0.3 |
)% |
(0.4 |
)% |
Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) increased from 2014 to 2015 due to a $10.9 million, or 2.3%, increase in same-store SG&A, coupled with a $46.4 million increase from net acquisitions. Excluding foreign currency fluctuations, same-store SG&A increased 5.9%. The increase in same-store SG&A is due primarily to a net increase in variable personnel expenses, as a result of the 3.7% increase in same-store retail gross profit versus the prior year. SG&A as a percentage of gross profit was 77.6%, an improvement of 10 basis points compared to 77.7% in the prior year. SG&A expenses as a percentage of total revenue was 12.0% and 11.9% in the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Depreciation
(In millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 vs. 2014 |
|
|||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
|||
Depreciation |
|
$ |
18.6 |
|
$ |
16.1 |
|
$ |
2.5 |
|
15.5 |
% |
The increase in depreciation from 2014 to 2015 is due to a $1.0 million, or 6.2%, increase in same-store depreciation, coupled with a $1.5 million increase from net acquisitions. The same-store increase is primarily related to our ongoing facility improvement and expansion programs.
Floor Plan Interest Expense
(In millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 vs. 2014 |
|
|||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
|||
Floor plan interest expense |
|
$ |
10.1 |
|
$ |
11.1 |
|
$ |
(1.0 |
) |
(9.0 |
)% |
The decrease in floor plan interest expense from 2014 to 2015 is primarily due to the expiration of our interest rate swaps resulting in a decrease of approximately $1.8 million of floor plan interest expense compared to 2014. This decrease is somewhat offset by a $0.3 million, or 3.4%, increase in same-store floor plan interest expense, coupled with a $0.5 million increase from net dealership acquisitions. The same-store increase is primarily due to increases in the amounts outstanding under floor plan arrangements.
Other Interest Expense
(In millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 vs. 2014 |
|
|||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
|||
Other interest expense |
|
$ |
16.3 |
|
$ |
12.4 |
|
$ |
3.9 |
|
31.5 |
% |
The increase in other interest expense from 2014 to 2015 is primarily due to an increased level of borrowing in 2015 relating to the issuance of our $300.0 million 5.375% senior subordinated notes in November 2014 and additional interest expense attributable to previous borrowings of our PCV US business which we acquired in the fourth quarter of 2014. These increases are somewhat offset by a decrease in outstanding revolver borrowings under the U.S. credit agreement during the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates
(In millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 vs. 2014 |
|
|||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
|||
Equity in earnings of affiliates |
|
$ |
6.7 |
|
$ |
5.1 |
|
$ |
1.6 |
|
31.4 |
% |
The increase in equity in earnings of affiliates from 2014 to 2015 is primarily attributable to an increase in equity in earnings from our investment in PTL somewhat offset by a reduction in equity in earnings in 2015 related to our investment in PCV US due to the consolidation of this entity during the fourth quarter of 2014 as a result of our acquisition of a controlling interest.
Income Taxes
(In millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
2015 vs. 2014 |
|
|||||
|
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
|||
Income taxes |
|
$ |
38.8 |
|
$ |
34.7 |
|
$ |
4.1 |
|
11.8 |
% |
Income taxes increased from 2014 to 2015 due to an overall increase in our pre-tax income compared to the prior year and a higher mix of U.S. income in 2015 which is taxed at higher rates.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our cash requirements are primarily for working capital, inventory financing, the acquisition of new businesses, the improvement and expansion of existing facilities, the purchase or construction of new facilities, debt service and repayments, dividends and potential repurchases of our outstanding securities under the program discussed below. Historically, these cash requirements have been met through cash flow from operations, borrowings under our credit agreements and floor plan arrangements, the issuance of debt securities, sale-leaseback transactions, mortgages, dividends and distributions from joint venture investments or the issuance of equity securities.
We have historically expanded our operations through organic growth and the acquisition of dealerships and other businesses. We believe that cash flow from operations, dividends and distributions from our joint venture investments and our existing capital resources, including the liquidity provided by our credit agreements and floor plan financing arrangements, will be sufficient to fund our operations and commitments for at least the next twelve months. In the event we pursue significant other acquisitions, other expansion opportunities, significant repurchases of our outstanding securities, or refinance or repay existing debt, we may need to raise additional capital either through the public or private issuance of equity or debt securities or through additional borrowings, which sources of funds may not necessarily be available on terms acceptable to us, if at all. In addition, our liquidity could be negatively impacted in the event we fail to comply with the covenants under our various financing and operating agreements or in the event our floor plan financing is withdrawn.
As of March 31, 2015, we had working capital of $55.7 million, including $66.8 million of cash available to fund our operations and capital commitments. In addition, we had $450.0 million, £73.0 million ($108.2 million), and AU $28.0 million ($21.3 million) available for borrowing under our U.S. credit agreement, U.K. credit agreement, and Australian working capital loan agreement, respectively.
Securities Repurchases
From time to time, our Board of Directors has authorized securities repurchase programs pursuant to which we may, as market conditions warrant, purchase our outstanding common stock or debt on the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, via a tender offer, or through a pre-arranged trading plan. We have historically funded any such repurchases using cash flow from operations, borrowings under our U.S. credit facility, and borrowings under our U.S. floor plan arrangements. The decision to make repurchases will be based on factors such as the market price of the relevant security versus our view of its intrinsic value, the potential impact of such repurchases on our capital structure, and our consideration of any alternative uses of our capital, such as for acquisitions and strategic investments in our current businesses, in addition to any then-existing limits imposed by our finance agreements and securities trading policy. As of March 31, 2015, we have $136.0 million in repurchase authorization under the existing securities repurchase program. Refer to the disclosures provided in Part I, Item 1, Note 10 of the Notes to our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for a summary of shares repurchased under our securities repurchase program during the three months ended March 31, 2015.
Dividends
We paid the following cash dividends on our common stock in 2014 and 2015:
Per Share Dividends
2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
Second Quarter |
|
0.19 |
|
|
Third Quarter |
|
0.20 |
|
|
Fourth Quarter |
|
0.21 |
|
|
2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
Future quarterly or other cash dividends will depend upon a variety of factors considered relevant by our Board of Directors which may include our earnings, capital requirements, restrictions relating to any then-existing indebtedness, financial condition and other factors.
Vehicle Financing
We finance substantially all of the commercial vehicles we purchase for distribution, new vehicles for retail sale and a portion of our used vehicle inventories for retail sale under floor plan and other revolving arrangements with various lenders, including the captive finance companies associated with automotive manufacturers. In the U.S., the floor plan arrangements are due on demand; however, we have not historically been required to repay floor plan advances prior to the sale of the vehicles that have been financed. We typically make monthly interest payments on the amount financed. Outside of the U.S., substantially all of our floor plan arrangements are payable on demand or have an original maturity of 90 days or less, and we are generally required to repay floor plan advances at the earlier of the sale of the vehicles that have been financed or the stated maturity.
The agreements typically grant a security interest in substantially all of the assets of our dealership and distribution subsidiaries, and in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand are guaranteed or partially guaranteed by us. Interest rates under the arrangements are variable and increase or decrease based on changes in the prime rate, defined LIBOR, Finance House Base Rate, the Euro Interbank Offered Rate, or the Australian or New Zealand Bank Bill Swap Rate. To date, we have not experienced any material limitation with respect to the amount or availability of financing from any institution providing us vehicle financing. We also receive non-refundable credits from certain of our vehicle manufacturers, which are treated as a reduction of cost of sales as vehicles are sold.
Long-term Debt Obligations
As of March 31, 2015, we had the following long-term debt obligations outstanding:
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
(In millions) |
|
2015 |
|
|
U.S. credit agreement revolving credit line |
|
$ |
|
|
U.S. credit agreement term loan |
|
88.0 |
|
|
U.K. credit agreement revolving credit line |
|
54.8 |
|
|
U.K. credit agreement term loan |
|
15.6 |
|
|
U.K. credit agreement overdraft line of credit |
|
|
|
|
5.375% senior subordinated notes due 2024 |
|
300.0 |
|
|
5.75% senior subordinated notes due 2022 |
|
550.0 |
|
|
Australia working capital loan |
|
|
|
|
Mortgage facilities |
|
170.5 |
|
|
Other |
|
29.7 |
|
|
Total long-term debt |
|
1,208.6 |
|
|
As of March 31, 2015, we were in compliance with all covenants under our credit agreements and we believe we will remain in compliance with such covenants for the next twelve months. Refer to the disclosures provided in Part I, Item 1, Note 7 of the Notes to our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for a detailed description of our long-term debt obligations.
Short-term Borrowings
We have four principal sources of short-term borrowings: the revolving portion of the U.S. credit agreement, the revolving portion of the U.K. credit agreement, our Australian working capital loan agreement and the floor plan agreements that we utilize to finance our vehicle inventories. We are able to access availability under the floor plan agreements to fund our cash needs, including payments made relating to our higher interest rate revolving credit agreements.
During the first quarter of 2015, outstanding revolving commitments varied between $0 million and $216.5 million under the U.S. credit agreement and between £19.0 million and £90.0 million ($28.2 million and $133.4 million) under the U.K. credit agreements revolving credit line (excluding the overdraft facility), and the amounts outstanding under our floor plan agreements varied based on the timing of the receipt and expenditure of cash in our operations, driven principally by the levels of our vehicle inventories.
Operating Leases
Refer to the disclosures provided in Part I, Item 1, Note 9 of the Notes to our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for a detailed description of our operating leases. As of March 31, 2015, we were in compliance with all covenants under these leases, and we believe we will remain in compliance with such covenants for the next twelve months.
Sale/Leaseback Arrangements
We have in the past and may in the future enter into sale-leaseback transactions to finance certain property acquisitions and capital expenditures, pursuant to which we sell property and/or leasehold improvements to third parties and agree to lease those assets back for a certain period of time. Such sales generate proceeds which vary from period to period.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Refer to the disclosures provided in Part I, Item 1, Note 9 of the Notes to our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for a detailed description of our off-balance sheet arrangements which include lease obligations, indemnification to GECC related to PTL senior unsecured notes, and a limited parent guarantee related to our floor plan credit agreement with Mercedes Benz Financial Services Australia.
Cash Flows
Cash and cash equivalents increased by $30.5 million and $4.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The major components of these changes are discussed below.
Cash Flows from Continuing Operating Activities
Cash provided by continuing operating activities was $193.6 million and $132.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Cash flows from continuing operating activities includes net income, as adjusted for non-cash items and the effects of changes in working capital.
We finance substantially all of the commercial vehicles we purchase for distribution, new vehicles for retail sale, and a portion of our used vehicle inventories for retail sale under revolving floor plan arrangements with various lenders, including the captive finance companies associated with automotive manufacturers. We retain the right to select which, if any, financing source to utilize in connection with the procurement of vehicle inventories. Many vehicle manufacturers provide vehicle financing for the dealers representing their brands; however, it is not a requirement that we utilize this financing. Historically, our floor plan finance source has been based on aggregate pricing considerations.
In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles relating to the statement of cash flows, we report all cash flows arising in connection with floor plan notes payable with the manufacturer of a particular new vehicle as an operating activity in our statement of cash flows, and all cash flows arising in connection with floor plan notes payable to a party other than the manufacturer of a particular new vehicle, all floor plan notes payable relating to pre-owned vehicles, and all floor plan notes payable related to our commercial vehicles in Australia and New Zealand as a financing activity in our statement of cash flows. Currently, the majority of our non-trade vehicle financing is with other manufacturer captive lenders. To date, we have not experienced any material limitation with respect to the amount or availability of financing from any institution providing us vehicle financing.
We believe that changes in aggregate floor plan liabilities are typically linked to changes in vehicle inventory and, therefore, are an integral part of understanding changes in our working capital and operating cash flow. As a result, we prepare the following reconciliation to highlight our operating cash flows with all changes in vehicle floor plan being classified as an operating activity for informational purposes:
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
||||
(In millions) |
|
2015 |
|
2014 |
|
||
Net cash from continuing operating activities as reported |
|
$ |
193.6 |
|
$ |
132.5 |
|
Floor plan notes payable non-trade as reported |
|
101.0 |
|
6.8 |
|
||
Net cash from continuing operating activities including all floor plan notes payable |
|
$ |
294.6 |
|
$ |
139.3 |
|
Cash Flows from Continuing Investing Activities
Cash used in continuing investing activities was $120.0 million and $121.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Cash flows from continuing investing activities consist primarily of cash used for capital expenditures and net expenditures for acquisitions and other investments. Capital expenditures were $33.6 million and $39.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Capital expenditures relate primarily to improvements to our existing dealership facilities, the construction of new facilities, the acquisition of the property or buildings associated with existing leased facilities, and the acquisition of land for future development. We currently expect to finance our retail automotive segment and retail commercial truck segment capital expenditures with operating cash flows or borrowings under our U.S. or U.K. credit facilities. Cash used in acquisitions and other investments, net of cash acquired, was $86.4 million and $81.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and included cash used to repay sellers floor plan liabilities in such business acquisitions of $41.2 million and $22.4 million, respectively.
Cash Flows from Continuing Financing Activities
Cash used in continuing financing activities was $73.4 million and $35.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Cash flows from continuing financing activities include net borrowings or repayments of long-term debt, issuance and repurchases of long-term debt, repurchases of common stock, net borrowings or repayments of floor plan notes payable non-trade, payment of deferred financing costs, and dividends.
We had net repayments of long-term debt of $139.3 million and $26.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and paid $1.2 million of deferred financing fees. We had net borrowings of floor plan notes payable non-trade of $101.0 million and $6.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We repurchased common stock for a total of $14.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015. We also paid cash dividends to our stockholders of $19.9 million and $16.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Cash Flows from Discontinued Operations
Cash flows relating to discontinued operations are not currently considered, nor are they expected to be, material to our liquidity or our capital resources. Management does not believe that there are any material past, present or upcoming cash transactions relating to discontinued operations.
Related Party Transactions
Stockholders Agreement
Several of our directors and officers are affiliated with Penske Corporation or related entities. Roger S. Penske, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, is also Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Penske Corporation, and through entities affiliated with Penske Corporation, our largest stockholder owning approximately 35% of our outstanding common stock. Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Mitsui & Co. (USA), Inc. (collectively, Mitsui) own approximately 17% of our outstanding common stock. Mitsui, Penske Corporation and certain other affiliates of Penske Corporation are parties to a stockholders agreement pursuant to which the Penske affiliated companies agreed to vote their shares for up to two directors who are representatives of Mitsui. In turn, Mitsui agreed to vote their shares for up to fourteen directors voted for by the Penske affiliated companies. This agreement terminates in March 2024, upon the mutual consent of the parties, or when either party no longer owns any of our common stock.
Other Related Party Interests and Transactions
Roger S. Penske is also a managing member of Transportation Resource Partners, an organization that invests in transportation-related industries. Robert H. Kurnick, Jr., our President and a director, is also the President and a director of Penske Corporation. Greg Penske, one of our directors, is the son of our chairman and is also a board member of Penske Corporation. Kanji Sasaki, one of our directors and officers, is also an employee of Mitsui & Co.
We sometimes pay to and/or receive fees from Penske Corporation, its subsidiaries, and its affiliates for services rendered in the ordinary course of business, or to reimburse payments made to third parties on each others behalf. These transactions are reviewed periodically by our Audit Committee and reflect the providers cost or an amount mutually agreed upon by both parties.
As discussed above, we hold a 9.0% ownership interest in PTL, a leading provider of transportation and supply chain services. PTL is owned 41.1% by Penske Corporation, 9.0% by us, 29.9% by GECC and 20.0% by Mitsui & Co. Among other things, the relevant agreements provide us with specified distribution and governance rights and restrict our ability to transfer our interests.
We have also entered into other joint ventures with certain related parties as more fully discussed below.
Joint Venture Relationships
We are party to a number of joint ventures pursuant to which we own and operate automotive dealerships together with other investors. We may provide these dealerships with working capital and other debt financing at costs that are based on our incremental borrowing rate. As of March 31, 2015, our retail automotive joint venture relationships included:
Location |
|
Dealerships |
|
Ownership
|
|
Fairfield, Connecticut |
|
Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter, Porsche, smart |
|
82.19 |
%(A) (C) |
Greenwich, Connecticut |
|
Mercedes-Benz |
|
80.00 |
%(B) (C) |
Northern Italy |
|
BMW, MINI, Maserati |
|
70.00 |
%(C) |
Las Vegas, Nevada |
|
Ferrari, Maserati |
|
50.00 |
%(D) |
Frankfurt, Germany |
|
Lexus, Toyota, Volkswagen |
|
50.00 |
%(D) |
Aachen, Germany |
|
Audi, Citroën, Kia, Maserati, SEAT, Skoda, Toyota, Volkswagen |
|
50.00 |
%(D) |
Barcelona, Spain |
|
BMW, MINI |
|
50.00 |
%(D) |
(A) As of March 31, 2015, an entity controlled by one of our directors, Lucio A. Noto (the Investor), owns a 17.81% interest in this joint venture which entitles the Investor to 20% of the joint ventures operating profits. In addition, the Investor has an option to purchase up to a 20% interest in the joint venture for specified amounts.
(B) An entity controlled by one of our directors, Lucio A. Noto (the Investor), owns a 20% interest in this joint venture.
(C) Entity is consolidated in our financial results.
(D) Entity is accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
Additionally, we are party to non-automotive joint ventures including our investments in Max Cycles (50%), Penske Commercial Leasing Australia (45%), Penske Vehicle Services (31%), and National Powersport Auctions (7%) that are accounted for under the equity method, and our controlling interests in PCV US (91%) and i.M. Branded (90%) that are consolidated in our financial statements.
Cyclicality
Unit sales of motor vehicles, particularly new vehicles, have been cyclical historically, fluctuating with general economic cycles. During economic downturns, the automotive and truck retailing industry tends to experience periods of decline and recession similar to those experienced by the general economy. We believe that the industry is influenced by general economic conditions and particularly by consumer confidence, the level of personal discretionary spending, fuel prices, interest rates, and credit availability.
Seasonality
Dealership . Our business is modestly seasonal overall. Our U.S. operations generally experience higher volumes of vehicle sales in the second and third quarters of each year due in part to consumer buying trends and the introduction of new vehicle models. Also, vehicle demand, and to a lesser extent demand for service and parts, is generally lower during the winter months than in other seasons, particularly in regions of the U.S. where dealerships may be subject to severe winters. Our U.K. operations generally experience higher volumes of vehicle sales in the first and third quarters of each year, due primarily to vehicle registration practices in the U.K.
Commercial Vehicle Distribution . Our commercial vehicle distribution business generally experiences higher sales volumes during the second quarter of the year which is primarily attributable to commercial vehicle customers completing annual capital expenditures before their fiscal year-end, which is typically June 30 in Australia and New Zealand.
Effects of Inflation
We believe that inflation rates over the last few years have not had a significant impact on revenues or profitability. We do not expect inflation to have any near-term material effects on the sale of our products and services; however, we cannot be sure there will be no such effect in the future. We finance substantially all of our inventory through various revolving floor plan arrangements with interest rates that vary based on various benchmarks. Such rates have historically increased during periods of increasing inflation.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements and information set forth herein, as well as other written or oral statements made from time to time by us or by our authorized officers on our behalf, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, may, goal, plan, seek, project, continue, will, would, and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. We intend for our forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we set forth this statement in order to comply with such safe harbor provisions. You should note that our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report or when made and we undertake no duty of obligation to update or revise our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements with respect to:
· our future financial and operating performance;
· future acquisitions and dispositions;
· future potential capital expenditures and securities repurchases;
· our ability to realize cost savings and synergies;
· our ability to respond to economic cycles;
· trends in the automotive retail industry and commercial vehicles industries and in the general economy in the various countries in which we operate;
· our ability to access the remaining availability under our credit agreements;
· our liquidity;
· performance of joint ventures, including PTL;
· future foreign exchange rates;
· the outcome of various legal proceedings;
· results of self insurance plans;
· trends affecting our future financial condition or results of operations; and
· our business strategy.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are not assurances of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results due to a variety of factors, including the factors identified in our 2014 annual report on Form 10-K filed February 26, 2015. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include the following:
· our business and the automotive retail and commercial vehicles industries in general are susceptible to adverse economic conditions, including changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, customer demand, customer confidence, fuel prices, unemployment rates and credit availability;
· the number of new and used vehicles sold in our markets;
· vehicle manufacturers exercise significant control over our operations, and we depend on them and continuation of our franchise and distribution agreements in order to operate our business;
· we depend on the success, popularity and availability of the brands we sell, and adverse conditions affecting one or more vehicle manufacturers, including the adverse impact on the vehicle and parts supply chain due to natural disasters or other disruptions that interrupt the supply of vehicles and parts to us, may negatively impact our revenues and profitability;
· we are subject to the risk that a substantial number of our new or used inventory may be unavailable due to recall or other reasons;
· the success of our commercial vehicle distribution and engine and power systems distribution operations depends upon continued availability of the vehicles, engines, power systems, and other parts we distribute, demand for those vehicles, engines, power systems, and parts and general economic conditions in those markets;
· a restructuring of any significant vehicle manufacturers or suppliers;
· our operations may be affected by severe weather or other periodic business interruptions;
· we have substantial risk of loss not covered by insurance;
· we may not be able to satisfy our capital requirements for acquisitions, facility renovation projects, financing the purchase of our inventory, or refinancing of our debt when it becomes due;
· our level of indebtedness may limit our ability to obtain financing generally and may require that a significant portion of our cash flow be used for debt service;
· non-compliance with the financial ratios and other covenants under our credit agreements and operating leases;
· higher interest rates may significantly increase our variable rate interest costs and, because many customers finance their vehicle purchases, decrease vehicle sales;
· our operations outside of the U.S. subject our profitability to fluctuations relating to changes in foreign currency values;
· import product restrictions and foreign trade risks that may impair our ability to sell foreign vehicles profitably;
· with respect to PTL, changes in the financial health of its customers, labor strikes or work stoppages by its employees, a reduction in PTLs asset utilization rates and industry competition which could impact distributions to us;
· we are dependent on continued availability of our information technology systems;
· if we lose key personnel, especially our Chief Executive Officer, or are unable to attract additional qualified personnel;
· new or enhanced regulations relating to automobile dealerships including those that may be issued by the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau in the U.S. or the Financial Conduct Authority in the U.K. restricting automotive financing;
· changes in tax, financial or regulatory rules or requirements;
· we could be subject to legal and administrative proceedings which, if the outcomes are adverse to us, could have a material adverse effect on our business;
· if state dealer laws in the U.S. are repealed or weakened, our automotive dealerships may be subject to increased competition and may be more susceptible to termination, non-renewal or renegotiation of their franchise agreements; some of our directors and officers may have conflicts of interest with respect to certain related party transactions and other business interests; and
· shares of our common stock eligible for future sale may cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.
We urge you to carefully consider these risk factors in evaluating all forward-looking statements regarding our business. Readers of this report are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this report. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws and the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and regulations, we have no intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Interest Rates. We are exposed to market risk from changes in the interest rates on a significant portion of our outstanding debt. Outstanding revolving balances under our credit agreements bear interest at variable rates based on a margin over defined LIBOR or the Bank of England Base Rate. Based on the amount outstanding under these facilities as of March 31, 2015, a 100 basis point change in interest rates would result in an approximate $1.4 million change to our annual other interest expense. Similarly, amounts outstanding under floor plan financing arrangements bear interest at a variable rate based on a margin over the prime rate, defined LIBOR, the Finance House Base Rate, or the Euro Interbank Offered Rate, or the Australian or New Zealand Bank Bill Swap Rate (BBSW).
Based on an average of the aggregate amounts outstanding under our floor plan financing arrangements subject to variable interest payments during the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2015, a 100 basis point change in interest rates would result in an approximate $23.0 million change to our annual floor plan interest expense.
We evaluate our exposure to interest rate fluctuations and follow established policies and procedures to implement strategies designed to manage the amount of variable rate indebtedness outstanding at any point in time in an effort to mitigate the effect of interest rate fluctuations on our earnings and cash flows. These policies include:
· the maintenance of our overall debt portfolio with targeted fixed and variable rate components;
· the use of authorized derivative instruments;
· the prohibition of using derivatives for trading or other speculative purposes; and
· the prohibition of highly leveraged derivatives or derivatives which we are unable to reliably value, or for which we are unable to obtain a market quotation.
Interest rate fluctuations affect the fair market value of our fixed rate debt, mortgages, and certain seller financed promissory notes, but, with respect to such fixed rate debt instruments, do not impact our earnings or cash flows.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rates. As of March 31, 2015, we had consolidated operations in the U.K., Germany, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. In each of these markets, the local currency is the functional currency. In the event we change our intent with respect to the investment in any of our international operations, we would expect to implement strategies designed to manage those risks in an effort to mitigate the effect of foreign currency fluctuations on our earnings and cash flows. A ten percent change in average exchange rates versus the U.S. Dollar would have resulted in an approximate $176.5 million change to our revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2015.
We purchase certain of our new vehicles, parts and other products from non-U.S. manufacturers. Although we purchase the majority of our inventories in the local functional currency, our business is subject to certain risks, including, but not limited to, differing economic conditions, changes in political climate, differing tax structures, other regulations and restrictions and foreign
exchange rate volatility which may influence such manufacturers ability to provide their products at competitive prices in the local jurisdictions. Our future results could be materially and adversely impacted by changes in these or other factors.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the principal executive and financial officers, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive and financial officers, to allow timely discussions regarding required disclosure.
Based upon this evaluation, our principal executive and financial officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report. In addition, we maintain internal controls designed to provide us with the information required for accounting and financial reporting purposes. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
We are involved in litigation which may relate to claims brought by governmental authorities, customers, vendors, or employees, including class action claims and purported class action claims. We are not a party to any legal proceedings, including class action lawsuits, that individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on us. However, the results of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, and an unfavorable resolution of one or more of these matters could have a material adverse effect.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
In the fourth quarter of 2014, our Board of Directors authorized an increase in our authority to repurchase up to $150.0 million of our outstanding common stock or debt on the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, via a tender offer, or through a pre-arranged trading plan. The program has an indefinite duration. Our prior authorization at that time was $77.6 million. As of March 31, 2015, our remaining authorization under the program was $136.0 million.
Period |
|
Total Number of
|
|
Average Price Paid
|
|
Total Number of
|
|
Approximate Dollar
|
|
||
January 1 to January 31, 2015 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
150.0 |
|
|
February 1 to February 28, 2015 |
|
24,700 |
|
$ |
48.81 |
|
24,700 |
|
$ |
148.8 |
|
March 1 to March 31, 2015 |
|
258,300 |
|
$ |
49.29 |
|
258,300 |
|
$ |
136.0 |
|
|
|
283,000 |
|
|
|
283,000 |
|
|
|
On May 1, 2015, we amended and restated our Credit Agreement with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC and Toyota Motor Credit Corporation, principally to increase the revolving borrowing capacity from $450.0 million to $700.0 million, to extend the term through September of 2018, and to eliminate the term loan. The amounts previously owing under the term loan have been repaid using the expanded revolving capacity.
As amended, the Credit Agreement provides for up to $700.0 million in revolving loans for working capital, acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments and other general corporate purposes, which includes $250.0 million in revolving loans solely for future U.S. acquisitions. The loans mature on the termination date of the facility which is September 30, 2018. The revolving loans bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.00%, subject to an incremental 1.50% for uncollateralized borrowings in excess of a defined borrowing base.
Substantially all of our U.S. assets are subject to security interests granted to the lenders under the Credit Agreement. In addition, the Credit Agreement is fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several basis by substantially all of our U.S. subsidiaries and contains a number of significant covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to dispose of assets, incur additional indebtedness, repay other indebtedness, create liens on assets, make investments or acquisitions and engage in mergers or consolidations. We are also required to comply with specified tests and ratios defined in the Credit Agreement, including a current ratio, fixed charge coverage ratio, debt to equity ratio, debt to EBITDA ratio and specified minimum stockholders equity. The Credit Agreement also contains typical events of default including change of control, non-payment of obligations and cross-defaults to our other material indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, we could be required to immediately repay the amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement.
These changes are further described in the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Form 10-Q and incorporated herein by reference. We purchase motor vehicles from Daimler AG and Toyota Motor Corporation, affiliates of the respective lenders under the Agreement, for sale at certain of our dealerships. The lenders also provide us with real estate financing, vehicle financing, and other financing and provide consumer financing to our customers.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Roger S. Penske |
|
|
|
Roger S. Penske |
Date: May 1, 2015 |
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ David K. Jones |
|
|
|
David K. Jones |
Date: May 1, 2015 |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit |
|
|
No. |
|
Description |
|
|
|
4.1 |
|
Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated May 1, 2015 among Penske Automotive Group, Inc., Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, and Toyota Motor Credit Corporation. |
|
|
|
4.2 |
|
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated April 2, 2015, by and among our U.K. Subsidiaries, Royal Bank of Scotland plc, and BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited. |
|
|
|
10.1 |
|
Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. dated March 18, 2015 by and among Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, PTL GP LLC, GE Capital Truck Leasing Holding Corp., Logistics Holding Corp., General Electric Credit Corporation of Tennessee, MBK Commercial Vehicles Inc., MBK USA Commercial Vehicles Inc., and us. |
|
|
|
10.2 |
|
Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated March 17, 2015 by and between Penske Automotive Group, Inc. and Penske Truck Leasing Corporation. |
|
|
|
10.3 |
|
Second Amended And Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of LJ VP Holdings LLC dated March 17, 2015 by and among Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, GE Capital Memco, LLC, and us. |
|
|
|
10.4 |
|
Amended and Restated Co-obligation Fee, Indemnity and Security Agreement dated March 17, 2015 between General Electric Capital Corporation and us. |
|
|
|
12 |
|
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges |
|
|
|
31.1 |
|
Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification. |
|
|
|
31.2 |
|
Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification. |
|
|
|
32 |
|
Section 1350 Certification. |
|
|
|
101.INS |
|
XBRL Instance Document. |
|
|
|
101.SCH |
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema. |
|
|
|
101.CAL |
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase. |
|
|
|
101.DEF |
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase. |
|
|
|
101.LAB |
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase. |
|
|
|
101.PRE |
|
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase. |
Exhibit 4.1
Execution Copy
|
|
FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT |
|
dated as of May 1, 2015 |
|
among |
|
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC., |
|
VARIOUS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS |
|
and |
|
MERCEDES-BENZ FINANCIAL SERVICES USA LLC, |
as Agent |
|
CONTENTS
Section |
|
Subject Matter |
|
Page |
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION 1 |
|
DEFINITIONS |
|
1 |
1.1 |
|
Definitions |
|
1 |
1.2 |
|
Other Interpretive Provisions |
|
21 |
1.3 |
|
Effective Date |
|
22 |
1.4 |
|
Domestic Subsidiaries |
|
22 |
SECTION 2 |
|
COMMITMENTS OF THE LENDERS; BORROWING PROCEDURES |
|
23 |
2.1 |
|
Commitments |
|
23 |
2.2 |
|
Loan Procedures |
|
23 |
2.3 |
|
Commitments Several |
|
24 |
2.4 |
|
Certain Conditions |
|
24 |
2.5 |
|
Extension of Termination Date |
|
24 |
2.6 |
|
Defaulting Lenders |
|
25 |
SECTION 3 |
|
NOTES EVIDENCING LOANS |
|
26 |
3.1 |
|
Notes |
|
26 |
3.2 |
|
Recordkeeping |
|
26 |
SECTION 4 |
|
INTEREST |
|
26 |
4.1 |
|
Interest Rate |
|
26 |
4.2 |
|
Interest Payment Dates |
|
26 |
4.3 |
|
Computation of Interest |
|
26 |
SECTION 5 |
|
FEES |
|
27 |
5.1 |
|
Non-Use Fee |
|
27 |
5.2 |
|
Agents Fees |
|
27 |
5.3 |
|
All Fees |
|
27 |
SECTION 6 |
|
REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF THE REVOLVING COMMITMENT AMOUNT AND THE ACQUISITION COMMITMENT AMOUNT; PREPAYMENTS |
|
27 |
6.1 |
|
Voluntary Reduction of Revolving Commitment Amount and the Acquisition Commitment Amount; Fee; Termination |
|
27 |
6.2 |
|
Voluntary Prepayments |
|
28 |
6.3 |
|
Mandatory Prepayments |
|
28 |
CONTENTS
Section |
|
Subject Matter |
|
Page |
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION 7 |
|
MAKING AND PRORATION OF PAYMENTS; SETOFF; TAXES |
|
29 |
7.1 |
|
Making of Payments |
|
29 |
7.2 |
|
Application of Certain Payments |
|
29 |
7.3 |
|
Due Date Extension |
|
29 |
7.4 |
|
Setoff |
|
29 |
7.5 |
|
Proration of Payments |
|
30 |
7.6 |
|
Taxes |
|
30 |
SECTION 8 |
|
WARRANTIES |
|
31 |
8.1 |
|
Organization |
|
31 |
8.2 |
|
Authorization; No Conflict |
|
31 |
8.3 |
|
Validity and Binding Nature |
|
31 |
8.4 |
|
Financial Condition |
|
32 |
8.5 |
|
No Material Adverse Change |
|
32 |
8.6 |
|
Litigation and Contingent Liabilities |
|
32 |
8.7 |
|
Ownership of Properties; Liens |
|
32 |
8.8 |
|
Subsidiaries |
|
32 |
8.9 |
|
Pension Plans |
|
32 |
8.10 |
|
Investment Company Act |
|
33 |
8.11 |
|
Regulation U |
|
33 |
8.12 |
|
Taxes |
|
33 |
8.13 |
|
Solvency, etc. |
|
33 |
8.14 |
|
Environmental Matters |
|
33 |
8.15 |
|
Insurance |
|
34 |
8.16 |
|
Information |
|
34 |
8.17 |
|
Intellectual Property |
|
35 |
8.18 |
|
Burdensome Obligations |
|
35 |
8.19 |
|
Labor Matters |
|
35 |
8.20 |
|
No Default |
|
35 |
8.21 |
|
Senior Debt |
|
35 |
8.22 |
|
Dealer Agreements; Material Business Relationships |
|
35 |
CONTENTS
Section |
|
Subject Matter |
|
Page |
|
|
|
|
|
8.23 |
|
Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Finance Laws |
|
36 |
8.24 |
|
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act |
|
36 |
8.25 |
|
Sanctions Laws |
|
36 |
SECTION 9 |
|
COVENANTS |
|
36 |
9.1 |
|
Reports, Certificates and Other Information |
|
36 |
9.2 |
|
Books, Records and Inspections |
|
40 |
9.3 |
|
Maintenance of Property; Insurance |
|
40 |
9.4 |
|
Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes and Liabilities |
|
40 |
9.5 |
|
Maintenance of Existence, etc. |
|
41 |
9.6 |
|
Financial Covenants |
|
41 |
9.7 |
|
Limitations on Debt |
|
41 |
9.8 |
|
Liens |
|
43 |
9.9 |
|
Restricted Payments |
|
45 |
9.10 |
|
Mergers, Consolidations, Sales |
|
45 |
9.11 |
|
Modification of Organizational Documents |
|
46 |
9.12 |
|
Use of Proceeds |
|
46 |
9.13 |
|
Further Assurances |
|
46 |
9.14 |
|
Transactions with Affiliates |
|
47 |
9.15 |
|
Employee Benefit Plans |
|
48 |
9.16 |
|
Environmental Matters |
|
48 |
9.17 |
|
Inconsistent Agreements |
|
48 |
9.18 |
|
Business Activities |
|
48 |
9.19 |
|
Investments |
|
48 |
9.20 |
|
Restriction of Amendments to Certain Documents |
|
50 |
9.21 |
|
Limitation on Dealer Financing Amendments |
|
50 |
9.22 |
|
Eligible Real Estate Collateral |
|
50 |
9.23 |
|
Changes in Fiscal Periods |
|
50 |
9.24 |
|
Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Finance Laws; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; Sanctions Laws; Restricted Person |
|
50 |
9.25 |
|
ATC Entities |
|
51 |
CONTENTS
Section |
|
Subject Matter |
|
Page |
|
|
|
|
|
SECTION 10 |
|
EFFECTIVENESS; CONDITIONS OF LENDING, ETC. |
|
51 |
10.1 |
|
Conditions to Effectiveness |
|
51 |
10.2 |
|
Conditions |
|
52 |
SECTION 11 |
|
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT |
|
53 |
11.1 |
|
Events of Default |
|
53 |
11.2 |
|
Effect of Event of Default |
|
56 |
SECTION 12 |
|
THE AGENT |
|
56 |
12.1 |
|
Appointment and Authorization |
|
56 |
12.2 |
|
Delegation of Duties |
|
56 |
12.3 |
|
Liability of Agent |
|
56 |
12.4 |
|
Reliance by Agent |
|
57 |
12.5 |
|
Notice of Default |
|
57 |
12.6 |
|
Credit Decision |
|
57 |
12.7 |
|
Indemnification |
|
58 |
12.8 |
|
Agent in Individual Capacity |
|
58 |
12.9 |
|
Successor Agent |
|
58 |
12.10 |
|
Collateral Matters |
|
59 |
12.11 |
|
Funding Reliance |
|
60 |
12.12 |
|
Enforcement |
|
61 |
12.13 |
|
Agent May File Proofs of Claim |
|
61 |
SECTION 13 |
|
GENERAL |
|
62 |
13.1 |
|
Waiver; Amendments |
|
62 |
13.2 |
|
Confirmations |
|
63 |
13.3 |
|
Notices |
|
63 |
13.4 |
|
Computations |
|
63 |
13.5 |
|
Regulation U |
|
63 |
13.6 |
|
Costs, Expenses and Taxes |
|
63 |
13.7 |
|
Subsidiary References |
|
64 |
13.8 |
|
Captions |
|
64 |
13.9 |
|
Assignments; Participations |
|
64 |
CONTENTS
Section |
|
Subject Matter |
|
Page |
|
|
|
|
|
13.10 |
|
Governing Law |
|
66 |
13.11 |
|
Counterparts |
|
66 |
13.12 |
|
Successors and Assigns |
|
67 |
13.13 |
|
Indemnification |
|
67 |
13.14 |
|
Waiver of Consequential Damages, etc. |
|
68 |
13.15 |
|
Nonliability of Lenders |
|
68 |
13.16 |
|
Forum Selection and Consent to Jurisdiction |
|
68 |
13.17 |
|
Waiver of Jury Trial |
|
69 |
13.18 |
|
Confidentiality |
|
69 |
FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 1, 2015 (this Agreement ) is entered into among PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. (the Company ), the financial institutions that are or may from time to time become parties hereto (together with their respective successors and assigns, the Lenders ) and MERCEDES-BENZ FINANCIAL SERVICES USA LLC (in its individual capacity, MBFS ), as agent for the Lenders.
WHEREAS, the Company, the Lenders and the Agent are parties to a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2014 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time prior to the date hereof, the Existing Agreement );
WHEREAS, the Company and the Lenders desire to amend and restate the Existing Agreement; it being the intention of the Company, the Agent and the Lenders that this Agreement and the execution and delivery of any substituted promissory notes not effect a novation of the obligations of the Company and the Lenders under the Existing Agreement but merely a restatement and, where applicable, substitution of the terms governing and evidencing such obligations hereafter; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Lenders have agreed that on the Effective Date (as defined below) the Existing Agreement shall be amended and restated and the outstanding loans under the Existing Agreement shall be deemed to be Loans hereunder;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS.
1.1 Definitions . When used herein the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Account Receivable means, with respect to any Person, any right of such Person to payment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered, whether or not evidenced by an instrument or chattel paper and whether or not yet earned by performance.
Acquisition means an acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of all or substantially all the assets of a business unit or a controlling interest in the Capital Stock or other ownership interests of an Automotive Investment, whether through a purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise.
Acquisition Capital Expenditure means any Capital Expenditure that is comprised of the purchase price paid to the seller in connection with any Acquisition permitted under this Agreement.
Acquisition Cost means, as of any date, (x) with respect to any New Motor Vehicle, the wholesale purchase price charged by the Manufacturer thereof as reflected in the invoice in
respect of such New Motor Vehicle issued by such Manufacturer to the Company, the applicable Subsidiary or any other licensed automobile dealer from which such New Motor Vehicle was purchased by the Company or the applicable Subsidiary less any related deductions set forth on such invoice, and (y) with respect to any Used Motor Vehicle or Auction Motor Vehicle, the price paid by the Company or its applicable Subsidiary to purchase such Used Motor Vehicle or Auction Motor Vehicle, provided that, in the case of this clause (y) , in the event the Agent reasonably concludes that the Acquisition Cost of a Used Motor Vehicle or Auction Motor Vehicle exceeds its fair market value, the Agent may make market value adjustments to the Acquisition Cost of a Used Motor Vehicle or Auction Motor Vehicle based upon the latest publication of the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide, as long as such publication has been released within the past three months and, if not, such other objective criteria as the Company and the Required Lenders may agree from time to time.
Acquisition Commitment means, as to any Lender, such Lenders commitment to make Acquisition Loans under this Agreement. Each Lenders Pro Rata Share of the Acquisition Commitment Amount as in effect on the Effective Date is set forth on Schedule 2.1 .
Acquisition Commitment Amount means $250,000,000, as reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 6.1 .
Acquisition Loan see Section 2.1.2 .
Acquisition Outstandings means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Acquisition Loans.
Affiliate of any Person means (i) any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person and (ii) any officer or director of such Person. A Person shall be deemed to be controlled by any other Person if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, power to vote 10% or more of the securities (on a fully diluted basis) having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or managers or power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.
Agent means MBFS in its capacity as agent for the Lenders hereunder and any successor thereto in such capacity.
Agreement - see the Preamble .
Anti-Terrorism Law see Section 8.23 .
Approved Swap Document see Section 9.8(i) .
Approved Swap Lien see Section 9.8(i) .
Assignee see Section 13.9.1 .
Assignment Agreement see Section 13.9.1 .
ATC means The Around The Clock Freightliner Group, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company.
ATC Entities means ATC, ATC Holdco, Bowen, ATC Realty and ATC West Texas and any Subsidiary of any such Person.
ATC Entity Guaranty Condition means, as to any ATC Entity, that such ATC Entity (i) has become a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) has directly or indirectly provided any Suretyship Liability in respect of any Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than another ATC Entity).
ATC Holdco means Penske Commercial Vehicles US, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
ATC Realty means ATC Realty Investments, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company.
ATC West Texas means ATC West Texas, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Attorney Costs means, with respect to any Person, all reasonable fees and charges of any counsel to such Person, the reasonable allocable cost of internal legal services of such Person, all reasonable disbursements of such internal counsel and all court costs and similar legal expenses.
Auction Motor Vehicles means Motor Vehicles purchased at Manufacturer- or Floor Plan Financing Provider-sponsored dealer-only closed auctions.
Automotive Investment means a business that operates a dealership or dealerships for the retail sales of new and/or used vehicles, a vehicle distributorship and/or other transportation related businesses or other businesses ancillary to the operation of such businesses.
Average Annual Dividend means, with respect to PTL, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to (a) the sum of all dividends and other distributions received by the Company from PTL on account of the Companys Capital Stock investment in PTL during the previous thirty-six (36) month period divided by (b) three.
Base LIBO Rate - see definition of Interest Rate .
Borrowing Base means, at any time, the sum of the following: (a) an amount equal to 100% of the sum of (i) all cash on deposit at such time in deposit accounts of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries in which the Agent has a perfected first priority security interest pursuant to a Control Agreement, (ii) the amount at such time requested to be funded to the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries in respect of retail installment contracts with respect to, and retail leases of, Motor Vehicles where the underlying contracts and leases have been submitted in the ordinary course of business to a third party purchaser that is a financial institution and that is not a Restricted Affiliate for which purchase the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries have not yet been paid plus all other amounts owing at such time to the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries from purchasers or lessees of such Motor Vehicles in respect of such purchases or leases and (iii) the difference between (x) the Acquisition Cost of
that portion of the Inventory of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries that consists of New Motor Vehicles and (y) the aggregate amount of Floor Plan Financing of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries incurred in connection with such New Motor Vehicles; (b) an amount equal to 65% of the sum of (i) the amount of all Accounts Receivable of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries that consist of Factory Receivables or Accounts Receivable owing from customers for service and parts plus (ii) the amount of all Accounts Receivable of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries (to the extent not otherwise covered by the other clauses of this definition) owing from third parties that are not Restricted Affiliates in the ordinary course of business; (c) an amount equal to 65% of the Accounts Receivable of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries consisting of finance reserve owing to the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries from financial institutions, not Restricted Affiliates, that provide loans or other financing to customers of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries in connection with the purchase and/or lease of Motor Vehicles by such customers, which finance reserve is in the nature of amounts payable to the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries; (d) an amount equal to 65% of the book value of the Inventory of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries that consists of parts and accessories; (e) an amount equal to 80% of the difference between (i) the Acquisition Cost of that portion of the Inventory of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries that constitutes Used Motor Vehicles and/or Auction Motor Vehicles (without duplication) and (ii) the aggregate amount of any Floor Plan Financing of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries incurred in connection with such Used Motor Vehicles and Auction Motor Vehicles; (f) an amount equal to 45% of the difference between (i) the book value of the Equipment of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries and (ii) the aggregate amount of purchase money Debt of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries incurred to finance the purchase price of such Equipment; (g) an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 75% of the Eligible Real Estate Collateral Value and (ii) 25% of the sum of clauses (a) through (f) above; and (h) an amount equal to the sum of (i) 50% of the Eligible Tangible Net Worth of PTL, plus (ii) the Average Annual Dividend of PTL. For purposes of greater clarity, service loaners and daily rental vehicles shall not constitute Inventory for the purpose of calculating the Borrowing Base, but shall constitute Equipment for such purpose. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) all assets (including daily rental vehicles, goodwill, franchise value and cash on deposit in deposit accounts) of MB Greenwich shall be excluded from the Borrowing Base for all purposes, (ii) all Motor Vehicles that are being leased by the Company or any Subsidiary as lessor shall be excluded from the Borrowing Base for all purposes and (iii) all retail installment contracts and retail leases of Motor Vehicles that have been pledged to secure any Pledge Line Financing shall be excluded from the Borrowing Base for all purposes.
Borrowing Base Certificate means a certificate in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit K .
Bowen means Bowen Realty Investments, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company.
Business Day means any day of the year (other than any Saturday or Sunday) which is not a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law to close in Detroit, Michigan.
Capital Expenditures means all expenditures for property, plant and equipment that, in accordance with GAAP, would be required to be capitalized and shown on the consolidated
balance sheet of the Company, but excluding expenditures made in connection with the replacement, substitution or restoration of assets to the extent financed (x) from insurance proceeds (or other similar recoveries) paid on account of the loss of or damage to the assets being replaced or restored or (y) with awards of compensation arising from the taking by eminent domain or condemnation of the assets being replaced.
Capital Lease means, with respect to any Person, any lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any real or personal property by such Person that, in conformity with GAAP, is accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of such Person.
Capital Stock of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity securities of such Person.
Cash Equivalent Investment means, at any time, (a) any evidence of Debt, maturing not more than one year after such time, issued or guaranteed by the United States Government or any agency thereof, (b) commercial paper, maturing not more than one year from the date of issue, or corporate demand notes, in each case rated at least A-l by Standard & Poors Ratings Services or P-l by Moodys Investors Service, Inc., (c) any certificate of deposit (or time deposits represented by such certificates of deposit) or bankers acceptance, maturing not more than one year after such time, or overnight Federal Funds transactions that are issued or sold by any Lender or its holding company or by a commercial banking institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000, (d) any repurchase agreement entered into with MBFS (or with a commercial banking institution of the stature referred to in clause (c) ) which (i) is secured by a fully perfected security interest in any obligation of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (c) and (ii) has a market value at the time such repurchase agreement is entered into of not less than 100% of the repurchase obligation of MBFS (or such commercial banking institution) thereunder, (e) shares of money market mutual funds within the definition of Rule 2a-7 promulgated by the SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and (f) other cash equivalent investments approved by the Agent.
CERCLA see Section 8.14 .
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Collateral Documents means the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, each Control Agreement, each Mortgage and any other agreement or instrument pursuant to which the Company, any Subsidiary or any other Person grants collateral to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders to secure the obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.
Commitment means, as to any Lender, such Lenders Acquisition Commitment and Revolving Commitment, as applicable.
Company - see the Preamble .
Computation Period means each period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters ending on the last day of a Fiscal Quarter.
Consolidated Current Assets means, at any time, the aggregate amount of all assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, that would be classified as current assets (including cash, marketable securities, accounts receivable, inventory and prepaid expenses) in accordance with GAAP; provided that, at the election of the Company delivered by completing the appropriate section of a compliance certificate delivered to the Agent in accordance with Section 9.1.3 (a Current Assets Election ), Consolidated Current Assets at any time while such Current Assets Election remains in effect shall be deemed to include the Current Assets Commitment Amount at such time.
Consolidated Current Liabilities means, at any time, the aggregate amount of all liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, that would be classified as current liabilities in accordance with GAAP; provided that if at any time within one year prior to the Termination Date a Current Assets Election shall be in effect, Consolidated Current Liabilities shall be deemed to include the Current Assets Commitment Amount at such time.
Consolidated Net Income means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, excluding any gains (or losses) from asset sales, any extraordinary or unusual non-recurring gains (or losses) and any gains (or losses) from discontinued operations.
Control Agreement means an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent giving the Agent control (within the meaning of Section 8-106 or 9-104 of the Uniform Commercial Code) over a deposit account or securities account of the Company or a Domestic Subsidiary.
Controlled Group means all members of a controlled group of corporations and all members of a controlled group of trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with the Company, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.
Current Assets Commitment Amount means, with respect to any Current Assets Election, the lesser of (A) an amount equal to the Maximum Availability at the time of such election and (B) the Specified Current Assets Commitment Amount.
Current Assets Election see the definition of Consolidated Current Assets . A Current Assets Election shall become effective on the date on which the compliance certificate electing the same is delivered to the Agent in accordance with Section 9.1.3 and shall remain in effect until the next compliance certificate is due under Section 9.1.3 .
Dealer Agreements means the dealer, framework and distribution agreements, including the standard provisions, entered into by the Company and its Subsidiaries with various Manufacturers.
Dealer Financing means Floor Plan Financing and Pledge Line Financing.
Dealer Financing Provider means each provider of Dealer Financing to the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Debt of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (b) all obligations of such Person as lessee under Capital Leases which have been recorded as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, (c) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding trade accounts payable and accrued expenses in the ordinary course of business), (d) all indebtedness secured by a Lien on the property of such Person, whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person, (e) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, with respect to the face amount of all letters of credit (whether or not drawn) and bankers acceptances issued for the account of such Person, (f) all Hedging Obligations of such Person, (g) all Suretyship Liabilities of such Person in respect of Debt described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (f) and (h) except to the extent the terms of such Debt provide that such Person is not liable thereunder, all Debt of any partnership of which such Person is a general partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, leases of real property by the Company and its Subsidiaries and guarantees of such leases shall not be considered Debt for any purpose hereunder.
Debtor Relief Laws means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States of America, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions.
Defaulting Lender means, subject to Section 2.6(b) , any Lender that (a) has failed to (i) fund all or any portion of its Loans within two Business Days of the date such Loans were required to be funded hereunder, unless such Lender notifies the Agent and the Company in writing that such failure is the result of such Lenders determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied, or (ii) pay to the Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due, (b) has notified the Company or the Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lenders obligation to fund a Loan hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lenders determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three Business Days after written request by the Agent or the Company, to confirm in writing to the Agent and the Company that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder ( provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Agent and the Company) or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or
acquisition of any Equity Interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) above shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.6(b) ) upon delivery of written notice of such determination to the Company and each Lender.
Disposal - see the definition of Release .
Disposition , with respect to any property, means any sale, lease, assignment, conveyance, transfer or other disposition thereof.
Disqualified Stock means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event (i) matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise or is redeemable at the option of the holder of such Capital Stock, (ii) is convertible or exchangeable for Debt or Disqualified Stock at the option of the holder of such Capital Stock or (iii) is mandatorily redeemable or must be purchased upon the occurrence of certain events or otherwise, in whole or in part; in each case on or prior to the 91st day following the Termination Date as in effect from time to time; provided that any Capital Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof (or of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) the right to require such Person to purchase or redeem such Capital Stock (or such security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) upon the occurrence of a change of control occurring prior to the 91st day following the Termination Date shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if (i) the change of control provisions applicable to such Capital Stock (and all such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) are not more favorable to the holders of such Capital Stock (and all such securities into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable) than the terms applicable to the obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) any such requirement only becomes operative after compliance with such terms applicable to, and is subordinated (on terms satisfactory to the Required Lenders) to, the obligations of the Company hereunder, including the acceleration (and payment in full in cash) of the obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under Section 11.1.12 .
Dollar and the sign $ mean lawful money of the United States of America.
Dollar Equivalent means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in any currency other than Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars at the spot rate for the purchase of Dollars with such other currency as published in the Exchange Rates table in The Wall Street Journal (Midwest edition) at the time such equivalent amount is determined (or, if such currency is not listed in such table, as determined by the Agent).
Domestic Blue Sky Value means, at any time, the aggregate value of the items classified as Goodwill and Franchise Value of the Company attributable to the Domestic Subsidiaries, as shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries at such time.
Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Company or another Subsidiary that is incorporated or organized in the United States or in any State thereof (excluding U.S. territories).
EBITDA means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus , to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, Interest Expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, minority interest and franchise taxes for such period.
EBITDAR means, for any period, EBITDA for such period plus , to the extent deducted in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, Rental Expense for such period.
Effective Date means the date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Section 10.1 shall be satisfied or waived.
Eligible Real Estate means real property of the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary which meets each of the following requirements:
(a) such real property is located in the United States;
(b) the Company or Domestic Subsidiary, as applicable, is the lawful owner of 100% of the fee simple interest in such real property, free and clear of Liens (other than Liens in favor of the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and Liens permitted by Section 9.8(f) or otherwise listed as a permitted exception on a policy of lenders title insurance with respect to such real property accepted by the Agent);
(c) such real property houses completed facilities at which the Company or a Domestic Subsidiary operates an Automotive Investment;
(d) no material portion of such real property has suffered any casualty loss (whether or not insured) or condemnation;
(e) such real property is in compliance with all Environmental Laws;
(f) such real property and the improvements constructed thereon are in good condition, repair and working order and are insured in accordance with Section 9.3 ;
(g) the Agent is the holder of a perfected first priority Lien for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders in the ownership interest of the Company or Domestic Subsidiary, as applicable, therein; and
(h) such real property is otherwise satisfactory to the Agent in its sole discretion.
Any parcel of real property which is Eligible Real Estate, but which subsequently fails to meet any of the foregoing requirements, shall forthwith cease to be Eligible Real Estate; provided , however , that in the event that any parcel of real property fails to meet any of the requirements set forth in the foregoing clauses (d) , (e) , (f) and (h) then such parcel shall not cease to be Eligible Real Estate for a period of thirty days from the earlier of (x) the Company becoming aware of such requirement failing to be met and (y) the Agent providing notice to the Company of such requirement failing to be met.
Eligible Real Estate Collateral means each parcel of Eligible Real Estate with respect to which the Company or Domestic Subsidiary owning such parcel of Eligible Real Estate has satisfied the conditions set forth on Exhibit M .
Eligible Real Estate Collateral Value means the appraised value of each parcel of the Eligible Real Estate Collateral, as evidenced by the MAI appraisal most recently delivered to the Agent, either in connection with such parcel of real estate becoming Eligible Real Estate Collateral or as required pursuant to Section 9.22 .
Eligible Tangible Net Worth means, with respect to PTL, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the product of (x) the Stockholders Equity of PTL on that date less Intangible Assets of PTL on that date times (y) 0.09.
Environmental Claims means all claims, however asserted, by any Governmental Authority or other Person alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law, or for release or injury to the environment.
Environmental Laws means all present or future federal, state or local laws, statutes, common law duties, rules, regulations, ordinances and codes, together with all administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case relating to Environmental Matters.
Environmental Matters means any matter arising out of or relating to health and safety, or pollution or protection of the environment or workplace, including any of the foregoing relating to the presence, use, production, generation, handling, transport, treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, discharge, release, control or cleanup of any Hazardous Substance.
Equipment has the meaning assigned thereto in the Uniform Commercial Code.
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.
Event of Default means any of the events described in Section 11.1 .
Executive Order see Section 8.25 .
Existing Agreement - see the recitals .
Extension Notice see Section 2.5 .
Factory Receivables of any Person means all of such Persons rights to receive payment, credit and other compensation (including incentive payments, stock rebates, allowances and additional factory credits) from any Manufacturer.
Federal Funds Rate means, for any day, the rate set forth in the weekly statistical release designated as H.15(519), or any successor publication, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the preceding Business Day opposite the caption Federal Funds (Effective); or, if for any relevant day such rate is not so published on any such preceding Business Day, the rate for such day will be the arithmetic mean as determined by the Agent of the rates for the last transaction in overnight Federal funds arranged prior to 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on that day by each of three leading brokers of Federal funds transactions in New York City selected by the Agent.
Financed Capital Expenditures means any Capital Expenditure that is financed (other than with the proceeds of a Loan hereunder) by a Person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries (x) in the case of a Capital Expenditure to purchase, construct or improve real property or leasehold improvements thereon, within 270 days of the making thereof (or, if a committed credit facility is put in place to so finance such Capital Expenditure within 270 days of the making thereof, within 450 days of the making thereof) or (y) in the case of any other Capital Expenditure, within 60 days of the making thereof.
Fiscal Quarter means a fiscal quarter of a Fiscal Year.
Fiscal Year means the fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which period shall be the 12-month period ending on December 31 of each year. References to a Fiscal Year with a number corresponding to any calendar year (e.g., Fiscal Year 2015 ) refer to the Fiscal Year ending on December 31 of such calendar year.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, for any Computation Period, the ratio of (a) the total for such period of EBITDAR minus Capital Expenditures (other than, without duplication, Acquisition Capital Expenditures and Financed Capital Expenditures) to (b) the sum of (i) Interest Expense for such period to the extent paid in cash plus (ii) Rental Expense for such period plus (iii) income tax expense for such period of the Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent paid in cash plus (iv) scheduled payments of principal of Debt for such period for the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Floor Plan Financing means a financing undertaken by the Company or any Subsidiary (a) all of the proceeds of which are (i) used to purchase Motor Vehicles to be sold or leased in the ordinary course of business by the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) relating to funds expended by the Company or such Subsidiary initially to acquire such Motor Vehicles or (iii) used to refinance any financing within the scope of clause (a)(i) or (ii) above or (b) pursuant to a borrowing base line of credit secured by Used Motor Vehicles owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Foreign Acquisition means an acquisition of all or any substantial portion of the assets of a business unit of a Foreign Person or all or any substantial portion of the Capital Stock or other ownership interests of a Foreign Person, whether through a purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any payment of consideration for a Foreign Acquisition made in a currency other than Dollars shall be calculated at the Dollar Equivalent thereof as of the date such payment is made, and shall not be recalculated thereafter to reflect fluctuations in currency values.
Foreign Employee Benefit Plan means any employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA which is maintained or contributed to for the benefit of the employees of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any other member of its Controlled Group and is not covered by ERISA pursuant to ERISA Section 4(b)(4).
Foreign Investment means any Investment in a Foreign Person.
Foreign Person means any Person that is incorporated or organized outside the United States or any State thereof (it being understood and agreed that any Person that is incorporated or organized in any U.S. territory shall be deemed to be a Foreign Person), including any Foreign Subsidiary.
Foreign Subsidiary , of any Person, means any Subsidiary of such Person that is a Foreign Person. Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to Foreign Subsidiaries shall be a reference to Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
FRB means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any successor thereto.
Funded Debt means all Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis, excluding (i) contingent obligations in respect of Suretyship Liabilities (except to the extent constituting Suretyship Liabilities in respect of Debt of a Person other than the Company or any Subsidiary), (ii) Hedging Obligations and (iii) Debt of the Company to Subsidiaries and Debt of Subsidiaries to the Company or to other Subsidiaries; provided that, for purposes of this definition, if the Company has made a Current Assets Election, Funded Debt at any time while such Current Assets Election remains in effect shall be deemed to include the Current Assets Commitment Amount at such time. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this definition, Funded Debt shall include the portion of the LJVP Bond Obligations allocable to principal on the LJVP Bonds.
Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio means, as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter, the ratio of (i) Funded Debt as of such day (minus Debt under Dealer Financings, Subordinated Debt and Real Estate Debt) to (ii) EBITDA for the Computation Period ending on such day. If during any Computation Period (a) the Company or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the EBITDA for such Computation Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Computation Period or increased by an amount equal to the EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Computation Period and (b) if during such Computation Period the Company or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, the EBITDA for
such Computation Period will be determined on a pro forma basis as if such Material Acquisition were made, and all Debt incurred or assumed in connection therewith, was incurred or assumed on the first day thereof, provided that any pro forma adjustment related to cost savings or other synergies is reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders. As used in this definition, Material Acquisition means any Acquisition that involves the payment of consideration by the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000; and Material Disposition means any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Company and its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles set forth from time to time in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (or organizations with similar functions of comparable stature and authority within the U.S. accounting profession), which are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination.
GECC means General Electric Capital Corporation.
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state, regional or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
Guaranty means the Guaranty dated as of October 8, 1999, executed by certain Subsidiaries of the Company, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit C .
Hazardous Substances - see Section 8.14 .
Hedging Agreement means any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, cap agreement or collar agreement, and any other agreement or arrangement designed to protect a Person against fluctuations in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices.
Hedging Obligation means, with respect to any Person, any liability of such Person under any Hedging Agreement.
Indemnified Liabilities - see Section 13.13 .
Indemnity and Security Agreement means that certain Amended and Restated PAG Co-Obligation Fee, Indemnity and Security Agreement, dated March 17, 2015, between the Company and GECC.
Intangible Assets means, as to any Person, all assets of such Person that are considered to be intangible assets under GAAP, including customer lists, goodwill, computer software, copyrights, trade names, trademarks, patents, domain names, franchises, licenses, unamortized deferred charges, unamortized debt discount and capitalized research and development costs.
Intercreditor Agreement means the Eighth Amended and Restated Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2011, among MBFS and the other Dealer Financing Providers that are parties thereto from time to time, a copy of which (as in effect on the Effective Date) is attached hereto as Exhibit L .
Interest Expense means for any period the consolidated interest expense of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period (including all imputed interest on Capital Leases but excluding interest expense on Dealer Financings).
Interest Rate means, for each day, a rate per annum equal to the sum of (a) (i) in the case of any day from and including the first day of each calendar month through and including the 15th day of such calendar month, the LIBO Rate for the first day of such calendar month and (ii) in the case of any day from and including the 16th day of each calendar month through and including the last day of such calendar month, the LIBO Rate for the 16th day of such calendar month (the rate set forth in this clause (a) being the Base LIBO Rate ) plus (b) (x) if the Total Outstandings are less than or equal to the Borrowing Base, a margin of two percent (2.00%) per annum, and (y) if the Total Outstandings exceed the Borrowing Base, then (A) a margin of three and one-half percent (3.50%) per annum shall apply to the portion of the Loans equal to the amount by which the Total Outstandings exceed the Borrowing Base and (B) a margin of two percent (2.00%) per annum shall apply to the portion of Loans not described in the foregoing clause (A) (with each determination of the Borrowing Base in this clause (b) to be effective as of the first day of the calendar month during which the applicable Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered). Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time an Event of Default exists, the applicable margin shall be increased by two percent (2.00%) per annum. For purposes of this definition, LIBO Rate means, for each date of calculation, (1) the rate of interest (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16th of 1%) published in The Wall Street Journal on such day (or the immediately preceding Business Day, if such date is not a Business Day) in its Money Rates column as the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate for Dollar-denominated deposits (if The Wall Street Journal ceases to publish such a rate or substantially changes the methodology used to determine such rate, then the rate shall be the rate of interest (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16th of 1%) published by Reuters Monitor Rates Service on such day (or the immediately preceding Business Day, if such date is not a Business Day) as the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate for Dollar-denominated deposits) or (2) if such rate is not published or available, such rate as shall be otherwise independently determined by the Agent on a basis substantially similar to the methodology used by The Wall Street Journal on the date of this Agreement.
Inventory has the meaning assigned thereto in the Uniform Commercial Code.
Investment means, relative to any Person, any investment in another Person, whether by acquisition of any debt or equity security, by making any loan or advance or by becoming obligated with respect to a Suretyship Liability in respect of obligations of such other Person (other than travel and similar advances to employees in the ordinary course of business). For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested (with respect to Investments made in currencies other than Dollars, calculated at the Dollar Equivalent thereof as of the date such Investment is made, without any recalculation
thereafter to reflect fluctuations in currency values), without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.
Lender - see the Preamble .
Lender Party - see Section 13.13 .
Liabilities has the meaning assigned thereto in the Security Agreement.
LIBO Rate - see definition of Interest Rate .
Lien means, with respect to any Person, any interest granted by such Person in any real or personal property, asset or other right owned or being purchased or acquired by such Person which secures payment or performance of any obligation and shall include any mortgage, lien, encumbrance, charge or other security interest of any kind, whether arising by contract, as a matter of law, by judicial process or otherwise.
LJVP means LJ VP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
LJVP Bond Indenture means that certain Senior Indenture, dated as of April 30, 2012, by and among LJVP Holdings, GECC and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, pursuant to which the LJVP Bonds were issued.
LJVP Bond Obligations means, without duplication, all obligations of the Company under the Indemnity and Security Agreement (including the payment of the PAG Co-Obligation Fee and any Indemnified Amounts (as such terms are defined in the Indemnity and Security Agreement)) and all obligations of the Company to contribute capital to LJVP Holdings under the LJVP Holdings LLC Agreement.
LJVP Bonds means those certain bonds of LJVP Holdings and GECC, as original co-obligors, in an aggregate amount of $700,000,000, which were issued pursuant to the LJVP Bond Indenture.
LJVP Documents means the LJVP Holdings LLC Agreement, the LJVP Bonds, the Indemnity and Security Agreement and all other documents, instruments and agreements related to LJVP Transaction.
LJVP Holdings means LJVP Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
LJVP Holdings LLC Agreement means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of LJVP Holdings, dated March 17, 2015, among Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, the Company and GE Memco, LLC.
LJVP Transaction means, collectively, (i) the equity investment by the Company in LJVP Holdings, which investment does not exceed 9.02% of the outstanding equity of LJVP Holdings, (ii) the formation by LJVP Holdings of a wholly-owned Subsidiary, LJVP, which acquired a 21.5% partnership interest in PTL, (iii) the issuance of the LJVP Bonds by LJVP and GECC, and the use by such issuers of the net cash proceeds thereof to make a capital contribution to LJVP,
and the use by LJVP of the proceeds of such capital contribution to fund a capital contribution to PTL, (iv) the use by PTL of the proceeds of the capital contribution from LJVP to pay down existing debt at PTL, (v) the entry by the Company and certain other equity investors in LJVP Holdings into indemnity obligations in favor of GECC in respect of the principal and interest on the LJVP Bonds, with each such investor being obligated to indemnify GECC for certain payments made by GECC under the LJVP Bonds in an amount reflecting such investors ownership percentage in LJVP Holdings at the time of the issuance of the LJVP Bonds times the amount of principal or interest due on the LJVP Bonds, as well as obligations to pay GECC a fee in respect of GECCs co-obligation on the LJVP Bonds in an amount reflecting such investors ownership percentage in LJVP Holdings and (vi) the Company and the other equity investors in LJVP Holdings becoming obligated to make certain payments upon any principal or interest on the LJVP Bonds becoming due and payable, with each such investor being obligated to make such payments in an amount reflecting such investors ownership percentage in LJVP Holdings times the amount of principal or interest due on the LJVP Bonds.
Loan Documents means this Agreement, the Notes, the Guaranty and the Collateral Documents.
Loan Party means the Company and each Subsidiary that is a party to any Loan Document.
Loans means the Revolving Loans and the Acquisition Loans.
Manufacturer means the manufacturer or distributor of a New Motor Vehicle.
Margin Stock means any margin stock as defined in Regulation U.
Material Adverse Effect means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the financial condition, operations, assets, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Company or any Subsidiary to perform any of its obligations under any Loan Document or (c) a material adverse effect upon any substantial portion of the collateral under the Collateral Documents or upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Company or any Subsidiary of any Loan Document.
Maximum Availability means, at any time, (a) the Borrowing Base plus the lesser of (x) $300,000,000 and (y) 35% of the Domestic Blue Sky Value at such time minus (b) the Total Outstandings, at such time.
MBFS see the Preamble .
MB Greenwich means PAG Greenwich M1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
Motor Vehicle means an automobile, truck, van or other motor vehicle, including New Motor Vehicles, Used Motor Vehicles and Auction Motor Vehicles, that constitutes Inventory of the Company and its Subsidiaries, excluding any motor vehicle not held for sale or lease.
Mortgage means a mortgage, deed of trust, or similar instrument granting the Agent a Lien on Eligible Real Estate of the Company or any Subsidiary, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
Multiemployer Pension Plan means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Company or any member of the Controlled Group may have any liability.
New Motor Vehicle means any Motor Vehicle purchased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries directly from the Manufacturer of such Motor Vehicle or from another licensed automobile dealer that has not been previously owned by any other Person.
Non-Defaulting Lender means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.
Non-Use Fee see Section 5.1 .
Note see Section 3.1 .
OFAC see Section 8.25 .
Operating Lease means any lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) any property by the Company or any Subsidiary, as lessee, other than any Capital Lease.
PAG Co-Obligation Fee has the meaning assigned thereto in the Indemnity and Security Agreement.
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.
Pension Plan means a pension plan, as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Pension Plan), and to which the Company or any member of the Controlled Group may have any liability, including any liability by reason of having been a substantial employer within the meaning of Section 4063 of ERISA at any time during the preceding five years, or by reason of being deemed to be a contributing sponsor under Section 4069 of ERISA.
Permitted Restrictions means restrictions on the ability of any Subsidiary to declare or pay any dividend or make other distributions, or to advance or loan funds, to the Company or any other Subsidiary or to grant Liens on the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary: (i) as set forth on Schedule 9.17 , including restrictions imposed by existing Dealer Financing arrangements; (ii) pursuant to modifications to any Dealer Financing arrangement, provided that such modifications are not materially more restrictive; (iii) applicable to a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such an event; (iv) resulting from Manufacturer-imposed modifications to any Dealer Agreement; or (v) imposed by applicable law.
Person means any natural person, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, association, Governmental Authority or any other entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other capacity.
Pledge Agreement means the Pledge Agreement dated as of October 8, 1999, executed by the Company and each Subsidiary which itself owns any Subsidiary (to the extent not prohibited by a Permitted Restriction in favor of a Manufacturer), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit E .
Pledge Line Financing means a financing undertaken by the Company or any Subsidiary with a Dealer Financing Provider in connection with which a Motor Vehicle is sold or leased by the Company or such Subsidiary to a customer in the ordinary course of business under a retail installment contract or retail lease, and pursuant to which financing (i) such Dealer Financing Provider provides funds to the Company or such Subsidiary, all of which funds are used to (A) pay off the Floor Plan Financing obligation secured by such Motor Vehicle or (B) acquire such Motor Vehicle in the ordinary course of business from another source, and (ii) pursuant to which the Company or such Subsidiary grants such Dealer Financing Provider a security interest in such retail installment contract or retail lease (and in any retail installment contract or retail lease entered into in replacement or substitution thereof, whether with the same or a different customer) and in any security interest securing the payment and performance rights represented thereby.
Pro Rata Share means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage which (a) the aggregate amount of such Lenders Commitments is of (b) the Commitments of all Lenders; provided that, after any of the Commitments have been terminated, Pro Rata Share shall mean, as to any Lender, the percentage which the sum of the aggregate principal amount of such Lenders Revolving Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of such Lenders Acquisition Loans is of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans plus the aggregate principal amount of all Acquisition Loans. The Pro Rata Share of each Lender as of the Effective Date is set forth on Schedule 2.1 .
PTL means Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
RCRA - see Section 8.14 .
Reaffirmation means a reaffirmation of loan documents in substantially the form of Exhibit H .
Real Estate Debt means any Debt incurred to acquire or improve real estate used or to be used by the Company or its Subsidiaries in their businesses and secured by Liens on such real estate, improvements and fixtures (which Liens attach solely to such real estate and improvements (and any fixtures thereon) and to no other property).
Refinancing Debt means Debt that refunds or refinances any Debt, including Debt that refinances other Refinancing Debt; provided that (i) the Refinancing Debt has a maturity no earlier than the maturity of the Debt being refinanced, (ii) the Refinancing Debt has a weighted average life to maturity no earlier than the weighted average life to maturity of the Debt being refinanced, (iii) the Refinancing Debt is incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or, if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate
principal amount (or, if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Debt being refinanced and (iv) if the Debt being refinanced is Subordinated Debt, the subordination terms of the Refinancing Debt are at least as favorable to the Lenders as the subordination terms of the Debt being refinanced.
Regulation U means Regulation U of the FRB.
Release has the meaning specified in CERCLA and the term Disposal (or Disposed ) has the meaning specified in RCRA; provided that in the event either CERCLA or RCRA is amended so as to broaden the meaning of any term defined thereby, such broader meaning shall apply as of the effective date of such amendment; and provided , further , that to the extent that the laws of a state wherein any affected property lies establish a meaning for Release or Disposal which is broader than is specified in either CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply.
Rental Expense means, with respect to any period, all payments made or required to be made by the Company and its Subsidiaries, as lessee or sublessee under any Operating Lease or any Capital Lease, as rental payments or contingent rentals, as calculated in accordance with GAAP.
Required Lenders means Lenders having Pro Rata Shares aggregating more than 70%. The Pro Rata Share of any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining Required Lenders at any time.
Restricted Affiliate means (x) the Company and its Subsidiaries, (y) any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the Company or any Subsidiary and (z) any insider of the Company or any Subsidiary, within the meaning of Section 101(31) of the United States Bankruptcy Code; for purposes of clause (y) of this definition, control means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.
Restricted Person see Section 8.25 .
Revolving Commitment means, as to any Lender, such Lenders commitment to make Revolving Loans under this Agreement. Each Lenders Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Commitment Amount as in effect on the Effective Date is set forth on Schedule 2.1 .
Revolving Commitment Amount means $450,000,000, as reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 6.1 .
Revolving Loan see Section 2.1.1 .
Revolving Outstandings means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Loans.
Same Day Loan means a Revolving Loan or an Acquisition Loan, in an aggregate amount (for all such Same Day Loans to be made on a particular Business Day) not to exceed Twenty Million and 00/100 Dollars ($20,000,000.00) for such particular Business Day, that is
funded by the Agent and the Lenders on the same Business Day as the Companys request therefor, all as more completely set forth in Section 2.2(b) .
Same Day Prepayment means a voluntary prepayment of the Revolving Outstandings, in an amount not to exceed Twenty Million and 00/100 Dollars ($20,000,000.00) for any particular Business Day, that is made by the Company on the same Business Day as Agent receives notice of such prepayment, all as more completely set forth in Section 6.2(b) .
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other Governmental Authority succeeding to any of the principal functions thereof.
Security Agreement means the Second Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of September 8, 2004, by the Company and certain Subsidiaries in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D .
Seller Subordinated Debt means unsecured indebtedness of the Company that:
(a) is subordinated, substantially upon the terms set forth in Exhibit I or other terms that are more favorable to the Agent and the Lenders, in right of payment to the payment in full in cash of the Loans and all other amounts owed under the Loan Documents (whether or not matured or due and payable); and
(b) represents all or part of the purchase price payable by the Company in connection with an Acquisition permitted under this Agreement.
Specified Current Assets Commitment Amount means, with respect to any Current Assets Election, the amount specified by the Company as the Specified Current Assets Commitment Amount in such Current Assets Election.
Stockholders Equity , of any Person, means the excess of total assets over total liabilities of such Person and its Subsidiaries, as reported on such Persons consolidated financial statements.
Subordinated Debt means (i) the Subordinated Notes, (ii) Seller Subordinated Debt and (iii) any other unsecured Debt of the Company which has subordination terms, covenants, pricing and other terms which have been approved in writing by the Required Lenders.
Subordinated Notes means (i) the 5.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2022 of the Company (and related guarantees) in the aggregate principal amount of $550,000,000 and (ii) the 5.375% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2024 of the Company (and related guarantees) in the aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which such Person and/or its other Subsidiaries own, directly or indirectly, such number of outstanding shares or other ownership interests as have more than 50% of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity. Unless the context otherwise
requires, each reference to Subsidiaries herein shall be a reference to Subsidiaries of the Company.
Suretyship Liability means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which any Person guarantees, endorses or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable upon (by direct or indirect agreement, contingent or otherwise, to provide funds for payment, to supply funds to or\ otherwise to invest in a debtor, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss) any indebtedness, obligation or other liability of any other Person (other than by endorsements of instruments in the course of collection), or guarantees the payment of dividends or other distributions upon the shares of any other Person. The amount of any Persons obligation in respect of any Suretyship Liability shall (subject to any limitation set forth therein) be deemed to be the principal amount of the debt, obligation or other liability supported thereby and shall in all cases exclude any guarantees by the Company or any Subsidiary of an operating lease of the Company or any Subsidiary.
Taxes - see Section 7.6 .
Termination Date means the earlier to occur of (a) September 30, 2018 (or any later date that may be established as the Termination Date pursuant to Section 2.5 ) or (b) such other date on which the Commitments terminate pursuant to Section 6 or 11 .
TMCC means Toyota Motor Credit Corporation.
Total Outstandings means, at any time, the sum of (a) the Revolving Outstandings plus (b) the Acquisition Outstandings.
Uniform Commercial Code means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.
Unmatured Event of Default means any event that, if it continues uncured, will, with lapse of time or notice or both, constitute an Event of Default.
Used Motor Vehicle means, at any time, a Motor Vehicle that is not a New Motor Vehicle or an Auction Motor Vehicle.
Wholly Owned Subsidiary means, as to any Person, any other Person all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors qualifying shares required by law) are owned by such Person directly and/or through other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.
1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions . (a) The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.
(b) Section , Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
(c) The term including is not limiting and means including without limitation.
(d) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word from means from and including; the words to and until each mean to but excluding, and the word through means to and including.
(e) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references to agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of any Loan Document and (ii) references to any statute or regulation shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such statute or regulation.
(f) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents may use several different limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and each shall be performed in accordance with its terms.
(g) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the result of negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to the Agent, the Company, the Lenders and the other parties thereto and are the products of all parties. Accordingly, they shall not be construed against the Agent or the Lenders merely because of the Agents or Lenders involvement in their preparation.
(h) References herein to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary shall mean the actual knowledge of the officers of the Company or such Subsidiary.
1.3 Effective Date . On the Effective Date, (i) the Company agrees that it will pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender that is a party to the Existing Agreement all interest and fees owed to such Lender under the Existing Agreement, (ii) each Lenders Pro Rata Share shall be as set forth on Schedule 2.1 to this Agreement, (iii) all revolving loans under the Existing Agreement outstanding on the Effective Date shall become Revolving Loans hereunder, (iv) all term loans under the Existing Agreement outstanding on the Effective Date shall become Acquisition Loans hereunder, (v) each Lender that will have a greater principal amount of Revolving Loans outstanding hereunder on the Effective Date than such Lender had revolving loans outstanding under the Existing Agreement immediately prior to the Effective Date will fund to the Agent the amount of the difference, (vi) each Lender that will have a greater principal amount of Acquisition Loans outstanding hereunder on the Effective Date than such Lender had term loans outstanding under the Existing Agreement immediately prior to the Effective Date will fund to the Agent the amount of the difference and (vii) the Agent will, if necessary, apply the proceeds of such fundings to disburse funds to the Lenders such that, after giving effect to such disbursements, each Lender has the correct amount of Loans outstanding on the Effective Date.
1.4 Domestic Subsidiaries . Wherever herein the allocation, ownership, character or amount of any asset or liability or item of income or expense is said to be of, to or attributable to the Domestic Subsidiaries, such phrase means of, to or attributable to the Domestic Subsidiaries disregarding any interest of the Domestic Subsidiaries in, any amount
received or receivable by the Domestic Subsidiaries from, and any assets or liabilities of, the Foreign Subsidiaries of the Domestic Subsidiaries.
SECTION 2 COMMITMENTS OF THE LENDERS; BORROWING PROCEDURES.
2.1 Commitments . On and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the Lenders, severally and for itself alone, agrees to make Loans to the Company as follows:
2.1.1 Revolving Loan Commitment . Each Lender will make loans on a revolving basis ( Revolving Loans ) to the Company from time to time until the Termination Date in such Lenders Pro Rata Share of such aggregate amounts as the Company may request; provided that (x) the Revolving Outstandings will not at any time exceed the Revolving Commitment Amount and (y) the Total Outstandings will not, at any time, exceed the Borrowing Base by more than the lesser of (x) $300,000,000 and (y) 35% of the Domestic Blue Sky Value at such time.
2.1.2 Acquisition Loan Commitment . Each Lender will make loans on a revolving basis ( Acquisition Loans ) to the Company from time to time until the Termination Date in such Lenders Pro Rata Share of such aggregate amounts as the Company may request; provided that (x) the Acquisition Outstandings will not at any time exceed the Acquisition Commitment Amount and (y) the Total Outstandings will not, at any time, exceed the Borrowing Base by more than the lesser of (x) $300,000,000 and (y) 35% of the Domestic Blue Sky Value at such time.
2.2 Loan Procedures . (a) Except for Same Day Loans funded under Section 2.2(b) , the Company shall give written notice or telephonic notice (followed immediately by written confirmation thereof) to the Agent of each proposed borrowing not later than 10:00 A.M., Detroit time, at least two Business Days prior to the proposed date of such borrowing. Each such notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Agent, shall be irrevocable and shall specify the date and amount of the proposed borrowing. Within one Business Day after receipt of such notice, the Agent shall advise each Lender thereof. Not later than 1:00 P.M., Detroit time, on the date of a proposed borrowing, each Lender shall provide the Agent at the office specified by the Agent with immediately available funds covering such Lenders Pro Rata Share of such borrowing and, so long as the Agent has not received written notice that the conditions precedent set forth in Section 10 with respect to such borrowing have not been satisfied, the Agent shall pay over the funds received by the Agent to the Company on the requested borrowing date. Each borrowing shall be on a Business Day.
(b) In addition to borrowings under Section 2.2(a) , the Company may give written or electronic notice or telephonic notice (followed immediately by written or electronic confirmation thereof) to the Agent of a proposed Same Day Loan not later than 11:00 A.M., Detroit time, on any Business Day that the Company has not made (and will not make) a Same Day Prepayment. Each such notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Agent, shall be irrevocable, shall specify the amount of the proposed Same Day Loan, which amount may not exceed Twenty Million and 00/100 Dollars ($20,000,000.00) for any particular Business Day and shall specify whether such proposed Same Day Loan is to be a Revolving Loan or an Acquisition Loan. By 11:30 A.M., Detroit time, on the Business Day that the Agent receives a
notice of a proposed Same Day Loan, the Agent shall advise each Lender thereof. Not later than 3:00 P.M., Detroit time, on the Business Day that the Agent receives a notice of a proposed Same Day Loan, each Lender shall provide the Agent at the office specified by the Agent with immediately available funds covering such Lenders Pro Rata Share of such Same Day Loan and, so long as the Agent has not received written notice from a Lender (before 3:00 P.M., Detroit time, on the Business Day that the Agent receives a notice of a proposed Same Day Loan) that the conditions precedent set forth in Section 10 with respect to such borrowing have not been satisfied, the Agent shall pay over the funds received by the Agent by a federal wire transfer to the Companys bank account, which federal wire transfer must be initiated by the Agent on or before 4:00 P.M., Detroit time, on the Business Day that the Agent receives a notice of the proposed Same Day Loan. Each Same Day Loan for which the above requirements are satisfied shall be treated as being made by the Lenders (and shall be part of the Revolving Outstandings or the Acquisition Outstandings, as applicable) on the Business Day that the Agent initiates the federal wire transfer, even if the Company cannot confirm the receipt of such funds until the next Business Day. Each Same Day Loan must be requested (and shall be made) on a Business Day. The Company may not request a Same Day Loan on any Business Day if the Company has notified the Agent that the Company is making a Same Day Prepayment on such Business Day. The Company may request a Same Day Loan on the same Business Day that it has previously requested a borrowing under Section 2.2(a) and/or on the same Business Day for which the Company has notified the Agent of a voluntary prepayment under Section 6.2(a) and such Same Day Loan shall be funded in addition to, separately from and without any netting for such other borrowing and/or voluntary prepayment.
(c) All borrowings and repayments of Loans shall be effected in accordance with each Lenders Pro Rata Share.
2.3 Commitments Several . The failure of any Lender to make a requested Loan on any date shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation (if any) to make a Loan on such date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make any Loan to be made by such other Lender.
2.4 Certain Conditions . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Lender shall have an obligation to make any Loan, if an Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
2.5 Extension of Termination Date . On September 30, 2016 (and each anniversary thereof), the Termination Date shall be extended for an additional year if the Agent (acting at the request of all of the Lenders) shall notify the Company in writing on or prior to such date or anniversary, as the case may be, that the Termination Date is so extended for an additional year (such notice, an Extension Notice ). If the Agent shall have issued an Extension Notice by the time required above, the Agent shall promptly notify the Company and each Lender of the new Termination Date. If no Extension Notice is received by the Company on or prior to such date or any such anniversary, as the case may be, the Termination Date shall not be extended on such date or any such anniversary, as applicable.
2.6 Defaulting Lenders .
(a) Defaulting Lender Adjustments . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:
(i) Waivers and Amendments . Such Defaulting Lenders right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be restricted as set forth in the definition of Required Lenders.
(ii) Defaulting Lender Waterfall . Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Section 11 or otherwise), or received by the Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 7.4 , shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Agent as follows: first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Agent hereunder; second , as the Company may request (so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Agent; third , if so determined by the Agent in its discretion, to be held in a deposit account as cash collateral for release in such order as the Agent shall determine in order to satisfy (x) such Defaulting Lenders potential future funding obligations with respect to Loans under this Agreement and (y) such Defaulting Lenders future indemnity obligations to the Agent under this Agreement; fourth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth , so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Company as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Company against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that, if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 10.2 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Loans are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments hereunder. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section 2.6(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(iii) Certain Fees . No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive any Non-Use Fee pursuant to Section 5.1 for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting
Lender (and the Company shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to that Defaulting Lender).
(b) Defaulting Lender Cure . If the Company and the Agent agree in writing that a Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, the Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any cash collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments hereunder, whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustment will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Company while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lenders having been a Defaulting Lender.
SECTION 3 NOTES EVIDENCING LOANS.
3.1 Notes . The Loans of each Lender shall be evidenced by a promissory note (each a Note ) substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A , with appropriate insertions, payable to the order of such Lender in full on the Termination Date.
3.2 Recordkeeping . Each Lender shall record in its records, or at its option on the schedule attached to its Note, the date and amount of each Loan made by such Lender and each repayment thereof. The aggregate unpaid principal amount so recorded shall be rebuttable presumptive evidence of the principal amount owing and unpaid on such Note. The failure to so record any such amount or any error in so recording any such amount shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or under any Note to repay the principal amount of the Loans evidenced by such Note together with all interest accruing thereon.
SECTION 4 INTEREST.
4.1 Interest Rate . The Company promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan for the period commencing on the date of such Loan until such Loan is paid in full at the Interest Rate.
4.2 Interest Payment Dates . Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears for each month on the 20th day of the next succeeding month and at maturity. After maturity, accrued interest on all Loans shall be payable on demand.
4.3 Computation of Interest . Interest shall be computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year of 360 days. The Interest Rate shall change simultaneously with each change in the LIBO Rate referred to in the definition of Interest Rate.
SECTION 5 FEES.
5.1 Non-Use Fee . The Company agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of the Lenders a non-use fee (the Non-Use Fee ) equal to 0.30% per annum (computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year of 360 days) of an amount equal to the Commitments less the Total Outstandings. Such Non-Use Fees shall accrue from and including the Effective Date to and excluding the Termination Date and be payable in arrears (x) at all times prior to the Termination Date, on an annual basis for each year, on the 20th day of the next succeeding January and (y) on the Termination Date. Each Lender shall be entitled to receive such Lenders Pro Rata Share of the Non-Use Fee.
5.2 Agents Fees . (a) Each Lender hereto acknowledges and agrees that the Agent may deduct from interest payments received by it from the Company an amount equal to 0.10% per annum of the daily unpaid principal amount of such Lenders Pro Rata Share of the Loans for the period from and including the Effective Date to and excluding the Termination Date, and that all payments of interest to such Lenders by the Agent shall be net of such amount.
(b) All of the Agents fees payable under Section 5.2(a) shall be computed for the actual number of days elapsed on the basis of a year of 360 days.
5.3 All Fees . All fees under this Section 5 are nonrefundable.
SECTION 6 REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF THE REVOLVING COMMITMENT AMOUNT AND THE ACQUISITION COMMITMENT AMOUNT; PREPAYMENTS.
6.1 Voluntary Reduction of Revolving Commitment Amount and the Acquisition Commitment Amount; Fee; Termination . (a) Subject to Section 6.1(c) below, the Company may from time to time on at least one Business Days prior written notice to the Agent (which shall promptly advise each Lender thereof) permanently reduce the Revolving Commitment Amount to an amount not less than the Revolving Outstandings. All reductions of the Revolving Commitment Amount shall reduce the Revolving Commitments pro rata among the Lenders according to their respective Pro Rata Shares.
(b) Subject to Section 6.1(c) below, the Company may from time to time on at least one Business Days prior written notice to the Agent (which shall promptly advise each Lender thereof) permanently reduce the Acquisition Commitment Amount to an amount not less than the Acquisition Outstandings. All reductions of the Acquisition Commitment Amount shall reduce the Acquisition Commitments pro rata among the Lenders according to their respective Pro Rata Shares.
(c) The Company may not reduce the Revolving Commitment Amount or the Acquisition Commitment Amount unless it pays the fees required pursuant to this Section 6.1(c) . The Company may reduce the Revolving Commitment Amount or the Acquisition Commitment Amount upon at least ten Business Days notice to the Agent (which shall promptly advise each Lender thereof) and payment of the early termination fee set forth below. If the Revolving Commitment Amount or the Acquisition Commitment Amount is reduced pursuant to this
Section 6.1 , the Company shall pay to the Agent, for the ratable account of the Lenders, an early termination fee upon each such reduction equal to 0.25% of the amount of such reduction.
6.2 Voluntary Prepayments . (a) Except for Same Day Prepayments under Section 6.2(b) , the Company may, upon not less than one Business Days prior written notice to the Agent, from time to time prepay the Loans in whole or in part, without premium or penalty.
(b) In addition to voluntary prepayments under Section 6.2(a) , the Company may make a Same Day Prepayment of the Total Outstandings on any Business Day that the Company has not requested (and will not request) a Same Day Loan. In order to make a Same Day Prepayment, the Company must give written or electronic notice or telephonic notice (followed immediately by written or electronic confirmation thereof) to the Agent of the Same Day Prepayment not later than 11:00 A.M., Detroit time, on the Business Day that the Company desires to make such Same Day Prepayment. Each such notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Agent, shall be irrevocable, shall specify the amount of the proposed Same Day Prepayment, which amount may not exceed Twenty Million and 00/100 Dollars ($20,000,000.00) for any particular Business Day and shall specify whether such proposed Same Day Prepayment is to be applied to the Revolving Loans or the Acquisition Loans or both (and, if to both, the allocation of such Same Day Prepayment to the Revolving Loans and the Acquisition Loans). By 11:30 A.M., Detroit time, on the Business Day that the Agent receives a notice of a proposed Same Day Prepayment, the Agent shall advise each Lender thereof. Each Same Day Prepayment must be paid to the Agent by a federal wire transfer to the Agents designated bank account, which federal wire transfer must be initiated by the Company on or before 4:00 P.M., Detroit time, on the Business Day that the Agent receives the notice of such Same Day Prepayment. Each Same Day Prepayment for which the above requirements are satisfied shall be treated as being made by the Company (and shall reduce the Revolving Outstandings or the Acquisition Outstandings, as applicable) on the Business Day that the Company initiates the federal wire transfer, even if the Agent cannot confirm the receipt of such funds until the next Business Day. If the federal wire transfer for any Same Day Prepayment is not initiated by the Company on or before 4:00 P.M., Detroit time, on the Business Day that the Agent received the notice of such Same Day Prepayment, such Same Day Prepayment shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the following Business Day, unless the Agent can actually confirm (on such following Business Day) that such wire transfer was actually received into the Agents designated bank account on the Business Day that the Agent received the notice of such Same Day Prepayment. Each Same Day Prepayment must be made on a Business Day. The Company may not make a Same Day Prepayment on any Business Day that the Company has requested a Same Day Loan. The Company may make a Same Day Prepayment on the same Business Day that it has previously requested a borrowing under Section 2.2(a) and/or on the same Business Day for which the Company has notified the Agent of a voluntary prepayment under Section 6.2(a) and such Same Day Prepayment shall be made in addition to, separately from and without any netting for such other borrowing and/or voluntary prepayment. All Same Day Prepayments may be made without premium or penalty.
6.3 Mandatory Prepayments . If at any time (A) the Total Outstandings exceed (B) the sum of (i) the Borrowing Base in effect at such time plus (ii) the lesser of (x) $300,000,000 and (y) 35% of the Domestic Blue Sky Value at such time, the Company shall immediately prepay Loans in an amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.
SECTION 7 MAKING AND PRORATION OF PAYMENTS; SETOFF; TAXES.
7.1 Making of Payments . All payments of principal and/or interest on the Notes, and of all fees, shall be made by the Company to the Agent in immediately available funds, without defense, deduction, recoupment, set-off or counterclaim, at the office specified by the Agent not later than noon, Detroit time, on the date due and funds received after that hour shall be deemed to have been received by the Agent on the following Business Day; provided , that Same Day Prepayments shall be subject to Section 6.2(b) . The Agent shall remit to each Lender its share of all such payments (other than Same Day Prepayments) received in collected funds by the Agent for the account of such Lender as follows: (i) on the Business Day deemed received, in the case of payments specified by the Company as principal payments; and (ii) on the following Business Day after the Business Day deemed received, in the case of other amounts. All Same Day Prepayments shall be made to (and shall be deemed to have been received by) the Agent as set forth in Section 6.2(b) and shall, subject to the terms of Section 12.11(c) , be remitted by the Agent to each Lender by a federal wire transfer to such Lenders designated bank account, which federal wire transfer must be initiated by the Agent on or before 4:00 P.M., Detroit time, on the Business Day that the Agent receives the notice of such Same Day Prepayment. Each Same Day Prepayment for which the above requirements are satisfied shall be treated as being remitted by the Agent to the Lenders on the Business Day that the Agent initiates the federal wire transfer, even if the Lenders cannot confirm the receipt of such funds until the next Business Day.
7.2 Application of Certain Payments . Each payment of principal shall be applied to such Loans as the Company shall direct by notice to be received by the Agent on or before the date of such payment. Concurrently with each remittance to any Lender of its share of any such payment, the Agent shall advise such Lender as to the application of such payment.
7.3 Due Date Extension . If any payment of principal or interest with respect to any of the Loans, or of any fees, falls due on a day which is not a Business Day, then such due date shall be extended to the immediately following Business Day and, in the case of principal, additional interest shall accrue and be payable for the period of any such extension.
7.4 Setoff . The Company agrees that the Agent and each Lender have all rights of setoff provided by applicable law, and in addition thereto, the Company agrees that at any time any Event of Default exists, the Agent and each Lender may apply to the payment of any obligations of the Company hereunder, whether or not then due, any and all balances, credits, deposits, accounts or moneys of the Company then or thereafter with the Agent or such Lender. The Agent or the Lender exercising the setoff shall promptly notify the Company thereof after making such exercise; provided that failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of the setoff; provided , further , that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.6 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail all amounts owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff.
7.5 Proration of Payments . If any Lender shall obtain any payment or other recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of offset or otherwise, but excluding any payment pursuant to Section 13.9 and excluding any payment made pursuant to any application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) on account of principal of or interest on any Loan in excess of its share of payments and other recoveries obtained by all Lenders on account of principal of and interest on the Loans then held by them, such Lender shall purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Loans held by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment or other recovery ratably with each of them; provided that if all or any portion of the excess payment or other recovery is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, the purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery.
7.6 Taxes . All payments of principal of, and interest on, the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any present or future income, excise, stamp or franchise taxes and other taxes, fees, duties, withholdings or other charges of any nature whatsoever imposed by any taxing authority, excluding franchise taxes and taxes imposed on or measured by any Lenders net income or receipts (all non-excluded items being called Taxes ). If any withholding or deduction from any payment to be made by the Company hereunder is required in respect of any Taxes pursuant to any applicable law, rule or regulation, then the Company will:
(a) pay directly to the relevant authority the full amount required to be so withheld or deducted;
(b) promptly forward to the Agent an official receipt or other documentation satisfactory to the Agent evidencing such payment to such authority; and
(c) pay to the Agent for the account of the Lenders such additional amount as is necessary to ensure that the net amount actually received by each Lender will equal the full amount such Lender would have received had no such withholding or deduction been required.
Moreover, if any Taxes are directly asserted against the Agent or any Lender with respect to any payment received by the Agent or such Lender hereunder, the Agent or such Lender may pay such Taxes and the Company will promptly pay such additional amounts (including any penalty, interest or expense) as is necessary in order that the net amount received by such Person after the payment of such Taxes (including any Taxes on such additional amount) shall equal the amount such Person would have received had such Taxes not been asserted.
If the Company fails to pay any Taxes when due to the appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders, the required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Company shall indemnify the Lenders for any incremental Taxes, interest or penalties that may become payable by any Lender as a result of any such failure. For purposes of this Section 7.6 , a distribution hereunder by the Agent or any Lender to or for the account of any Lender shall be deemed a payment by the Company.
Each Lender that (a) is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or a state thereof and (b)(i) is a party hereto on the Effective Date or (ii) becomes an assignee of an interest under this Agreement under Section 13.9.1 after the Effective Date (unless such Lender was already a Lender hereunder immediately prior to such assignment) shall execute and deliver to the Company and the Agent one or more (as the Company or the Agent may reasonably request) United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or Form W-8BEN or such other forms or documents, appropriately completed, as may be applicable to establish that such Lender is exempt from withholding or deduction of Taxes. The Company shall not be required to pay additional amounts to any Lender pursuant to this Section 7.6 to the extent that the obligation to pay such additional amounts would not have arisen but for the failure of such Lender to comply with this paragraph.
SECTION 8 WARRANTIES.
To induce the Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make Loans hereunder, the Company warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that:
8.1 Organization . The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; each Subsidiary is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization; and each of the Company and each Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where, because of the nature of its activities or properties, such qualification is required, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
8.2 Authorization; No Conflict . Each of the Company and each other Loan Party is duly authorized to execute and deliver each Loan Document to which it is a party, the Company is duly authorized to borrow monies hereunder and each of the Company and each other Loan Party is duly authorized to perform its obligations under each Loan Document to which it is a party. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and by each of the Company and each other Loan Party of each Loan Document to which it is a party, and the borrowings by the Company hereunder, do not and will not (a) require any consent or approval of any Governmental Authority (other than any consent or approval which has been obtained and is in full force and effect), (b) conflict with (i) any provision of law, (ii) the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company or any other Loan Party or (iii) any agreement, indenture, instrument or other document, or any judgment, order or decree, which is binding upon the Company or any other Loan Party or any of their respective properties or (c) require, or result in, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Company, any Subsidiary or any other Loan Party (other than Liens in favor of the Agent created pursuant to the Collateral Documents).
8.3 Validity and Binding Nature . Each of this Agreement and each other Loan Document to which the Company or any other Loan Party is a party is the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person, enforceable against such Person in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors rights generally and to general principles of equity.
8.4 Financial Condition . (a) The audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2014 and the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at September 30, 2014 and (b) the audited financial statements of PTL as at December 31, 2014 and the unaudited financial statements of PTL as at September 30, 2014, copies of each of which have been delivered to the Agent for distribution to each Lender, were prepared in accordance with GAAP.
8.5 No Material Adverse Change . Since December 31, 2014 there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition, operations, assets, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
8.6 Litigation and Contingent Liabilities . No litigation (including derivative actions), arbitration proceeding or governmental investigation or proceeding is pending or, to the Companys knowledge, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary which might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Other than any liability incident to such litigation or proceedings, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has, to the best of the Companys knowledge, any material contingent liabilities not listed on Schedule 8.6 or permitted by Section 9.7 .
8.7 Ownership of Properties; Liens . Each of the Company and each Subsidiary owns good and, in the case of real property, marketable title to all of its properties and assets, real and personal, tangible and intangible, of any nature whatsoever (including patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks and copyrights), free and clear of all Liens, charges and claims (including infringement claims with respect to patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights and the like) except as permitted by Section 9.8 .
8.8 Subsidiaries . As of the Effective Date, the Company has no Subsidiaries other than those previously notified to the Agent in writing.
8.9 Pension Plans . (a) During the twelve-consecutive-month period prior to the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the making of any Loan, (i) no steps have been taken to terminate any Pension Plan and (ii) no contribution failure has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA. No condition exists or event or transaction has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan which could result in the incurrence by the Company of any material liability, fine or penalty.
(b) All contributions (if any) have been made to any Multiemployer Pension Plan that are required to be made by the Company or any other member of the Controlled Group under the terms of the plan or of any collective bargaining agreement or by applicable law; neither the Company nor any other member of the Controlled Group has withdrawn or partially withdrawn from any Multiemployer Pension Plan, incurred any withdrawal liability with respect to any such plan or received notice of any claim or demand for withdrawal liability or partial withdrawal liability from any such plan, and no condition has occurred which, if continued, might result in a withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any such plan; and neither the Company nor any other member of the Controlled Group has received any notice that any Multiemployer Pension Plan is in reorganization, that increased contributions may be required to avoid a reduction in plan benefits or the imposition of any excise tax, that any such plan is or has been funded at a rate less
than that required under Section 412 of the Code, that any such plan is or may be terminated, or that any such plan is or may become insolvent.
(c) Each Foreign Employee Benefit Plan is in compliance in all respects with all laws, regulations and rules applicable thereto and the respective requirements of the governing documents for such plan, except for any non-compliance the consequences of which, in the aggregate, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. There are no actions, suits or claims pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary or any other member of the Controlled Group with respect to any Foreign Employee Benefit Plan, other than routine claims for benefits and other than claims which, individually and in the aggregate, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
8.10 Investment Company Act . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is an investment company or a company controlled by an investment company, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
8.11 Regulation U . The Company is not engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.
8.12 Taxes . Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has filed all Federal and other material tax returns and reports required by law to have been filed by it and has paid all taxes and governmental charges thereby shown to be owing, except any such taxes or charges which are being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its books.
8.13 Solvency, etc. On the Effective Date, and immediately prior to and after giving effect to each borrowing hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof, (a) the assets of the Company and the other Loan Parties, taken as a whole, will exceed the liabilities of the Company and the other Loan Parties, taken as a whole, and (b) the Company and the other Loan Parties, taken as a whole, will be solvent, will be able to pay their debts as they mature, will own property with fair saleable value greater than the amount required to pay their debts and will have capital sufficient to carry on their business as then constituted.
8.14 Environmental Matters .
(a) No Violations . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any operator of the Companys or any Subsidiarys properties, is in violation, or alleged violation, of any judgment, decree, order, law, permit, license, rule or regulation pertaining to environmental matters, including those arising under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ( RCRA ), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ( CERCLA ), the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 or any other Environmental Law which individually or in the aggregate otherwise might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Notices . Except for matters arising after the Effective Date, in each case none of which could singly or in the aggregate be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notice from any third party, including any
Governmental Authority: (a) that any one of them has been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA with respect to a site listed on the National Priorities List, 40 C.F.R. Part 300 Appendix B; (b) that any hazardous waste, as defined by 42 U.S.C. §6903(5), any hazardous substance as defined by 42 U.S.C. §9601(14), any pollutant or contaminant as defined by 42 U.S.C. §9601(33) or any toxic substance, oil or hazardous material or other chemical or substance regulated by any Environmental Law (all of the foregoing, Hazardous Substances ) which any one of them has generated, transported or disposed of has been found at any site at which a Federal, state or local agency or other third party has conducted a remedial investigation, removal or other response action pursuant to any Environmental Law; (c) that the Company or any Subsidiary must conduct a remedial investigation, removal, response action or other activity pursuant to any Environmental Law; or (d) of any Environmental Claim.
(c) Handling of Hazardous Substances . (i) No portion of the real property or other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary has been used for the handling, processing, storage or disposal of Hazardous Substances except in accordance in all material respects with applicable Environmental Laws and no underground tank or other underground storage receptacle for Hazardous Substances is located on any such properties located in the United States; (ii) in the course of any activities conducted by the Company, any Subsidiary or the operators of any real property of the Company or any Subsidiary, no Hazardous Substances have been generated or are being used on such properties except in accordance in all material respects with applicable Environmental Laws; (iii) there have been no Releases or threatened Releases of Hazardous Substances on, upon, into or from any real property or other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, which Releases singly or in the aggregate might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) there have been no Releases on, upon, from or into any real property in the vicinity of the real property or other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary which, through soil or groundwater contamination, may have come to be located on, and which might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (v) any Hazardous Substances generated by the Company and its Subsidiaries have been transported offsite only by properly licensed carriers and delivered only to treatment or disposal facilities maintaining valid permits as required under applicable Environmental Laws, which transporters and facilities have been and are operating in compliance in all material respects with such permits and applicable Environmental Laws.
8.15 Insurance . The Agent has previously been notified in writing of the property and casualty insurance program of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date (including the names of all insurers, policy numbers, expiration dates, amounts and types of coverage, annual premiums, exclusions, deductibles, self-insured retention and a description in reasonable detail of any self-insurance program, retrospective rating plan, fronting arrangement or other risk assumption arrangement involving the Company or any Subsidiary).
8.16 Information . All information heretofore or contemporaneously herewith furnished in writing by the Company or any Subsidiary to the Agent or any Lender for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby is, and all written information hereafter furnished by or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary to the Agent or any Lender pursuant hereto or in connection herewith will be, true and accurate in every material respect on the date as of which such information is dated or certified, and none of
such information is or will be materially incomplete by omitting to state any material fact necessary to make such information not misleading in light of the circumstances under which made (it being recognized by the Agent and the Lenders that any projections and forecasts provided by the Company are based on good faith estimates and assumptions believed by the Company to be reasonable as of the date of the applicable projections or forecasts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections and forecasts may differ materially from projected or forecasted results).
8.17 Intellectual Property . The Company and each Subsidiary owns and possesses or has a license or other right to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights, service marks, service mark rights and copyrights as are necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, without any infringement upon rights of others, except to the extent that failure to comply with any of the foregoing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
8.18 Burdensome Obligations . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any agreement or contract or subject to any corporate or partnership restriction which might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
8.19 Labor Matters . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to any labor or collective bargaining agreement that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no existing or threatened strikes, lockouts or other labor disputes involving the Company or any Subsidiary that singly or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Hours worked by and payment made to employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries are not in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable law, rule or regulation dealing with such matters, in each case that singly or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, assets, operations, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
8.20 No Default . No Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists or would result from the incurring by the Company of any Debt hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
8.21 Senior Debt . The obligations of the Company and each Loan Party under the Loan Documents constitute Senior Indebtedness or Senior Guarantor Indebtedness of the Company or such Loan Party, as applicable, under and as defined under the indentures relating to the Subordinated Notes.
8.22 Dealer Agreements; Material Business Relationships . The Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries have such rights under Dealer Agreements as are necessary for the operation of their business. Each of such Dealer Agreements is currently in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of termination with respect to any such agreement, except, in each case, for such failures to remain in full force and effect and notices that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is aware of any event that with notice, lapse of time or both would allow any Manufacturer that is a party to any such Dealer Agreement to terminate any
such agreement except for such terminations that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There exists no actual or threatened termination, cancellation or limitation of, or any modification of or change in, the business relationship between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any customer or any group of customers or with any Manufacturer that, in any case, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
8.23 Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Finance Laws . To the extent applicable, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with anti-money laundering laws and anti-terrorism finance laws including the Bank Secrecy Act and the PATRIOT Act (the Anti-Terrorism Laws ).
8.24 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . No part of the proceeds of the Loans shall be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.
8.25 Sanctions Laws . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Company, no Affiliate or broker or other agent of any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the Loans is any of the following (a Restricted Person ): (i) a Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001 (the Executive Order ); (ii) a Person that is named as a specially designated national and blocked person on the most current list published by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control ( OFAC ) at its official website or any replacement website or other replacement official publication of such list or similarly named by any similar foreign Governmental Authority; (iii) an agency of the government of a country, an organization controlled by a country, or a Person resident in a country that is subject to a sanctions program identified on the lists maintained by OFAC; or (iv) a Person that derives more than 10% of its assets or operating income from investments in or transactions with any such country, agency, organization or person. Further, none of the proceeds from the Loans shall be used to finance any operations, investments or activities in, or make any payments to, any such country, agency, organization or Person subject to OFAC sanctions.
SECTION 9 COVENANTS.
Until the expiration or termination of the Commitments and thereafter until all obligations of the Company hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are paid in full, the Company agrees that, unless at any time the Required Lenders shall otherwise expressly consent (except as provided in Section 13.1 ) in writing, it will:
9.1 Reports, Certificates and Other Information . Furnish to the Agent:
9.1.1 Annual Report . Promptly when available and in any event within 90 days after the close of each Fiscal Year: (a) a copy of the annual report of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, including therein consolidated balance sheets and statements of earnings and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, certified
(without any qualification arising from the scope of the audit or as to the ability of the Company and its Subsidiaries to operate as a going concern) by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent auditors of recognized standing selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Agent, together with (i) a written statement from such accountants to the effect that in making the examination necessary for the signing of such annual audit report by such accountants, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that the Company was not in compliance with any provision of Section 9.6 , 9.7 or 9.9 of this Agreement insofar as such provision relates to accounting matters or, if something has come to their attention that caused them to believe that the Company was not in compliance with any such provision, describing such non-compliance in reasonable detail and (ii) a comparison with the financial results of the previous Fiscal Year; and (b) consolidating balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Year and a consolidating statement of earnings for the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year.
9.1.2 Interim Reports . Promptly when available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter (except the last Fiscal Quarter of each Fiscal Year), consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such Fiscal Quarter, together with consolidated and consolidating statements of earnings and cash flows for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period beginning with the first day of such Fiscal Year and ending on the last day of such Fiscal Quarter, together with a comparison with the corresponding period of the previous Fiscal Year; provided , that so long as the Company is a registrant within the meaning of Rule 1-01 of Regulation S-X of the SEC, the Company may deliver a copy of its report on Form 10Q for such Fiscal Quarter, together with consolidating balance sheets and consolidating statements of earnings for the relevant period, in lieu of the foregoing within such 45-day period.
9.1.3 Compliance Certificates . Contemporaneously with the furnishing of a copy of each annual audit report pursuant to Section 9.1.1(a) and each set of quarterly statements pursuant to Section 9.1.2 , a duly completed compliance certificate in the form of Exhibit B , with appropriate insertions, dated the date of such annual report or such quarterly statements and signed by the Chief Financial Officer or the Controller of the Company, containing (i) a computation of each of the financial ratios and restrictions set forth in Section 9.6 , (ii) the Current Assets Commitment Amount, if any, to be included in the financial ratios specified hereunder for the period until the next compliance certificate is due, (iii) the total amount of all consideration paid for all Foreign Acquisitions made by the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries during the period covered by such compliance certificate (including cash and noncash purchase price, noncompetition payments, earnout payments, debt assumption and other similar consideration), (iv) the aggregate amount of all Foreign Investments by the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries made during the period covered by such compliance certificate and (v) a statement to the effect that such officer has not become aware of any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing or, if there is any such event, describing it and the steps, if any, being taken to cure it and setting forth all Events of Default that had occurred but were cured or waived during the period covered by the related financial statements.
9.1.4 Reports to the SEC and to Shareholders . Promptly upon the filing or sending thereof, copies of all regular, periodic or special reports of the Company or any Subsidiary filed
with the SEC; copies of all registration statements of the Company or any Subsidiary filed with the SEC (other than on Form S-8); and copies of all proxy statements or other communications made to security holders generally.
9.1.5 Notice of Default, Litigation and ERISA Matters . Promptly upon the Company obtaining knowledge of any of the following, written notice describing the same and the steps being taken by the Company or the Subsidiary affected thereby with respect thereto:
(a) the occurrence of an Event of Default or an Unmatured Event of Default;
(b) any litigation, arbitration or governmental investigation or proceeding not previously disclosed by the Company to the Lenders which has been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary or to which any of the properties of any thereof is subject which might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the institution of any steps by any member of the Controlled Group or any other Person to terminate any Pension Plan, or the failure of any member of the Controlled Group to make a required contribution to any Pension Plan (if such failure is sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA) or to any Multiemployer Pension Plan, or the taking of any action with respect to a Pension Plan which could result in the requirement that the Company furnish a bond or other security to the PBGC or such Pension Plan, or the occurrence of any event with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Pension Plan which could result in the incurrence by any member of the Controlled Group of any material liability, fine or penalty (including any claim or demand for withdrawal liability or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Pension Plan), or any material increase in the contingent liability of the Company with respect to any post-retirement welfare plan benefit, or any notice that any Multiemployer Pension Plan is in reorganization, that increased contributions may be required to avoid a reduction in plan benefits or the imposition of an excise tax, that any such plan is or has been funded at a rate less than that required under Section 412 of the Code, that any such plan is or may be terminated, or that any such plan is or may become insolvent;
(d) any cancellation (unless contemporaneously replaced with similar coverage) or material change in any insurance maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary;
(e) any material violation of law by the Company or any Subsidiary or any officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary related to the business of the Company or such Subsidiary; or
(f) any other event (including any violation of any Environmental Law or the assertion of any Environmental Claim) which might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
9.1.6 Management Reports . Promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all detailed financial and management reports submitted to the Company by independent auditors in connection with each audit made by such auditors of the books of the Company, to the extent
such reports identify a material weakness (as such term is defined in the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 2) in the Companys internal controls.
9.1.7 Subordinated Debt Notices . Promptly from time to time, copies of any material notices (including notices of default or acceleration) received from any holder, or any notice from any trustee, of, under or with respect to any Subordinated Debt.
9.1.8 Borrowing Base Certificates . Within 45 days of the last day of each Fiscal Quarter, a Borrowing Base Certificate dated as of such last day and executed by the Chief Financial Officer or the Controller of the Company on behalf of the Company ( provided that the Agent may at any time require the Company to deliver Borrowing Base Certificates more frequently).
9.1.9 Notices of Casualty or Condemnation . Promptly, and in any event within five days of the Company obtaining knowledge thereof, written notice of the occurrence of any material casualty loss (whether or not insured) or condemnation of any portion of any real property that is subject to a Mortgage.
9.1.10 LJVP Documents . Promptly, and in any event within five days of the Company obtaining knowledge thereof, written notice of (x) the occurrence of any default under any of the LJVP Documents or (y) any amendment to any of the LJVP Documents.
9.1.11 PTL Annual Reports . Promptly when available, and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of PTL, a copy of the annual report of PTL for such fiscal year, including therein balance sheets and statements of earnings and cash flows of the PTL for such fiscal year, certified (without any qualification arising from the scope of the audit or as to the ability of PTL to operate as a going concern) by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent auditors of recognized standing selected by PTL and reasonably acceptable to the Agent, together with a comparison with the financial results of the previous fiscal year.
9.1.12 PTL Interim Reports . Promptly when available, and in any event within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of PTL (except the last fiscal quarter of a fiscal year), balance sheets of PTL as of the end of such fiscal quarter together with statements of earnings and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the period beginning with the first day of such fiscal year and ending on the last day of such fiscal quarter, together with a comparison with the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
9.1.13 Other Information . Promptly from time to time, such other information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries as any Lender or the Agent may reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 9.1 (to the extent they consist of SEC filings that are publicly available or filings under the PTL investor website or the PTL website) (i) shall be deemed delivered at such time as they are posted on the SEC website (www.sec.gov) and (ii) may be delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Company provides a link to such documents in an email addressed to Michele Nowak at the Agent at michele.a.nowak@daimler.com (or such other email address as the Agent shall provide to the Company from time to time).
9.2 Books, Records and Inspections . Keep, and cause each Subsidiary to keep, its books and records in accordance with sound business practices sufficient to allow the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP; permit, and cause each Subsidiary to permit, any Lender or the Agent or any representative thereof to inspect the properties and operations of the Company or such Subsidiary; and permit, and cause each Subsidiary to permit, at any reasonable time and with reasonable notice (or at any time without notice if an Event of Default exists), any Lender or the Agent or any representative thereof to visit any or all of its offices, to discuss its financial matters with its officers and its independent auditors (and the Company hereby authorizes such independent auditors to discuss such financial matters with any Lender or the Agent or any representative thereof at all times when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), and to examine any of its books or other records; and permit, and cause each Subsidiary to permit, the Agent (and any Lender that chooses to join the Agent for the purpose of such inspection) and its representatives to inspect the Inventory and other tangible assets of the Company or such Subsidiary, to perform appraisals of the Equipment of the Company or such Subsidiary, and to inspect, audit, check and make copies of and extracts from the books, records, computer data, computer programs, journals, orders, receipts, correspondence and other data relating to Inventory, Accounts Receivable and any other collateral. All such examinations, inspections, audits or appraisals by the Agent shall be at the Agents expense; provided that if an Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists, such examinations, inspections, audits and appraisals shall be at the Companys expense.
9.3 Maintenance of Property; Insurance . (a) Keep, and cause each Subsidiary to keep, all material property necessary in the business of the Company or such Subsidiary in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
(b) Maintain, and cause each Subsidiary to maintain, with responsible insurance companies, such insurance as may be required by any law or governmental regulation or court decree or order applicable to it and such other insurance, to such extent (including customary deductibles) and against such hazards and liabilities, as is customarily maintained by companies similarly situated; and, upon request of the Agent or any Lender, furnish to the Agent or such Lender a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the nature and extent of all insurance maintained by the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company shall cause each issuer of an insurance policy with respect to the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries to provide the Agent with an endorsement (i) naming the Agent as Lenders loss payee with respect to each policy of property or casualty insurance and naming the Agent and each Lender as an additional insured with respect to each policy of insurance for liability for personal injury or property damage, (ii) providing that 30 days notice will be given to the Agent prior to any cancellation of, material reduction or change in coverage provided by or other material modification to such policy and (iii) reasonably acceptable in all other respects to the Agent. The Company shall execute and deliver, and shall cause each other Loan Party to execute and deliver, to the Agent a collateral assignment, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, of each business interruption insurance policy maintained by such Loan Party.
9.4 Compliance with Laws; Payment of Taxes and Liabilities . (a) Comply, and cause each Subsidiary to comply, with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, decrees, orders, judgments, licenses and permits, except where failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) pay, and cause each Subsidiary to pay, prior
to delinquency, all taxes and other governmental charges against it or any of its property, as well as claims of any kind which, if unpaid, might become a Lien on any of its property; provided that the foregoing shall not require the Company or any Subsidiary to pay any such tax or charge so long as it shall contest the validity thereof in good faith by appropriate proceedings and shall set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP.
9.5 Maintenance of Existence, etc . Maintain and preserve, and (subject to Section 9.10 and to the ability of the Company to dissolve Subsidiaries the dissolution of which could not have a Material Adverse Effect) cause each Subsidiary to maintain and preserve, (a) its existence and good standing in the jurisdiction of its organization and (b) its qualification to do business and good standing in each jurisdiction where the nature of its business makes such qualification necessary (except in those instances in which the failure to be qualified or in good standing does not have a Material Adverse Effect).
9.6 Financial Covenants .
9.6.1 Current Ratio . Not permit the ratio of Consolidated Current Assets to Consolidated Current Liabilities at any time to be less than 1.00:1.0.
9.6.2 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio . Not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any Computation Period to be less than 1.10:1.0.
9.6.3 Ratio of Non-Floorplan Debt to Stockholders Equity . Not permit the ratio of Funded Debt (less Debt under Dealer Financings and Real Estate Debt) to Stockholders Equity of the Company to be greater than 1.3:1 at any time. When calculating this ratio, to the extent the Company has recorded an impairment after the date hereof to goodwill or franchise value, such impairment shall be added back to Stockholders Equity.
9.6.4 Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio . Not permit the Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio as of the last day of any Computation Period to exceed 2.50:1.0.
9.6.5 Working Capital . Cause each Subsidiary to maintain such level of working capital as is necessary to satisfy the requirements of such Subsidiarys Dealer Agreements.
9.7 Limitations on Debt . Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Debt, except:
(a) obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;
(b) Debt (other than Real Estate Debt) secured by Liens permitted by Section 9.8(d) , and extensions, renewals and refinancings thereof;
(c) unsecured Debt of Domestic Subsidiaries to the Company or to any other Domestic Subsidiary, provided that, without the consent of the Required Lenders, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall make any Investment after the date hereof in MB Greenwich in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding except as required to prevent any default under, any automotive framework, franchise or dealer agreement of MB Greenwich;
(d) unsecured Debt of the Company to Domestic Subsidiaries, provided that, without the consent of the Required Lenders, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall make any Investment after the date hereof in MB Greenwich in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding except as required to prevent any default under, any automotive framework, franchise or dealer agreement of MB Greenwich;
(e) (i) the Subordinated Notes and guaranties thereof provided by the Domestic Subsidiaries, so long as each such guaranty thereof is subordinated to the obligations of the respective Domestic Subsidiary under the Loan Documents on substantially the same basis as the obligations of the Company under the Subordinated Notes are subordinated to the obligations of the Company under the Loan Documents, (ii) other Subordinated Debt and (iii) Refinancing Debt in respect thereof; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all Seller Subordinated Debt at any time outstanding shall not exceed $50,000,000;
(f) Hedging Obligations incurred for bona fide hedging purposes and not for speculation;
(g) Debt described on Schedule 9.7 and any extension, renewal or refinancing thereof so long as the principal amount thereof is not increased and the obligors are not changed;
(h) Debt with respect to any Dealer Financing provided to the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary by any Dealer Financing Provider that is a party to the Intercreditor Agreement or any other Person to whom the Required Lenders, in their sole discretion, consent;
(i) Debt to MBFS in respect of Dealer Financings;
(j) other Debt, in addition to the Debt listed above, of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not at any time exceeding $75,000,000;
(k) Debt of Foreign Subsidiaries to (x) the Company or any Subsidiary or (y) any other Person as to which neither the Company nor any Domestic Subsidiary is directly or indirectly liable or provides any Suretyship Liability or credit support of any kind;
(l) recourse obligations, repurchase obligations and Suretyship Liabilities of the Company (other than Suretyship Liabilities of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries with respect to obligations of Foreign Subsidiaries) and Domestic Subsidiaries arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the sale of retail installment contracts or retail leases involving Motor Vehicles to financial institutions that are not Restricted Affiliates;
(m) obligations arising from agreements by the Company or a Subsidiary to provide for indemnification, customary purchase price closing adjustments, earn-outs or
other similar obligations, in each case, incurred in connection with an Acquisition permitted hereunder;
(n) Debt of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided , however , that such Debt is extinguished within three Business Days of incurrence;
(o) Real Estate Debt, provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Real Estate Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not exceed $250,000,000 at any time;
(p) Suretyship Liabilities of the Company or any of its Domestic Subsidiaries with respect to (i) Debt that is otherwise permitted under this Section 9.7 (other than the Debt permitted under Section 9.7(k) ) or (ii) other obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries;
(q) the LJVP Bond Obligations, provided that the aggregate amount of LJVP Bond Obligations allocable to the principal amount of the LJVP Bonds shall not at any time exceed $63,140,000 and the interest rate on the LJVP Bonds plus the rate applicable to the PAG Co-Obligation Fee shall not exceed 6.5% per annum;
(r) Debt of MB Greenwich with respect to Dealer Financings; and
(s) Debt of the ATC Entities in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $30,000,000 and any related unsecured guarantee thereof by the Company.
9.8 Liens . Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, create or permit to exist any Lien on any of its real or personal properties, assets or rights of whatsoever nature (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), except:
(a) Liens for taxes or other governmental charges not at the time delinquent or thereafter payable without penalty or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and, in each case, for which it maintains adequate reserves;
(b) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business (such as (i) Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen and other similar Liens imposed by law and (ii) Liens incurred in connection with workers compensation, unemployment compensation and other types of social security (excluding Liens arising under ERISA) or in connection with surety bonds, bids, performance bonds and similar obligations) for sums not overdue or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and not involving any deposits or advances or borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property or services and, in each case, for which it maintains adequate reserves;
(c) Liens described on Schedule 9.8 and replacements, extensions and renewals of such Liens upon or in the same property theretofore subject thereto (without increase in the amount of any Debt secured thereby);
(d) (i) Liens arising in connection with Capital Leases (and attaching only to the property being leased); (ii) Liens existing on property at the time of the acquisition thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary (and not created in contemplation of such acquisition); (iii) Liens on any property securing Debt (including Real Estate Debt) incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of such property and attaching only to such property; and (iv) Liens created pursuant to those certain Mortgages dated on or around September 28, 2008 between TMCC, the Company and various Subsidiaries of the Company on real property located in Royal Palm Beach, Florida owned by certain Subsidiaries, improvements thereon, easements related thereto, fixtures on such real property (other than trade fixtures), leases and rents related to such real property, and condemnation and insurance proceeds, in each case relating to such real property, and proceeds of the foregoing;
(e) attachments, appeal bonds, judgments and other similar Liens, for sums not exceeding $10,000,000 arising in connection with court proceedings, provided the execution or other enforcement of such Liens is effectively stayed and the claims secured thereby are being actively contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;
(f) easements, rights of way, restrictions, minor defects or irregularities in title and other similar Liens not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(g) Liens arising under the Loan Documents;
(h) Liens on any asset of a Domestic Subsidiary securing Debt permitted by Sections 9.7(h) and (i) ;
(i) Liens (the Approved Swap Liens and individually, an Approved Swap Lien ) arising in connection with any Hedging Agreement so long as the Required Lenders have provided their prior written consent to such Liens (each such Hedging Agreement, an Approved Swap Document );
(j) Liens on Capital Stock or assets of Foreign Subsidiaries securing Debt permitted by Section 9.7(k) , to the extent such Capital Stock and assets are not required to be pledged to the Agent hereunder;
(k) Liens on real property of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, provided that (x) such Liens are not created in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (y) such Liens may not extend to any other property;
(l) Liens of a collecting bank under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code and Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to bankers Liens and rights of setoff as to deposit accounts maintained
with a bank in the ordinary course of business ( provided such deposit accounts are not dedicated cash collateral accounts);
(m) other Liens of the Company and its Subsidiaries on property having an aggregate fair market value not at any time exceeding $20,000,000;
(n) Liens on Capital Stock of LJVP Holdings held by the Company in favor of GECC securing the LJVP Bond Obligations;
(o) Liens on assets of MB Greenwich securing Debt permitted by Section 9.7(r) ; and
(p) Liens on any asset of an ATC Entity securing Debt permitted by Section 9.7(s) .
It is acknowledged and agreed by the Agent and Lenders that any Liens of TMCC (to the extent such Liens are duly perfected) described in clause (d)(iv) of this Section 9.8 on any real property, improvements, fixtures (other than trade fixtures), condemnation and insurance proceeds, leases and rents related thereto and proceeds thereof are senior in priority to the Liens, if any, of the Agent and the Lenders in such property under the Collateral Documents.
9.9 Restricted Payments . Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, (a) make any distribution to any of its shareholders, the Company or any other Subsidiary, (b) purchase or redeem any of its Equity Interests, (c) pay any management fees or similar fees to any of its shareholders, the Company, any other Subsidiary or any Affiliate, (d) make any redemption, prepayment, defeasance or repurchase of any Subordinated Debt or (e) set aside funds for any of the foregoing; provided that (i) any Subsidiary may pay dividends or make other distributions to the Company or another Subsidiary and (ii) so long as no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom and, immediately after giving effect thereto, the Company is in pro forma compliance with all the financial ratios and restrictions set forth in Section 9.6 , the Company and its Subsidiaries may (1) pay dividends or make other distributions to its stockholders and purchase or redeem its Equity Interests, (2) pay management fees or similar fees as set forth under the relevant operating agreements of Subsidiaries to any of its shareholders, the Company, any other Subsidiary or any Affiliate and (3) redeem, prepay, defease, repurchase or otherwise repay any Subordinated Debt.
9.10 Mergers, Consolidations, Sales . Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, be a party to any merger or consolidation, or purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the assets or any stock of any class of, or any membership or partnership or joint venture interest in, any other Person, or, except in the ordinary course of its business, sell, transfer, convey or lease all or any substantial part of its assets, or sell or assign with or without recourse any receivables, except for: (a) any such merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, conveyance, lease or assignment of or by any Domestic Subsidiary into the Company ( provided , that in the case of any merger or consolidation, the Company is the survivor) or into, with or to any other Domestic Subsidiary; (b) any such purchase or other acquisition by the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary of the assets or stock of any Domestic Subsidiary; (c) any such merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, conveyance, lease or assignment of or by any Foreign Subsidiary into, with or to any other
Foreign Subsidiary; (d) any such purchase or other acquisition by any Foreign Subsidiary of the assets or stock of any Foreign Subsidiary; (e) any Acquisition by the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary if (1) immediately before and after giving effect to such Acquisition, no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default shall exist, (2) immediately after giving effect to such Acquisition, the Company is in pro forma compliance with all the financial ratios and restrictions set forth in Section 9.6 , (3) in the case of the Acquisition of any Person, the Board of Directors (or similar body) of such Person has approved such Acquisition and all requisite Manufacturers have consented to such Acquisition ( provided that such Manufacturers need not have consented to such Acquisition at the time of consummation thereof if the Company or the Subsidiary making such Acquisition has an irrevocable option, on terms and conditions (including cash escrow) satisfactory to the Agent in its sole discretion, to put the Person acquired in such Acquisition back to the seller thereof for a price in cash at least equal to the total amount of cash consideration paid by the Company or such Subsidiary in such Acquisition (including purchase price, noncompetition payments, earnout payments, debt assumption and other similar consideration) within 180 days if such Manufacturers have not consented to such Acquisition, which option is otherwise unconditional, and which option must be exercised by the Company or the applicable Subsidiary within such period if such consents are not obtained) and (4) prior to and after such Acquisition, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company shall have delivered a certificate to the Agent confirming that the conditions set forth in clauses (1) - (3) above will be (in the case of a certificate delivered prior to such Acquisition) or have been (in the case of a certificate delivered after such Acquisition) met; (f) Dispositions of assets (including the Capital Stock of Subsidiaries) for at least fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) so long as the net book value of all assets sold or otherwise disposed of in any Fiscal Year does not exceed $50,000,000 (exclusive of any Disposition the net cash proceeds of which are used within 180 days to purchase another asset performing the same or a similar function as the asset disposed of); and (g) the Company and its Subsidiaries may enter into joint ventures permitted by Section 9.19 which joint ventures are engaged in businesses permitted by Section 9.18 .
9.11 Modification of Organizational Documents . Not permit the Certificate or Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws or other organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary to be amended or modified in any way which might reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the interests of the Lenders.
9.12 Use of Proceeds . (a) Use the proceeds of the Revolving Loans solely for working capital, for Acquisitions permitted by Section 9.10 , for Capital Expenditures, to make Investments permitted hereunder, to repurchase the Companys Capital Stock and for other general corporate purposes; and use the proceeds of the Acquisition Loans (other than Acquisition Loans made by operation of Section 1.3(iv) ) solely to finance Acquisitions (other than Foreign Acquisitions) permitted by Section 9.10 .
(b) Not use or permit any proceeds of any Loan to be used, either directly or indirectly, for any other purpose, including for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock.
9.13 Further Assurances . (a) Take, and cause each Subsidiary (other than MB Greenwich) to take, such actions as are necessary or as the Agent or the Required Lenders may
reasonably request from time to time (including the execution and delivery of guaranties, security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust, financing statements and other documents, the filing or recording of any of the foregoing, and the delivery of stock certificates and other collateral with respect to which perfection is obtained by possession) to ensure that (i) the obligations of the Company hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (x) are secured by substantially all of the assets (other than property in which the Company is prohibited from granting a security interest, pledge or assignment pursuant to a Permitted Restriction) of the Company and (y) guaranteed by all of its Subsidiaries (other than MB Greenwich and (unless the ATC Entity Guaranty Condition has been satisfied with respect to any ATC Entity) each ATC Entity) (including, promptly upon the acquisition or creation thereof, any Subsidiary acquired or created after the date hereof but excluding Foreign Subsidiaries (to the extent that such exclusion is necessary to avoid material adverse tax consequences for the Company)) by execution of a counterpart of the Guaranty, (ii) the obligations of each Subsidiary (other than MB Greenwich and the ATC Entities) under the Guaranty are secured by substantially all of the assets (other than property in which such Subsidiary is prohibited from granting a security interest, pledge or assignment pursuant to a Permitted Restriction) of such Subsidiary (other than Foreign Subsidiaries (to the extent that such exclusion is necessary to avoid material adverse tax consequences for the Company)) and (iii) secured by substantially all of the assets (other than property in which any ATC Entity is prohibited from granting a security interest, pledge or assignment pursuant to a Permitted Restriction) of each ATC Entity, provided that (x) the pledge by the Company or any Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) of the stock of any Foreign Subsidiary shall be limited to 65% of the stock of such Foreign Subsidiary to the extent the pledge of a greater percentage would have material adverse tax consequences for the Company and (y) a pledge of the stock of a Subsidiary shall not be required if and to the extent that such pledge would violate a Permitted Restriction in favor of a Manufacturer.
(b) It is understood that none of the funds in any deposit account will be included in the Borrowing Base unless and until such a Control Agreement with respect to such account is delivered to the Agent.
(c) For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that the ATC Entity Guaranty Condition shall be satisfied with respect to any ATC Entity, the Company shall take, and cause each Subsidiary to take, such actions as are necessary or as the Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request from time to time to cause such ATC Entity to comply with Section 9.13(a)(i)(y) .
9.14 Transactions with Affiliates . Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into, or cause, suffer or permit to exist any transaction, arrangement or contract with any of its Affiliates which is on terms that are less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than are obtainable from any Person which is not one of its Affiliates; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (i) transactions among the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries (and not involving any Foreign Subsidiary), (ii) transactions among Foreign Subsidiaries (and not involving the Company or any Domestic Subsidiary) and (iii) any transaction between the Company or a Domestic Subsidiary, on the one hand, and a Foreign Subsidiary, on the other hand, which is on terms no less favorable to the Company or such Domestic Subsidiary than are obtainable from any Person which is not one of its Affiliates.
9.15 Employee Benefit Plans . Maintain, and cause each Subsidiary to maintain, each Pension Plan and Foreign Employee Benefit Plan in substantial compliance with all applicable requirements of law and regulations.
9.16 Environmental Matters . (a) If any Release or Disposal of Hazardous Substances shall occur or shall have occurred on any real property or any other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company shall, or shall cause the applicable Subsidiary to, cause the prompt containment and removal of such Hazardous Substances and the remediation of such real property or other assets as necessary to comply with all Environmental Laws and to preserve the value of such real property or other assets. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to, comply with any valid Federal or state judicial or administrative order requiring the performance at any real property of the Company or any Subsidiary of activities in response to the Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Substance.
(b) To the extent that the transportation of hazardous waste as defined by RCRA is permitted by this Agreement, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, dispose of such hazardous waste only at licensed disposal facilities operating in compliance with Environmental Laws.
9.17 Inconsistent Agreements . Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any agreement containing any provision which would (a) be violated or breached by any borrowing by the Company hereunder or by the performance by the Company or any Subsidiary of any of its obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (b) except for Permitted Restrictions and the terms of this Agreement, prohibit the Company or any Subsidiary from granting to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a Lien on any of its assets or (c) except for Permitted Restrictions, create or permit to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make other distributions to the Company or any other applicable Subsidiary, or pay any Debt owed to the Company or any other Subsidiary, (ii) make loans or advances to the Company or any other Subsidiary or (iii) transfer any of its assets or properties to the Company or any other Subsidiary.
9.18 Business Activities . Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in any line of business other than the businesses engaged in on the Effective Date and businesses reasonably related thereto, including businesses that operate a dealership or dealerships for the retail sales and leases of new and/or used motor vehicles, motor vehicle distribution businesses and other transportation related businesses and/or other businesses ancillary to the operation of such businesses, including businesses engaged in by PTL as of the date the Company made the Investment referred to in Section 9.19(j) . For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section, if the Company or any Subsidiary has made an Investment in any Person that is not a Subsidiary (a Minority Investee ), the businesses engaged in by such Minority Investee shall not be attributed to the Company or such Subsidiary.
9.19 Investments . Not, and not permit any Subsidiary to, make or permit to exist any Investment in any other Person, except (without duplication) the following:
(a) contributions by the Company to the capital of any of its Subsidiaries, or by any such Subsidiary to the capital of any of its Subsidiaries; provided that, without the consent of the Required Lenders, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall make any Investment after the date hereof in MB Greenwich in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding except as required to prevent any default under, any automotive framework, franchise or dealer agreement of MB Greenwich;
(b) Investments by the Company in any Subsidiary or by any Subsidiary in the Company, or by any Subsidiary in any other Subsidiary, by way of intercompany loans, advances or guaranties, all to the extent permitted by Section 9.7 ;
(c) Suretyship Liabilities permitted by Section 9.7 ;
(d) Cash Equivalent Investments;
(e) bank deposits in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Investments in securities of account debtors received pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of such account debtors;
(g) Investments to consummate Acquisitions permitted by Section 9.10 ;
(h) Investments in an aggregate amount not exceeding $60,000,000 at any one time outstanding in Persons engaged in businesses in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are permitted to engage hereunder ( provided that any Investment made with the proceeds of any offering of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) or Subordinated Debt of the Company shall be disregarded when determining compliance with the aggregate dollar limit in this clause (h) );
(i) consumer loans and leases entered into, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or its Subsidiaries, as lender, lessor or assignee, as applicable, in the ordinary course of business;
(j) Investments in an aggregate not to exceed nine percent (9%) of the outstanding partnership interests (calculated as of the date hereof) in PTL;
(k) Foreign Investments;
(l) Investments set forth on Schedule 9.19 ;
(m) Investments by the Company (i) in LJVP Holdings or (ii) pursuant to the Indemnity and Security Agreement, provided that at no time shall the aggregate amount of Investments permitted by this clause (m) exceed an amount equal to the LJVP Bond Obligations (determined as of the date of the Companys initial investment in LJVP Holdings); and
(n) such other Investments consented to by the Required Lenders in their sole discretion;
provided that (x) any Investment which when made complies with the requirements of the definition of the term Cash Equivalent Investment may continue to be held notwithstanding that such Investment if made thereafter would not comply with such requirements; and (y) no Investment otherwise permitted by clause (a) , (b) , (c) , (g) , (h) or (j) shall be permitted to be made if, immediately before or after giving effect thereto, any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists.
9.20 Restriction of Amendments to Certain Documents . Not without the written consent of the Agent and the Lenders (a) amend or otherwise modify, or waive any rights under, the notes or indentures relating to the Subordinated Notes (or any instrument governing Refinancing Debt in respect of the Subordinated Notes), the Indemnity and Security Agreement, Section 10 of the LJVP Holdings LLC Agreement or the Approved Swap Documents, in any case, if such amendment, modification or waiver could reasonably be expected to be adverse to the Lenders in any respect or (b) amend or otherwise modify, or waive any rights under, the LJVP Documents (other than as covered under clause (a) above), in any case, if such amendment, modification or waiver could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and not take any action to terminate any Approved Swap Document if it is a condition to such termination that the Company make any payment to the counterparty under such Approved Swap Document, or if a consequence of such termination would permit such counterparty to retain or sell any collateral or to demand any payment from the Company.
9.21 Limitation on Dealer Financing Amendments . Not modify any Dealer Financing arrangement if such modification would have a Material Adverse Effect.
9.22 Eligible Real Estate Collateral . With respect to each parcel of Eligible Real Estate Collateral, upon Agents request, the Company shall, at its expense, no more than once in any thirty-six (36) month period, but at any time or times as the Agent may request on or after an Event of Default, deliver or cause to be delivered to the Agent written appraisals as to such Eligible Real Estate Collateral in form, scope and methodology acceptable to the Agent and by an appraiser acceptable to the Agent, addressed to the Agent and the Lenders and upon which the Agent and Lenders shall be expressly permitted to rely.
9.23 Changes in Fiscal Periods . The Company shall not permit the Fiscal Year of the Company or any other Loan Party to end on a day other than December 31 or change the Companys or any other Loan Partys method of determining fiscal quarters without the Agents prior written consent.
9.24 Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Finance Laws; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; Sanctions Laws; Restricted Person . The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, (i) engage in or conspire to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any prohibition set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law, (ii) cause or permit any of the funds that are used to repay the obligations under the Loan Documents to be derived from any unlawful activity with the result that the making of the Loans would be in violation of any applicable law, (iii) use any part of the
proceeds of the Loans, directly or indirectly, for any payment to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or (iv) use any of the proceeds from the Loans to finance any operations, investments or activities in, or make any payments to, any Restricted Person.
9.25 ATC Entities . No ATC Entity shall become a franchised retailer for cars.
SECTION 10 EFFECTIVENESS; CONDITIONS OF LENDING, ETC.
The effectiveness of this Agreement, and the obligation of each Lender to make its Loans hereunder, are subject to the following conditions precedent:
10.1 Conditions to Effectiveness . This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date if the Agent shall have received on or prior to the Effective Date all of the following, each duly executed and dated the date hereof (or such other date as shall be satisfactory to the Agent), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent (unless waived in writing by the Agent and the Lenders):
10.1.1 Notes . A Note executed by the Company in favor of each Lender.
10.1.2 Resolutions . Certified copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents to which the Company is a party; and certified copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of each other Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such entity is a party.
10.1.3 Consents, etc . Certified copies of all documents evidencing any necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership action, consents and governmental approvals (if any) required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and each other Loan Party of the documents referred to in this Section 10 .
10.1.4 Incumbency and Signature Certificates . A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or other appropriate representative) of each Loan Party certifying the names of the officer or officers of such entity authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which such entity is a party, together with a sample of the true signature of each such officer (it being understood that the Agent and each Lender may conclusively rely on each such certificate until formally advised by a like certificate of any changes therein).
10.1.5 Reaffirmation . A counterpart of the Reaffirmation executed by each Subsidiary of the Company (other than Foreign Subsidiaries and MB Greenwich).
10.1.6 Opinion of Counsel . An opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
10.1.7 Payment of Interest and Fees . Evidence of payment by the Company of all accrued and unpaid interest, fees, costs and expenses to the extent then due and payable on the Effective Date, together with all Attorney Costs of the Agent to the extent invoiced prior to the Effective Date, plus such additional amounts of Attorney Costs as shall constitute the Agents reasonable estimate of Attorney Costs incurred or to be incurred by the Agent through the closing proceedings ( provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude final settling of accounts between the Company and the Agent).
10.1.8 Solvency Certificate . A solvency certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit F , executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
10.1.9 Closing Certificate . A certificate signed by a Vice President of the Company dated as of the Effective Date, affirming the matters set forth in Section 10.2.1 as of the Effective Date.
10.1.10 Governing Documents . A certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary (or other appropriate representative) of each Loan Party certifying that either (i) there has been no change or amendment (other than those attached to such certificate) to its respective articles of incorporation, by-laws, certificate of formation or operating agreement (as applicable) or other governing documents since certified copies of such documents were provided to the Agent in connection with the Existing Agreement or (ii) such documents have been delivered to the Agent in connection with the closing hereunder.
10.1.11 Borrowing Base Certificate . A Borrowing Base Certificate dated as of the Effective Date.
10.1.12 Officers Certificate . A certificate of an authorized officer of the Company certifying as to the completeness and accuracy of and attaching as an exhibit thereto (i) a list of all Subsidiaries of the Company as described in Section 8.8 and (ii) a summary of the property and casualty insurance program of the Company and its Subsidiaries as described in Section 8.15 , each as of the Effective Date.
10.1.13 Other . Such other documents as the Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
10.2 Conditions . The obligation of each Lender to make each Loan is subject to the following further conditions precedent that:
10.2.1 Compliance with Warranties, No Default, etc . Both before and after giving effect to the making of any Loan, the following statements shall be true and correct:
(a) the representations and warranties of the Company and each Subsidiary set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as if then made (except to the extent stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date);
(b) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default shall have then occurred and be continuing; and
(c) with respect to the making of any Loan that will be used to pay any LJVP Bond Obligations, the Company shall be in pro forma compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 9.6 after giving effect to such payment and such Loan, and shall have delivered to the Agent a certificate to such effect.
10.2.2 Confirmatory Certificate . If requested by the Agent or any Lender, the Agent shall have received (in sufficient counterparts to provide one to each Lender) a certificate dated the date of such requested Loan and signed by a duly authorized representative of the Company as to the matters set out in Section 10.2.1 (it being understood that each request by the Company for the making of a Loan shall be deemed to constitute a warranty by the Company that the conditions precedent set forth in Section 10.2.1 will be satisfied at the time of the making of such Loan), together with such other documents as the Agent or any Lender may reasonably request in support thereof.
SECTION 11 EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND THEIR EFFECT.
11.1 Events of Default . Each of the following shall constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement:
11.1.1 Non-Payment of the Loans, etc. Default in the payment when due of the principal of any Loan by the Company hereunder; or default, and continuance thereof for five Business Days, in the payment when due of any interest, fee or other amount payable by the Company hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
11.1.2 Non-Payment of Other Debt . Any default shall occur under the terms applicable to any Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary in an aggregate amount (for all such Debt so affected) exceeding $25,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof if denominated in a currency other than Dollars) and such default shall (a) consist of the failure to pay such Debt when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise, or (b) accelerate the maturity of such Debt or permit the holder or holders thereof, or any trustee or agent for such holder or holders, to cause such Debt to become due and payable prior to its expressed maturity; or any such Debt shall be required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Debt shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; or any default shall occur under any Dealer Financing provided by any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender to the Company or any Subsidiary. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 11.1.2 , Debt shall include the LJVP Bond Obligations and an Event of Default under this Section 11.1.2 shall exist whenever the Company shall have failed to pay any amount with respect to the LJVP Bond Obligations when due ( provided that the aggregate amount of the LJVP Bond Obligations exceeds $25,000,000) and such default shall (a) consist of the failure to pay an amount greater than $25,000,000 when due, or (b) accelerate the maturity of the LJVP Bond Obligations or permit the holder or holders thereof, or any trustee or agent for such holder or holders, to cause the LJVP Bond Obligations to become due and payable prior to their expressed maturity.
11.1.3 Other Material Obligations . Default in the payment when due, or in the performance or observance of, any material obligation of, or condition agreed to by, the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to any material purchase or lease of goods or services, or any agreement with a Manufacturer, where such default, singly or in the aggregate with all other such defaults, might reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or cause the loss of a material franchise.
11.1.4 Bankruptcy, Insolvency, etc . The Company or any Subsidiary becomes insolvent or generally fails to pay, or admits in writing its inability or refusal to pay, debts as they become due; or the Company or any Subsidiary applies for, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver or other custodian for the Company or such Subsidiary or any property thereof, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or, in the absence of such application, consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver or other custodian is appointed for the Company or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of the property of any thereof and is not discharged within 60 days; or any bankruptcy, reorganization, debt arrangement, or other case or proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law, or any dissolution or liquidation proceeding, is commenced in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than a voluntary dissolution, not under any bankruptcy or insolvency law, of an immaterial Subsidiary), and if such case or proceeding is not commenced by the Company or such Subsidiary, it is consented to or acquiesced in by the Company or such Subsidiary, or remains for 30 days undismissed; or the Company or any Subsidiary takes any action to authorize, or in furtherance of, any of the foregoing.
11.1.5 Non-Compliance with Loan Documents . (a) Failure by the Company to comply with or to perform any covenant set forth in Sections 9.1.5(a) , 9.5 through 9.14 (excluding Section 9.6.5 ), 9.19 through 9.21 , 9.24 and 9.25 ; (b) failure by the Company to comply with the covenant set forth in Section 9.6.5 and continuance of such failure for 60 days; or (c) failure by any Loan Party to comply with or to perform any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (and not constituting an Event of Default under any other provision of this Section 11 ) and continuance of such failure for 30 days.
11.1.6 Warranties . Any warranty made by the Company or any Subsidiary herein or any other Loan Document is breached or is false or misleading in any material respect, or any schedule, certificate, financial statement, report, notice or other writing furnished by the Company or any Subsidiary to the Agent or any Lender in connection herewith is false or misleading in any material respect on the date as of which the facts therein set forth are stated or certified.
11.1.7 Pension Plans . (i) Institution of any steps by the Company or any other Person to terminate a Pension Plan if as a result of such termination the Company could be required to make a contribution to such Pension Plan, or could incur a liability or obligation to such Pension Plan or Foreign Employee Benefit Plan, in excess of $25,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof if denominated in a currency other than Dollars); (ii) a contribution failure occurs with respect to any Pension Plan sufficient to give rise to a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA; or (iii) there shall occur any withdrawal or partial withdrawal from a Multiemployer Pension Plan and the withdrawal liability (without unaccrued interest) to Multiemployer Pension Plans as a
result of such withdrawal (including any outstanding withdrawal liability that the Company and the Controlled Group have incurred on the date of such withdrawal) exceeds $25,000,000.
11.1.8 Judgments . Final judgments which exceed an aggregate of $25,000,000 (or the Dollar Equivalent thereof if denominated in a currency other than Dollars) shall be rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary and shall not have been paid, discharged or vacated or had execution thereof stayed pending appeal within 60 days after entry or filing of such judgments.
11.1.9 Invalidity of Guaranty, etc . The Guaranty shall cease to be in full force and effect with respect to any Subsidiary, other than by virtue of the release of such Subsidiary after sale thereof in a transaction permitted hereunder or the voluntary dissolution of an immaterial Subsidiary; or any Subsidiary (or any Person by, through or on behalf of such Subsidiary) shall contest in any manner the validity, binding nature or enforceability of the Guaranty with respect to such Subsidiary.
11.1.10 Invalidity of Collateral Documents, etc . Any Collateral Document shall cease to be in full force and effect, other than by virtue of the release of such Subsidiary after sale thereof in a transaction permitted hereunder or the voluntary dissolution of an immaterial Subsidiary; or the Company or any Subsidiary (or any Person by, through or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary) shall contest in any manner the validity, binding nature or enforceability of any Collateral Document.
11.1.11 Invalidity of Subordination Provisions, etc . Any subordination provision in any document or instrument governing Subordinated Debt, or any subordination provision in any guaranty by any Subsidiary of any Subordinated Debt, shall cease to be in full force and effect, or the Company or any other Person (including the holder of any applicable Subordinated Debt) shall contest in any manner the validity, binding nature or enforceability of any such provision.
11.1.12 Change of Control . Individuals who on the date hereof constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any new directors whose election to such board or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who were either (x) directors on the date hereof or (y) whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, but only if such directors were elected or nominated at such time as Penske Corporation and any of its Affiliates collectively controlled the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Company whether by contract or otherwise) shall cease for any reason to constitute a majority of such Board of Directors then in office; provided that the foregoing shall not constitute an Event of Default if a majority of the members of the Board of Directors have been elected after having been nominated by any of Roger S. Penske or Penske Capital Partners, LLC, International Motor Cars Group I, LLC, International Motor Cars Group II, LLC, Penske Corporation, Penske Automotive Holdings Corp. and their respective Subsidiaries, in each case so long as Roger S. Penske (or his lineal descendants) is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) directly or indirectly of more than 50% of the voting stock of such entities.
11.2 Effect of Event of Default . If any Event of Default described in Section 11.1.4 shall occur, the Commitments (if they have not theretofore terminated) shall immediately terminate and the Loans and all other obligations hereunder shall become immediately due and payable, all without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind; and, if any other Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Agent (upon written request of the Required Lenders) shall declare the Commitments (if they have not theretofore terminated) to be terminated and/or declare all Loans and all other obligations hereunder to be due and payable, whereupon the Commitments (if they have not theretofore terminated) shall immediately terminate and/or all Loans and all other obligations hereunder shall become immediately due and payable, all without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind. The Agent shall promptly advise the Company of any such declaration, but failure to do so shall not impair the effect of such declaration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the effect as an Event of Default of any event described in Section 11.1.1 or Section 11.1.4 may be waived by the written concurrence of all of the Lenders, and the effect as an Event of Default of any other event described in this Section 11 may be waived by the written concurrence of the Required Lenders (except as provided in Section 13.1 ).
SECTION 12 THE AGENT.
12.1 Appointment and Authorization . Each Lender hereby irrevocably (subject to Section 12.9 ) appoints, designates and authorizes the Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Section 12 are solely for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Agent.
12.2 Delegation of Duties . The Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects with reasonable care.
12.3 Liability of Agent . None of the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (ii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, or any officer thereof, contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Agent under or in
connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for any failure of the Company or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of the Company or any of the Companys Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
12.4 Reliance by Agent . The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message, statement or other document or conversation reasonably believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to the Company), independent accountants and other experts reasonably selected by the Agent. The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, confirmation from the Lenders of their obligation to indemnify the Agent against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Lenders.
12.5 Notice of Default . The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest and fees required to be paid to the Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender or the Company referring to this Agreement, describing such Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default and stating that such notice is a notice of default. The Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The Agent shall take such action with respect to such Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default as may be requested by the Required Lenders in accordance with Section 11 ; provided that unless and until the Agent has received any such request, the Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default as it shall deem advisable or in the best interest of the Lenders.
12.6 Credit Decision . Each Lender acknowledges that the Agent has not made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by the Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to the Company hereunder. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent and based on such documents and information as it shall
deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Company. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly herein required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Agent, the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial or other condition or creditworthiness of the Company which may come into the possession of the Agent.
12.7 Indemnification . Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, each Lender shall indemnify upon demand the Agent and its directors, officers, employees and agents (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Company and without limiting the obligation of the Company to do so) from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities in accordance with its Pro Rata Share; provided that no Lender shall be liable for any payment to any such Person of any portion of the Indemnified Liabilities resulting from such Persons gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the Agent upon demand for such Lenders Pro Rata Share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Company. The undertaking in this Section shall survive repayment of the obligations hereunder, cancellation of the Notes, any foreclosure under, or modification, release or discharge of, any or all of the Collateral Documents, termination of this Agreement and the resignation or replacement of the Agent.
12.8 Agent in Individual Capacity . MBFS and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in any kind of business with the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates as though MBFS were not the Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, MBFS or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Company or its Affiliates (including information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of the Company or such Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to them. With respect to their Loans (if any), MBFS and its Affiliates shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though MBFS were not the Agent, and the terms Lender and Lenders include MBFS and its Affiliates, to the extent applicable, in their individual capacities.
12.9 Successor Agent . The Agent may resign as Agent upon 30 days notice to the Lenders. If the Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall, with (so long as no Event of Default exists) the consent of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders. If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of the Agent, the Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders and the Company, a successor agent from among
the Lenders. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor agent hereunder, such successor agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Agent and the term Agent shall mean such successor agent, and the retiring Agents appointment, powers and duties as Agent shall be terminated. After any retiring Agents resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Section 12 and Sections 13.6 and 13.13 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent has accepted appointment as Agent by the date which is 30 days following a retiring Agents notice of resignation, the retiring Agents resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as provided for above.
12.10 Collateral Matters . (a) The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Agent, at its option and in its discretion, (i) to release any Lien granted to or held by the Agent under any Collateral Document (x) upon termination of the Commitments and payment in full of all Loans and all other obligations of the Company hereunder, (y) constituting property sold or to be sold or disposed of as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or (z) subject to Section 13.1 , if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders; and (ii) to subordinate its interest in any collateral to any holder of a Lien on such collateral which is permitted by clause (d)(i) , (d)(iii) , (d)(iv) or (h) of Section 9.8 . Upon request by the Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Agents authority to release, or subordinate its interest in, particular types or items of collateral pursuant to this Section 12.10 .
(b) Any and all proceeds of disposition or other realization on the collateral granted under the Collateral Documents (the Collateral ) or from any realization on the Collateral received by the Agent in connection with any enforcement, sale, collection (including judicial or non-judicial foreclosure) or similar proceedings with respect to the Collateral or a demand or other enforcement or collection with respect to the Collateral shall be applied by the Agent, as follows:
FIRST: To the payment of the costs and expenses of such disposition, collection or other realization, including Attorney Costs, and all costs, expenses, liabilities and advances made or incurred by the Agent in connection therewith;
SECOND: To the payment of the Liabilities then due and owing in such order as shall be directed by the Required Lenders; and
THIRD: After payment in full of all Liabilities, any surplus then remaining from such proceeds shall be paid to the Company or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive the same or paid as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct. Until such proceeds are so applied, the Agent shall hold such proceeds in its custody in accordance with its regular procedures for handling deposited funds.
(c) Upon request by the Company, the Agent shall release the Lien granted to and held by the Agent under any Mortgage, and shall, at the sole cost and expense of the Company, promptly provide all reasonably requested assistance to effect such release, so long as (i) no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result
from the release of such Lien and (ii) the Company has delivered to the Agent a pro forma Borrowing Base Certificate that demonstrates that, immediately after giving effect to the removal of such real estate from the Borrowing Base, the Total Outstandings will not exceed the sum of (x) the Borrowing Base plus (y) the lesser of (A) $300,000,000 or (B) 35% of the Domestic Blue Sky Value.
12.11 Funding Reliance . (a) Unless the Agent receives notice from a Lender by noon, Detroit time, on the day of a proposed borrowing for any borrowing other than a Same Day Loan (or by 3:00 P.M., Detroit time, on the day of a proposed borrowing for any Same Day Loan) that such Lender will not make available to the Agent an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of such borrowing, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Agent and, in reliance upon such assumption, make a corresponding amount available to the Company. If and to the extent such Lender has not made such amount available to the Agent: (i) the Company agrees to repay such amount to the Agent forthwith on demand, together with interest thereon at the interest rate applicable to Loans comprising such borrowing, (ii) the Agent shall be entitled to retain all interest payments paid by the Company allocable to such Lenders Pro Rata Share of such borrowing for the period from the time such Lender was required to make such amount available to the Agent until such Lender actually makes such amount available or such amount is indefeasibly paid to the Agent by the Company and (iii) such Lender agrees to pay to the Agent forthwith upon demand the greater of (x) all reasonable and actual costs incurred by the Agent as a result of such failure and (y) interest on such amount for the Agents account, for each day from the date such amount was to have been delivered to the Agent until the date such amount is paid, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. Nothing set forth in this clause (a) shall relieve any Lender of any obligation it may have to make any Loan hereunder.
(b) Unless the Agent receives notice from the Company prior to the due date for any payment hereunder (other than a Same Day Prepayment) that the Company does not intend to make such payment, the Agent may assume that the Company has made such payment and, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to each Lender its share of such payment. If and to the extent that the Company has not made any such payment to the Agent, each Lender which received a share of such payment shall repay such share (or the relevant portion thereof) to the Agent forthwith on demand. With respect to all payments other than Same Day Prepayments, if and to the extent such Lender does not so repay the Agent on demand, (i) the Agent shall be entitled to retain all interest payments paid by the Company allocable to such Lenders Pro Rata Share of such payment for the period from the time such Lender was required to so repay the Agent until such Lender actually pays the Agent such amount or the amount of such repayment is indefeasibly paid to the Agent by the Company and (ii) such Lender agrees to pay to the Agent forthwith upon demand the greater of (x) all reasonable and actual costs incurred by the Agent as a result of such failure to repay and (y) interest on such amount for the Agents account, for each day from the date such Lender was required to so repay such amount to the Agent until the date such amount is paid, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. Nothing set forth in this clause (b) shall relieve the Company of any obligation it may have to make any payment hereunder.
(c) The Agent may always assume that the Company has made each Same Day Prepayment on the Business Day upon which the notice of the Same Day Prepayment was
received by the Agent and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to each Lender its share of such Same Day Prepayment. With respect to each Same Day Prepayment that is not made by the Company on the same Business Day as the Agent received the notice of such Same Day Prepayment, (i) each Lender which received a share of such Same Day Prepayment shall repay such share to the Agent forthwith on demand, (ii) the Agent shall be entitled to retain all interest payments paid by the Company allocable to such Lenders Pro Rata Share of such payment for the period from the Business Day that the Agent received the notice of such Same Day Prepayment until such Lender actually pays the Agent such amount or the amount of such Same Day Prepayment is indefeasibly paid to the Agent by the Company and (iii) such Lender agrees to pay to the Agent forthwith upon demand the greater of (x) all reasonable and actual costs incurred by the Agent as a result of such failure to repay and (y) interest on its Pro Rata Share of such Same Day Prepayment, for the Agents account, for each day from the date that such Lender was required to so repay the Agent until the date such amount is paid, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. Nothing set forth in this clause (c) shall relieve the Company of any obligation it may have to make any payment hereunder.
12.12 Enforcement . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against any Loan Party shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Agent in accordance with Section 12.1 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from enforcing its right to payment when due of the principal of and interest on its Loans, fees and other amounts owing to such Lender under the Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 7.4 (subject to the terms of Section 7.5 ) or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any bankruptcy or insolvency law; and provided , further , that if at any time there is no Person acting as Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Agent pursuant to this Section 12 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) , (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 7.5 , any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
12.13 Agent May File Proofs of Claim . In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Agent shall have made any demand on the Company) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other amounts that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Agent under Sections 5 , 13.6 and 13.13 ) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Agent and, in the event that the Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Agent under Sections 5 , 13.6 and 13.13 .
SECTION 13 GENERAL.
13.1 Waiver; Amendments . No delay on the part of the Agent or any Lender in the exercise of any right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise by any of them of any right, power or remedy preclude other or further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. No amendment, modification or waiver of, or consent with respect to, any provision of this Agreement or the Notes shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed and delivered by the Required Lenders, and then any such amendment, modification, waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided the Lenders authorize the Agent to act within its discretion (and without notice to or the consent of any Lender) to waive or forbear on behalf of all Lenders any noncompliance by the Company (other than a waiver of, or forbearance with respect to, any Event of Default under Section 11.1.4 ) with this Agreement ( provided that no such waiver shall be for a period in excess of 60 days). No amendment, modification, waiver or consent shall increase or extend any Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender. No amendment, modification, waiver or consent shall (i) amend, modify or waive Section 7.5 , (ii) increase the Revolving Commitment Amount or the Acquisition Commitment Amount, (iii) extend the date for payment of any principal of or interest on the Loans or any fees payable hereunder, (iv) reduce the principal amount of any Loan, the rate of interest thereon or any fees payable hereunder, (v) release all or a substantial number of the guarantors from the Guaranty or all or any substantial part of the collateral granted under the Collateral Documents, (vi) amend or modify Section 9.6.1 or Section 9.6.2 so as to reduce the minimum financial ratios set forth therein, (vii) amend or modify Section 9.6.3 or Section 9.6.4 so as to increase the maximum financial ratios set forth therein, (viii) amend or modify Section 9.6.5 , (ix) amend, modify or waive Section 11.1.2 to the extent such Section expressly refers to Dealer Financings, (x) amend, modify or waive Section 6.3 or (xi) reduce the aggregate Pro Rata Share required to effect an amendment, modification, waiver or consent without, in each case, the consent of all Lenders. The Agent shall not execute any material amendment, modification or waiver of, or material consent with respect to, any provision of the Guaranty or any Collateral Document unless the same shall be approved in writing by the Required Lenders, and then any such amendment, modification, waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No
provision of Section 12 or other provision of this Agreement affecting the Agent in its capacity as such shall be amended, modified or waived without the consent of the Agent.
13.2 Confirmations . The Company and each holder of a Note agree from time to time, upon written request received by it from the other, to confirm to the other in writing (with a copy of each such confirmation to the Agent) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans then outstanding under such Note.
13.3 Notices . Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2 and in the last paragraph of Section 9.1 , all notices hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile transmission) and shall be sent to the applicable party at its address shown on Schedule 13.3 or at such other address as such party may, by written notice received by the other parties, have designated as its address for such purpose. Notices sent by facsimile transmission shall be deemed to have been given when sent and mechanical confirmation of such transmission has been received; notices sent by mail shall be deemed to have been given three Business Days after the date when sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid; and notices sent by hand delivery or overnight courier service shall be deemed to have been given when received. For purposes of Section 2.2 , the Agent shall be entitled to rely on telephonic instructions from any person that the Agent in good faith believes is an authorized officer or employee of the Company, and the Company shall hold the Agent and each other Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense resulting from any such reliance.
13.4 Computations . Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or item of income or expense is required to be determined, or any consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made, for the purpose of this Agreement, such determination or calculation shall, to the extent applicable and except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, be made in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied; provided that if the Company notifies the Agent that the Company wishes to amend any covenant in Section 9 to eliminate or to take into account the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such covenant (or if the Agent notifies the Company that the Required Lenders wish to amend Section 9 for such purpose), then the Companys compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the Company and the Required Lenders.
13.5 Regulation U . Each Lender represents that it in good faith is not relying, either directly or indirectly, upon any Margin Stock as collateral security for the extension or maintenance by it of any credit provided for in this Agreement.
13.6 Costs, Expenses and Taxes . The Company agrees to pay on demand all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent (including Attorney Costs) in connection with the preparation, execution, syndication, delivery and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and all other documents provided for herein or delivered or to be delivered hereunder or in connection herewith (including any amendment, supplement or waiver to any Loan Document), and all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including Attorney Costs) incurred by the Agent and each Lender after an Event of Default in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any such other documents. In
addition, the Company agrees to pay, and to save the Agent and the Lenders harmless from all liability for, (a) any stamp or other taxes (excluding income taxes and franchise taxes based on net income) which may be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the borrowings hereunder, the issuance of the Notes or the execution and delivery of any other Loan Document or any other document provided for herein or delivered or to be delivered hereunder or in connection herewith and (b) any fees of the Companys auditors in connection with any reasonable exercise by the Agent and the Lenders of their rights pursuant to Section 9.2 . All obligations provided for in this Section 13.6 shall survive repayment of the obligations hereunder, cancellation of the Notes and termination of this Agreement.
13.7 Subsidiary References . The provisions of this Agreement relating to Subsidiaries shall apply only during such times as the Company has one or more Subsidiaries.
13.8 Captions . Section captions used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.
13.9 Assignments; Participations .
13.9.1 Assignments . Any Lender may, with the prior written consents of the Agent and (so long as no Event of Default exists) the Company (which consents shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld and, in any event, shall not be required for an assignment by a Lender to one of its Affiliates or to any other Lender), at any time assign and delegate to one or more commercial banks or other Persons (any Person to whom such an assignment and delegation is to be made being herein called an Assignee ) all or any fraction of such Lenders Loans and Commitments (which assignment and delegation shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all the assigning Lenders Loans and Commitments) in a minimum aggregate amount equal to the lesser of (i) the amount of the assigning Lenders Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Commitment Amount and the Acquisition Commitment Amount and (ii) $25,000,000; provided that (a) no assignment and delegation may be made to any Person if, at the time of such assignment and delegation, the Company would be obligated to pay any greater amount under Section 7.6 to the Assignee than the Company is then obligated to pay to the assigning Lender under such Section (and if any assignment is made in violation of the foregoing, the Company will not be required to pay the incremental amounts), (b) no assignment and delegation may be made to any Person that does not assign and delegate to such Person an equal Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Commitment Amount and the Acquisition Commitment Amount and all Revolving Loans and Acquisition Loans, (c) if, after giving effect to any assignment by the Agent, the Agents Pro Rata Share would be less than the Pro Rata Share of any other Lender, the Agent shall give each such Lender 60 days prior written notice of such assignment, (d) no assignment and delegation may be made to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute a Defaulting Lender or a Subsidiary thereof and (e) the Company and the Agent shall be entitled to continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with the interests so assigned and delegated to an Assignee until the date when all of the following conditions shall have been met:
(x) five Business Days (or such lesser period of time as the Agent and the assigning Lender shall agree) shall have passed after written notice of such assignment
and delegation, together with payment instructions, addresses and related information with respect to such Assignee, shall have been given to the Company and the Agent by such assigning Lender and the Assignee,
(y) the assigning Lender and the Assignee shall have executed and delivered to the Company and the Agent an assignment agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit G (an Assignment Agreement ), together with any documents required to be delivered thereunder, which Assignment Agreement shall have been accepted by the Agent, and
(z) except in the case of an assignment by a Lender to one of its Affiliates or another Lender, the assigning Lender or the Assignee shall have paid the Agent a processing fee of $3,500.
From and after the date on which the conditions described above have been met, (x) such Assignee shall be deemed automatically to have become a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned and delegated to such Assignee pursuant to such Assignment Agreement, shall have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and (y) the assigning Lender, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned and delegated by it pursuant to such Assignment Agreement, shall be released from its obligations hereunder. Within five Business Days after the effectiveness of any assignment and delegation, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Agent (for delivery to the Assignee) a new Note (unless the Assignee was already a holder of a Note immediately prior to such effectiveness). Each such Note shall be dated the effective date of such assignment. Accrued interest on that part of the obligations being assigned shall be paid as provided in the Assignment Agreement. Accrued interest and fees on that part of the obligations not being assigned shall be paid to the assigning Lender. Accrued interest and accrued fees shall be paid at the same time or times provided in the predecessor Note and in this Agreement. Any attempted assignment and delegation not made in accordance with this Section 13.9.1 shall be null and void. Except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no assignment by a Defaulting Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lenders having been a Defaulting Lender.
In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Company and the Agent, the applicable Pro Rata Share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Agent and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Pro Rata Share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall
be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.9.1 or any other provision of this Agreement, any Lender may at any time assign all or any portion of its Loans and its Note to a Federal Reserve Bank (but no such assignment shall release any Lender from any of its obligations hereunder).
13.9.2 Participations . Any Lender may at any time sell to one or more commercial banks or other Persons participating interests in any Loan owing to such Lender, the Note held by such Lender, the Commitments of such Lender or any other interest of such Lender hereunder (any Person purchasing any such participating interest being herein called a Participant ). In the event of a sale by a Lender of a participating interest to a Participant, (x) such Lender shall remain the holder of its Note for all purposes of this Agreement, (y) the Company and the Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders rights and obligations hereunder and (z) all amounts payable by the Company shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participation and shall be paid directly to such Lender. No Participant shall have any direct or indirect voting rights hereunder except with respect to any of the events described in the fourth sentence of Section 13.1 . Each Lender agrees to incorporate the requirements of the preceding sentence into each participation agreement which such Lender enters into with any Participant. The Company agrees that if amounts outstanding under this Agreement and the Notes are due and payable (as a result of acceleration or otherwise), each Participant shall be deemed to have the right of setoff in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under this Agreement and any Note to the same extent as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under this Agreement or such Note; provided that such right of setoff shall be subject to the obligation of each Participant to share with the Lenders, and the Lenders agree to share with each Participant, as provided in Section 7.5 . The Company also agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 7.6 as if it were a Lender ( provided that no Participant shall receive any greater compensation pursuant to Section 7.6 than would have been paid to the participating Lender if no participation had been sold).
13.10 Governing Law . This Agreement and each Note shall be a contract made under and governed by the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State. Whenever possible each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement. All obligations of the Company and rights of the Agent and the Lenders expressed herein or in any other Loan Document shall be in addition to and not in limitation of those provided by applicable law.
13.11 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Agreement.
13.12 Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company, the Lenders and the Agent and their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Company, the Lenders and the Agent and the successors and assigns of the Lenders and the Agent.
13.13 Indemnification .
(a) Indemnification by the Company . In consideration of the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Agent and the Lenders and the agreement to extend the Commitments provided hereunder, the Company hereby agrees to indemnify, exonerate and hold the Agent, each Lender and each of the officers, directors, employees, Affiliates and agents of the Agent and each Lender (each a Lender Party ) free and harmless from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, losses, liabilities, damages and expenses, including Attorney Costs (collectively, the Indemnified Liabilities ), incurred by the Lender Parties or any of them as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (i) any tender offer, merger, purchase of stock, purchase of assets or other similar transaction financed or proposed to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of any of the Loans, (ii) the use, handling, release, emission, discharge, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Substance at any property owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary, (iii) any violation of any Environmental Laws with respect to conditions at any property owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary or the operations conducted thereon, (iv) the investigation, cleanup or remediation of offsite locations at which the Company or any Subsidiary or their respective predecessors are alleged to have directly or indirectly disposed of Hazardous Substances or (v) the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by any of the Lender Parties, except for any such Indemnified Liabilities arising on account of the applicable Lender Partys gross negligence or willful misconduct, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment. If and to the extent that the foregoing undertaking may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company hereby agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. All obligations provided for in this Section 13.13 shall survive repayment of the obligations hereunder, cancellation of the Notes, any foreclosure under, or any modification, release or discharge of, any or all of the Collateral Documents and termination of this Agreement.
(b) Reimbursement by Lenders . To the extent that the Company for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under Section 13.13(a) to be paid by it to the Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Lender Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Lender Party, as the case may be, such Lenders Pro Rata Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lenders share of the Total Outstandings at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender); provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Agent (or any such sub-agent) or against any Lender Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 13.13(b) are several and not joint.
13.14 Waiver of Consequential Damages, etc . To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Lender Party, on any theory of liability, for indirect, special, punitive, consequential or exemplary damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Lender Party referred to in Section 13.13 shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
13.15 Nonliability of Lenders . The relationship between the Company on the one hand and the Lenders and the Agent on the other hand shall be solely that of borrower and lender. Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have any fiduciary responsibility to the Company. Neither the Agent nor any Lender undertakes any responsibility to the Company to review or inform the Company of any matter in connection with any phase of the Companys business or operations. The Company agrees that neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have liability to the Company (whether sounding in tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered by the Company in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the transactions contemplated and the relationship established by the Loan Documents, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection therewith, unless it is determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such losses resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party from which recovery is sought. Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have any liability with respect to, and the Company hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue for, any special, indirect or consequential damages suffered by the Company in connection with, arising out of, or in any way related to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby.
13.16 Forum Selection and Consent to Jurisdiction . ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, SHALL BE BROUGHT AND MAINTAINED EXCLUSIVELY IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK; PROVIDED THAT ANY SUIT SEEKING ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE BROUGHT, AT THE AGENTS OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE FOUND. THE COMPANY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION AS SET FORTH ABOVE. THE COMPANY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS BY REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, OR BY PERSONAL SERVICE WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE COMPANY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION
BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
13.17 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE AGENT AND EACH LENDER HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, ANY NOTE, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH OR ARISING FROM ANY LENDING RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE FOREGOING, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.
13.18 Confidentiality . Each Lender agrees to take, and to cause its Affiliates to take, normal and reasonable precautions and exercise due care to maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information provided to it by the Company or any Subsidiary, or by the Agent on the Companys or any Subsidiarys behalf, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and neither such Lender nor any of its Affiliates shall use any such information other than in connection with or in enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or in connection with other business now or hereafter existing or contemplated with the Company or any Subsidiary, except to the extent such information was or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by such Lender or was or becomes available on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company ( provided that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary known to such Lender); provided , however , that any Lender may disclose such information (A) at the request or pursuant to any requirement of any Governmental Authority to which such Lender is subject or in connection with an examination of such Lender by any such authority, (B) pursuant to subpoena or other court process, when required to do so in accordance with the provisions of any applicable requirement of law, (C) to the extent reasonably required in connection with any litigation or proceeding to which the Agent or any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates may be party, (D) to the extent reasonably required in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document, (E) to such Lenders independent auditors and other professional advisors, (F) to any participant or assignee, actual or potential, provided that such Person agrees in writing to keep such information confidential to the same extent required of the Lenders hereunder, (G) as to any Lender or its Affiliate, as expressly permitted under the terms of any other document or agreement regarding confidentiality to which the Company or any Subsidiary is party or is deemed party with such Lender or such Affiliate, (H) to its Affiliates and (I) to any nationally recognized rating agency that requires access to information about such Lenders investment portfolio in connection with ratings issued to such Lender.
Delivered at Detroit, Michigan as of the day and year first above written.
|
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Dave Jones |
|
Title: |
EVP & CFO |
|
MERCEDES-BENZ FINANCIAL SERVICES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Michele Nowak |
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Title: |
Credit Director, National Accounts |
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TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION
,
|
|
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|
|
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|
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By: |
/s/ John Laging |
|
Title: Corporate Manager Dealer Credit,
|
SCHEDULE 2.1
LENDERS AND PRO RATA SHARES
Lender |
|
Share of Revolving
|
|
Share of Acquisition
|
|
Pro Rata Share |
|
||
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC |
|
$ |
270,000,000 |
|
$ |
150,000,000 |
|
60.000000000 |
% |
Toyota Motor Credit Corporation |
|
$ |
180,000,000 |
|
$ |
100,000,000 |
|
40.000000000 |
% |
TOTAL |
|
$ |
450,000,000 |
|
$ |
250,000,000 |
|
100 |
% |
SCHEDULE 8.6
LITIGATION AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
A. Litigation
None
B. Contingent Liabilities
1. Indemnification obligations included in agreements referenced in Schedule 9.17.
2. We have sold a number of dealerships to third parties and, as a condition to certain of those sales, remain liable for the lease payments relating to the properties on which those businesses operate in the event of non-payment by the buyer. We are also party to lease agreements on properties that we no longer use in our retail operations that we have sublet to third parties. We rely on subtenants to pay the rent and maintain the property at these locations. In the event a subtenant does not perform as expected, we may not be able to recover amounts owed to us and we could be required to fulfill these obligations. The aggregate rent paid by the tenants on those properties in 2014 was approximately $25.6 million, and, in aggregate, we guarantee or are otherwise liable for approximately $258.6 million of third-party lease payments, including lease payments during available renewal periods.
3. We hold a 9.0% ownership interest in PTL. Historically GECC has provided PTL with a majority of its financing. PTL has refinanced all of its GECC indebtedness. As part of that refinancing, we and the other PTL partners created a new company (Holdings), which, together with GECC, co-issued $700.0 million of 3.8% senior unsecured notes due 2019 (the Holdings Bonds). GECC agreed to be a co-obligor of the Holdings Bonds in order to achieve lower interest rates on the Holdings Bonds. Additional capital contributions from the members may be required to fund interest and principal payments on the Holdings Bonds. In addition, we have agreed to indemnify GECC for 9.0% of any principal or interest that GECC is required to pay as co-obligor, and pay GECC an annual fee of approximately $0.95 million for acting as co-obligor. The maximum amount of our potential obligations to GECC under this agreement are 9.0% of the required principal repayment due in 2019 (which is expected to be $63.1 million) and 9.0% of interest payments under the Holdings Bonds, plus fees and default interest, if any.
4. Our floor plan credit agreement with Mercedes-Benz Financial Service Australia (MBA) provides us revolving loans for the acquisition of commercial vehicles for distribution to our retail network. This facility includes a limited parent guarantee and a commitment to repurchase dealer vehicles in the event the dealers floor plan agreement with MBA is terminated.
SCHEDULE 9.7
PERMITTED EXISTING DEBT
1. Obligations under the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 1, 2014, as amended, among Penske Automotive Group, Inc., various financial institutions and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC.
2. Obligations under the Indenture for the $550,000,000 5.75% senior subordinated notes due 2022, dated August 28, 2012, and the $300,000,000 5.375% senior subordinated notes due 2024, dated November 21, 2014, each, by and among Penske Automotive Group, Inc., as Issuer, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and as supplemented, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
3. Obligations under the £150,000,000 multi-option credit agreement dated as of April 1, 2015, as amended, between the Companys U.K. subsidiaries, the Royal Bank of Scotland plc, as agent for National Westminster Bank plc (RBS) and BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited
4. Obligations under the £30.0 million term loan agreement dated as of January 10, 2012, between the Companys U.K. subsidiaries and RBS, as agent for National Westminster Bank plc, which was used for working capital and an acquisition. The amount outstanding under this term loan as of December 31, 2014 was £12.0 million ($18.7 million).
5. Obligations under the AUD$28.0 million working capital loan agreement, dated as of December 20, 2013, between the Companys Australian subsidiaries, and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd.
6. The intercompany loans previously approved by the Lenders in the current amount of AUS$61 million and AUS$70 million originally funded for the acquisition of the Companys Penske Commercial Vehicles and Penske Power Systems businesses.
7. Penske Automotive Group, Inc. guarantee to MBFS Australia relating to up to AUS$15 million of floor plan and working capital loans.
8. Penske Automotive Group, Inc. guarantee of up to 15 million to MAN Truck and Bus AG in connection with Penske Commercial Vehicles.
9. Letters of credit not to exceed $30 million.
10. Surety Bonds delivered on behalf of the Company and any Domestic Subsidiary in connection with the ordinary course operation of the business consistent with past practice.
SCHEDULE 9.8
PERMITTED EXISTING LIENS
1. Liens in favor of automobile manufacturers or distributors on assets sold to an Automotive Investment that is a Subsidiary until such assets are paid for.
2. Liens securing debt permitted under the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 1, 2014, as amended, among Penske Automotive Group, Inc., various financial institutions and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC.
3. Liens on the stock or assets of Foreign Subsidiaries securing debt permitted under the agreements noted on Schedule 9.7, #3, 4 and 5.
SCHEDULE 9.17
PERMITTED RESTRICTIONS
1. Pursuant to franchise agreements with Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A., ownership interests in any Subsidiary that directly or indirectly owns a Nissan dealership may not be pledged. The Dealer Term Sales and Service Agreement (DTS) contains restrictions relating to change in ownership of the dealerships (DTS Art. 3(b)), pledge, sale or hypothecation of outstanding capital stock (DTS Art. 3(b)(i)), issuance of additional shares of capital stock (DTS Art. 3(b)(i)), sale of principal assets or merger (DTS Art. 3(b)(iii)), distributions or redemptions (DTS Art. 9(c)(ii)), change in principal management (Art. 4(c)) and the right of first refusal with respect to sale or lease of property (DTS Art. 10(A)-(B)).
2. Pursuant to the franchise agreement with Porsche Cars North American, Inc., the ownership interests in any Subsidiary that directly or indirectly owns a Porsche dealership may not be pledged.
3. Pursuant to the Framework Agreement between the Company and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., ownership interests in any Subsidiary that directly or indirectly owns a Toyota or Lexus dealership may not be pledged. The Framework Agreement (FA) and related documents also contain restrictions relating to ownership and control of dealerships (FA §§ 7.2, 7.3), capitalization (FA §§ 7.4, 8.5), capital distributions, dividends or redemptions (FA §7.8), performance criteria (FA § 8.1), cash or asset disbursements (FA § 8.6), the pledges granting of liens or security interest in or with respect to Dealer Agreements (FA § 8.7) and the right of first refusal with respect to the sale or transfer of a Dealer s assets, voting stock or ownership interests (FA §12).
4. Pursuant to the Framework Agreement between the Company and America Honda Motor Co., Inc., ownership interests in any Subsidiary that directly or indirectly owns a Honda or Acura dealership may not be pledged. The Framework Agreement (FA) and related documents also contain restrictions relating to transfer of ownership, control or relocation of dealerships (FA §§ 1.5.3, 1.5.4), qualifications of controlling entity (FA § 1 .5.6), minimum networking capital and lines of credit (Acura Automobile Dealer Sales and Service Agreement ¶ G), assignment of Dealers interest in sales and service agreement (Honda and Acura Automobile Dealer Sales and Service Agreements ¶ J) and pledging stock and granting a security interest in stock (American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Policy on the Granting of Security Interest in the Shares of any Entity that Owns an Interest in a Honda or Acura Dealership).
5. Pursuant to the Franchise Agreement with BMW of North America, Inc., the ownership interests of any Subsidiary that directly or indirectly owns a BMW dealership may not be pledged.
6. Pursuant to the franchise, floor plan and/or Dealer Agreements to which the Companys subsidiaries are subject, certain subsidiaries are required to satisfy certain financial covenants, including the maintenance of a certain minimum working capital, capitalization and net worth. These requirements may restrict the ability of the Companys operating subsidiaries to make dividend payments.
7. Pursuant to the franchise, floor plan and/or Dealer Agreements to which the Companys subsidiaries are subject, there are restrictions on changes in management, the transfer or pledge of the controlling interest of the ownership entity, the assignment or pledge of the dealership agreements or mergers or change in ownership of the dealer, directly or indirectly, transfers of assets outside the ordinary course of business and in certain cases the manufacturer has a right of first refusal on any transfer of the assets or stock of the subsidiary.
8. Floor plan agreements, Dealer Agreements and sales and services agreements to which the Company and/or its subsidiaries are subject on the Effective Date restrict the pledging or granting of security interests in certain assets of the Companys subsidiaries.
9. Each of the Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of April 1, 2014 and the Subordinated Notes contains restrictions on the business and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, and the agreements referenced on Schedule 9.7, #3, 4 and 5 contain restrictions on the business and operations of Sytner Group Limited and Foreign Subsidiaries.
SCHEDULE 9.19
INVESTMENTS
1. The Companys existing Investments set forth below, including notes paid by the purchasers in connection with sales by the Company and its Subsidiaries of U.S. dealership operations.
Summary of Outstanding Notes
Lender |
|
Debtor |
|
Original
|
|
Issuance
|
|
Maturity |
|
Current
|
|
||
PAG |
|
Hartz Automotive Enterprises PC |
|
$ |
8,547,289 |
|
6/2/2008 |
|
12/31/2037 |
|
6,741,523 |
|
|
PAG |
|
Hartz Automotive Enterprises Cerritos |
|
$ |
4,111,450 |
|
6/2/2008 |
|
2/28/2027 |
|
2,740,967 |
|
|
Total Notes |
|
|
|
$ |
12,658,739 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,482,490 |
|
Summary of Other Investments
Penske Wynn |
|
$ |
3,739,000 |
|
PAG Stratton Motorcycles |
|
$ |
1,500,000 |
|
National Powersports Auctions |
|
$ |
3,000,000 |
|
Penske Vehicle Services |
|
$ |
2,000,000 |
|
Total Other Investments |
|
$ |
10,239,000 |
|
SCHEDULE 13.3
ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
2555 Telegraph Rd.
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
Attn: David K. Jones
Telephone No.: 248-648-2800
Facsimile No.: 248-648-2805
With a copy to :
Shane M. Spradlin
General Counsel
Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
2555 Telegraph Rd.
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
Telephone No.: 248-648-2560
Facsimile No.: 248-648-2515
MERCEDES-BENZ FINANCIAL SERVICES USA LLC , as Agent and as a Lender
36455 Corporate Drive
Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3552
Attention: Michele Nowak
Phone: 248-991-6581
Fax: 877-887-8604
E-Mail: michele.a.nowak@daimler.com
TOYOTA MOTOR CREDIT CORPORATION , as a Lender
19001 South Western Avenue
Torrance, CA 90501
Attention: Thomas Miller, National Accounts Manager
Telephone No.: 310-468-5557
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTE
, 20
Detroit, Michigan
The undersigned, for value received, promises to pay to the order of (the Lender ) at the principal office of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC (the Agent ) in Farmington Hills, Michigan the aggregate unpaid amount of all Loans made to the undersigned by the Lender pursuant to the Credit Agreement referred to below (as shown on the schedule attached hereto (and any continuation thereof) or in the records of the Lender), such principal amount to be payable on the dates set forth in the Credit Agreement.
The undersigned further promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan from the date of such Loan until such Loan is paid in full, payable at the rate(s) and at the time(s) set forth in the Credit Agreement. Payments of both principal and interest are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America.
This Note evidences indebtedness incurred under, and is subject to the terms and provisions of, the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2015 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement ; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement), among the undersigned, certain financial institutions (including the Lender) and the Agent, to which Credit Agreement reference is hereby made for a statement of the terms and provisions under which this Note may or must be paid prior to its due date or its due date accelerated.
This Note is made under and governed by the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.
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PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
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By: |
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Title: |
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Schedule attached to Note dated , 20 of PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC., payable to the order of .
Date and
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Date and
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Maturity Date |
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Unpaid Principal
|
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Notation Made
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EXHIBIT B
FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
To: Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as Agent
Please refer to the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2015 (as amended, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement ) among Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (the Company ), various financial institutions and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as agent (in such capacity, the Agent ). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement.
I. Reports . Enclosed herewith is a copy of the annual audited/quarterly report of the Company as at , 20 (the Computation Date ), which report fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations [(subject to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end adjustments)] of the Company as of the Computation Date and has been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
II. Financial Tests . The Company hereby certifies and warrants to you that the financial ratios and/or financial restrictions set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto are true and correct computations as at the Computation Date.
III. Current Assets Commitment Amount . The Company hereby elects [not] to include a Current Assets Commitment Amount [of $ ] in the applicable financial ratios and/or financial restrictions set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto.
IV. Foreign Acquisitions and Foreign Investments . The Company further certifies to you that:
1. the total amount of all consideration paid for all Foreign Acquisitions made by the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries during the period covered by this compliance certificate (including cash and noncash purchase price, noncompetition payments, earnout payments, debt assumption and other similar consideration) was $ ; and
2. the aggregate amount of all Foreign Investments by the Company and its Domestic Subsidiaries made during the period covered by this compliance certificate was $ .
V. No Default . The officer signing this certificate has not become aware of any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer on , 20 .
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PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
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By: |
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Title: |
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Date: |
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For the fiscal quarter/year ended |
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SCHEDULE 1
to the Compliance Certificate
($ in 000s)
I. |
Current Ratio (Section 9.6.1) |
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|||||||
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|||||
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A. |
Consolidated Current Assets [(including the Current Assets Commitment Amount ( item I.A.3. below))]: |
$ |
|||||||
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1. |
Maximum Availability: |
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$ |
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2. |
Specified Current Assets Commitment Amount: |
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$ |
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3. |
Current Assets Commitment Amount (the lesser of 1 and 2 ): |
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$ ] |
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B. |
Consolidated Current Liabilities [(including the Current Assets Commitment Amount ( item I.A.3 above))]: |
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$ |
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C. |
Ratio of A to B: |
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: 1.0 |
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D. |
Permitted Ratio of A to B : |
Not less than 1.00:1.0. |
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|
|
|
|
|
||||||
II. |
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (Section 9.6.2) |
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
A. |
EBITDAR: |
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
1. |
EBITDA: |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
a. |
Consolidated Net Income: |
|
$ |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
b. |
PLUS |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
(i) |
Interest Expense: |
|
$ |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
(ii) |
income tax expense: |
|
$ |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
(iii) |
depreciation and amortization: |
|
$ |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
(iv) |
minority interest: |
|
$ |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
(v) |
franchise taxes: |
|
$ |
|||
|
|
|
|
Total additions: |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA (result of a plus b ): |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. |
Rental Expense: |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. |
EBITDAR (result of 1 plus 2 ): |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Capital Expenditures (other than, without duplication, Acquisition Capital Expenditures and Financed Capital Expenditures): |
$ |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
C. |
Result of A minus B : |
|
$ |
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
D. |
Sum of : |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
Interest Expense to the extent paid in cash |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. |
Rental Expense: |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. |
income tax expense of the Company and its Subsidiaries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
to the extent paid in cash: |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. |
scheduled payments of principal of Debt for the |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company and its Subsidiaries: |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. |
Total: |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. |
Ratio of C to D.5 : |
|
:1.0 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
F. |
Permitted Ratio of C to D.5 : |
|
Not less than
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
III. |
Ratio of Non-Floorplan Debt to Stockholders Equity (Section 9.6.3) |
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries [(including the Current Assets Commitment Amount ( item I.A.3 ))] |
$ |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
B. |
LESS : |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
contingent obligations in respect of Suretyship Liabilities (except to the extent constituting Suretyship Liabilities in respect of Debt of a Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary): |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. |
Hedging Obligations: |
|
$ |
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE
The undersigned hereby certifies that the undersigned (a) is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (the Company ), (b) is the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of each other Loan Party (as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below), (c) is authorized to certify as to the financial statements of each Loan Party, (d) is familiar with the properties, business and assets of each Loan Party and (e) is authorized to execute and deliver this Certificate on behalf of each Loan Party. The undersigned further certifies that the undersigned has reviewed the contents of this Certificate and, in connection herewith, has made such investigations and inquiries as the undersigned deemed necessary and prudent. The undersigned further certifies that the undersigned believes that the financial information and assumptions which underlie and form the basis for the representations made in this Certificate were reasonable when made and continue to be reasonable as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2015 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement ) among the Company, various financial institutions (the Lenders ) and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the Agent ), are used herein as so defined. The undersigned hereby further certifies that it is the belief of the undersigned that:
1. As of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the Loans under the Credit Agreement, the Loan Parties taken as a whole will not have an unreasonably small capital to carry on their business and transactions and all business and transactions in which they are about to engage.
2. As of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the Loans under the Credit Agreement, the Loan Parties taken as a whole are able to pay their debts as they mature.
3. As of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the Loans under the Credit Agreement, the Loan Parties taken as a whole are not insolvent and the Loan Parties taken as a whole have assets (tangible and intangible) having a value, both at fair valuation and at present fair saleable value, in excess of their total liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, disputed, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities).
4. As of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the Loans under the Credit Agreement, no Loan Party intends to, nor believes that it will, incur debts or liabilities beyond its ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they mature.
5. No Loan Party intends, in consummating the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement, to delay, hinder or defraud either present or future creditors or other Persons to which such Loan Party is or will become, on or after the date hereof, indebted.
6. The Credit Agreement was executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Agent and the Lenders in good faith and in exchange for a reasonably equivalent value.
7. In reaching the conclusions set forth in this Certificate, I have considered, among other things:
a. the cash and other current assets of the Loan Parties;
b. refinancing or other replacements of existing liabilities, debts, obligations and commitments which the Loan Parties reasonably expect will be available on the dates of their respective maturities;
c. the estimated value of all property, real and personal, tangible and intangible of the Loan Parties;
d. the audited financial statements of the Loan Parties dated December 31, 2014 and the unaudited financial statements of the Loan Parties dated March 31, 2015 all as previously delivered to the Agent and the Lenders;
e. all liabilities of the Loan Parties known to me on all claims, whether or not reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured, unsecured, fixed or contingent, including, among other things, claims arising out of pending or, to my knowledge, threatened litigation against the Loan Parties;
f. customary terms of trade payables in the industry of the Loan Parties;
g. the amount of credit extended to customers of the Loan Parties; and
h. the amount of equity capital of the Loan Parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate on behalf of the Loan Parties as of this day of May, 2015.
|
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
Name: |
|
|
Title: |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT G
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
|
Date: |
|
To:
Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
and
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as Agent
Re: Assignment under the Credit Agreement referred to below
Gentlemen and Ladies:
Please refer to Section 13.9.1 of the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2015 (as amended, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement ) among Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (the Company ), various financial institutions and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, as agent (in such capacity, the Agent ). Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires, terms used herein have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.
(the Assignor ) hereby sells and assigns to (the Assignee ), and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, that interest in and to the Assignors rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement as of the date hereof equal to % of all of the Loans and of the Commitments, such sale, purchase, assignment and assumption to be effective as of , 20 , or such later date on which the Company and the Agent shall have consented hereto (the Effective Date ). After giving effect to such sale, purchase, assignment and assumption, the Assignees and the Assignors respective Pro Rata Share for purposes of the Credit Agreement will be as set forth opposite their names on the signature pages hereof.
The Assignor hereby instructs the Agent to make all payments from and after the Effective Date in respect of the interest assigned hereby directly to the Assignee. The Assignor and the Assignee agree that all interest and fees accrued up to, but not including, the Effective Date are the property of the Assignor, and not the Assignee. The Assignee agrees that, upon receipt of any such interest or fees, the Assignee will promptly remit the same to the Assignor.
The Assignee hereby confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement and the exhibits thereto, together with copies of the documents which were required to be delivered under the Credit Agreement as a condition to the making of the initial Loans thereunder. The Assignee acknowledges and agrees that it (i) has made and will continue to make such inquiries and has taken and will take such care on its own behalf as would have been the case had its Commitment been granted and its Loans been made directly to, and the Letters of Credit been issued by the Assignee for the account of, the Company without the intervention of the Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and (ii) has made and will continue to make, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, its own credit analysis and decisions relating to the
Credit Agreement. The Assignee further acknowledges and agrees that neither the Agent nor the Assignor has made any representation or warranty about the creditworthiness of the Company or any other party to the Credit Agreement or with respect to the legality, validity, sufficiency or enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the value of any security therefor. This assignment shall be made without recourse to the Assignor.
The Assignor represents and warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim.
The Assignee represents and warrants to the Company and the Agent that, as of the date hereof, the Company will not be obligated to pay any greater amount under Section 7.6 of the Credit Agreement than the Company is obligated to pay to the Assignor under such Section. [The Assignee has delivered, or is delivering concurrently herewith, to the Company and the Agent the forms required by Section 7.6 of the Credit Agreement.] [INSERT IF ASSIGNEE IS ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF A JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR A STATE THEREOF.]
Except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement, effective as of the Effective Date:
(a) the Assignee (i) shall be deemed automatically to have become a party to the Credit Agreement and to have all the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Credit Agreement as if it were an original signatory thereto to the extent specified in the second paragraph hereof and (ii) agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement as if it were an original signatory thereto; and
(b) the Assignor shall be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement to the extent specified in the second paragraph hereof.
The Assignee hereby advises each of you of the following administrative details with respect to the assigned Loans and Commitment:
A. |
|
Institution Name: |
|
|
|
|
|
Address: |
|
|
|
|
|
Attention: |
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone: |
|
|
|
|
|
Facsimile: |
|
|
|
B. |
|
Payment Instructions: |
Please evidence your receipt hereof and your consent to the sale, assignment, purchase and assumption set forth herein by signing and returning counterparts hereof to the Assignor and the Assignee.
Pro Rata Share = % |
[ASSIGNEE] |
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
By: |
|
||||||
|
Title: |
|
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
Adjusted Pro Rata Share = % |
[ASSIGNOR] |
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
By: |
|
||||||
|
Title: |
|
||||||
ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONSENTED TO |
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
this day of , 20 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
MERCEDES-BENZ FINANCIAL SERVICES USA LLC, as Agent |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
By: |
|
|
||||||
Title: |
|
|
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONSENTED TO |
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
this day of , 20 |
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|||||||
By: |
|
|||||||
Title: |
|
|
||||||
EXHIBIT I
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO
SUBORDINATED DEBT
The indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated notes shall at all times be wholly subordinate and junior in right or payment to any and all Superior Indebtedness (as defined below) in the manner and with the force and effect hereinafter set forth:
(a) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (the Company ), or of any execution sale, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding relative to the Company or its property, all principal, interest, fees, reimbursement obligations and other amounts owing on all Superior Indebtedness shall first be paid in full before any payment is made upon the indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated notes; and in any such event any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than in securities or other evidences of indebtedness, the payment of which is subordinated to the same extent as the indebtedness evidenced hereby to the payment of all Superior Indebtedness which may at the time be outstanding) which shall be made upon or in respect of the subordinated notes shall be paid over to the holders of such Superior Indebtedness, pro rata , for application in payment thereof until such Superior Indebtedness shall have been paid or satisfied in full.
(b) During the continuance of any default in any agreement pursuant to which any Superior Indebtedness is issued which arises from the failure to pay when due (whether by acceleration or otherwise) any principal of, premium, if any, interest on, fees or other amounts in respect of such Superior Indebtedness (a Superior Payment Default ), no payment of principal, premium or interest shall be made on the subordinated notes if either (i) notice in writing of such default has been given to the Company by any holder or holders of any Superior Indebtedness or (ii) judicial proceedings shall be pending in respect of such default.
(c) During the continuance of any event of default or unmatured event of default in any agreement pursuant to which any Superior Indebtedness is issued other than a Superior Payment Default (a Superior Non-Payment Default ) as to which the Company has received notice in writing from any holder or holders of Superior Indebtedness, no payment of principal, premium or interest shall be made on the subordinated notes for a period (each, a Payment Blockage Period ) commencing on the date of receipt by the Company of such notice and terminating on the earliest to occur of the following dates: (i) the date of acceleration of the Superior Indebtedness, (ii) 180 days after the Companys receipt of such written notice, (iii) the date such Superior Non-Payment Default shall have been cured or waived, or shall have ceased to exist, (iv) the date the Superior Indebtedness shall have been discharged or paid in full in cash or (v) the date such Payment Blockage Period shall have been terminated by written notice to the Company from the holder or holders of Superior Indebtedness initiating such Payment Blockage Period, after which, in the case of clauses (ii) , (iii) , (iv) and (v) , the Company shall resume making payments in respect of the subordinated notes, unless clause (a) or (b) above is then applicable.
(d) If the subordinated notes are declared or become due and payable because of the occurrence of any default thereunder or under the agreement or instrument under which they are issued or otherwise at the option of the Company, under circumstances when clause (a) above shall not be applicable, the holders of the subordinated notes shall not be entitled to payments until sixty (60) days after such event and then only if such payment is permitted under clauses (a) and (b) above.
(e) The holder of each subordinated note undertakes and agrees for the benefit of each holder of Superior Indebtedness to execute, verify, deliver and file any proof of claim, consent, assignment or other instrument which any holder of Superior Indebtedness may at any time require in order to prove and realize upon any right or claim pertaining to the subordinated notes and to effectuate the full benefit of the subordination contained herein; and upon failure of the holder of any subordinated note so to do any such holder of Superior Indebtedness shall be deemed to be irrevocably appointed the agent and attorney-in-fact of the holder of such note to execute, verify, deliver and file any such proof of claim, consent, assignment or other instrument.
(f) No right of any holder of any Superior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time or in any way be affected or impaired by any failure to act on the part of the Company or any holder of Superior Indebtedness, or by any non-compliance by the Company with any term, provision or covenant of the subordinated notes or the agreement under which they are issued, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder of Superior Indebtedness may have or be otherwise charged with.
(g) The Company agrees, for the benefit of the holders of Superior Indebtedness, that in the event that any subordinated note is declared due and payable before its expressed maturity because of the occurrence of a default thereunder or under the agreement under which it was issued, the Company will give prompt notice in writing of such happening to the holders of Superior Indebtedness.
(h) Superior Indebtedness means (a) all obligations of the Company under or in connection with the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2015 among the Company, various financial institutions and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC ( MBFS ), as agent (as amended, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement ), whether for principal, interest (including any interest that would accrue but for the filing of a petition initiating any bankruptcy, insolvency or like proceeding, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the debtor), fees, expenses or otherwise and (b) all other obligations of the Company to MBFS, howsoever arising or evidenced.
EXHIBIT K
FORM OF BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE
To: MERCEDES-BENZ FINANCIAL
SERVICES USA LLC, as Agent
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please refer to the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of May 1, 2015 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement ) among Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (the Company ), various financial institutions and MERCEDES-BENZ FINANCIAL SERVICES USA LLC, as agent. This certificate (this Certificate ), together with supporting calculations attached hereto, is delivered to you pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as in the Credit Agreement.
The Company hereby certifies and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders that at the close of business on , 20 (the Calculation Date ), the Borrowing Base was $ , computed as set forth on the schedule attached hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate to be executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized on , 20 .
|
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
Title: |
|
SCHEDULE TO BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE
Dated as of , 20 .
|
|
|
|
MINUS |
|
MINUS
|
|
MINUS |
|
Jun-04 |
|
Scale |
|
Borrowing |
|
Combined Assets: |
|
TOTAL |
|
Brazil |
|
Rico |
|
U.K. |
|
Domestic |
|
% |
|
Base |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Cash & New Equity |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
100 |
% |
0.0 |
|
Used Equity |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
80 |
% |
0.0 |
|
Customer Receivables |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
65 |
% |
0.0 |
|
Factory Receivables |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
65 |
% |
0.0 |
|
Finance Co. Receivables |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
65 |
% |
0.0 |
|
Parts Inventory |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
65 |
% |
0.0 |
|
Discontinued Operations |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
Company Cars |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
Furniture, Fixtures, & Equipment |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
45 |
% |
0.0 |
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets for Collateral |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Outstandings as of |
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
Portion Unsecured |
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
*NOTE: In order to include Cash in this calculation, a Blocked Account Agreement would be required.
EXHIBIT M
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO ELIGIBLE REAL ESTATE COLLATERAL
No parcel of Eligible Real Estate shall be Eligible Real Estate Collateral until the owner of such real property has provided to the Agent the following, each of which shall be satisfactory to the Agent in form and substance:
1. An ALTA/ACSM survey, certified to the Agent, disclosing the flood zone status, and containing such Table A items as the Agent shall reasonably specify;
2. A commitment for title insurance, together with written undertaking of title insurer to issue such endorsements to the title policy as the Agent may reasonably specify;
3. Copies of all documents constituting exceptions to the title insurance commitment to be delivered in connection with the title insurance policy;
4. Copies of all leases affecting the property (or certification that there are none) together with estoppels from any tenants under any identified leases;
5. Copies of current real estate tax bills;
6. Estoppels from any counterparty to a reciprocal easement or other restriction upon the title that imposes continuing obligations, or equivalent lender protection via endorsement to the required title insurance policy (e.g., ALTA 9);
7. PZR Report, Zoning Compliance letter from the municipality or equivalent setting forth the zoning status of the property, provided that such report or letter shall not be required to the extent the required title insurance policy contains an ALTA 3.1 (or equivalent) endorsement;
8. Waiver or subordination to the Lien of the related Mortgage of any interests that would otherwise be prior to the Lien of such Mortgage;
9. Final paid up title policy conforming with the Agents evaluation of title commitment and survey in the lesser of the amount secured by the property or the value of the property;
10. Such other items as may be request by the title agent in connection with the issuance of a commitment for title insurance or a title policy;
11. MAI Appraisal, prepared by an independent appraiser satisfactory to the Agent within twelve months of the date of delivery and in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent in its sole discretion, of the property indicating the value of the property and otherwise conforming with the requirements of Section 9.22;
12. Certificates of occupancy and business licenses relative to the property;
13. Phase I Environmental Report together with reliance letter in favor of the Agent and the Lenders;
14. Copy of the Companys or the applicable Domestic Subsidiarys, as applicable, insurance policies, evidencing coverages acceptable to the Agent and with standard mortgagees endorsement in favor of the Agent;
15. Mortgage (including fixture filing) providing that the Agent is the holder of a first priority security interest for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders in the ownership interest of the Company or the applicable Domestic Subsidiary, as applicable, therein;
16. Environmental Indemnity from the Company or the applicable Domestic Subsidiary, as applicable; and
17. Opinion of counsel addressed to the Agent and the Lenders covering such matters as the Agent may reasonably request.
Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION VERSION
DATED 2 april 2015
(1) UAG UK HOLDINGS LIMITED
(as Parent)
(2) SYTNER GROUP LIMITED
(as Company and Original Borrower)
(3) THE COMPANIES LISTED IN PART 1 OF SCHEDULE 1 OF THIS AGREEMENT
(as Original Guarantors)
(4) THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC AND BMW FINANCIAL SERVICES (GB) LIMITED
(as Mandated Lead Arranger)
(5) THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LISTED IN PART 2 AND PART 3 OF SCHEDULE 1 OF THIS AGREEMENT
(as Original Lenders)
(6) THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
(as Agent)
(7) THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
(as Security Agent)
£150,000,000 REVOLVING FACILITY AGREEMENT
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON 19 DECEMBER 2014 AND
2 APRIL 2015
CONTENTS
Clause |
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1 |
DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
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1 |
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2 |
THE FACILITY |
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45 |
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3 |
PURPOSE |
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48 |
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4 |
CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION |
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48 |
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5 |
UTILISATION - LOANS |
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49 |
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6 |
ANCILLARY FACILITIES |
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50 |
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7 |
REPAYMENT |
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56 |
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8 |
ILLEGALITY, VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION |
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57 |
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9 |
MANDATORY PREPAYMENT |
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58 |
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10 |
RESTRICTIONS |
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59 |
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11 |
INTEREST |
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61 |
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12 |
INTEREST PERIODS |
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62 |
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13 |
CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST |
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62 |
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14 |
FEES |
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64 |
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15 |
TAX GROSS UP AND INDEMNITIES |
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65 |
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16 |
INCREASED COSTS |
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74 |
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17 |
OTHER INDEMNITIES |
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76 |
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18 |
MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS |
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78 |
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19 |
COSTS AND EXPENSES |
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79 |
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20 |
GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY |
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81 |
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21 |
REPRESENTATIONS |
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85 |
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22 |
INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS |
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92 |
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23 |
FINANCIAL COVENANTS |
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98 |
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24 |
GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS |
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102 |
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25 |
EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
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112 |
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26 |
CHANGES TO THE LENDERS |
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118 |
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27 |
RESTRICTION ON DEBT PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS |
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123 |
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28 |
CHANGES TO THE OBLIGORS |
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124 |
29 |
ROLE OF THE AGENT, THE ARRANGER AND OTHERS |
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128 |
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30 |
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE FINANCE PARTIES |
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138 |
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31 |
SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES |
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139 |
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32 |
PAYMENT MECHANICS |
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141 |
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33 |
SET-OFF |
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145 |
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34 |
NOTICES |
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145 |
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35 |
CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES |
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148 |
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36 |
PARTIAL INVALIDITY |
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149 |
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37 |
REMEDIES AND WAIVERS |
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149 |
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38 |
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS |
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149 |
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39 |
CONFIDENTIALITY |
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153 |
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40 |
COUNTERPARTS |
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157 |
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41 |
GOVERNING LAW |
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158 |
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42 |
ENFORCEMENT |
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158 |
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SCHEDULE 1 - THE ORIGINAL PARTIES |
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158 |
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PART 1 - THE ORIGINAL OBLIGORS |
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159 |
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PART 2 - THE ORIGINAL LENDERS - OTHER THAN UK NON-BANK LENDERS |
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160 |
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PART 3 - THE ORIGINAL LENDERS - UK NON-BANK LENDERS |
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161 |
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SCHEDULE 2 - CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
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162 |
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PART 1 - CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT |
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163 |
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PART 2 - CONDITIONS PRECEDENT REQUIRED TO BE DELIVERED BY AN ADDITIONAL OBLIGOR |
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165 |
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SCHEDULE 3 UTILISATION REQUEST |
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167 |
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SCHEDULE 4 - FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE |
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169 |
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SCHEDULE 5 - FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT |
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171 |
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SCHEDULE 6 - FORM OF ACCESSION DEED |
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175 |
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SCHEDULE 7 - FORM OF RESIGNATION LETTER |
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178 |
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SCHEDULE 8 - FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE |
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179 |
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SCHEDULE 9 - TIMETABLE |
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182 |
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SCHEDULE 10 - AGREED SECURITY PRINCIPLES |
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183 |
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SCHEDULE 11 - FORM OF INCREASE CONFIRMATION |
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184 |
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SCHEDULE 12 - FORMS OF NOTIFIABLE DEBT PURCHASE TRANSACTION NOTICE |
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188 |
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PART 1 - FORM OF NOTICE ON ENTERING INTO NOTIFIABLE DEBT PURCHASE TRANSACTION |
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188 |
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PART 2 - FORM OF NOTICE ON TERMINATION OF NOTIFIABLE DEBT PURCHASE TRANSACTION/NOTIFIABLE DEBT PURCHASE TRANSACTION CEASING TO BE WITH SPONSOR AFFILIATE |
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188 |
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SCHEDULE 13 - FRANCHISES |
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190 |
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Schedule 14- EXISTING SECURITY DOCUMENTS |
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192 |
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THIS AGREEMENT is made on 16 December 2011 as amended and restated on 19 December 2014 and 2 April 2015
BETWEEN:-
(1) UAG UK HOLDINGS LIMITED (the Parent );
(2) SYTNER GROUP LIMITED (the Company );
(3) THE SUBSIDIARIES of the Company listed in Part 1 of Schedule 4 ( The Original Parties ) as original guarantors (together with the Parent and the Company, the Original Guarantors );
(4) THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC AND BMW FINANCIAL SERVICES (GB) LIMITED as mandated lead arrangers (whether acting individually or together) (the Arranger );
(5) THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS listed in Part 2 and Part 3 of Schedule 4 ( The Original Parties ) as lenders (the Original Lenders );
(6) THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC as agent of the other Finance Parties (the Agent ); and
(7) THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC as security trustee for the Secured Parties (the Security Agent ).
IT IS AGREED as follows:-
SECTION 1
INTERPRETATION
10. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
10.1 Definitions
In this Agreement:-
2012 Amendment Deed |
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means the amendment deed dated 10 January 2012 amending this Agreement
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Acceptable Bank |
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means:-
(a) a bank or financial institution which has a rating for its long-term unsecured and non credit-enhanced debt obligations of A or higher by Standard & Poors Rating Services or Fitch Ratings Ltd or A2 or higher by Moodys Investors Service Limited or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency or
(b) The Royal Bank of Scotland plc and National Westminster Bank Plc provided that they have a rating for their long term unsecured and non credit enhanced debt obligations of A- or higher by Standard & Poors Rating Services or Fitch Ratings Ltd or A3 or higher by Moodys Investors Service Limited or a comparable rating from an internationally recognised credit rating agency or |
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(c) any other bank or financial institution approved by the Agent |
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Accession Deed |
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means a document substantially in the form set out in Schedule 9 ( Form of Accession Deed ) |
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Accounting Principles |
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means generally accepted accounting principles in the United Kingdom, including IFRS |
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Accounting Reference Date |
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means 31 December |
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Additional Borrower |
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means a company which becomes an Additional Borrower in accordance with Clause 37 ( Changes to the Obligors ) |
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Additional Guarantor |
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means a company which becomes an Additional Guarantor in accordance with Clause 37 ( Changes to the Obligors ) |
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Additional Obligor |
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means an Additional Borrower or an Additional Guarantor |
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Affiliate |
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means, in relation to any person, a Subsidiary of that person or a Holding Company of that person or any other Subsidiary of that Holding Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in relation to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, the term Affiliate shall not include (i) the UK government or any member or instrumentality thereof, including Her Majestys Treasury and UK Financial Investments Limited (or any directors, officers, employees or entities thereof) or (ii) any persons or entities controlled by or under common control with the UK government or any member or instrumentality thereof (including Her Majestys Treasury and UK Financial Investments Limited) and which are not part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc and its subsidiaries or subsidiary undertakings |
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Agreed Security Principles |
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means the principles set out in Schedule 13 ( Agreed Security Principles ) |
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Ancillary Commencement Date |
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means, in relation to an Ancillary Facility, the date on which that Ancillary Facility is first made available, which date shall be a Business Day within the Availability Period for the Facility |
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Ancillary Commitment |
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means, in relation to an Ancillary Lender and an Ancillary Facility, the maximum amount which that Ancillary Lender has agreed (whether or not subject to satisfaction of conditions precedent) to make available from time to time under an Ancillary Facility and which has been authorised as such under Clause 15 ( Ancillary Facilities ), to the extent that amount is not cancelled or reduced under this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents relating to that Ancillary Facility |
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Ancillary Document |
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means each document relating to or evidencing the terms of an Ancillary Facility |
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Ancillary Facility |
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means any ancillary facility made available by an Ancillary Lender in accordance with Clause 15 ( Ancillary Facilities ) |
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Ancillary Lender |
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means each Lender (or Affiliate of a Lender) which makes available an Ancillary Facility in accordance with Clause 15 |
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Commitment:-
(i) that Lenders participation in any Utilisations that are due to be repaid or prepaid on or before the proposed Utilisation Date and
(ii) that Lenders (and its Affiliates) Ancillary Commitments to the extent that they are due to be reduced or cancelled on or before the proposed Utilisation Date |
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Available Credit Balance |
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means, in relation to an Ancillary Facility, credit balances on any account of any Borrower of that Ancillary Facility with the Ancillary Lender making available that Ancillary Facility to the extent that those credit balances are freely available to be set off by that Ancillary Lender against liabilities owed to it by that Borrower under that Ancillary Facility |
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Available Facility |
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means the aggregate for the time being of each Lenders Available Commitment |
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Base Reference Bank Rate |
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means the arithmetic mean of the rates (rounded upwards to four decimal places) as supplied to the Agent at its request by the Base Reference Banks in relation to LIBOR
(a) (other than where paragraph (b) below applies) as the rate at which the relevant Base Reference Bank could borrow funds in the London interbank market in the relevant currency and for the relevant period were it to do so by asking for and then accepting interbank offers for deposits in reasonable market size in that currency and for that period or
(b) if different, as the rate (if any and applied to the relevant Base Reference Bank and the relevant currency and period) which contributors to the applicable Screen Rate are asked to submit to the relevant administrator |
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Base Reference Banks |
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means the principal London offices of two or more banks or financial institutions as may be appointed by the Agent in consultation with the Company, save that no Lender shall be appointed as a Base Reference Bank without its prior written consent |
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Bilateral Overdraft Lender |
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means The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as agent for National Westminster Bank Plc in its capacity as lender under the NatWest Overdraft Letter |
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Borrower |
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means the Company or an Additional Borrower unless it has ceased to be a Borrower in accordance with Clause 37 ( Changes to the Obligors ) and, in respect of an Ancillary Facility only, any Affiliate of a Borrower that becomes a borrower of that Ancillary Facility with the approval of the relevant Lender pursuant to Clause 15.9 ( Affiliates of Borrowers ) |
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Borrowings |
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has the meaning given to that term in Clause 32.1 ( Financial |
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definitions ) |
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Break Costs |
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means the amount (if any) by which:-
(a) the interest (excluding the Margin) which a Lender should have received for the period from the date of receipt of all or any part of its participation in a Loan or Unpaid Sum to the last day of the current Interest Period in respect of that Loan or Unpaid Sum, had the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received been paid on the last day of that Interest Period
exceeds:-
(b) the amount which that Lender would be able to obtain by placing an amount equal to the principal amount or Unpaid Sum received by it on deposit with a leading bank for a period starting on the Business Day following receipt or recovery and ending on the last day of the current Interest Period |
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Budget |
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means:-
(a) in relation to the period beginning on 1 January 2011 and ending on 31 December 2011, the budget delivered by the Company to the Lenders prior to the date of this Agreement and
(b) in relation to any other period, any budget delivered by the Company to the Agent in respect of that period pursuant to Clause 31.4 ( Budget ) |
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Business Day |
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means a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open for general business in London |
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Capital Expenditure |
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has the meaning given to that term in Clause 32.1 ( Financial definitions ) |
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Cash |
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means, at any time, cash denominated in Sterling in hand or at bank and (in the latter case) credited to an account in the name of an Obligor with an Acceptable Bank and to which an Obligor is alone (or together with other Obligors) beneficially entitled and for so long as:-
(a) that cash is repayable within 30 days after the relevant date of calculation
(b) repayment of that cash is not contingent on the prior discharge of any other indebtedness of any member of the Group or of any other person whatsoever or on the satisfaction of any other condition
(c) there is no Security over that cash except for Transaction Security or any Permitted Security constituted by a netting or set-off arrangement entered into by members of the Group in the ordinary course of their banking arrangements and |
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(f) any other debt security approved by the Majority Lenders,
in each case, denominated in Sterling and to which any Obligor is alone (or together with other Obligors beneficially entitled at that time and which is not issued or guaranteed by any member of the Group or subject to any Security (other than Security arising under the Transaction Security Documents) |
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Cashflow |
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has the meaning given to that term in Clause 32.1 ( Financial definitions ) |
Change of Control |
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means PAG ceases to control directly or indirectly the Company and/or any person or group of persons acting in concert gains direct or indirect control of the Company. For the purposes of this definition:-
(a) control of the Company means:-
(i) the power (whether by way of ownership of shares, proxy, contract, agency or otherwise) to:-
(A) cast, or control the casting of, 51% or more of the maximum number of votes that might be cast at a general meeting of the Company or
(B) appoint or remove all, or the majority, of the directors or other equivalent officers of the Company or
(C) give directions with respect to the operating and financial policies of the Company with which the directors or other equivalent officers of the Company are obliged to comply and/or
(ii) the holding beneficially of 51% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding any part of that issued share capital that carries no right to participate beyond a specified amount in a distribution of either profits or capital)
(b) acting in concert means, a group of persons who, pursuant to an agreement or understanding (whether formal or informal), actively co-operate, through the acquisition directly or indirectly of shares in the Company by any of them, either directly or indirectly, to obtain or consolidate control of the Company |
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Charged Property |
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means all of the assets of the Obligors which from time to time are, or are expressed to be, the subject of the Transaction Security |
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Closing Date |
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means the date on which the Agent confirms to the Company in writing that all of the conditions precedent in Part 1 of Schedule 5 have been satisfied or waived |
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Code |
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means the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986 |
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Commitment |
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means:-
(a) in relation to an Original Lender, the amount set |
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opposite its name under the heading Commitment in Part 2 or Part 3 of Schedule 4 ( The Original Parties ) and the amount of any other Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 11.2 ( Increase ) and
(b) in relation to any other Lender, the amount of any Commitment transferred to it under this Agreement or assumed by it in accordance with Clause 11.2 ( Increase )
to the extent:-
(i) not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement and
(ii) not deemed to be zero pursuant to Clause 36.2 ( Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Sponsor Affiliates ) |
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Companys Auditors |
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means KPMG LLP or any other firm appointed by the Company to act as its statutory auditors |
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Compliance Certificate |
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means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 11 ( Form of Compliance Certificate ) |
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Confidential Information |
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means all information relating to the Parent, the Company, any Obligor, the Group, the Finance Documents or the Facility of which a Finance Party becomes aware in its capacity as, or for the purpose of becoming, a Finance Party or which is received by a Finance Party in relation to, or for the purpose of becoming a Finance Party under, the Finance Documents or the Facility from either:-
(a) the Parent or any member of the Group or any of its advisers or
(b) another Finance Party, if the information was obtained by that Finance Party directly or indirectly from the Parent or any member of the Group or any of its advisers
in whatever form, and includes information given orally and any document, electronic file or any other way of representing or recording information which contains or is derived or copied from such information but excludes information that:-
(i) is or becomes public information other than as a direct or indirect result of any breach by that Finance Party of Clause 48 ( Confidentiality ) or
(ii) is identified in writing at the time of delivery as non-confidential by the Parent or any member of the Group or any of its advisers |
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or
(iii) is known by that Finance Party before the date the information is disclosed to it in accordance with sub-clauses (a) or (b) above or is lawfully obtained by that Finance Party after that date, from a source which is, as far as that Finance Party is aware, unconnected with the Parent or the Group and which, in either case, as far as that Finance Party is aware, has not been obtained in breach of, and is not otherwise subject to, any obligation of confidentiality |
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Confidentiality Undertaking |
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means a confidentiality undertaking substantially in a recommended form of the LMA or in any other form agreed between the Company and the Agent |
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Contribution Notice |
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means a contribution notice issued by the Pensions Regulator under section 38 or section 47 of the Pensions Act 2004 |
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CTA |
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means the Corporation Tax Act 2009 |
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DB Schemes |
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means:-
(a) the Ryland Group Pension Scheme established by an interim deed dated 29 January 1974
(b) the William Jacks PLC Retirement Benefits Scheme established by interim trust deed dated 1 November 1953
(c) the industry-wide MIP Plan and
(d) the Isaac Agnew (Holdings) Limited Management Pension Plan established by trust deed dated 25 March 1984 |
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Debt Purchase Transaction |
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means, in relation to a person, a transaction where such person:-
(a) purchases by way of assignment or transfer
(b) enters into any sub-participation in respect of or
(c) enters into any other agreement or arrangement having an economic effect substantially similar to a sub-participation in respect of
the Commitment or amount outstanding under this Agreement |
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Default |
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means an Event of Default or any event or circumstance specified in Clause 34 ( Events of Default ) which would (with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination under the Finance Documents or any |
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combination of any of the foregoing) be an Event of Default |
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Defaulting Lender |
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means any Lender (other than a Lender which is a Sponsor Affiliate):-
(a) which has failed to make its participation in a Loan available (or has notified the Agent or the Parent (which has notified the Agent) that it will not make its participation in a Loan available) by the Utilisation Date of that Loan in accordance with Clause 14.4 ( Lenders participation )
(b) which has otherwise rescinded or repudiated a Finance Document or
(c) with respect to which an Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing
unless, in the case of paragraph (a) above:-
(i) its failure to pay is caused by:-
(A) administrative or technical error or
(B) a Disruption Event and
payment is made within 3 Business Days of its due date or
(ii) the Lender is disputing in good faith whether it is contractually obliged to make the payment in question |
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Delegate |
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means any delegate, agent, attorney or co-trustee appointed by the Security Agent |
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Designated Gross Amount |
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means the amount notified by the Parent to the Agent upon the establishment of a Multi-account Overdraft as being the maximum amount of Gross Outstandings that will, at any time, be outstanding under that Multi-account Overdraft |
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Designated Net Amount |
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means the amount notified by the Parent to the Agent upon the establishment of a Multi-account Overdraft as being the maximum amount of Net Outstandings that will, at any time, be outstanding under that Multi-account Overdraft |
Disruption Event |
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means either or both of:-
(a) a material disruption to those payment or communications systems or to those financial markets which are, in each case, required to operate in order for payments to be made in connection with the Facility (or otherwise in order for the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents to be carried out) which disruption is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, any of the Parties or
(b) the occurrence of any other event which results in a disruption (of a technical or systems-related nature) to the treasury or payments operations of a Party preventing that, or any other Party:-
(i) from performing its payment obligations under the Finance Documents or
(ii) from communicating with other Parties in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents
and which (in either such case) is not caused by, and is beyond the control of, the Party whose operations are disrupted |
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Dormant Subsidiary |
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means a member of the Group which does not trade (for itself or as agent for any person) and does not own, legally or beneficially, assets (including, without limitation, indebtedness owed to it) which in aggregate have a value of £5,000 or more or its equivalent in other currencies |
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Environment |
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means humans, animals, plants and all other living organisms including the ecological systems of which they form part and the following media:-
(a) air (including, without limitation, air within natural or man-made structures, whether above or below ground)
(b) water (including, without limitation, territorial, coastal and inland waters, water under or within land and water in drains and sewers) and
(c) land (including, without limitation, land under water) |
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Environmental Claim |
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means any claim, proceeding, formal notice or investigation by any person in respect of any Environmental Law |
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Environmental Law |
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means any applicable law or regulation which relates to:-
(a) the pollution or protection of the Environment |
Date |
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(a) in relation to a withholdable payment described in section 1473(1)(A)(i) of the Code (which relates to payments of interest and certain other payments from sources within the US), 1 July 2014
(b) in relation to a withholdable payment described in section 1473(1)(A)(ii) of the Code (which relates to gross proceeds from the disposition of property of a type that can produce interest from sources within the US), 1 January 2017 or
(c) in relation to a passthru payment described in section 1471(d)(7) of the Code not falling within paragraphs (a) or (b) above, 1 January 2017,
or, in each case, such other date from which such payment may become subject to a deduction or withholding required by FATCA as a result of any change in FATCA after the First Amendment and Restatement Date. |
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FATCA Deduction |
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means a deduction or withholding from a payment under a Finance Document required by FATCA |
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FATCA Exempt Party |
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means a Party that is entitled to receive payments free from any FATCA Deduction |
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Fee Letter |
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means:-
(a) any letter or letters dated on or about the date of this Agreement between the Agent and the Company or the Security Agent and the Company setting out any of the fees referred to in Clause 23 ( Fees ) and
(b) any agreement setting out fees payable to a Finance Party referred to in Clause 11.2.5, Clause 23.5 ( Interest, commission and fees on Ancillary Facilities ) of this Agreement or under any other Finance Document |
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Finance Document |
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means this Agreement, any Accession Deed, any Ancillary Document, any Compliance Certificate, any Fee Letter, any Hedging Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, any Resignation Letter, any Transaction Security Document, any Utilisation Request, the Vehicle Financier Deeds of Priority, the 2012 Amendment Deed, the First Amendment and Restatement Agreement, the Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement and any other document designated as a Finance Document by the Agent and the Company provided that where the term Finance Document is used in, and construed for the purposes of, this Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement, a Hedging Agreement shall be a Finance Document only for the purposes of:-
(a) the definition of Material Adverse Effect
(b) sub-clause (a) of the definition of Permitted |
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Transaction
(c) the definition of Transaction Security Document
(d) Clause 10.2.1(d)
(e) Clause 29 ( Guarantee and Indemnity ) and
(f) Clause 34 ( Events of Default ) (other than Clause 34.13.2 and Clause 34.18 ( Acceleration )) |
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Finance Party |
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means the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Agent, a Lender, a Hedge Counterparty or any Ancillary Lender provided that where the term Finance Party is used in, and construed for the purposes of, this Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement, a Hedge Counterparty shall be a Finance Party only for the purposes of:-
(a) the definition of Secured Parties
(b) Clause 10.2.1(a)
(c) sub-clause (c) of the definition of Material Adverse Effect
(d) Clause 29 ( Guarantee and Indemnity ) and
(e) Clause 39 ( Conduct of business by the Finance Parties ) |
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Financial Event of Default |
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means an Event of Default arising under any of Clauses 34.1 ( Non payment ), 34.2 ( Other obligations ) (to the extent that such Event of Default arises as a breach of Clause 32 ( Financial covenants ) or Clause 31 ( Information Undertakings ) (in relation to the delivery of Annual Financial Statements, Quarterly Financial Statements, Monthly Financial Statements and/or Compliance Certificates)), 34.5 ( Cross-default ), 34.6 ( Insolvency ), 34.7 ( Insolvency proceedings ) and 34.8 ( Creditors process ) |
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Financial Indebtedness |
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means any indebtedness for or in respect of:-
(a) moneys borrowed and debit balances at banks or other financial institutions
(b) any acceptance under any acceptance credit or bill discounting facility (or dematerialised equivalent)
(c) any note purchase facility or the issue of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar instrument
(d) the amount of any liability in respect of Finance Leases
(e) receivables sold or discounted (other than any
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Restatement Agreement |
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entered into between Parties on the First Amendment and Restatement Date |
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First Amendment and Restatement Date |
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means 19 December 2014 |
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Franchises |
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means the franchises, vehicle distribution agreements and dealerships listed in Schedule 16 (Franchises) |
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German Group |
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means PAE GmbH and each of its Subsidiaries from time to time |
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Gross Outstandings |
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means, in relation to a Multi-account Overdraft, the Ancillary Outstandings of that Multi-account Overdraft but calculated on the basis that the words (net of any Available Credit Balance) in paragraph (a) of the definition of Ancillary Outstandings were deleted |
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Group |
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means the Company and each of its Subsidiaries for the time being |
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Group Structure Chart |
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means the group structure chart in the agreed form |
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Guarantor |
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means an Original Guarantor or an Additional Guarantor, unless it has ceased to be a Guarantor in accordance with Clause 37 ( Changes to the Obligors ) |
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Hedge Counterparty |
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means any entity which has become a Party as a Hedge Counterparty in accordance with Clause 35.8 ( Accession of Hedge Counterparties ) and which has become a party to the Intercreditor Agreement as a Hedge Counterparty in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement |
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Hedging Agreement |
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means any master agreement, confirmation, schedule or other agreement entered into or to be entered into by an Obligor and a Hedge Counterparty for the purpose of hedging the types of liabilities and/or risks in relation to the Facility which, at the time that that master agreement, confirmation, schedule or other agreement (as the case may be) is entered into are permitted to be entered into pursuant to the terms of this Agreement |
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Holding Company |
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means, in relation to a person, any other person in respect of which it is a Subsidiary |
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IFRS |
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means international accounting standards within the meaning of IAS Regulation 1606/2002 to the extent applicable to the relevant financial statements |
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Impaired Agent |
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means the Agent at any time when:-
(a) it has failed to make (or has notified a Party that it will not make) a payment required to be made by it under the Finance Documents by the due date for |
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each case within 30 days thereafter
(f) causes or is subject to any event with respect to it which, under the applicable laws of any jurisdiction, has an analogous effect to any of the events specified in paragraphs (a) to (e) above or
(g) takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the foregoing acts |
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Intellectual Property |
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means:-
(a) any material patents, trade marks, service marks, designs, business names, copyrights, database rights, design rights, domain names, moral rights, inventions, confidential information, knowhow and other intellectual property rights and interests (which may now or in the future subsist), whether registered or unregistered and
(b) the benefit of all applications and rights to use such assets of each member of the Group (which may now or in the future subsist) |
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Intercreditor Agreement |
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means the intercreditor agreement dated the same date as this Agreement and made between, among others, the Parent, the Company, the other Obligors, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as Security Agent, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as agent, the Lenders, the Arranger, the Ancillary Lenders, the Hedge Counterparties and the Bilateral Overdraft Lender |
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Interest Period |
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means, in relation to a Loan, each period determined in accordance with Clause 21 ( Interest Periods ) and, in relation to an Unpaid Sum, each period determined in accordance with Clause 20.3 ( Default interest ) |
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Interpolated Screen Rate |
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means, in relation to LIBOR for any Loan, the rate (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the two relevant Screen Rates) which results from interpolating on a linear basis between:
(a) the applicable Screen Rate for the longest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which is less than the Interest Period of that Loan; and
(b) the applicable Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available) which exceeds the Interest Period of that Loan,
each as of the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for the currency of that Loan. |
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ITA |
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means the Income Tax Act 2007 |
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accordance with the terms of this Agreement |
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LIBOR |
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means, in relation to any Loan:
(a) the applicable Screen Rate;
(b) (if no Screen Rate is available for the currency or Interest Period of that Loan) the Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan; or
(c) if:
(i) no Screen Rate is available for the currency of that Loan; or
(ii) no Screen Rate is available for the Interest Period of that Loan and it is not possible to calculate an Interpolated Screen Rate for that Loan,
the Base Reference Bank Rate, as of, in the case of paragraphs (a) and (c) above, the Specified Time on the Quotation Day for the currency of that Loan and for a period equal in length to the Interest Period of that Loan |
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Limitation Acts |
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means the Limitation Act 1980 and the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984 |
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LMA |
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means the Loan Market Association |
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Loan |
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means a loan made or to be made under the Facility or the principal amount outstanding for the time being of that loan |
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Majority Lenders |
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means:-
(a) subject to paragraph (b) below, a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate more than 66 2 / 3 per cent of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments have been reduced to zero, aggregated more than 66 2 / 3 per cent of the Total Commitments immediately prior to that reduction)
(b) for the purposes of Clause 34.18 ( Acceleration ) where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under any of Clauses 34.1 ( Non-payment ), 34.2 ( Financial covenants and other obligations ) (where such Event of Default arises from a breach of Clause 32 ( Financial covenants )), 34.5 ( Cross default ), 34.6 (Insolvency), 34.7 ( Insolvency proceedings ), 34.8 ( Creditors process ), a Lender or Lenders whose Commitments aggregate 50 per cent or more of the Total Commitments (or, if the Total Commitments |
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financial statements of that Subsidiary (consolidated in the case of a Subsidiary which itself has Subsidiaries) and the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Group. However, if a Subsidiary has been acquired since the date as at which the latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Group were prepared, the financial statements shall be deemed to be adjusted in order to take into account the acquisition of that Subsidiary (that adjustment being certified by two directors of the Company as representing an accurate reflection of the revised Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in Clause 32.1 ( Financial definitions) ), gross assets, net assets or turnover of the Group).
A report by the Companys Auditors that a Subsidiary is or is not a Material Company shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all Parties |
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Material Franchising Agreement |
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means a franchising agreement entered into by any member of the Group:-
(a) where the profits attributable to, or generated under such franchising agreement are equal to or greater than 20 per cent. of the aggregate profits of the Group; or
(b) where the turnover attributable to or generated under such franchising agreement is equal to or greater than 20 per cent. of the aggregate turnover of the Group |
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Month |
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means a period starting on one day in a calendar month and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the next calendar month, except that:-
(a) (subject to sub-clause (c) below) if the numerically corresponding day is not a Business Day, that period shall end on the next Business Day in that calendar month in which that period is to end if there is one, or if there is not, on the immediately preceding Business Day
(b) if there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month in which that period is to end, that period shall end on the last Business Day in that calendar month and
(c) if an Interest Period begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month, that Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day in the calendar month in which that Interest Period is to end
The above rules will only apply to the last Month of any period |
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Multi-account Overdraft |
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means an Ancillary Facility which is an overdraft facility comprising more than one account |
Net Outstandings |
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means, in relation to a Multi-account Overdraft, the Ancillary Outstandings of that Multi-account Overdraft |
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NatWest Overdraft Letter |
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means the overdraft letter dated on the First Amendment and Restatement Date between The Royal Bank of Scotland plc as agent for National Westminster Bank Plc and the Company (as amended, varied or replaced from time to time) provided that the amount of the overdraft and ancillary facilities made available pursuant to its terms shall not exceed £12,500,000 at any time plus the Seasonal Excess Amount |
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New Lender |
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has the meaning given to that term in Clause 35 (Changes to the Lenders) |
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Northern Bank Agreement |
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means the £2,000,000 facility agreement dated 17 August 2007 as amended on 25 August 2011 made between Danske Bank (previously Northern Bank Limited) and Agnew Corporate Ltd |
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Northern Irish Obligors |
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means the companies listed in Schedule 1 Part 1 which are incorporated under the laws of Northern Ireland |
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Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction |
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has the meaning given to that term in Clause 36.2.2 |
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Obligor |
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means a Borrower or a Guarantor |
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Obligors Agent |
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means the Company appointed to act on behalf of each Obligor in relation to the Finance Documents pursuant to Clause 11.4 ( Obligors Agent ) |
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Original Financial Statements |
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means:-
(a) in relation to each Original Obligor its audited financial statements for its Financial Year ended 31 December 2010
(b) in relation to any other Obligor, its audited financial statements delivered to the Agent as required by Clause 37 ( Changes to the Obligors ) |
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Original Jurisdiction |
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means, in relation to an Obligor, the jurisdiction under whose laws that Obligor is incorporated as at the date of this Agreement or, in the case of an Additional Obligor, as at the date on which that Additional Obligor becomes Party as a Borrower or a Guarantor (as the case may be); |
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Original Obligor |
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means an Original Borrower or an Original Guarantor |
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PAE GmbH |
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means Penske Automotive Europe GmbH (a company incorporated in Germany) |
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PAG |
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Penske Automotive Group Inc |
Participating Member State |
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means any member state of the European Union that has the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union |
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Party |
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means a party to this Agreement |
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Pensions Regulator |
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means the body corporate called the Pensions Regulator established under Part I of the Pensions Act 2004 |
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Permitted Acquisition |
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means:-
(a) the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of each of Agnew Retail Limited, Road-field Motors Limited and Agnew Autoexchange Limited provided that such acquisition is funded using the proceeds of the facility referred to in paragraph (m) of the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness
(b) acquisitions or investments of motor retail operations made in the ordinary course of trade
(c) an acquisition by a member of the Group of an asset sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of by another member of the Group in circumstances constituting a Permitted Disposal
(d) an acquisition of securities which are Cash Equivalent Investments so long as those Cash Equivalent Investments become subject to the Transaction Security as soon as is reasonably practicable
(e) an acquisition for cash consideration, of (A) all of the issued share capital of a limited liability company or (B) (if the acquisition is made by a limited liability company whose sole purpose is to make the acquisition) a business or undertaking carried on as a going concern, but only if:-
(i) no Default is continuing on the closing date for the acquisition or would occur as a result of the acquisition
(ii) the acquired company, business or undertaking is incorporated or established, and carries on its principal business in, the United Kingdom and
(iii) the cash consideration (including associated costs and expenses) for the acquisition (the Total Purchase Price ) does not exceed in aggregate £20,000,000 or its equivalent
(f) an acquisition made with the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders) |
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permitted by Clause 33.10 ( Joint ventures )
(d) any guarantee permitted under Clause 33.19 ( Financial Indebtedness )
(e) any guarantee given in respect of the netting or set-off arrangements permitted pursuant to sub-clause (b) of the definition of Permitted Security or
(f) any indemnity given in the ordinary course of the documentation of an acquisition or disposal transaction which is a Permitted Acquisition or Permitted Disposal which indemnity is in a customary form and subject to customary limitations
(g) any guarantee given by a member of the Group which is an Obligor in respect of the obligations or liabilities of another member of the Group which is an Obligor
(h) any guarantee given by a member of the Group which is not an Obligor in respect of the obligations or liabilities of another member of the Group
(i) any guarantee given with the prior written consent of the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Lenders)
(j) the guarantee dated 27 February 2007 granted by the Parent and certain members of the Group in favour of the Bilateral Overdraft Lender
(k) the guarantee granted by each member of the Group party to the Ulster Bank Agreement in favour of Ulster Bank Limited in respect of the Ulster Bank Agreement
(l) the guarantee dated 10 January 2012 granted by each of Isaac Agnew Limited, Agnew Autoexchange Limited, Stanley Motor Works (1932) Limited, Isaac Agnew (Mallusk) Limited, Bavarian Garages (NI) Limited, I A P C B Limited, Isaac Agnew (Holdings) Limited, Trade Parts Specialist (NI) Limited, Agnew Corporate Ltd, Agnew Commercials Limited, Agnew Retail Limited, GAP Software Solutions Ltd and Agnew Trade Centre Limited in favour of Northern Bank Limited
(m) the guarantees granted by the Company in relation to the obligations of Agnew Autoexchange Limited, Isaac Agnew (Holdings) Limited, Isaac Agnew Limited, I A P C B Limited and Isaac Agnew (Mallusk) Limited to Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited and Volkswagen Bank GmbH and
(n) any guarantees granted in addition to those permitted under paragraphs (a) to (j) above provided that the maximum aggregate liability (whether present or future, actual or contingent) of all members of the |
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member of the German Group so long as the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness under any such loans does not exceed £7,500,000 (or its equivalent) at any time
(f) the subscription for vendor loan notes in connection with a Permitted Disposal
(g) a loan made by a member of the Group to an employee or director of any member of the Group if the amount of that loan when aggregated with the amount of all loans to employees and directors by members of the Group does not exceed £500,000 (or its equivalent) at any time
(h) a loan made by the Company to any Subsidiary of PAG which is not a member of the Group, provided that the maximum aggregate amount of all such loans made in any Financial Year of the Company when aggregated with the Total Dividend Amount in respect of Permitted Distributions paid or made in that Financial Year of the Company:
(A) shall not exceed 50 per cent of the consolidated profit of the Group on ordinary activities before taxation in the Base Year (as defined in the definition of Permitted Distribution) (as evidenced by the consolidated audited financial statements of the Parent for the Base Year delivered to the Agent in accordance with Clause 31.11.1 and the US GAAP Reconciliation Statement for the Base Year delivered to the Agent in accordance with Clause 31.11.2 (and no loan permitted pursuant to this paragraph (h)(a) shall be paid prior to receipt by the Agent of those financial statements and the relevant US GAAP Reconciliation Statement)); and
(B) does not exceed £30,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) and
(i) any loan (other than a loan made by a member of the Group to another member of the Group) so long as the aggregate amount of the Financial Indebtedness under any such loans does not exceed £2,500,000 (or its equivalent) at any time,
so long as in the case of:-
(j) sub-clause (d) above the creditor of such Financial Indebtedness shall (if it is an Obligor) grant security over its rights in respect of such Financial Indebtedness in favour of the Secured Parties on terms acceptable to the Agent (acting on the |
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instructions of the Majority Lenders) and
(k) sub-clause (f) above to the extent required by the Intercreditor Agreement, the creditor and (if the debtor is a member of the Group) the debtor of such Financial Indebtedness are or become party to the Intercreditor Agreement as an Intra-Group Lender and a Debtor (as defined, in each case, in the Intercreditor Agreement) respectively |
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Permitted Sale and Leaseback Transaction |
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means a sale and leaseback of any asset of a member of the Group where the net consideration received by the relevant member of the Group does not exceed:
(a) £15,000,000 in respect of any single sale and leaseback transaction; and
(b) £40,000,000 in aggregate in any Financial Year of the Company |
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Permitted Security |
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means:-
(a) any lien arising by operation of law and in the ordinary course of trading and not as a result of any default or omission by any member of the Group
(b) any netting or set-off arrangement entered into by any member of the Group with National Westminster Bank plc in the ordinary course of its banking arrangements for the purpose of netting debit and credit balances of members of the Group (including a Multi-account Overdraft) but only so long as (i) such arrangement does not permit credit balances of Obligors to be netted or set off against debit balances of members of the Group which are not Obligors and (ii) such arrangement does not give rise to other Security over the assets of Obligors in support of liabilities of members of the Group which are not Obligors except, in the case of (i) and (ii) above, to the extent such netting, set-off or Security relates to, or is granted in support of, a loan permitted pursuant to sub-clause (e) of the definition of Permitted Loan
(c) any payment or close out netting or set-off arrangement pursuant to any Treasury Transaction or foreign exchange transaction entered into by a member of the Group which constitutes Permitted Financial Indebtedness, excluding any Security or Quasi-Security under a credit support arrangement
(d) any Security or Quasi-Security over or affecting any asset acquired by a member of the Group after the Closing Date if:-
(i) the Security or Quasi-Security was not created in contemplation of the acquisition of |
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that asset by a member of the Group
(ii) the principal amount secured has not been increased in contemplation of or since the acquisition of that asset by a member of the Group and
(iii) the Security or Quasi-Security is removed or discharged within 6 months of the date of acquisition of such asset
(e) any Security or Quasi-Security over or affecting any asset of any company which becomes a member of the Group after the Closing Date, where the Security or Quasi-Security is created prior to the date on which that company becomes a member of the Group if:-
(i) the Security or Quasi-Security was not created in contemplation of the acquisition of that company
(ii) the principal amount secured has not increased in contemplation of or since the acquisition of that company and
(iii) the Security or Quasi-Security is removed or discharged within six months of that company becoming a member of the Group
(f) any Security or Quasi-Security arising under any retention of title, hire purchase or conditional sale arrangement or arrangements having similar effect in respect of goods supplied to a member of the Group in the ordinary course of trading and on the suppliers standard or usual terms and not arising as a result of any default or omission by any member of the Group
(g) any Quasi-Security arising as a result of a disposal which is a Permitted Disposal
(h) any Security or Quasi-Security arising as a consequence of any finance or capital lease permitted pursuant to sub-clause (h) of the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness
(i) any Security arising pursuant to, or in connection with, a Stocking Facility
(j) any Security arising pursuant to the Existing Security Documents
(k) any Security or Quasi-Security arising under any agreement entered into by a member of the Group in the ordinary course of its trading activities to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they are or may be leased to or |
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re-acquired by any member of the Group
(l) the Security existing at the date of this Agreement and the Second Amendment and Restatement Date in favour of the Bilateral Overdraft Lender
(m) any Security notified to the Lenders in writing prior to the date of this Agreement and the Second Amendment and Restatement Date except to the extent the principal amount secured by that Security exceeds the amount stated in that notification
(n) the Security executed by the target companies described in paragraph (a) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition and their subsidiaries in favour of National Westminster Bank Plc as security for the Financial Indebtedness described in paragraph (m) of the definition of Permitted Financial Indebtedness within 10 Business Days of the 2012 Amendment Deed or
(o) any Security securing indebtedness the outstanding principal amount of which (when aggregated with the outstanding principal amount of any other indebtedness which has the benefit of Security given by any member of the Group other than any permitted under sub-clauses (a) to (m) above) does not exceed £7,500,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) |
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Permitted Treasury Transaction |
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means
(a) the hedging transactions documented by the Hedging Agreements;
(b) spot and forward delivery foreign exchange contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes
(c) any Treasury Transaction entered into for the hedging of actual or projected real exposures arising in the ordinary course of trading activities of a member of the Group for a period of not more than four years and not for speculative purposes or
(d) a Treasury Transaction on commercial terms acceptable to the Lenders entered into by a member of the Group with a person other than a Finance Party which does not benefit from Security granted by any member of the Group |
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Permitted Transaction |
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means:-
(a) any disposal required, Financial Indebtedness incurred, guarantee, indemnity or Security or Quasi- |
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Security given, or other transaction arising, under the Finance Documents
(b) the solvent liquidation or reorganisation of any member of the Group which is not an Obligor so long as any payments or assets distributed as a result of such liquidation or reorganisation are distributed to other members of the Group or
(c) transactions (other than (i) any sale, lease, license, transfer or other disposal and (ii) the granting or creation of Security or the incurring or permitting to subsist of Financial Indebtedness) conducted in the ordinary course of trading on arms length terms |
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Properties |
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means any Real Property acquired by an Obligor after the date of this Agreement. A reference to a Property is a reference to any of the Properties |
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Qualifying Lender |
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has the meaning given to that term in Clause 24 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ) |
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Quarter Date |
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means the last day of a Financial Quarter |
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Quasi-Security |
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has the meaning given to that term in Clause 33.13 ( Negative pledge ) |
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Quotation Day |
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means, in relation to any period for which an interest rate is to be determined:-
(a) (if the currency is sterling) the first day of that period
(b) (if the currency is euro) two TARGET Days before the first day of that period or
(c) (for any other currency) two Business Days before the first day of that period,
unless market practice differs in the Relevant Market for that currency, in which case the Quotation Day for that currency will be determined by the Agent in accordance with market practice in the Relevant Market (and if quotations would normally be given on more than one day, the Quotation Day will be the last of those days) |
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Real Property |
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means:-
(a) any freehold, leasehold or immovable property and
(b) any buildings, fixtures, fittings, fixed plant or machinery from time to time situated on or forming part of that freehold, leasehold or immovable property |
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Receiver |
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means a receiver or receiver and manager or administrative |
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receiver of the whole or any part of the Charged Property |
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Related Fund |
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in relation to a fund (the first fund ), means a fund which is managed or advised by the same investment manager or investment adviser as the first fund or, if it is managed by a different investment manager or investment adviser, a fund whose investment manager or investment adviser is an Affiliate of the investment manager or investment adviser of the first fund |
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Relevant Jurisdiction |
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means, in relation to an Obligor:-
(a) its Original Jurisdiction
(b) any jurisdiction where any asset subject to or intended to be subject to the Transaction Security to be created by it is situated
(c) any jurisdiction where it conducts its business and
(d) the jurisdiction whose laws govern the perfection of any of the Transaction Security Documents entered into by it |
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Relevant Market |
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means the London interbank market |
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Relevant Period |
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has the meaning given to that term in Clause 32.1 ( Financial definitions ) |
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Repayment Date |
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means the last day of an Interest Period for a Loan |
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Repeating Representations |
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means each of the representations set out in Clause 30.2 ( Status ) to Clause 30.7 ( Governing law and enforcement ), Clause 30.11 ( No default ), Clause 30.12.2, Clause 30.13 ( Original Financial Statements ), Clause 30.20 ( Ranking ) to Clause 30.22 ( Legal and beneficial ownership ) and Clause 30.28 ( Centre of main interests and establishments ) |
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Representative |
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means any delegate, agent, manager, administrator, nominee, attorney, trustee or custodian |
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Resignation Letter |
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means a letter substantially in the form set out in Schedule 10 ( Form of Resignation Letter ) |
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Rollover Loan |
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means one or more Loans:-
(a) made or to be made on the same day that a maturing Loan is due to be repaid or
(b) the aggregate amount of which is equal to or less than the amount of the maturing Loan
(c) made or to be made to the same Borrower for the purpose of refinancing that maturing Loan |
Screen Rate |
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means the London interbank offered rate administered by ICE Benchmark Administration Limited (or any other person which takes over the administration of that rate) for the relevant currency and period displayed on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Thomson Reuters screen (or any replacement Thomson Reuters page which displays that rate), or on the appropriate page of such other information service which publishes that rate from time to time in place of Thomson Reuters. If such page or service ceases to be available, the Agent may specify another page or service displaying the relevant rate after consultation with the Company. |
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Seasonal Excess Amount |
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means an additional amount up to a maximum of £40,000,000 made available during the following periods:
(a) 20 March to 30 April in each year; and
(b) 20 September to 31 October in each year |
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Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement |
|
means the agreement amending and restating this Agreement entered into between Parties on the Second Amendment and Restatement Date |
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Second Amendment and Restatement Date |
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means 2 April 2015 |
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Secured Parties |
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means each Finance Party from time to time party to this Agreement and any Receiver or Delegate |
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Security |
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means a mortgage, charge, pledge, lien or other security interest securing any obligation of any person or any other agreement or arrangement having a similar effect |
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Short Term Loan |
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means a loan from PAG or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a member the Group) to any member of Group provided that:
(a) each such loan is to be repaid within 45 days of being made to the relevant member(s) of the Group (subject to Clause 33.18.3);
(b) a maximum of two such loans may be made available to the relevant member(s) of the Group in each calendar year; and
(c) such a loan may not be made available unless a period of at least 90 days has elapsed since the previous loan was repaid by the relevant member(s) of the Group |
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Specified Time |
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means a time determined in accordance with Schedule 12 ( Timetables ) |
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Sponsor Affiliate |
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means PAG, each of its Affiliates, any trust of which PAG or any of its Affiliates is a trustee, any partnership of which PAG or any of its Affiliates is a partner and any trust, fund or other entity |
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which is managed by, or is under the control of, PAG or any of its Affiliates provided that any such trust, fund or other entity which has been established for at least 6 months solely for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans or debt securities and which is managed or controlled independently from all other trusts, funds or other entities managed or controlled by PAG or any of its Affiliates which have been established for the primary or main purpose of investing in the share capital of companies shall not constitute a Sponsor Affiliate |
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Stocking Facility |
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means any facility provided to a member of the Group for vehicle stock, used demonstrators and/or consignment stock |
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Subsidiary |
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means a subsidiary undertaking within the meaning of section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006 |
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TARGET2 |
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means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer payment system which utilises a single shared platform and which was launched on 19 November 2007 |
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TARGET Day |
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means any day on which TARGET2 is open for the settlement of payments in euro |
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Tax |
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means any tax, levy, impost, duty or other charge or withholding of a similar nature (including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay or any delay in paying any of the same) |
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Termination Date |
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means 19 December 2019 |
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Testing Date |
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means the date when the financial covenants contained in Clause 32.2 ( Financial condition ) are to be tested |
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Total Commitments |
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means the aggregate of the Commitments, being £150,000,000 at the Second Amendment and Restatement Date |
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Trade Instruments |
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means any performance bonds, or advance payment bonds or documentary letters of credit issued in respect of the obligations of any member of the Group arising in the ordinary course of trading of that member of the Group |
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Transaction Security |
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means the Security created or expressed to be created in favour of the Security Agent pursuant to the Transaction Security Documents |
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Transaction Security Documents |
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means each of the documents listed as being a Transaction Security Document in paragraph 2.6 of Part 1 of Schedule 5 ( Conditions Precedent ), any document required to be delivered to the Agent under paragraph 13 of Part 2 of Schedule 5 ( Conditions Precedent ), the debenture dated 24 January 2012 entered into by the Northern Irish Obligors in favour of the Security Agent, together with any other document entered into by any Obligor creating or expressed to create any Security |
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over all or any part of its assets in respect of the obligations of any of the Obligors under any of the Finance Documents |
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Transfer Certificate |
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means a certificate substantially in the form set out in Schedule 7 ( Form of Transfer Certificate ) or any other form agreed between the Agent and the Company |
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Transfer Date |
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means, in relation to an assignment or transfer, the later of:-
(a) the proposed Transfer Date specified in the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate and
(b) the date on which the Agent executes the relevant Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate |
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Treasury Transactions |
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means any derivative transaction entered into in connection with protection against or benefit from fluctuation in any rate or price |
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UAG Group |
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means the Parent and each of its Subsidiaries from time to time |
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Ulster Bank Agreement |
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means the working capital facility agreement most recently entered into on 3 July 2014 (and renewed annually) documenting the terms of a working capital facility of up to £2,000,000 to be made available by Ulster Bank Limited to Agnew Retail Limited, Isaac Agnew (Holdings) Limited, Agnew Commercials Limited, Bavarian Garages (NI) Limited, GAP Software Solutions Ltd, Isaac Agnew (Mallusk) Limited, Stanley Motor Works (1932) Limited, Agnew Autoexchange Limited, Agnew Trade Centre Limited, Agnew Corporate Ltd, I A P C B Limited and Isaac Agnew Limited |
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Unpaid Sum |
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means any sum due and payable but unpaid by an Obligor under the Finance Documents |
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US |
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means the United States of America |
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US GAAP Reconciliation Statement |
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means a reconciliation, prepared by the Company, of (i) the Monthly Financial Statements for the Company for the period ending on 31 December in each year and (ii) generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America which have been applied in preparing the audited financial statements of the Parent referred to in Clause 31.11.1 for the same year |
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Utilisation |
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means a Loan |
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Utilisation Date |
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means the date of a Utilisation, being the date on which the relevant Loan is to be made |
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Utilisation Request |
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means a notice substantially in the relevant form set out in Schedule 6 ( Requests and Notices ) |
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VAT |
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means:
(a) any tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common |
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system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112); and
(b) any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in paragraph (a) above, or imposed elsewhere |
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Vehicle Financier Deeds of Priority |
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means deeds of priority entered into between, among others, the Security Agent and each of the following financiers (in their respective capacities as providers of vehicle finance to certain members of the Group):-
(a) BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited;
(b) Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited and Volkswagen Bank GmbH (trading as Volkswagen Bank United Kingdom Branch); and
(c) Mercedes-Benz Bank AG UK Branch,
(each, a Vehicle Financier Deed of Priority ). |
10.2 Construction
10.2.1 Unless a contrary indication appears, a reference in this Agreement to:-
(a) the Agent , the Arranger , any Finance Party , any Hedge Counterparty , any Lender , any Obligor , any Party , any Secured Party , the Security Agent , the Bilateral Overdraft Lender or any other person shall be construed so as to include its successors in title, permitted assigns and permitted transferees to, or of, its rights and/or obligations under the Finance Documents and, in the case of the Security Agent, any person for the time being appointed as Security Agent or Security Agents in accordance with the Finance Documents;
(b) a document in agreed form is a document which is previously agreed in writing by or on behalf of the Company and the Agent or, if not so agreed, is in the form specified by the Agent;
(c) assets includes present and future properties, revenues and rights of every description;
(d) a Finance Document or any other agreement or instrument is a reference to that Finance Document or other agreement or instrument as amended, novated, supplemented, extended or restated;
(e) a group of Lenders includes all the Lenders;
(f) guarantee means (other than in Clause 29 ( Guarantee and Indemnity )) any guarantee, letter of credit, bond, indemnity or similar assurance against loss, or any obligation, direct or indirect, actual or contingent, to purchase or assume any indebtedness of any person or to make an investment in or loan to any person or to purchase assets
of any person where, in each case, such obligation is assumed in order to maintain or assist the ability of such person to meet its indebtedness;
(g) indebtedness includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal or as surety) for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent;
(h) a person includes any individual, firm, company, corporation, government, state or agency of a state or any association, trust, joint venture, consortium or partnership or other entity (whether or not having separate legal personality);
(i) a regulation includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law but if not having the force of law, being one which is customarily complied with in the relevant jurisdiction by persons or entities equivalent to the relevant person or entity in question) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation;
(j) a provision of law is a reference to that provision as amended or re-enacted;
(k) date of this Agreement means 16 December 2011; and
(l) a time of day is a reference to London time.
10.2.2 Section, Clause and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only.
10.2.3 Unless a contrary indication appears, a term used in any other Finance Document or in any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document has the same meaning in that Finance Document or notice as in this Agreement.
10.2.4 A Borrower providing cash cover for an Ancillary Facility means a Borrower paying an amount in the currency of the Ancillary Facility) to an interest-bearing account in the name of the Borrower and the following conditions being met:-
(a) the account is with the Security Agent or with the Ancillary Lender for which that cash cover is to be provided;
(b) until no amount is or may be outstanding under that Ancillary Facility, withdrawals from the account may only be made to pay the relevant Finance Party amounts due and payable to it under this Agreement in respect of that Ancillary Facility; and
(c) the Borrower has executed a security document over that account, in form and substance satisfactory to the Finance Party with which that account is held, creating a first ranking security interest over that account.
10.2.5 A Default (other than an Event of Default) is continuing if it has not been remedied or waived and an Event of Default is continuing if it has not been waived.
10.2.6 A Borrower repaying or prepaying an Ancillary Outstandings means:-
(a) that Borrower providing cash cover in respect of the Ancillary Outstandings;
(b) the maximum amount payable under the Ancillary Facility being reduced or cancelled in accordance with its terms; or
(c) the Ancillary Lender being satisfied that it has no further liability under that Ancillary Facility,
and the amount by which the Ancillary Outstandings are, repaid or prepaid under Clauses 10.2.6(a) and 10.2.6(b) above is the amount of the relevant cash cover, reduction or cancellation.
10.2.7 An amount borrowed includes any amount utilised under an Ancillary Facility.
10.3 Third party rights
10.3.1 A person who is not a Party has no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce or enjoy the benefit of any term of this Agreement.
10.3.2 Notwithstanding any term of any Finance Document, the consent of any person who is not a Party is not required to rescind or vary this Agreement at any time.
10.4 Provision of information by directors
If any provision of a Finance Document requires a director or any member of the Group to provide any information, to certify any matter or to make any presentation, any such provision, certification or presentation shall, provided it is made in good faith, be made without personal liability on the part of such director (other than in the case of fraud or gross negligence).
SECTION 2
THE FACILITY
11. THE FACILITY
11.1 The Facilit y
11.1.1 Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Lenders make available a Sterling revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount equal to the Total Commitments.
11.1.2 The Facility will be available to the Company.
11.1.3 Subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, an Ancillary Lender may make all or part of its Commitment available to any Borrower as an Ancillary Facility.
11.2 Increase
11.2.1 The Parent or the Company may by giving prior notice to the Agent by no later than the date falling 10 Business Days after the effective date of a cancellation of:-
(a) the Available Commitments of a Defaulting Lender in accordance with Clause 17.5 ( Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender ); or
(b) the Commitments of a Lender in accordance with Clause 17.1 ( Illegality );
request that the Total Commitments be increased (and the Total Commitments under that Facility shall be so increased) in an aggregate amount in the Base Currency of up to the amount of the Available Commitments or Commitments so cancelled as follows:-
(c) the increased Commitments will be assumed by one or more Lenders or other banks, financial institutions, trusts, funds or other entities (each an Increase Lender ) selected by the Parent or the Company (each of which shall not be a Sponsor Affiliate or a member of the Group and which is further acceptable to the Agent (acting reasonably)) and each of which confirms in writing (whether in the relevant Increase Confirmation or otherwise) its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations of a Lender corresponding to that part of the increased Commitments which it is to assume, as if it had been an Original Lender;
(d) each of the Obligors and any Increase Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another as the Obligors and the Increase Lender would have assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;
(e) each Increase Lender shall become a Party as a Lender and any Increase Lender and each of the other Finance Parties shall assume obligations towards one another and acquire rights against one another as that Increase Lender and those Finance Parties would have
assumed and/or acquired had the Increase Lender been an Original Lender;
(f) the Commitments of the other Lenders shall continue in full force and effect; and
(g) any increase in the Total Commitments shall take effect on the date specified by the Parent or the Company in the notice referred to above or any later date on which the conditions set out in Clause 11.2.2 below are satisfied.
11.2.2 An increase in the Total Commitments will only be effective on:-
(a) the execution by the Agent of an Increase Confirmation from the relevant Increase Lender;
(b) in relation to an Increase Lender which is not a Lender immediately prior to the relevant increase:-
(i) the Increase Lender entering into the documentation required for it to accede as a party to the Intercreditor Agreement; and
(ii) the Agent being satisfied that it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assumption of the increased Commitments by that Increase Lender. The Agent shall promptly notify the Parent and the Increase Lender upon being so satisfied.
11.2.3 Each Increase Lender, by executing the Increase Confirmation, confirms (for the avoidance of doubt) that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the increase becomes effective.
11.2.4 The Parent shall promptly on demand pay the Agent and the Security Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by either of them and, in the case of the Security Agent, by any Receiver or Delegate in connection with any increase in Commitments under this Clause 11.2.
11.2.5 The Parent may pay to the Increase Lender a fee in the amount and at the times agreed between the Parent and the Increase Lender in a Fee Letter.
11.2.6 Clause 35.4 ( Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders ) shall apply mutatis mutandis in this Clause 11.2 in relation to an Increase Lender as if references in that Clause to:-
(a) an Existing Lender were references to all the Lenders immediately prior to the relevant increase;
(b) the New Lender were references to that Increase Lender ; and
(c) a re-transfer and re-assignment were references to respectively a transfer and assignment .
11.3 Finance Parties rights and obligations
11.3.1 The obligations of each Finance Party under the Finance Documents are several. Failure by a Finance Party to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents does not affect the obligations of any other Party under the Finance Documents. No Finance Party is responsible for the obligations of any other Finance Party under the Finance Documents.
11.3.2 The rights of each Finance Party under or in connection with the Finance Documents are separate and independent rights and any debt arising under the Finance Documents to a Finance Party from an Obligor shall be a separate and independent debt.
11.3.3 A Finance Party may, except as otherwise stated in the Finance Documents, separately enforce its rights under the Finance Documents.
11.4 Obligors Agent
11.4.1 Each Obligor (other than the Company) by its execution of this Agreement or an Accession Deed irrevocably appoints the Company (acting through one or more authorised signatories) to act on its behalf as its agent in relation to the Finance Documents and irrevocably authorises:-
(a) the Company on its behalf to supply all information concerning itself contemplated by this Agreement to the Finance Parties and to give all notices and instructions (including, in the case of a Borrower, Utilisation Requests), to execute on its behalf any Accession Deed, to make such agreements and to effect the relevant amendments, supplements and variations capable of being given, made or effected by any Obligor notwithstanding that they may affect the Obligor, without further reference to or the consent of that Obligor; and
(b) each Finance Party to give any notice, demand or other communication to that Obligor pursuant to the Finance Documents to the Company,
and in each case the Obligor shall be bound as though the Obligor itself had given the notices and instructions (including, without limitation, any Utilisation Requests) or executed or made the agreements or effected the amendments, supplements or variations, or received the relevant notice, demand or other communication.
11.4.2 Every act, omission, agreement, undertaking, settlement, waiver, amendment, supplement, variation, notice or other communication given or made by the Obligors Agent or given to the Obligors Agent under any Finance Document on behalf of another Obligor or in connection with any Finance Document (whether or not known to any other Obligor and whether occurring before or after such other Obligor became an Obligor under any Finance Document) shall be binding for all purposes on that Obligor as if that Obligor had expressly made, given or concurred with it. In the event of any conflict between any notices or other communications of the Obligors Agent and any other Obligor, those of the Obligors Agent shall prevail.
12. PURPOSE
12.1 Each Borrower shall apply all amounts borrowed by it under the Facility and any utilisation of any Ancillary Facility towards the general corporate and working capital purposes of the Group (but not, in the case of any utilisation of any Ancillary Facility, towards prepayment of any Utilisation).
12.2 Monitoring
No Finance Party is bound to monitor or verify the application of any amount borrowed pursuant to this Agreement.
13. CONDITIONS OF UTILISATION
13.1 Initial conditions precedent
13.1.1 The Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 14.4 ( Lenders participation ) in relation to any Utilisation if on or before the Utilisation Date for that Utilisation, the Agent has received (or waived its requirement to receive) all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part 1 of Schedule 5 ( Conditions precedent ) in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent. The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon being so satisfied. The documents and other evidence listed in Part 1 of Schedule 5 ( Conditions precedent ) were satisfied or waived on or around 16 December 2011.
13.1.2 Other than to the extent that the Majority Lenders notify the Agent in writing to the contrary before the Agent gives the notification described in Clause 13.1.1 above, the Lenders authorise (but do not require) the Agent to give that notification. The Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever as a result of giving any such notification.
13.2 Further conditions precedent
Subject to Clause 13.1 (Initial Conditions Precedent), the Lenders will only be obliged to comply with Clause 14.4 ( Lenders participation ), if on the date of the Utilisation Request and on the proposed Utilisation Date:-
13.2.1 in the case of a Rollover Loan, no Event of Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Loan, and in the case of any other Utilisation, no Default is continuing or would result from the proposed Utilisation; and
13.2.2 in relation to any Utilisation on the Closing Date, all the representations and warranties in Clause 30 ( Representations ) or, in relation to any other Utilisation, the Repeating Representations to be made by each Obligor are true in all material respects.
13.3 Maximum number of Utilisations
A Borrower (or the Company) may not deliver a Utilisation Request if as a result of the proposed Utilisation more than 10 Utilisations would be outstanding.
SECTION 3
UTILISATION
14. UTILISATION - LOANS
14.1 Delivery of a Utilisation Request
A Borrower (or the Company on its behalf) may utilise the Facility by delivery to the Agent of a duly completed Utilisation Request not later than the Specified Time.
14.2 Completion of a Utilisation Request for Loans
14.2.1 Each Utilisation Request for a Loan is irrevocable and will not be regarded as having been duly completed unless:-
(a) the proposed Utilisation Date is a Business Day within the Availability Period;
(b) the currency and amount of the Utilisation comply with Clause 14.3 ( Currency and amount ); and
(c) the proposed Interest Period complies with Clause 21 ( Interest Periods ).
14.2.2 Only one Utilisation may be requested in each Utilisation Request.
14.3 Currency and amount
14.3.1 The currency specified in a Utilisation Request must be Sterling.
14.3.2 The amount of the proposed Utilisation must be an amount which is not more than the Available Facility and which is a minimum of £250,000 or, if less, the Available Facility.
14.4 Lenders participation
14.4.1 If the conditions set out in this Agreement have been met, and subject to Clause 16.1 ( Repayment of Loans ), each Lender shall make its participation in each Loan available by the Utilisation Date through its Facility Office.
14.4.2 Other than as set out in Clause 14.4.3 below, the amount of each Lenders participation in each Loan will be equal to the proportion borne by its Available Commitment to the Available Facility immediately prior to making the Loan.
14.4.3 If a Utilisation is made to repay Ancillary Outstandings, each Lenders participation in that Utilisation will be in an amount (as determined by the Agent) which will result as nearly as possible in the aggregate amount of its participation in the Utilisations then outstanding bearing the same proportion to the aggregate amount of the Utilisations then outstanding as its Commitment bears to the Total Commitments.
14.4.4 The Agent shall notify each Lender of the amount of each Loan and the amount of its participation in that Loan and, if different, the amount of that participation to
be made available in accordance with Clause 41.1 ( Payments to the Agent ), in each case by the Specified Time.
14.5 Limitations on Utilisations
14.5.1 The maximum aggregate amount of the Ancillary Commitments of all the Lenders shall not at any time exceed £15,000,000.
14.5.2 The maximum aggregate amount of the Ancillary Commitments of all the Lenders made available by way of overdraft, same-day access LIBOR loan facility or other facility made available on a short term basis shall not at any time exceed £10,000,000.
14.6 Cancellation of Commitment
The Commitments which, at that time, are unutilised shall be immediately cancelled at the end of the Availability Period.
15. ANCILLARY FACILITIES
15.1 Type of Facility
An Ancillary Facility may be by way of:-
15.1.1 an overdraft facility;
15.1.2 a same-day access LIBOR loan facility;
15.1.3 a guarantee, bonding, documentary or stand-by letter of credit facility; or
15.1.4 any other facility or accommodation required in connection with the business of the Group and which is agreed by the Company with an Ancillary Lender.
15.2 Availability
15.2.1 If the Company and a Lender agree and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Lender may provide all or part of its Commitment as an Ancillary Facility). For the avoidance of doubt, BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited shall not be an Ancillary Lender. The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (as agent for National Westminster Bank Plc) shall make available to the Company within 45 days of the date of this Agreement, an Ancillary Facility by way of a same-day access LIBOR loan facility on an un-committed basis provided that no Default has occurred or is continuing and that the other terms of this Agreement relating to the provision of Ancillary Facilities have been complied with in relation to that Ancillary Facility;
15.2.2 An Ancillary Facility shall not be made available unless, not later than 5 Business Days prior to the Ancillary Commencement Date for an Ancillary Facility, the Agent has received from the Company:-
(a) a notice in writing of the establishment of an Ancillary Facility and specifying:-
(i) the proposed Borrower(s) (or Affiliates of a Borrower) which may use the Ancillary Facility;
(ii) the proposed Ancillary Commencement Date and expiry date of the Ancillary Facility;
(iii) the proposed type of Ancillary Facility to be provided;
(iv) the proposed Ancillary Lender;
(v) the proposed Ancillary Commitment, the maximum amount of the Ancillary Facility in the case of a Multi-account Overdraft, its Designated Gross Amount and its Designated Net Amount; and
(b) any other information which the Agent may reasonably request in connection with the Ancillary Facility.
The Agent shall promptly notify the Ancillary Lender and the other Lenders of the establishment of an Ancillary Facility.
15.2.3 Subject to compliance with Clause 15.2.2 above:-
(a) the Lender concerned will become an Ancillary Lender; and
(b) the Ancillary Facility will be available,
with effect from the date agreed by the Company and the Ancillary Lender.
15.3 Terms of Ancillary Facilities
15.3.1 Except as provided below, the terms of any Ancillary Facility will be those agreed by the Ancillary Lender and the Company.
15.3.2 Those terms:-
(a) must be based upon normal commercial terms at that time (except as varied by this Agreement);
(b) may allow only Borrowers (or Affiliates of Borrowers nominated pursuant to Clause 15.9 ( Affiliates of Borrowers )) to use the Ancillary Facility;
(c) may not allow the Ancillary Outstandings to exceed the Ancillary Commitment;
(d) may not allow the Ancillary Commitment of a Lender to exceed the Available Commitment with respect to the Facility of that Lender; and
(e) must require that the Ancillary Commitment is reduced to zero, and that all Ancillary Outstandings are repaid not later than the Termination Date (or such earlier date as the Commitment of the relevant Ancillary Lender (or its Affiliate) is reduced to zero).
15.3.3 If there is any inconsistency between any term of an Ancillary Facility and any term of this Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail except for (i) Clause 44.3 ( Day count convention ) which shall not prevail for the purposes of calculating fees, interest or commission relating to an Ancillary Facility; (ii) an Ancillary
Facility comprising more than one account where the terms of the Ancillary Documents shall prevail to the extent required to permit the netting of balances on those accounts; and (iii) where the relevant term of this Agreement would be contrary to, or inconsistent with, the law governing the relevant Ancillary Document, in which case that term of this Agreement shall not prevail.
15.3.4 Interest, commission and fees on Ancillary Facilities are dealt with in Clause 23.5 ( Interest, commission and fees on Ancillary Facilities ).
15.4 Repayment of Ancillary Facility
15.4.1 An Ancillary Facility shall cease to be available on the Termination Date or such earlier date on which its expiry date occurs or on which it is cancelled in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
15.4.2 If an Ancillary Facility expires in accordance with its terms the Ancillary Commitment of the Ancillary Lender shall be reduced to zero (and its Commitment shall be increased accordingly).
15.4.3 No Ancillary Lender may demand repayment or prepayment of any Ancillary Outstandings prior to the expiry date of the Ancillary Facility unless:-
(a) required to reduce the Gross Outstandings of a Multi-account Overdraft to or towards an amount equal to its Net Outstandings;
(b) the Total Commitments have been cancelled in full, or all outstanding Utilisations under the Facility have become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
(c) it becomes unlawful in any applicable jurisdiction for the Ancillary Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund, issue or maintain its participation in its Ancillary Facility; or
(d) both:
(i) the Available Commitments; and
(ii) the notice of the demand given by the Ancillary Lender,
(e) would not prevent the relevant Borrower funding the repayment of those Ancillary Outstandings in full by way of Utilisation.
15.4.4 If a Utilisation is made to repay Ancillary Outstandings in full, the Commitment of the Ancillary Lender shall be reduced to zero.
15.5 Limitation on Ancillary Outstandings
Each Borrower shall procure that:-
15.5.1 the Ancillary Outstandings under any Ancillary Facility shall not exceed the Ancillary Commitment applicable to that Ancillary Facility; and
15.5.2 in relation to a Multi-account Overdraft:-
(a) the Ancillary Outstandings shall not exceed the Designated Net Amount applicable to that Multi-account Overdraft.
(b) the Gross Outstandings shall not exceed the Designated Gross Amount applicable to that Multi-account Overdraft.
15.6 Adjustment for Ancillary Facilities upon acceleration
In this Clause 15.6:-
Revolving Outstandings |
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means, in relation to a Lender, the aggregate of:-
(a) its participation in each Utilisation then outstanding (together with the aggregate amount of all accrued interest, fees and commission owed to it as a Lender under the Facility); and
(b) if the Lender is also an Ancillary Lender, the Ancillary Outstandings in respect of Ancillary Facilities provided by that Ancillary Lender (or by its Affiliate) (together with the aggregate amount of all accrued interest, fees and commission owed to it (or to its Affiliate) as an Ancillary Lender in respect of the Ancillary Facility); and |
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Total Revolving Outstandings |
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means the aggregate of all Revolving Outstandings |
15.6.1 If a notice is served under Clause 34.18 ( Acceleration ) (other than a notice declaring Utilisations to be due on demand), each Lender and each Ancillary Lender shall promptly adjust (by making or receiving (as the case may be) corresponding transfers of rights and obligations under the Finance Documents relating to Revolving Outstandings) their claims in respect of amounts outstanding to them under the Facility and each Ancillary Facility to the extent necessary to ensure that after such transfers the Revolving Outstandings of each Lender bear the same proportion to the Total Revolving Outstandings as such Lenders Commitment bears to the Total Commitments, each as at the date the notice is served under Clause 34.18 ( Acceleration ).
15.6.2 If an amount outstanding under an Ancillary Facility is a contingent liability and that contingent liability becomes an actual liability or is reduced to zero after the original adjustment is made under Clause 15.6.1, then each Lender and Ancillary Lender will make a further adjustment (by making or receiving (as the case may be) corresponding transfers of rights and obligations under the Finance Documents relating to Revolving Outstandings to the extent necessary) to put themselves in the position they would have been in had the original adjustment been determined by reference to the actual liability or, as the case may be, zero liability and not the contingent liability.
15.6.3 Any transfer of rights and obligations relating to Revolving Outstandings made pursuant to this Clause 15.6 shall be made for a purchase price in cash, payable at the time of transfer, in an amount equal to those Revolving Outstandings (less any accrued interest, fees and commission to which the transferor will remain
entitled to receive notwithstanding that transfer, pursuant to Clause 35.10 ( Pro rata interest settlement )).
15.6.4 Prior to the application of the provisions of Clause 15.6.1, an Ancillary Lender that has provided a Multi-account Overdraft shall set-off any Available Credit Balance on any account comprised in that Multi-account Overdraft.
15.6.5 All calculations to be made pursuant to this Clause 15.6 shall be made by the Agent based upon information provided to it by the Lenders and Ancillary Lenders and the Agents Spot Rate of Exchange.
15.7 Information
Each Borrower and each Ancillary Lender shall, promptly upon request by the Agent, supply the Agent with any information relating to the operation of an Ancillary Facility (including the Ancillary Outstandings) as the Agent may reasonably request from time to time. Each Borrower consents to all such information being released to the Agent and the other Finance Parties.
15.8 Affiliates of Lenders as Ancillary Lenders
15.8.1 Subject to the terms of this Agreement, an Affiliate of a Lender may become an Ancillary Lender. In such case, the Lender and its Affiliate shall be treated as a single Lender whose Commitment is the amount set out opposite the relevant Lenders name in Part 2 or Part 3 of Schedule 4 ( The Original Parties ) and/or the amount of any Commitment transferred to or assumed by that Lender under this Agreement, to the extent (in each case) not cancelled, reduced or transferred by it under this Agreement. For the purposes of calculating the Lenders Available Commitment with respect to the Facility, the Lenders Commitment shall be reduced to the extent of the aggregate of the Ancillary Commitments of its Affiliates.
15.8.2 The Company shall specify any relevant Affiliate of a Lender in any notice delivered by the Company to the Agent pursuant to Clause 15.2.2(a).
15.8.3 An Affiliate of a Lender which becomes an Ancillary Lender shall accede to the Intercreditor Agreement as an Ancillary Lender and any person which so accedes to the Intercreditor Agreement shall, at the same time, become a Party as an Ancillary Lender in accordance with clause 20.5.2 ( Deeds of Accession ) of the Intercreditor Agreement.
15.8.4 If a Lender assigns all of its rights and benefits or transfers all of its rights and obligations to a New Lender, its Affiliate shall cease to have any obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document.
15.8.5 Where this Agreement or any other Finance Document imposes an obligation on an Ancillary Lender and the relevant Ancillary Lender is an Affiliate of a Lender which is not a party to that document, the relevant Lender shall ensure that the obligation is performed by its Affiliate.
15.9 Affiliates of Borrowers
15.9.1 Subject to the terms of this Agreement, an Affiliate of a Borrower may with the approval of the relevant Lender become a borrower with respect to an Ancillary Facility.
15.9.2 The Company shall specify any relevant Affiliate of a Borrower in any notice delivered by the Company to the Agent pursuant to Clause 15.2.2(a).
15.9.3 If a Borrower ceases to be a Borrower under this Agreement in accordance with Clause 37.3 ( Resignation of a Borrower ), its Affiliate shall cease to have any rights under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document.
15.9.4 Where this Agreement or any other Finance Document imposes an obligation on a Borrower under an Ancillary Facility and the relevant Borrower is an Affiliate of a Borrower which is not a party to that document, the relevant Borrower shall ensure that the obligation is performed by its Affiliate.
15.9.5 Any reference in this Agreement or any other Finance Document to a Borrower being under no obligations (whether actual or contingent) as a Borrower under such Finance Document shall be construed to include a reference to any Affiliate of a Borrower being under no obligations under any Finance Document or Ancillary Document.
15.10 Commitment amounts
Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement, each Lender shall ensure that at all times its Commitment is not less than:-
15.10.1 its Ancillary Commitment; or
15.10.2 the Ancillary Commitment of its Affiliate.
15.11 Amendments and Waivers - Ancillary Facilities
No amendment or waiver of a term of any Ancillary Facility shall require the consent of any Finance Party other than the relevant Ancillary Lender unless such amendment or waiver itself relates to or gives rise to a matter which would require an amendment of or under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, under this Clause 15). In such a case, Clause 47 ( Amendments and waivers ) will apply.
SECTION 4
REPAYMENT, PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
16. REPAYMENT
16.1 Repayment of Loans
16.1.1 Each Borrower which has drawn a Loan shall repay that Loan on the last day of its Interest Period.
16.1.2 Without prejudice to each Borrowers obligation under Clause 16.1.1 above, if:
(a) one or more Loans are to be made available to a Borrower:-
(i) on the same day that a maturing Loan is due to be repaid by that Borrower;
(ii) in whole or in part for the purpose of refinancing the maturing Loan; and
(b) the proportion borne by each Lenders participation in the maturing Loan to the amount of that maturing Loan is the same as the proportion borne by that Lenders participation in the new Loan to the aggregate amount of those new Loans,
the aggregate amount of the new Loans shall , unless the Borrower notifies the Agent to the contrary in the relevant Utilisation Request, be treated as if applied in or towards repayment of the maturing Loan so that:-
(a) if the amount of the maturing Loan exceeds the aggregate amount of the new Loans:-
(i) the relevant Borrower will only be required to make a payment under Clause 41.1 in an amount in the relevant currency equal to that excess; and
(ii) each Lenders participation in the new Loans shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lenders participation in the maturing Loan and that Lender will not be required to make a payment under Clause 41.1 in respect of its participation in the new Loans; and
(b) if the amount of the maturing Loan is equal to or less than the aggregate amount of the new Loans:-
(i) the relevant Borrower will not be required to make a payment under Clause 41.1; and
(ii) each Lender will be required to make a payment under Clause 41.1 in respect of its participation in the new Loans only to the extent that its participation in the new Loans exceeds that Lenders participation in the maturing Loan and the remainder of that Lenders participation in the new Loans
shall be treated as having been made available and applied by the Borrower in or towards repayment of that Lenders participation in the maturing Loan.
17. ILLEGALITY, VOLUNTARY PREPAYMENT AND CANCELLATION
17.1 Illegality
If it becomes unlawful in any applicable jurisdiction for a Lender to perform any of its obligations as contemplated by this Agreement or to fund, issue or maintain its participation in any Utilisation:-
17.1.1 that Lender, shall promptly notify the Agent upon becoming aware of that event;
17.1.2 upon the Agent notifying the Company, the Available Commitment of that Lender will be immediately cancelled; and
17.1.3 each Borrower shall repay that Lenders participation in the Utilisations made to that Borrower on the last day of the Interest Period for each Utilisation occurring after the Agent has notified the Company or, if earlier, the date specified by the Lender in the notice delivered to the Agent (being no earlier than the last day of any applicable grace period permitted by law) and that Lenders corresponding Commitment(s) shall be cancelled in the amount of the participations repaid.
17.2 Voluntary cancellation
The Company may, if it gives the Agent not less than 10 Business Days (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, cancel the whole or any part (being a minimum amount and an integral multiple, of £250,000) of the Available Facility. Any cancellation under this Clause 17.2 shall reduce the Commitments of the Lenders rateably under the Facility.
17.3 Voluntary prepayment of Utilisations
A Borrower to which a Utilisation has been made may, if it or the Company gives the Agent not less than 5 Business Days (or such shorter period as the Majority Lenders may agree) prior notice, prepay the whole or any part of a Utilisation (but if in part, being an amount that reduces the amount of the Utilisation by a minimum amount, and an integral multiple, of £250,000).
17.4 Right of cancellation and repayment in relation to a single Lender
17.4.1 If:-
(a) any sum payable to any Lender by an Obligor is required to be increased under Clause 24.2.3; or
(b) any Lender claims indemnification from the Company or an Obligor under Clause 24.3 ( Tax indemnity ) or Clause 25.1 ( Increased costs ),
the Company may, whilst the circumstance giving rise to the requirement for that increase or indemnification continues, give the Agent notice of cancellation of the Commitment of that Lender and its intention to procure the repayment of that Lenders participation in the Utilisations.
17.4.2 On receipt of a notice referred to in Clause 17.4.1 above in relation to a Lender, the Commitment of that Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.
17.4.3 On the last day of each Interest Period which ends after the Company has given notice under Clause 17.4.1 above in relation to a Lender (or, if earlier, the date specified by the Company in that notice), each Borrower to which a Utilisation is outstanding shall repay that Lenders participation in that Utilisation together with all interest and other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents.
17.5 Right of cancellation in relation to a Defaulting Lender
17.5.1 If any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the Parent or the Company may, at any time whilst the Lender continues to be a Defaulting Lender, give the Agent 10 Business Days notice of cancellation of each Available Commitment of that Lender.
17.5.2 On the notice referred to in Clause 17.5.1 above becoming effective, each Available Commitment of the Defaulting Lender shall immediately be reduced to zero.
17.5.3 The Agent shall as soon as practicable after receipt of a notice referred to in Clause 17.5.1 above, notify all the Lenders.
18. MANDATORY PREPAYMENT
18.1 Exit
18.1.1 For the purpose of this Clause 18.1:-
FCA |
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means the Financial Conduct Authority acting in accordance with Part 6 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 |
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Flotation |
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means:-
(a) a successful application being made for the admission of any part of the share capital of any member of the Group (or Holding Company of any member of the Group) to the Official List maintained by the FCA and the admission of any part of the share capital of any member of the Group (or Holding Company of any member of the Group) to trading on the London Stock Exchange plc or
(b) the grant of permission to deal in any part of the issued share capital of any member of the Group (or Holding Company of any member of the Group) on the Alternative Investment Market or the Main Board or the Growth Market of the ICAP Securities & Derivatives Exchange (ISDX) or on any recognised investment exchange (as that term is used in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) or in or on any exchange or market replacing the same or any other exchange |
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or market in any country |
18.1.2 Upon the occurrence of:-
(a) any Flotation; or
(b) a Change of Control; or
(c) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Group whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions,
the Facility will be cancelled and all outstanding Utilisations and Ancillary Outstandings, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued under the Finance Documents, shall become immediately due and payable.
19. RESTRICTIONS
19.1 Notices of Cancellation or Prepayment
Any notice of cancellation, prepayment, authorisation or other election given by any Party under Clause 17 ( Illegality, voluntary prepayment and cancellation ) shall (subject to the terms of those Clauses) be irrevocable and, unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, shall specify the date or dates upon which the relevant cancellation or prepayment is to be made and the amount of that cancellation or prepayment.
19.2 Interest and other amounts
Any prepayment under this Agreement shall be made together with accrued interest on the amount prepaid and, subject to any Break Costs, without premium or penalty.
19.3 Reborrowing of Facility
Unless a contrary indication appears in this Agreement, any part of the Facility which is prepaid or repaid may be reborrowed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
19.4 Prepayment in accordance with Agreement
No Borrower shall repay or prepay all or any part of the Utilisations or cancel all or any part of the Commitments except at the times and in the manner expressly provided for in this Agreement.
19.5 No reinstatement of Commitments
Subject to Clause 11.2 ( Increase ), no amount of the Total Commitments cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated.
19.6 Agents receipt of Notices
If the Agent receives a notice under Clause 17 ( Illegality, voluntary prepayment and cancellation ) it shall promptly forward a copy of that notice or election to either the Company or the affected Lender, as appropriate.
19.7 Effect of Repayment and Prepayment on Commitments
If all or part of any Lenders participation in a Utilisation under the Facility is repaid or prepaid and is not available for redrawing (other than by operation of Clause 13.2 ( Further conditions precedent )), an amount of that Lenders Commitments (equal to the amount of the participation which is repaid or prepaid) in respect of the Facility will be deemed to be cancelled on the date of repayment or prepayment.
SECTION 5
COSTS OF UTILISATION
20. INTEREST
20.1 Calculation of interest
The rate of interest on each Loan for each Interest Period is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of the applicable:-
20.1.1 Margin; and
20.1.2 LIBOR.
20.2 Payment of interest
20.2.1 The Borrower to which a Loan has been made shall pay accrued interest on that Loan on the last day of each Interest Period (and, if the Interest Period is longer than six Months, on the dates falling at six Monthly intervals after the first day of the Interest Period).
20.2.2 If the annual audited financial statements of the Group and related Compliance Certificate received by the Agent show that a higher Margin should have applied during a certain period, then the Company shall (or shall ensure the relevant Borrower shall) promptly pay to the Agent any amounts necessary to put the Agent and the Lenders in the position they would have been in had the appropriate rate of the Margin applied during such period.
20.3 Default interest
20.3.1 If an Obligor fails to pay any amount payable by it under a Finance Document on its due date, interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment (both before and after judgment) at a rate which, subject to Clause 20.3.2 below, is 2.0 per cent per annum higher than the rate which would have been payable if the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted a Loan in the currency of the overdue amount for successive Interest Periods, each of a duration selected by the Agent (acting reasonably). Any interest accruing under this Clause 20.3 shall be immediately payable by the Obligor on demand by the Agent.
20.3.2 If any overdue amount consists of all or part of a Loan which became due on a day which was not the last day of an Interest Period relating to that Loan:-
(a) the first Interest Period for that overdue amount shall have a duration equal to the unexpired portion of the current Interest Period relating to that Loan; and
(b) the rate of interest applying to the overdue amount during that first Interest Period shall be 2.0 per cent per annum higher than the rate which would have applied if the overdue amount had not become due.
20.3.3 Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the overdue amount at the end of each Interest Period applicable to that overdue amount but will remain immediately due and payable.
20.4 Notification of rates of interest
The Agent shall promptly notify the relevant Lenders and the relevant Borrower (or the Company) of the determination of a rate of interest under this Agreement.
21. INTEREST PERIODS
21.1 Selection of Interest Periods and Terms
21.1.1 A Borrower (or the Company on behalf of a Borrower) may select an Interest Period for a Loan in the Utilisation Request for that Loan.
21.1.2 Subject to this Clause 21, a Borrower (or the Company) may select an Interest Period of one week or one, three or six months or any other period agreed between the Company and the Agent (acting on the instructions of all the Lenders in relation to the relevant Loan).
21.1.3 An Interest Period for a Loan shall not extend beyond the Termination Date.
21.1.4 A Loan has one Interest Period only.
21.2 Non-Business Days
If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day, that Interest Period will instead end on the next Business Day in that calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).
22. CHANGES TO THE CALCULATION OF INTEREST
22.1 Absence of quotations
Subject to Clause 22.2 ( Market disruption ) if LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Base Reference Banks but a Base Reference Bank does not supply a quotation by the Specified Time on the Quotation Day, the applicable LIBOR shall be determined on the basis of the quotations of the remaining Base Reference Banks.
22.2 Market disruption
22.2.1 If a Market Disruption Event occurs in relation to a Loan for any Interest Period, then the rate of interest on each Lenders share of that Loan for the Interest Period shall be the percentage rate per annum which is the sum of:-
(a) the Margin; and
(b) the rate notified to the Agent by that Lender as soon as practicable and in any event by close of business on the date falling two Business Days after the Quotation Day (or, if earlier, on the date falling two Business Days prior to the date on which interest is due to be paid in respect of that Interest Period), to be that which expresses as a percentage rate per annum the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select.
22.2.2 If a Market Disruption Event occurs the Agent shall, as soon as is practicable, notify the Company.
22.2.3 If:-
(a) the percentage rate per annum notified by a Lender pursuant to Clause 22.2.1(b) above is less than LIBOR; or
(b) a Lender has not notified the Agent of a percentage rate per annum pursuant to Clause 22.2.1(b) above,
the cost to that Lender of funding its participation in that Loan for that Interest Period shall be deemed, for the purposes of Clause 22.2.1 above, to be LIBOR.
22.2.4 In this Agreement:-
Market Disruption Event |
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means:
(a) at or about noon on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period LIBOR is to be determined by reference to the Base Reference Banks and none or only one of the Base Reference Banks supplies a rate to the Agent to determine LIBOR for the relevant currency and Interest Period or
(b) before close of business in London on the Quotation Day for the relevant Interest Period, the Agent receives notifications from a Lender or Lenders (whose participations in a Loan exceed 35 per cent of that Loan) that the cost to it of funding its participation in that Loan from whatever source it may reasonably select would be in excess of LIBOR |
22.3 Alternative basis of interest or funding
22.3.1 If a Market Disruption Event occurs and the Agent or the Company so requires, the Agent and the Company shall enter into negotiations (for a period of not more than thirty days) with a view to agreeing a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest.
22.3.2 Any alternative basis agreed pursuant to Clause 22.3.1 above shall, with the prior consent of all the Lenders and the Company, be binding on all Parties.
22.4 Break Costs
22.4.1 Each Borrower shall, within three Business Days of demand by a Finance Party, pay to that Finance Party its Break Costs attributable to all or any part of a Loan or Unpaid Sum being paid by that Borrower on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period for that Loan or Unpaid Sum.
22.4.2 Each Lender shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Break Costs for any Interest Period in which they accrue.
23. FEES
23.1 Commitment fee
23.1.1 The Company shall pay to the Agent (for the account of each Lender) a fee in Sterling computed at the rate of 35 per cent of the applicable Margin per annum on that Lenders Available Commitment for the Availability Period.
23.1.2 The accrued commitment fee is payable on the last day of each successive period of three Months which ends during the Availability Period, on the last day of the Availability Period and, if cancelled in full, on the cancelled amount of the relevant Lenders Commitment at the time the cancellation is effective.
23.2 Arrangement fee
The Company shall pay to the Arrangers (for their own account) an arrangement fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.
23.3 Agency fee
The Company shall pay to the Agent (for its own account) an agency fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.
23.4 Security Agent fee
The Company shall pay to the Security Agent (for its own account) a security agent fee in the amount and at the times agreed in a Fee Letter.
23.5 Interest, commission and fees on Ancillary Facilities
The rate and time of payment of interest, commission, fees and any other remuneration in respect of each Ancillary Facility shall be determined by agreement between the relevant Ancillary Lender and the Borrower of that Ancillary Facility based upon normal market rates and terms (provided that the rate and time of payment of interest, commission, fees and any other remuneration in respect of the same-day access LIBOR facility referred to in clause 15.2.1 shall be on terms no more onerous than the Facility as at the Second Amendment and Restatement Date).
SECTION 6
ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS
24. TAX GROSS UP AND INDEMNITIES
24.1 Definitions
In this Agreement:-
Borrower DTTP Filing |
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means an HM Revenue & Customs Form DTTP2 duly completed and filed by the Borrower, which:
(a) where it relates to a Treaty Lender that is an Original Lender, contains the scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence stated opposite that Lenders name in Part 2 of Schedule 4 ( The Original Parties ) and
(i) where the Borrower is an Original Borrower, is filed with HM Revenue & Customs; or
(ii) where the Borrower is an Additional Borrower, is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of the date on which that Borrower becomes an Additional Borrower; or
(b) where it relates to a Treaty Lender that is a New Lender or an Increase Lender, contains the scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence stated in respect of that Lender in the relevant Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation and
(i) where the Borrower is a Borrower as at the relevant Transfer Date (or date on which the increase in Commitments described in the relevant Increase Confirmation takes effect) is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of that Transfer Date (or date on which the increase in Commitments described in the relevant Increase Confirmation takes effect); or
(ii) where the Borrower is not a Borrower as at the relevant Transfer Date (or date on which the increase in Commitments described in the relevant Increase Confirmation takes effect), is filed with HM Revenue & Customs within 30 days of the date on which that Borrower becomes an Additional Borrower |
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Protected Party |
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means a Finance Party which is or will be subject to any liability or required to make any payment for or on account of Tax in relation to a sum received or receivable (or any sum deemed for the purposes of Tax to be received or receivable) under a Finance Document |
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(C) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company or
(iii) a Treaty Lender or
(b) a Lender which is a building society (as defined for the purposes of section 880 of the ITA) making an advance under a Finance Document |
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Tax Confirmation |
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means a confirmation by a Lender that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:-
(a) a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes
(b) a partnership each member of which is:-
(i) a company so resident in the United Kingdom or
(ii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA or
(c) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company |
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Tax Credit |
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means a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of, any Tax |
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Tax Deduction |
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means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax from a payment under a Finance Document, other than a FATCA Deduction |
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Tax Payment |
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means either the increase in a payment made by an Obligor to a Finance Party under Clause 24.2 ( Tax gross-up ) or a payment under Clause 24.3 ( Tax indemnity ) |
Treaty Lender |
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means a Lender which:-
(a) is treated as a resident of a Treaty State for the purposes of the Treaty and
(b) does not carry on a business in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment with which that Lenders participation in the Loan is effectively connected |
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Treaty State |
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means a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement (a Treaty ) with the United Kingdom which makes provision for full exemption from tax imposed by the United Kingdom on interest |
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UK Non-Bank Lender |
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means:-
(a) where a Lender becomes a Party on the day on which this Agreement is entered into, a Lender listed in Part 3 of Schedule 4 ( The Original Parties ); and
(b) where a Lender becomes a Party after the day on which this Agreement is entered into, a Lender which gives a Tax Confirmation in the Assignment Agreement or Transfer Certificate which it executes on becoming a Party |
Unless a contrary indication appears, in this Clause 24 a reference to determines or determined means a determination made in the absolute discretion of the person making the determination.
24.2 Tax gross-up
24.2.1 Each Obligor shall make all payments to be made by it without any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law.
24.2.2 The Company shall promptly upon becoming aware that an Obligor must make a Tax Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of a Tax Deduction) notify the Agent accordingly. Similarly, a Lender shall notify the Agent on becoming so aware in respect of a payment payable to that Lender. If the Agent receives such notification from a Lender it shall notify the Company and that Obligor.
24.2.3 If a Tax Deduction is required by law to be made by an Obligor, the amount of the payment due from that Obligor shall be increased to an amount which (after making any Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been required.
24.2.4 A payment shall not be increased under Clause 24.2.3 above by reason of a Tax Deduction on account of Tax imposed by the United Kingdom, if on the date on which the payment falls due:-
(a) the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a Tax Deduction if the Lender had been a Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Lender under this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application
of) any law or Treaty or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority; or
(b) the relevant Lender is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of sub-clause (a)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender and:-
(i) an officer of HM Revenue & Customs has given (and not revoked) a direction (a Direction ) under section 931 of the ITA which relates to the payment and that Lender has received from the Obligor making the payment or from the Company a certified copy of that Direction; and
(ii) the payment could have been made to the Lender without any Tax Deduction if that Direction had not been made; or
(c) the relevant Lender is a Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of sub-clause (a)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender and:-
(i) the relevant Lender has not given a Tax Confirmation to the Company; and
(ii) the payment could have been made to the Lender without any Tax Deduction if the Lender had given a Tax Confirmation to the Company, on the basis that the Tax Confirmation would have enabled the Company to have formed a reasonable belief that the payment was an excepted payment for the purpose of section 930 of the ITA; or
(d) the relevant Lender is a Treaty Lender and the Obligor making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the Tax Deduction had that Lender complied with its obligations under Clauses 24.2.7 or 24.2.8 (as applicable) below.
24.2.5 If an Obligor is required to make a Tax Deduction, that Obligor shall make that Tax Deduction and any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction within the time allowed and in the minimum amount required by law.
24.2.6 Within thirty days of making either a Tax Deduction or any payment required in connection with that Tax Deduction, the Obligor making that Tax Deduction shall deliver to the Agent for the Finance Party entitled to the payment a statement under section 975 of the ITA or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to that Finance Party that the Tax Deduction has been made or (as applicable) any appropriate payment paid to the relevant taxing authority.
24.2.7
(a) Subject to paragraph (b) below, a Treaty Lender and each Obligor which makes a payment to which that Treaty Lender is entitled shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for that Obligor to obtain authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction.
(b)
(i) A Treaty Lender which becomes a Party on the day on which this Agreement is entered into that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall confirm its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence opposite its name in Part 2 of Schedule 4 ( The Original Parties ); and
(ii) A New Lender or an Increase Lender that is a Treaty Lender that holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall confirm its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in the Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation which it executes,
and, having done so, that Lender shall be under no obligation pursuant to Clause 24.2.7(a) above.
24.2.8 If a Lender has confirmed its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with Clause 24.2.7(b) above and:
(a) the Borrower making a payment to that Lender has not made a Borrower DTTP Filing in respect of that Lender; or
(b) the Borrower making a payment to that Lender has made a Borrower DTTP Filing in respect of that Lender but:
(i) the Borrower DTTP Filing has been rejected by HM Revenue & Customs; or
(ii) HM Revenue & Customs has not given the Borrower authority to make payments to that Lender without a Tax Deduction within 60 days of the date of the Borrower DTTP Filing,
and in each case, the Borrower has notified that Lender in writing, that Lender and the Borrower shall co-operate in completing any additional procedural formalities necessary for the Company to obtain authorisation to make that payment without a Tax Deduction.
24.2.9 If a Lender has not confirmed its scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with Clause 24.2.7(b) above, no Obligor shall make a Borrower DTTP Filing or file any other form relating to the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme in respect of that Lenders Commitment(s) or its participation in any Loan unless the Lender otherwise agrees.
24.2.10 The Company shall, promptly on making a Borrower DTTP Filing, deliver a copy of that Borrower DTTP Filing to the Agent for delivery to the relevant Lender.
24.2.11 A UK Non-Bank Lender which becomes a Party on the day on which this Agreement is entered into gives a Tax Confirmation to the Company by entering into this Agreement.
24.2.12 A UK Non-Bank Lender shall promptly notify the Company and the Agent if there is any change in the position from that set out in the Tax Confirmation.
24.3 Tax indemnity
24.3.1 The Company shall (within three Business Days of demand by the Agent) pay to a Protected Party an amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which that Protected Party determines will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of Tax by that Protected Party in respect of a Finance Document.
24.3.2 Clause 24.3.1 above shall not apply:-
(a) with respect to any Tax assessed on a Finance Party:-
(i) under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Party is incorporated or, if different, the jurisdiction (or jurisdictions) in which that Finance Party is treated as resident for tax purposes; or
(ii) under the law of the jurisdiction in which that Finance Partys Facility Office is located in respect of amounts received or receivable in that jurisdiction,
if that Tax is imposed on or calculated by reference to the net income received or receivable (but not any sum deemed to be received or receivable) by that Finance Party; or
(b) to the extent a loss, liability or cost:-
(i) is compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 24.2 ( Tax gross-up );
(ii) would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Clause 24.2 ( Tax gross-up ) but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in Clause 24.2.4 applied; or
(iii) relates to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party.
24.3.3 A Protected Party making, or intending to make a claim under Clause 24.3.1 above shall promptly notify the Agent of the event which will give, or has given, rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall notify the Company.
24.3.4 A Protected Party shall, on receiving a payment from an Obligor under this Clause 24.3, notify the Agent.
24.4 Tax Credit
If an Obligor makes a Tax Payment and the relevant Finance Party determines that:-
24.4.1 a Tax Credit is attributable to an increased payment of which that Tax Payment forms part, to that Tax Payment or to a Tax Deduction in consequence of which that Tax Payment was required; and
24.4.2 that Finance Party has obtained and utilised that Tax Credit,
the Finance Party shall pay an amount to the Obligor which that Finance Party determines will leave it (after that payment) in the same after-Tax position as it would have been in had the Tax Payment not been required to be made by the Obligor.
24.5 Lender Status Confirmation
Each Lender which becomes a Party to this Agreement after the date of this Agreement shall indicate, in the Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation which it executes on becoming a Party, and for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, which of the following categories it falls in:-
24.5.1 not a Qualifying Lender;
24.5.2 a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender); or
24.5.3 a Treaty Lender.
If a New Lender or Increase Lender fails to indicate its status in accordance with this Clause 24.5 then such New Lender or Increase Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement (including by each Obligor) as if it is not a Qualifying Lender until such time as it notifies the Agent which category applies (and the Agent, upon receipt of such notification, shall inform the Company). For the avoidance of doubt, a Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation shall not be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply with this Clause 24.5.
24.6 Stamp taxes
The Company shall pay and, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Secured Party against any cost, loss or liability that Secured Party incurs in relation to all stamp duty, registration and other similar Taxes payable in respect of any Finance Document.
24.7 V AT
24.7.1 All amounts expressed to be payable under a Finance Document by any Party to a Finance Party which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for any supply for VAT purposes are deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on that supply, and accordingly, subject to Clause 24.7.2 below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document and such Finance Party is required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, that Party must pay to such Finance Party (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT (and such Finance Party must promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to that Party).
24.7.2 If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Finance Party (the Supplier ) to any other Finance Party (the Recipient ) under a Finance Document, and any Party other than the Recipient (the Relevant Party ) is required by the terms of any Finance Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for that supply to the Supplier (rather than being required to reimburse or indemnify the Recipient in respect of that consideration):
(a) (where the Supplier is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must also pay to the Supplier (at the same time as paying that amount) an additional amount equal to the amount of the VAT. The Recipient must (where
this Clause 24.7.2(a) applies) promptly pay to the Relevant Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment the Recipient receives from the relevant tax authority which the Recipient reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply; and
(b) (where the Recipient is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must promptly, following demand from the Recipient, pay to the Recipient an amount equal to the VAT chargeable on that supply but only to the extent that the Recipient reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority in respect of that VAT.
24.7.3 Where a Finance Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Finance Party for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Finance Party for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Finance Party reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.
24.7.4 Any reference in this Clause 24.7 to any Party shall, at any time when such Party is treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the representative member of such group at such time (the term representative member to have the same meaning as in the Value Added Tax Act 1994).
24.7.5 In relation to any supply made by a Finance Party to any Party under a Finance Document, if reasonably requested by such Finance Party, that Party must promptly provide such Finance Party with details of that Partys VAT registration and such other information as is reasonably requested in connection with such Finance Partys VAT reporting requirements in relation to such supply.
24.8 FATCA Information
24.8.1 Subject to Clause 24.8.3 below, each Party shall, within ten Business Days of a reasonable request by another Party:
(a) confirm to that other Party whether it is:
(i) a FATCA Exempt Party; or
(ii) not a FATCA Exempt Party;
(b) supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status under FATCA as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Partys compliance with FATCA; and
(c) supply to that other Party such forms, documentation and other information relating to its status as that other Party reasonably requests for the purposes of that other Partys compliance with any other law, regulation, or exchange of information regime.
24.8.2 If a Party confirms to another Party pursuant to Clause 24.8.1(a) above that it is a FATCA Exempt Party and it subsequently becomes aware that it is not or has ceased to be a FATCA Exempt Party, that Party shall notify that other Party reasonably promptly.
24.8.3 Clause24.8.1 above shall not oblige any Finance Party to do anything, and Clause 24.8.1(c) above shall not oblige any other Party to do anything, which would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of:
(a) any law or regulation;
(b) any fiduciary duty; or
(c) any duty of confidentiality.
24.8.4 If a Party fails to confirm whether or not it is a FATCA Exempt Party or to supply forms, documentation or other information requested in accordance with Clauses 24.8.1(a) or 24.8.1(b) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where Clause 24.8.3 above applies), then such Party shall be treated for the purposes of the Finance Documents (and payments under them) as if it is not a FATCA Exempt Party until such time as the Party in question provides the requested confirmation, forms, documentation or other information.
24.9 FATCA Deduction
24.9.1 Each Party may make any FATCA Deduction it is required to make by FATCA, and any payment required in connection with that FATCA Deduction, and no Party shall be required to increase any payment in respect of which it makes such a FATCA Deduction or otherwise compensate the recipient of the payment for that FATCA Deduction.
24.9.2 Each Party shall promptly, upon becoming aware that it must make a FATCA Deduction (or that there is any change in the rate or the basis of such FATCA Deduction), notify the Party to whom it is making the payment and, in addition, shall notify the Company and the Agent and the Agent shall notify the other Finance Parties.
25. INCREASED COSTS
25.1 Increased costs
25.1.1 Subject to Clause 25.3 ( Exceptions ) the Company shall, within three Business Days of a demand by the Agent, pay for the account of a Finance Party the amount of any Increased Costs incurred by that Finance Party or any of its Affiliates as a result of (i) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation, (ii) compliance with any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement, or (iii) the implementation or application of or compliance with Basel III or CRD IV or any other law or regulation which implements Basel III or CRD IV (whether such implementation, application or compliance is by a government, regulator, Finance Party or any of its Affiliates).
25.1.2 In this Agreement:-
(a) Basel III means:
(i) the agreements on capital requirements, a leverage ratio and liquidity standards contained in Basel III: A global regulatory framework for more resilient banks and banking systems, Basel III: International framework for liquidity risk
measurement, standards and monitoring and Guidance for national authorities operating the countercyclical capital buffer published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in December 2010, each as amended, supplemented or restated;
(ii) the rules for global systemically important banks contained in Global systemically important banks: assessment methodology and the additional loss absorbency requirement Rules text published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in November 2011, as amended, supplemented or restated; and
(iii) any further guidance or standards published by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision relating to Basel III.
(b) CRD IV means:
(i) Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and investment firms; and
(ii) Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions and investment firms.
(c) Increased Costs means:-
(i) a reduction in the rate of return from the Facility or on a Finance Partys (or its Affiliates) overall capital;
(ii) an additional or increased cost; or
(iii) a reduction of any amount due and payable under any Finance Document,
which is incurred or suffered by a Finance Party or any of its Affiliates to the extent that it is attributable to that Finance Party having entered into its Commitment or an Ancillary Commitment or funding or performing its obligations under any Finance Document
25.2 Increased cost claims
25.2.1 A Finance Party intending to make a claim pursuant to Clause 25.1 ( Increased Costs ) shall notify the Agent of the event giving rise to the claim, following which the Agent shall promptly notify the Company.
25.2.2 Each Finance Party shall, as soon as practicable after a demand by the Agent, provide a certificate confirming the amount of its Increased Costs.
25.3 Exceptions
25.3.1 Clause 25.1 ( Increased Costs ) does not apply to the extent any Increased Cost is:-
(a) attributable to a Tax Deduction required by law to be made by an Obligor;
(b) attributable to a FATCA Deduction required to be made by a Party;
(c) compensated for by Clause 24.3 ( Tax indemnity ) (or would have been compensated for under Clause 24.3 ( Tax indemnity ) but was not so compensated solely because any of the exclusions in Clause 24.3.2 applied); or
(d) attributable to the wilful breach by the relevant Finance Party or its Affiliates of any law or regulation.
25.3.2 In this Clause 25.3 reference to a Tax Deduction has the same meaning given to the term in Clause 24.1 ( Definitions ).
26. OTHER INDEMNITIES
26.1 Currency indemnity
26.1.1 If any sum due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (a Sum ), or any order, judgment or award given or made in relation to a Sum, has to be converted from the currency (the First Currency ) in which that Sum is payable into another currency (the Second Currency ) for the purpose of:-
(a) making or filing a claim or proof against that Obligor; or
(b) obtaining or enforcing an order, judgment or award in relation to any litigation or arbitration proceedings,
that Obligor shall as an independent obligation, within three Business Days of demand, indemnify each Secured Party to whom that Sum is due against any cost, loss or liability arising out of or as a result of the conversion including any discrepancy between (A) the rate of exchange used to convert that Sum from the First Currency into the Second Currency and (B) the rate or rates of exchange available to that person at the time of its receipt of that Sum.
26.1.2 Each Obligor waives any right it may have in any jurisdiction to pay any amount under the Finance Documents in a currency or currency unit other than that in which it is expressed to be payable.
26.2 Other indemnities
26.2.1 The Company shall (or shall procure that an Obligor will), within three Business Days of demand, indemnify the Arranger and each other Secured Party against any cost, loss or liability incurred by it as a result of:-
(a) the occurrence of any Event of Default;
(b) a failure by an Obligor to pay any amount due under a Finance Document on its due date, including without limitation, any cost, loss or liability arising as a result of Clause 40 ( Sharing among the Finance Parties );
(c) funding, or making arrangements to fund, its participation in a Utilisation requested by a Borrower in a Utilisation Request but not made by reason of the operation of any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement (other than by reason of default or negligence by that Finance Party alone); or
(d) a Utilisation (or part of a Utilisation) not being prepaid in accordance with a notice of prepayment given by a Borrower or the Company.
26.3 Indemnity to the Agent
The Company shall promptly indemnify the Agent against any cost, loss or liability incurred by the Agent (acting reasonably) as a result of:-
26.3.1 investigating any event which it reasonably believes is a Default;
26.3.2 acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised; or
26.3.3 instructing lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts as permitted under this Agreement; and
26.3.4 any cost, loss or liability (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) incurred by the Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Agents gross negligence or wilful misconduct) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 41.11 ( Disruption to Payment Systems etc ) notwithstanding the Agents negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents.
26.4 Indemnity to the Security Agent
26.4.1 Each Obligor jointly and severally shall promptly indemnify the Security Agent and every Receiver and Delegate against any cost, loss or liability incurred by any of them as a result of:-
(a) any failure by the Borrower to comply with its obligations under Clause 28 ( Costs and expenses );
(b) acting or relying on any notice, request or instruction which it reasonably believes to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;
(c) the taking, holding, protection or enforcement of the Transaction Security,
(d) the exercise of any of the rights, powers, discretions, authorities and remedies vested in the Security Agent and each Receiver and Delegate by the Finance Documents or by law;
(e) any default by any Obligor in the performance of any of the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in the Finance Documents; or
(f) acting as Security Agent, Receiver or Delegate under the Finance Documents or which otherwise relates to any of the Charged Property (otherwise, in each case, than by reason of the relevant Security Agents, Receivers or Delegates gross negligence or wilful misconduct).
26.4.2 Each Obligor expressly acknowledges and agrees that the continuation of its indemnity obligations under this Clause 26.4 will not be prejudiced by any release or disposal under the Intercreditor Agreement taking into account the operation of the provisions of that agreement.
26.4.3 The Security Agent and every Receiver and Delegate may, in priority to any payment to the Secured Parties, indemnify itself out of the Charged Property in respect of, and pay and retain, all sums necessary to give effect to the indemnity in this Clause 26.4 and shall have a lien on the Transaction Security and the proceeds of the enforcement of the Transaction Security for all monies payable to it.
27. MITIGATION BY THE LENDERS
27.1 Mitigation
27.1.1 Each Finance Party shall, in consultation with the Company, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any circumstances which arise and which would result in the Facility ceasing to be available or any amount becoming payable under or pursuant to, or cancelled pursuant to, any of Clause 17.1 ( Illegality ), Clause 24 ( Tax gross-up and indemnities ) or Clause 25 ( Increased Costs ) including (but not limited to) transferring its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents to another Affiliate or Facility Office.
27.1.2 Clause 27.1.1 above does not in any way limit the obligations of any Obligor under the Finance Documents.
27.2 Limitation of liability
27.2.1 The Company shall promptly indemnify each Finance Party for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by that Finance Party as a result of steps taken by it under Clause 27.1 ( Mitigation ).
27.2.2 A Finance Party is not obliged to take any steps under Clause 27.1 ( Mitigation ) if, in the opinion of that Finance Party (acting reasonably), to do so might be prejudicial to it.
28. COSTS AND EXPENSES
28.1 Transaction expenses
The Company shall promptly on demand pay the Agent, the Arranger and the Security Agent the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by any of them (and, in the case of the Security Agent, by any Receiver or Delegate) in connection with the negotiation, preparation, printing, execution, syndication and perfection of:-
28.1.1 this Agreement and any other documents referred to in this Agreement and the Transaction Security; and
28.1.2 any other Finance Documents executed after the date of this Agreement.
28.2 Amendment costs
If (a) an Obligor requests an amendment, waiver or consent or (b) an amendment is required pursuant to Clause 41.10 ( Change of currency ), the Company shall, within three Business Days of demand, reimburse each of the Agent and the Security Agent for the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Agent and the Security Agent (and, in the case of the Security Agent, by any Receiver or Delegate) in responding to, evaluating, negotiating or complying with that request or requirement.
28.3 Security Agents ongoing costs
28.3.1 Any amount payable to the Security Agent under Clause 26.4 ( Indemnity to the Security Agent ) and this Clause 28 shall include the properly incurred cost of utilising the Security Agents management time or other reasonable and appropriate resources and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Security Agent may notify to the Borrower and the Lenders, and is in addition to any other fee paid or payable to the Security Agent.
28.3.2 Without prejudice to Clause 28.3.1 above, in the event of:
(a) a Default;
(b) the Security Agent considering it necessary (acting reasonably);
(c) the Security Agent being requested by an Obligor or the Majority Lenders to undertake duties which the Security Agent and the Company agree to be of an exceptional nature or outside the scope of the normal duties of the Security Agent under the Finance Documents; or
(d) the Security Agent and the Company agreeing that it is otherwise appropriate in the circumstances,
the Company shall pay to the Security Agent any additional remuneration that may be agreed between them or determined pursuant to Clause 28.3.3 below.
28.3.3 If the Security Agent and the Company fail to agree upon the nature of the duties or upon the additional remuneration referred to in Clause 28.3.2 above or
whether additional remuneration is appropriate in the circumstances, any dispute shall be determined by an investment bank (acting as an expert and not as an arbitrator) selected by the Security Agent and approved by the Company or, failing approval, nominated (on the application of the Security Agent) by the President for the time being of the Law Society of England and Wales (the costs of the nomination and of the investment bank being payable by the Company) and the determination of any investment bank shall be final and binding upon the parties to this Agreement.
28.4 Enforcement and preservation costs
The Company shall, within three Business Days of demand, pay to each Secured Party the amount of all costs and expenses (including legal fees) properly incurred by it in connection with the enforcement of or the preservation of any rights under any Finance Document and the Transaction Security and any proceedings instituted by or against the Security Agent as a consequence of taking or holding the Transaction Security or enforcing these rights.
SECTION 7
GUARANTEE
29. GUARANTEE AND INDEMNITY
29.1 Guarantee and indemnity
Each Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally jointly and severally:-
29.1.1 guarantees to each Finance Party punctual performance by each other Obligor of all that Obligors obligations under the Finance Documents;
29.1.2 undertakes with each Finance Party that whenever another Obligor does not pay any amount when due under or in connection with any Finance Document, that Guarantor shall immediately on demand pay that amount as if it was the principal obligor; and
29.1.3 agrees with each Finance Party that if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify that Finance Party immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability it incurs as a result of an Obligor not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by it under any Finance Document on the date when it would have been due. The amount payable by a Guarantor under this indemnity will not exceed the amount it would have had to pay under this Clause 29 if the amount claimed had been recoverable on the basis of a guarantee.
29.2 Continuing Guarantee
This guarantee is a continuing guarantee and will extend to the ultimate balance of sums payable by any Obligor under the Finance Documents, regardless of any intermediate payment or discharge in whole or in part.
29.3 Reinstatement
If any discharge, release or arrangement (whether in respect of the obligations of any Obligor or any security for those obligations or otherwise) is made by a Finance Party in whole or in part on the basis of any payment, security or other disposition which is avoided or must be restored in insolvency, liquidation, administration or otherwise, without limitation, then the liability of each Guarantor under this Clause 29 will continue or be reinstated as if the discharge, release or arrangement had not occurred.
29.4 Waiver of defences
The obligations of each Guarantor under this Clause 29 will not be affected by an act, omission, matter or thing which, but for this Clause 29, would reduce, release or prejudice any of its obligations under this Clause 29 (without limitation and whether or not known to it or any Finance Party) including:-
29.4.1 any time, waiver or consent granted to, or composition with, any Obligor or other person;
29.4.2 the release of any other Obligor or any other person under the terms of any composition or arrangement with any creditor of any member of the Group;
29.4.3 the taking, variation, compromise, exchange, renewal or release of, or refusal or neglect to perfect, take up or enforce, any rights against, or security over assets of, any Obligor or other person or any non-presentation or non-observance of any formality or other requirement in respect of any instrument or any failure to realise the full value of any security;
29.4.4 any incapacity or lack of power, authority or legal personality of or dissolution or change in the members or status of an Obligor or any other person;
29.4.5 any amendment, novation, supplement, extension, restatement (however fundamental and whether or not more onerous) or replacement of a Finance Document or any other document or security including, without limitation, any change in the purpose of, any extension of or increase in any facility or the addition of any new facility under any Finance Document or other document or security;
29.4.6 any unenforceability, illegality or invalidity of any obligation of any person under any Finance Document or any other document or security; or
29.4.7 any insolvency or similar proceedings.
29.5 Guarantor Intent
Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 29.4 ( Waiver of Defences ), each Guarantor expressly confirms that it intends that this guarantee shall extend from time to time to any (however fundamental) variation, increase, extension or addition of or to any of the Finance Documents and/or any facility or amount made available under any of the Finance Documents for the purposes of or in connection with any of the following: business acquisitions of any nature; increasing working capital; enabling investor distributions to be made; carrying out restructurings; refinancing existing facilities; refinancing any other indebtedness; making facilities available to new borrowers; any other variation or extension of the purposes for which any such facility or amount might be made available from time to time; and any fees, costs and/or expenses associated with any of the foregoing.
29.6 Immediate recourse
Each Guarantor waives any right it may have of first requiring any Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) to proceed against or enforce any other rights or security or claim payment from any person before claiming from that Guarantor under this Clause 29. This waiver applies irrespective of any law or any provision of a Finance Document to the contrary.
29.7 Appropriations
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full, each Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) may:-
29.7.1 refrain from applying or enforcing any other moneys, security or rights held or received by that Finance Party (or any trustee or agent on its behalf) in respect of those amounts, or apply and enforce the same in such manner and order as it sees fit (whether against those amounts or otherwise) and no Guarantor shall be entitled to the benefit of the same; and
29.7.2 hold in an interest-bearing suspense account any moneys received from any Guarantor or on account of any Guarantors liability under this Clause 29.
29.8 Deferral of Guarantors rights
Until all amounts which may be or become payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been irrevocably paid in full and unless the Agent otherwise directs, no Guarantor will exercise any rights which it may have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under the Finance Documents or by reason of any amount being payable, or liability arising, under this Clause 29:-
29.8.1 to be indemnified by an Obligor;
29.8.2 to claim any contribution from any other guarantor of any Obligors obligations under the Finance Documents;
29.8.3 to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents or of any other guarantee or security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, the Finance Documents by any Finance Party;
29.8.4 to bring legal or other proceedings for an order requiring any Obligor to make any payment, or perform any obligation, in respect of which any Guarantor has given a guarantee, undertaking or indemnity under Clause 29.1 ( Guarantee and Indemnity );
29.8.5 to exercise any right of set-off against any Obligor; and/or
29.8.6 to claim or prove as a creditor of any Obligor in competition with any Finance Party.
If a Guarantor receives any benefit, payment or distribution in relation to such rights it shall hold that benefit, payment or distribution to the extent necessary to enable all amounts which may be or become payable to the Finance Parties by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents to be repaid in full on trust for the Finance Parties and shall promptly pay or transfer the same to the Agent or as the Agent may direct for application in accordance with Clause 41 ( Payment mechanics ).
29.9 Release of Guarantors right of contribution
If any Guarantor (a Retiring Guarantor ) ceases to be a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents for the purpose of any sale or other disposal of that Retiring Guarantor then on the date such Retiring Guarantor ceases to be a Guarantor:-
29.9.1 that Retiring Guarantor is released by each other Guarantor from any liability (whether past, present or future and whether actual or contingent) to make a contribution to any other Guarantor arising by reason of the performance by any other Guarantor of its obligations under the Finance Documents; and
29.9.2 each other Guarantor waives any rights it may have by reason of the performance of its obligations under the Finance Documents to take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or otherwise) of any rights of the Finance Parties under any Finance Document or of any other security taken pursuant to, or in connection with, any Finance Document where
such rights or security are granted by or in relation to the assets of the Retiring Guarantor.
29.10 Additional security
This guarantee is in addition to and is not in any way prejudiced by any other guarantee or security now or subsequently held by any Finance Party.
29.11 Guarantee Limitations
This guarantee does not apply to any liability to the extent that it would result in this guarantee constituting unlawful financial assistance within the meaning of sections 678 or 679 of the Companies Act 2006 or any equivalent and applicable provisions under the laws of the Original Jurisdiction of the relevant Guarantor and, with respect to any Additional Guarantor, is subject to any limitations set out in the Accession Deed applicable to such Additional Guarantor.
SECTION 8
REPRESENTATIONS, UNDERTAKINGS AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT
30. REPRESENTATIONS
30.1 General
Each Obligor makes the representations and warranties set out in this Clause 30 to each Finance Party.
30.2 Status
30.2.1 It and each of its Subsidiaries is a limited liability corporation, duly incorporated and validly existing under the law of its Original Jurisdiction.
30.2.2 It and each of its Subsidiaries has the power to own its assets and carry on its business as it is being conducted.
30.3 Binding obligations
Subject to the Legal Reservations:-
30.3.1 the obligations expressed to be assumed by it in each Finance Document to which it is a party are legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligations; and
30.3.2 (without limiting the generality of Clause 30.3.1 above), each Transaction Security Document to which it is a party creates the security interests which that Transaction Security Document purports to create and those security interests are valid and effective.
30.4 Non-conflict with other obligations
The entry into and performance by it of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents and the granting of the Transaction Security pursuant to the Agreed Security Principles do not and will not conflict with:-
30.4.1 any law or regulation applicable to it;
30.4.2 the constitutional documents of any member of the Group; or
30.4.3 (any agreement or instrument binding upon it or any member of the Group or any of its or any member of the Groups assets or constitute a default or termination event (however described) under any such agreement or instrument which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
30.5 Power and authority
30.5.1 It has the power to enter into, perform and deliver, and has taken all necessary action to authorise its entry into, performance and delivery of, the Finance Documents to which it is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated by those Finance Documents.
30.5.2 No limit on its powers will be exceeded as a result of the borrowing, grant of security or giving of guarantees or indemnities contemplated by the Finance Documents to which it is a party.
30.6 Validity and admissibility in evidence
30.6.1 All Authorisations required:-
(a) to enable it lawfully to enter into, exercise its rights and comply with its obligations in the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and
(b) to make the Finance Documents to which it is a party admissible in evidence in its Relevant Jurisdictions,
have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect except any Authorisation referred to in Clause 30.9 ( No filing or stamp taxes ), which Authorisations will be promptly obtained or effected after the date of this Agreement.
30.6.2 All Authorisations necessary for the conduct of the business, trade and ordinary activities of members of the Group have been obtained or effected and are in full force and effect if failure to obtain or effect those Authorisations has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
30.7 Governing law and enforcement
30.7.1 Subject to the Legal Reservations, the choice of governing law of the Finance Documents will be recognised and enforced in its Relevant Jurisdictions.
30.7.2 Subject to the Legal Reservations, any judgment obtained in relation to a Finance Document in the jurisdiction of the governing law of that Finance Document will be recognised and enforced in its Relevant Jurisdictions.
30.8 Insolvency
No:-
30.8.1 corporate action, legal proceeding or other procedure or step described in Clause 34.7.1; or
30.8.2 creditors process described in Clause 34.8 ( Creditors process ),
is being taken or, to the knowledge of the Parent or the Company, is threatened in writing in relation to the Parent or a member of the Group; and none of the circumstances described in Clause 34.6 ( Insolvency ) applies to the Parent or a member of the Group.
30.9 No filing or stamp taxes
Under the laws of its Relevant Jurisdiction it is not necessary that the Finance Documents be filed, recorded or enrolled with any court or other authority in that jurisdiction or that any stamp, registration, notarial or similar Taxes or fees be paid on or in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents except registration of particulars of the Transaction Security Documents at the Companies Registration Office in England and Wales under section 859A of the Companies Act 2006
and payment of associated fees which registrations, filings, taxes and fees will be made and paid promptly after the date of the relevant Finance Document.
30.10 Deduction of Tax
It is not required to make any deduction for or on account of Tax from any payment it may make under any Finance Document to a Lender which is:-
30.10.1 a Qualifying Lender:-
(a) falling within paragraph (a)(i) of the definition of Qualifying Lender; or
(b) except where a Direction has been given under section 931 of the ITA in relation to the payment concerned, falling within paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender; or
(c) falling within paragraph (b) of the definition of Qualifying Lender; or
30.10.2 a Treaty Lender and the payment is one specified in a direction given by the Commissioners of Revenue & Customs under Regulation 2 of the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (General) Regulations 1970 (SI 1970/488).
30.11 No default
30.11.1 No Event of Default and, on the date of this Agreement, no Default is continuing or will result from the making of any Utilisation or the entry into, the performance of, or any transaction contemplated by, any Finance Document.
30.11.2 No other event or circumstance is outstanding which constitutes (or, with the expiry of a grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination or any combination of any of the foregoing, would constitute) a default or termination event (however described) under any other agreement or instrument which is binding on it or any Material Company or to which its (or any Material Companys) assets are subject,
which in each case has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
30.12 No misleading information
Save as disclosed in writing to the Agent and the Arranger prior to the date of this Agreement:-
30.12.1 all material information provided to a Finance Party by or on behalf of the Parent or the Company in connection with this Agreement and the provision of the Facility and/or the Group on or before the date of this Agreement and not superseded before that date is accurate and not misleading in any material respect and all projections provided to any Finance Party on or before the date of this Agreement have been prepared in good faith on the basis of assumptions which were reasonable at the time at which they were prepared and supplied; and
30.12.2 all other written information provided by the Parent or any member of the Group (including its advisers) to a Finance Party was true, complete and accurate in all material respects as at the date it was provided and is not misleading in any material respect.
30.13 Original Financial Statements
30.13.1 Its Original Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles consistently applied unless expressly disclosed to the Agent in writing to the contrary. However in the case of monthly and quarterly statements, normal year end adjustments were not made.
30.13.2 Its unaudited Original Financial Statements fairly represent its financial condition and results of operations (consolidated in the case of each of the target companies described in paragraph (a) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition) for the relevant month or financial quarter.
30.13.3 Its audited Original Financial Statements give a true and fair view of its financial condition and results of operations (consolidated in the case of each of the target companies described in paragraph (a) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition) during the relevant Financial Year.
30.13.4 There has been no material adverse change in its assets, business or financial condition (or the assets, business or consolidated financial condition of the Group, in the case of the Parent and/or the Company) since the date of the Original Financial Statements.
30.13.5 The Original Financial Statements of the Company (and each of the target companies described in paragraph (a) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition) do not consolidate the results, assets or liabilities of any person or business which does not form part of the Group or the group of companies formed of the target companies described in paragraph (a) of the definition of Permitted Acquisition and each of their Subsidiaries (as applicable).
30.13.6 Its most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 31.1 ( Financial Statements ):-
(a) have been prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles as applied to the Original Financial Statements; and
(b) give a true and fair view of (if audited) or fairly represent (if unaudited) its consolidated financial condition as at the end of, and consolidated results of operations for, the period to which they relate.
30.13.7 The budgets and forecasts supplied under this Agreement were arrived at after careful consideration and have been prepared in good faith on the basis of recent historical information and on the basis of assumptions which were reasonable as at the date they were prepared and supplied.
30.13.8 Since the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 31.1 (Financial Statements) there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets or financial condition of the Group.
30.14 No proceedings pending or threatened
No litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings or investigations of, or before, any court, arbitral body or agency which, if adversely determined, are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect have (to the best of its knowledge and belief (having made due and careful enquiry)) been started and are ongoing or threatened in writing against it or any of its Subsidiaries.
30.15 Anti-corruption law
Each member of the Group has conducted its business in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and has instituted and maintained policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.
30.16 No breach of laws
30.16.1 It has not (and none of its Subsidiaries has) breached any law or regulation which breach has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
30.16.2 No labour disputes are current or, to the best of its knowledge and belief (having made due and careful enquiry), threatened against the Parent or any member of the Group which have or are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
30.17 Environmental laws
30.17.1 The Parent and each member of the Group is in compliance with Clause 33.3 ( Environmental compliance ) and to the best of its knowledge and belief (having made due and careful enquiry) no circumstances have occurred which would prevent such compliance in a manner or to an extent which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
30.17.2 No Environmental Claim has been commenced and is outstanding or (to the best of its knowledge and belief (having made due and careful enquiry)) is threatened against the Parent or any member of the Group where that claim has or is reasonably likely, if adversely determined against the Parent or that member of the Group, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
30.18 Taxation
30.18.1 It is not (and none of its Subsidiaries is) materially overdue in the filing of any Tax returns and it is not (and none of its Subsidiaries is) overdue in the payment of any amount in respect of Tax of £500,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency) or more unless such payment is being contested in good faith and is adequately reserved against in accordance with the Accounting Principles.
30.18.2 Save for claims being contested in good faith and which have been adequately reserved against (in accordance with the Accounting Principles) no claims or investigations are being, or are reasonably likely to be, made or conducted against it (or any of its Subsidiaries) with respect to Taxes such that a liability of, or claim against, any member of the Group of £250,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency) or more is reasonably likely to arise.
30.18.3 It is resident for Tax purposes only in its Original Jurisdiction.
30.19 Security and Financial Indebtedness
30.19.1 No Security or Quasi-Security exists over:
(a) all or any of the present or future assets of any member of the Group; or
(b) any of the shares owned by the Parent in the Company,
other than as permitted by this Agreement.
30.19.2 No member of the Group has any Financial Indebtedness outstanding other than as permitted by this Agreement.
30.20 Ranking
Subject to the terms of the Vehicle Financier Deeds of Priority, the Transaction Security has or will have first ranking priority and it is not subject to any prior ranking or pari passu ranking Security other than Permitted Security.
30.21 Good title to assets
It and each of its Subsidiaries has a good, valid and marketable title to, or valid leases or licences of, and all appropriate Authorisations to use, the assets necessary to carry on its business as presently conducted in all material respects (save for certain motor vehicles and diagnostic equipment which are subject to retention of title provisions and which the relevant member of the Group has the appropriate Authorisations to use).
30.22 Legal and beneficial ownership
It and each of its Subsidiaries is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the respective assets over which it purports to grant Security under the Transaction Security Documents.
30.23 Shares
The shares of any member of the Group and of PAE GmbH which are subject to the Transaction Security are fully paid and not subject to any option to purchase or similar rights. The constitutional documents of companies whose shares are subject to the Transaction Security do not and could not restrict or inhibit any transfer of those shares on creation or enforcement of the Transaction Security. There are no agreements in force which provide for the issue or allotment of, or grant any person the right to call for the issue or allotment of, any share or loan capital of any member of the Group or of PAE GmbH (including any option or right of pre-emption or conversion).
30.24 Intellectual Property
It and each of its Subsidiaries:-
30.24.1 is the sole legal and beneficial owner of or has licensed to it on normal commercial terms all the Intellectual Property which is material in the context of its business and which is required by it in order to carry on its business as it is being conducted;
30.24.2 does not (nor does any of its Subsidiaries), in carrying on its businesses, infringe any Intellectual Property of any third party in any respect in each case where failure to do so would have or be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
30.24.3 has taken all formal or procedural actions (including payment of fees) required to maintain any material Intellectual Property owned by it.
30.25 Group Structure Chart
30.25.1 The Group Structure Chart delivered to the Agent pursuant to Part 1 of Schedule 5 ( Conditions Precedent ) is true, complete and accurate in all material respects and shows the following information:-
(a) the Parent and each member of the Group, including current name and company registration number, its Original Jurisdiction (in the case of an Obligor), its jurisdiction of incorporation (in the case of a member of the Group which is not an Obligor) and/or its jurisdiction of establishment, a list of shareholders and indicating whether a company is a Dormant Subsidiary or is not a company with limited liability; and
(b) all minority interests in any member of the Group and any person in which the Parent or any member of the Group holds shares in its issued share capital or equivalent ownership interest of such person.
30.26 Obligors
30.26.1 Each Material Company is or will be an Obligor on the Closing Date.
30.26.2 The aggregate of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in Clause 32 ( Financial Covenants )) and the aggregate gross assets, the aggregate net assets and the aggregate turnover of the Guarantors (other than the Parent) on the Closing Date (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-Group items and investments in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group) exceeds 90% of Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in Clause 32 ( Financial Covenants ) and the consolidated gross assets, net assets and turnover of the Group.
30.27 Accounting Reference Date
The Accounting Reference Date of the Parent and each member of the Group is 31 December.
30.28 Centre of main interests and establishments
For the purposes of The Council of the European Union Regulation No 1346/2000 on Insolvency Proceedings (the Regulation ), its centre of main interest (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the Regulation) is situated in England and Wales or Northern Ireland for the Northern Irish Obligors and it has no establishment (as that term is used in Article 2(h) of the Regulations) in any other jurisdiction.
30.29 Pensions
Except for the DB Schemes:-
30.29.1 neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has at any time been an employer (for the purposes of sections 38 to 51 of the Pensions Act 2004) of an occupational pension scheme which is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the Pensions Schemes Act 1993); and
30.29.2 so far as the Company is aware (having made due and diligent enquiries), neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has at any time been connected with
or an associate of (as those terms are used in sections 38 and 43 of the Pensions Act 2004) such an employer.
30.30 No adverse consequences
30.30.1 It is not necessary under the laws of its Relevant Jurisdictions:-
(a) in order to enable any Finance Party to enforce its rights under any Finance Document; or
(b) by reason of the execution of any Finance Document or the performance by it of its obligations under any Finance Document,
that any Finance Party should be licensed, qualified or otherwise entitled to carry on business in any of its Relevant Jurisdictions.
30.30.2 No Finance Party is or will be deemed to be resident, domiciled or carrying on business in its Relevant Jurisdictions by reason only of the execution, performance and/or enforcement of any Finance Document.
30.31 Times when representations made
30.31.1 All the representations and warranties in this Clause 30 are made by each Original Obligor on the date of this Agreement.
30.31.2 All the representations and warranties in this Clause 30 are deemed to be made by each Obligor on the Closing Date.
30.31.3 The Repeating Representations are deemed to be made by each Obligor on the date of each Utilisation Request, on each Utilisation Date and on the first day of each Interest Period (except that those contained in Clauses 30.13.1 30.13.5 will cease to be so made once subsequent financial statements have been delivered under this Agreement).
30.31.4 All the representations and warranties in this Clause 30 except Clause 30.12 ( No misleading information ) and Clause 30.25 ( Group Structure Chart ) are deemed to be made by each Additional Obligor on the day on which it becomes (or it is proposed that it becomes) an Additional Obligor with respect to itself and (if applicable) its Subsidiaries.
30.31.5 Each representation or warranty deemed to be made after the date of this Agreement shall be deemed to be made by reference to the facts and circumstances existing at the date the representation or warranty is deemed to be made.
31. INFORMATION UNDERTAKINGS
The undertakings in this Clause 31 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
In this Clause 31:-
Annual Financial Statements |
means the financial statements for a Financial |
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Year delivered pursuant to Clause 31.1.1 |
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Monthly Financial Statements |
means the financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 31.1.3 |
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Quarterly Financial Statements |
means the financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 31.1.2 |
31.1 Financial statements
The Company shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders:-
31.1.1 as soon as they are available, but in any event within 270 days after the end of each of its Financial Years:-
(a) its audited consolidated financial statements for that Financial Year; and
(b) the audited financial statements (consolidated if appropriate) of each Obligor for that Financial Year;
31.1.2 as soon as they are available, but in any event within 30 days after the end of each Financial Quarter of each of its Financial Years its consolidated financial statements for that Financial Quarter; and
31.1.3 as soon as they are available, but in any event within 30 days after the end of each month its financial statements on a consolidated basis for that month (to include cumulative management accounts for the Financial Year to date).
31.2 Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate
31.2.1 The Company shall supply a Compliance Certificate to the Agent with each set of its audited consolidated Annual Financial Statements and each set of its consolidated Quarterly Financial Statements.
31.2.2 The Compliance Certificate shall, amongst other things, set out (in reasonable detail) computations as to compliance with Clause 32 ( Financial Covenants ).
31.2.3 Each Compliance Certificate shall be signed by two directors (one of whom shall be the finance director) of the Company and two directors (one of whom shall be the finance director) of the Parent and, if required by the Agent (acting on the instructions of the Majority Lenders) following the occurrence of a Default which is continuing each Compliance Certificate to be delivered with the consolidated Annual Financial Statements of the Company, shall be reported on by the Companys Auditors in the form agreed by the Company and the Majority Lenders.
31.3 Requirements as to financial statements
31.3.1 The Company shall procure that each set of Annual Financial Statements, Quarterly Financial Statements and Monthly Financial Statements includes a balance sheet, profit and loss account and cashflow statement. In addition the Company shall procure that:-
(a) each set of Annual Financial Statements shall be audited by the Companys Auditors; and
(b) each set of Monthly Financial Statements is in a format acceptable to each Lender; and
(c) the Monthly Financial Statements delivered at, or around, the same time as the Annual Financial Statements shall include a reconciliation between those Monthly Financial Statements and the Annual Financial Statements.
31.3.2 Each set of financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 31.1 ( Financial statements ):-
(a) shall be certified by a director of the relevant company as giving a true and fair view of (in the case of Annual Financial Statements for any Financial Year), or fairly representing (in other cases), its financial condition and operations as at the date as at which those financial statements were drawn up and, in the case of the Annual Financial Statements, shall be accompanied by any letter addressed to the management of the relevant company by the auditors of those Annual Financial Statements and accompanying those Annual Financial Statements;
(b) in the case of consolidated financial statements of the Group, shall be accompanied by a statement by the directors of the Company comparing actual performance for the period to which the financial statements relate to:-
(i) the projected performance for that period set out in the Budget; and
(ii) the actual performance for the corresponding period in the preceding Financial Year of the Group; and
(c) shall be prepared using the Accounting Principles, accounting practices and financial reference periods consistent with those applied in the case of any Obligor, in the preparation of the Original Financial Statements for that Obligor,
unless, in relation to any set of financial statements, the Company notifies the Agent that there has been a change in the Accounting Principles or the accounting practices and the Companys Auditors (or, if appropriate, the auditors of the Obligor) deliver to the Agent:-
(i) a description of any change necessary for those financial statements to reflect the Accounting Principles or accounting practices upon which that Obligors Original Financial Statements were prepared; and
(ii) sufficient information, in form and substance as may be reasonably required by the Agent, to enable the Lenders to determine whether Clause 32 ( Financial covenants ) has been complied with, to determine the Margin as set out in the definition of Margin and to make an accurate comparison between the financial position indicated in those financial statements and that Obligors Original Financial Statements.
Any reference in this Agreement to any financial statements shall be construed as a reference to those financial statements as adjusted to reflect the Accounting Principles applied in the preparation of the Original Financial Statements.
(d) Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement no Event of Default shall occur, or be deemed to occur, as a result of any restriction on the identity of the Companys Auditors contained in this Agreement being prohibited, unlawful, ineffective, invalid or unenforceable pursuant to the Audit Laws.
31.4 Budget
31.4.1 The Company shall supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, as soon as the same become available but in any event within 30 days after the start of each of its Financial Years, an annual Budget for that Financial Year.
31.4.2 The Company shall ensure that each Budget:-
(a) is in a form reasonably acceptable to the Agent and includes a projected consolidated profit and loss, balance sheet and cashflow statement for the Group, projected financial covenant calculations and such other information requested by each Lender (acting reasonably)
(b) is prepared in accordance with the Accounting Principles and the accounting practices and financial reference periods applied to financial statements under Clause 31.1 ( Financial statements ); and
(c) has been approved by the board of directors of the Company.
31.4.3 If the Company updates or changes the Budget, it shall promptly deliver to the Agent, in sufficient copies for each of the Lenders, such updated or changed Budget together with a written explanation of the main changes in that Budget.
31.5 Group companies
At the request of the Agent, the Company shall supply to the Agent a report signed by two directors of the Company stating which of its Subsidiaries are Material Companies and confirming that the aggregate of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in Clause 32 ( Financial Covenants ) and the aggregate gross assets, aggregate net assets and aggregate turnover of the Guarantors (other than the Parent) (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-Group items and investments in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group) exceeds 90% of Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in Clause 32 ( Financial Covenants )) and the consolidated gross assets, net assets and turnover of the Group.
31.6 Presentations
If requested to do so by the Agent if the Agent reasonably suspects a Default is continuing or may have occurred or may occur, at least two directors of the Parent (one of whom shall be the chief financial officer) must give a presentation to the Finance Parties about the on-going business and financial performance of the Group.
31.7 Year-end
The Company shall procure that each Financial Year-end of each member of the Group falls on 31 December.
31.8 Information: miscellaneous
The Company shall supply to the Agent (in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, if the Agent so requests):-
31.8.1 promptly following the same being dispatched, copies of all documents required to be dispatched by the Company to its shareholders generally (or any class of them) or dispatched by the Company or any Obligors to its creditors generally (or any class of them);
31.8.2 promptly upon becoming aware of them, the details of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings which are current, threatened or pending against any member of the Group, and which, if adversely determined, are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;
31.8.3 promptly, such information as the Security Agent may reasonably require about the Charged Property and compliance of the Obligors with the terms of any Transaction Security Documents; and
31.8.4 promptly on reasonable request, such further information regarding the financial condition, assets and operations of the Group and/or any member of the Group (including any requested amplification or explanation of any item in the financial statements, budgets or other material provided by any Obligor under this Agreement, any changes to management of the Group and an up to date copy of its shareholders register (or equivalent in its Original Jurisdiction)) as any Finance Party through the Agent may reasonably request.
31.9 Notification of default
31.9.1 Each Obligor shall notify the Agent of any Default (and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it) promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence (unless that Obligor is aware that a notification has already been provided by another Obligor).
31.9.2 Promptly upon a request by the Agent (acting reasonably), the Company shall supply to the Agent a certificate signed by two of its directors or senior officers on its behalf certifying that no Default is continuing (or if a Default is continuing, specifying the Default and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it).
31.10 Know your customer checks
31.10.1 If:-
(a) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement;
(b) any change in the status of an Obligor or the composition of the shareholders of an Obligor after the date of this Agreement; or
(c) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and/or obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or transfer,
obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of sub-clause (c) above, any prospective new Lender) to comply with know your customer or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, each Obligor shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in sub-clause (c) above, on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event described in sub-clause (c) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
31.10.2 Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself) in order for the Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents.
31.10.3 The Company shall, by not less than 10 Business Days prior written notice to the Agent, notify the Agent (which shall promptly notify the Lenders) of its intention to request that one of its Subsidiaries becomes an Additional Obligor pursuant to Clause 37 ( Changes to the Obligors ).
31.10.4 Following the giving of any notice pursuant to Clause 31.10.3 above, if the accession of such Additional Obligor obliges the Agent or any Lender to comply with know your customer or similar identification procedures in circumstances where the necessary information is not already available to it, the Company shall promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or any Lender (for itself or on behalf of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent or such Lender or any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the accession of such Subsidiary to this Agreement as an Additional Obligor.
31.11 Parents financial statements
If the Company intends to make a Permitted Distribution or any Permitted Loan falling within paragraph (h) of the definition of Permitted Loan in any Financial Year:-
31.11.1 the Parent shall, at least 10 Business Days before making any Permitted Distribution or loan falling within paragraph (h) of the definition of Permitted Loan, supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders the audited consolidated financial statements of the Parent (prepared by the auditors of the Parent using generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America for the purposes of reporting to the auditors of PAG) for the previous financial year of the Parent; and
31.11.2 the Company shall, at least 10 Business Days before making any Permitted Distribution or loan falling within paragraph (h) of the definition of Permitted Loan, supply to the Agent in sufficient copies for all the Lenders, the US GAAP Reconciliation Statement.
32. FINANCIAL COVENANTS
32.1 Financial definitions
In this Agreement:-
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Ventures |
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Consolidated EBIT |
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means, in respect of any Relevant Period, the consolidated profit/loss of the Group on ordinary activities before taxation and after exceptional items but after adding back :-
(a) exceptional losses charged below operating profit
(b) Consolidated Borrowing Costs (net of capitalised interest and dividends on redeemable shares)
(c) interest payable by associates and Joint Ventures
(d) the Groups share of the operating losses arising in associates and Joint Ventures
(e) the Groups share of exceptional losses arising in associates and Joint Ventures
and after deducting
(f) interest receivable and other similar income
(g) income from fixed asset investments
(h) exceptional gains credited below operating profit
(i) interest receivable by associates and Joint Ventures
(j) the Groups share of operating profits arising in associates and Joint Ventures
(k) the Groups share of exceptional gains arising in associates and Joint Ventures
provided that no amount included, added or deducted shall be taken into account more than once in calculating Consolidated EBIT |
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Consolidated EBITAR |
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means, in respect of any Relevant Period, Consolidated EBIT for that Relevant Period after adding back any amount attributable to the amortisation of goodwill and intangible assets of members of the Group and rental paid by any member of the Group during that Relevant Period |
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Consolidated EBITDA |
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means, in respect of any Relevant Period, Consolidated EBIT for that Relevant Period after adding back any amount attributable to the |
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amortisation of goodwill and intangible assets of members of the Group and any amount attributable to the depreciation of assets of members of the Group |
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Consolidated Gross Borrowings |
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means at any time, the aggregate of all obligations of the Group for the repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent incurred in respect of:-
(a) money borrowed from all sources
(b) any bonds, notes, loan stock, debentures or similar instruments
(c) eligible debt securities, bills of exchange or documentary credits
(d) shares issued on the basis that they are or may become redeemable (at redemption value)
(e) gross obligations under Finance Leases
(f) the factoring of debts
(g) guarantees, indemnities or other assurances against financial loss and
(h) amounts raised or obligations incurred in respect of any other transaction which has the commercial effect of borrowing |
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Consolidated Interest and Rental Payable |
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means, in respect of any Relevant Period, Consolidated Borrowing Costs plus rental paid and due to be paid by any member of the Group during that Relevant Period |
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Consolidated Net Borrowings |
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means, at any time, Consolidated Gross Borrowings less:-
(a) any Cash or Cash Equivalent Investments held by any member of the Group
(b) any Financial Indebtedness arising in respect of any loan from PAG or any of its Subsidiaries (other than a member of the Group) to any member of the Group which is subordinated to the Facility (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such subordinated Financial Indebtedness shall include any Short Term Loan that is subordinated in accordance with Clause 33.18.4) and
(c) any Financial Indebtedness in respect of |
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Stocking Finance |
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Finance Lease |
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means any lease or hire purchase contract which would, in accordance with the Accounting Principles, be treated as a finance or capital lease provided that any lease or hire purchase contract which is classified as an operating lease in accordance with the Accounting Principles as applied to the Original Financial Statements shall not be treated as a Finance Lease |
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Financial Quarter |
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means the period commencing on the day after one Quarter Date and ending on the next Quarter Date |
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Financial Year |
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means the annual accounting period of the Group ending on or about 31 December in each year |
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Quarter Date |
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means each of 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December |
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Relevant Period |
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means each period of twelve months ending on or about the last day of the Financial Year and each period of twelve months ending on or about the last day of each Financial Quarter |
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Stocking Finance |
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means, at any time, all funding provided to any member of the Group for vehicle stock, used demonstrators and consignment stock |
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Stocking Interest |
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means, in respect of any Relevant Period, interest charged on funding provided for vehicle stock, used demonstrators and consignment vehicles |
32.2 Financial condition
The Company shall ensure that:-
32.2.1 EBITAR: Interest and Rental Payable : the ratio of Consolidated EBITAR to Consolidated Interest and Rental Payable in respect of any Relevant Period shall not be less than 1.55:1.
32.2.2 Net Debt :Consolidated EBITDA : the ratio of Consolidated Net Borrowings to Consolidated EBITDA less Stocking Interest in respect of any Relevant Period shall not be more than 2.75:1
32.2.3 Capital Expenditure : The aggregate Capital Expenditure of the Group in respect of any Financial Year shall not exceed £60,000,000.
32.3 Financial testing
The financial covenants set out in Clause 32.2 ( Financial condition ) shall be calculated in accordance with the Accounting Principles (other than in relation to the treatment of demonstrator stock, courtesy vehicles and vehicles operated through Agnew Corporate Ltd, which shall be treated in accordance with the treatment of those assets in the Monthly
Financial Statements as at 31 December 2013) and tested by reference to each of the financial statements delivered pursuant to Clause 31.1.2 and/or each Compliance Certificate delivered pursuant to Clause 31.2 ( Provision and contents of Compliance Certificate ).
33. GENERAL UNDERTAKINGS
The undertakings in this Clause 33 remain in force from the date of this Agreement for so long as any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
Authorisations and compliance with laws
33.1 Authorisations
Each Obligor shall promptly obtain, comply with and do all that is necessary to maintain in full force and effect any Authorisation required under any law or regulation of a Relevant Jurisdiction to:-
33.1.1 enable it to perform its obligations under the Finance Documents;
33.1.2 ensure the legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of any Finance Document; and
33.1.3 carry on its business where failure to do so has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
33.2 Compliance with laws
Each Obligor shall (and the Parent and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will) comply in all respects with all laws to which it may be subject, if failure so to comply has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
33.3 Environmental compliance
Each member of the Group shall:-
33.3.1 comply with all Environmental Law;
33.3.2 obtain, maintain and ensure compliance with all requisite Environmental Permits;
33.3.3 implement procedures to monitor compliance with and to prevent liability under any Environmental Law,
where failure to do so has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
33.4 Environmental claims
Each member of the Group shall (through the Company), promptly upon becoming aware of the same, inform the Agent in writing of:-
33.4.1 any Environmental Claim against any member of the Group which is current, pending or threatened; and
33.4.2 any facts or circumstances which are reasonably likely to result in any Environmental Claim being commenced or threatened against any member of the Group,
where the claim, if determined against that member of the Group, has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
33.5 Anti-corruption law
33.5.1 No Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Facility for any purpose which would breach the Bribery Act 2010, the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or other similar legislation in other jurisdictions.
33.5.2 Each Obligor shall (and the Company shall ensure that each other member of the Group will):
(a) conduct its businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws; and
(b) maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws.
33.6 Taxation
33.6.1 Each Obligor shall (and the Parent and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will) pay and discharge all Taxes imposed upon it or its assets within the time period allowed without incurring penalties unless and only to the extent that:-
(a) such payment is being contested in good faith;
(b) adequate reserves are being maintained for those Taxes and the costs required to contest them which have been disclosed in its latest financial statements delivered to the Agent under Clause 31.1 ( Financial statements ) or will be and are disclosed in the financial statements to be delivered immediately following such Taxes being imposed; and
(c) such payment can be lawfully withheld and failure to pay those Taxes does not have or is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
33.6.2 The Parent and no member of the Group may change its residence for Tax purposes.
Restrictions on business focus
33.7 Merger
No Obligor shall (and the Parent and the Company shall ensure that no other member of the Group will) enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger, consolidation or corporate reconstruction other than a Permitted Transaction.
33.8 Change of business
The Parent and the Company shall procure that no material change is made to the general nature of the business of the Parent, the Company, the Obligors or the Group taken as a whole from that carried on by the Group at the date of this Agreement.
33.9 Acquisitions
33.9.1 Except as permitted under Clause 33.9.2 below, no member of the Group shall:-
(a) acquire a company or any shares or securities or a business or undertaking (or, in each case, any interest in any of them); or
(b) incorporate a company.
33.9.2 Clause 33.9.1 above does not apply to an acquisition of a company, of shares, securities or a business or undertaking (or, in each case, any interest in any of them) or the incorporation of a company which is:-
(a) a Permitted Acquisition; or
(b) a Permitted Transaction.
33.10 Joint ventures
33.10.1 Except as permitted under Clause 33.10.2 below, no member of the Group shall:-
(a) enter into, invest in or acquire (or agree to acquire) any shares, stocks, securities or other interest in any Joint Venture; or
(b) transfer any assets or lend to or guarantee or give an indemnity for or give Security for the obligations of a Joint Venture or maintain the solvency of or provide working capital to any Joint Venture (or agree to do any of the foregoing).
33.10.2 Clause 33.10.1 above does not apply to any acquisition of (or agreement to acquire) any interest in a Joint Venture or transfer of assets (or agreement to transfer assets) to a Joint Venture or loan made to or guarantee given in respect of the obligations of a Joint Venture if such transaction is a Permitted Acquisition, a Permitted Disposal, a Permitted Loan or a Permitted Joint Venture.
Restrictions on dealing with assets and Security
33.11 Preservation of assets
Each Obligor shall (and the Parent and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will) maintain in good working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear excepted) all of its assets necessary in the conduct of its business.
33.12 Pari passu ranking
Each Obligor shall ensure that at all times any unsecured and unsubordinated claims of a Finance Party or Hedge Counterparty against it under the Finance Documents rank at
least pari passu with the claims of all its other unsecured and unsubordinated creditors except those creditors whose claims are mandatorily preferred by laws of general application to companies.
33.13 Negative pledge
In this Clause 33.13, Quasi-Security means an arrangement or transaction described in Clause (b) below.
33.13.1 The Parent shall not create or permit to subsist any Security over any of shares owned by the Parent in the Company.
33.13.2 Except as permitted under Clause 33.13.3 below:-
(a) no member of the Group shall create or permit to subsist any Security over any of its assets.
(b) no member of the Group shall:-
(i) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they are or may be leased to or re-acquired by an Obligor or any other member of the Group;
(ii) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms;
(iii) enter into any arrangement under which money or the benefit of a bank or other account may be applied, set-off or made subject to a combination of accounts; or
(iv) enter into any other preferential arrangement having a similar effect,
in circumstances where the arrangement or transaction is entered into primarily as a method of raising Financial Indebtedness or of financing the acquisition of an asset.
33.13.3 Clauses 33.13.2(a) and (b) above do not apply to any Security or (as the case may be) Quasi-Security, which is:-
(a) Permitted Security; or
(b) a Permitted Transaction.
33.14 Disposals
33.14.1 The Parent shall not enter into a single transaction or a series of transactions (whether related or not) and whether voluntary or involuntary to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of the shares owned by the Parent in the Company.
33.14.2 Except as permitted under Clause 33.14.3 below, no member of the Group shall enter into a single transaction or a series of transactions (whether related or not) and whether voluntary or involuntary to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any asset.
33.14.3 Clause 33.14.1 above does not apply to any sale, lease, transfer or other disposal which is:-
(a) a Permitted Disposal; or
(b) a Permitted Transaction.
33.15 Arms length basis
33.15.1 Except as permitted by Clause 33.15.2 below, no member of the Group shall enter into any transaction with any person except on arms length terms and for full market value; and
33.15.2 The following transactions shall not be a breach of this Clause 33.15:-
(a) intra-Group loans permitted under Clause 33.16 ( Loans or credit );
(b) fees, costs and expenses payable under the Finance Documents in the amounts set out in the Finance Documents delivered to the Agent under Clause 13.1 ( Initial conditions precedent ) or agreed by the Agent; and
(c) any Permitted Transaction.
Restrictions on movement of cash - cash out
33.16 Loans or credit
33.16.1 Except as permitted under Clause 33.16.2 below, no member of the Group shall be a creditor in respect of any Financial Indebtedness.
33.16.2 Clause 33.16.1 above does not apply to:-
(a) a Permitted Loan; or
(b) a Permitted Transaction.
33.17 No Guarantees or indemnities
33.17.1 Except as permitted under Clause 33.17.2 below, no member of the Group shall incur or allow to remain outstanding any guarantee in respect of any obligation of any person.
33.17.2 Clause 33.17.1 does not apply to a guarantee which is:-
(a) a Permitted Guarantee; or
(b) a Permitted Transaction.
33.18 Dividends , share redemption and repayment of Short Term Loans
33.18.1 Except as permitted under Clause 33.18.2 below, the Company shall not (and the Parent and the Company will ensure that no other member of the Group will):-
(a) declare, make or pay any dividend, charge, fee or other distribution (or interest on any unpaid dividend, charge, fee or other distribution) (whether in cash or in kind) on or in respect of its share capital (or any class of its share capital);
(b) repay or distribute any dividend or share premium reserve;
(c) pay or allow any member of the Group to pay any management, advisory or other fee to or to the order of any of the shareholders of the Parent or the Company; or
(d) redeem, repurchase, defease, retire or repay any of its share capital or resolve to do so.
33.18.2 Clause 33.18.1 above does not apply to:-
(a) a Permitted Distribution; or
(b) a Permitted Transaction (other than one referred to in sub-clause (c) of the definition of that term).
33.18.3 The Company shall not (and the Parent and the Company will ensure that no other member of the Group will) repay any Short Term Loan (a Short Term Loan Repayment ) unless:
(a) no Event of Default has occurred or is continuing; and
(b) based on projections prepared by the Company (based on reasonable assumptions), the Group shall be in compliance with Clause 32.2 ( Financial condition ) on each of the next two Testing Dates and the Company has supplied a copy of such projections to the Agent.
33.18.4 If the relevant member of the Group cannot make the Short Term Loan Repayment within the 45 day period because it is prevented from doing so under Clause 33.18.3, the Parent and the Company shall procure that PAG, any of its Subsidiaries and the relevant member(s) of the Group as required shall enter into a subordination deed (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) confirming that each relevant Short Term Loan is fully subordinated to the Loans under this Agreement.
33.18.5 No Event of Default shall arise in respect of a failure to make a Short Term Repayment within the 45 day period if that Short Term Loan is subordinated in accordance with Clause 33.18.4.
Restrictions on movement of cash - cash in
33.19 Financial Indebtedness
33.19.1 Except as permitted under Clause 33.19.2 below, no member of the Group shall incur or allow to remain outstanding any Financial Indebtedness.
33.19.2 Clause 33.19.1 above does not apply to Financial Indebtedness which is:-
(a) Permitted Financial Indebtedness; or
(b) a Permitted Transaction.
33.20 Share capital
No member of the Group shall issue any shares except pursuant to a Permitted Transaction.
Miscellaneous
33.21 Insurance
33.21.1 Each Obligor shall (and the Parent and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will) maintain insurances on and in relation to its business and assets against those risks and to the extent as is usual for companies carrying on the same or substantially similar business.
33.21.2 All insurances must be with reputable independent insurance companies or underwriters.
33.22 Pensions
33.22.1 The Parent and the Company shall ensure that all pension schemes operated by or maintained for the benefit of members of the Group and/or any of their employees are funded in accordance with the statutory funding objective and any deficit reduction plans agreed by the Parent and/or the Company from time to time and that no action or omission is taken by the Parent, the Company or any other member of the Group in relation to such a pension scheme which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (including, without limitation, the termination or commencement of winding-up proceedings of any such pension scheme or any member of the Group ceasing to employ any member of such a pension scheme).
33.22.2 Except for the DB Schemes the Parent and the Company shall ensure that neither the Parent nor any member of the Group is or has been at any time an employer (for the purposes of Sections 38 to 51 of the Pensions Act 2004) of an occupational pension scheme which is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the Pension Schemes Act 1993) or connected with or an associate of (as those terms are used in sections 38 or 43 of the Pensions Act 2004) such an employer.
33.22.3 The Parent and the Company shall deliver to the Agent at such times as those reports are prepared in order to comply with the then current statutory or auditing requirements (as applicable either to the trustees of any relevant schemes or to the Parent and the Company), actuarial reports in relation to all pension schemes mentioned in Clause 33.22.1 above.
33.22.4 The Parent and the Company shall promptly notify the Agent of any material change in the rate of contributions to any pension schemes mentioned in 33.22.1 above paid or recommended to be paid (whether by the scheme actuary or otherwise) or required (by law or otherwise).
33.22.5 Each Obligor shall immediately notify the Agent of any investigation or proposed investigation by the Pensions Regulator of which an Obligor becomes aware which may lead to the issue of a Financial Support Direction or a Contribution Notice to it or any other member of the Group.
33.22.6 Each Obligor shall immediately notify the Agent if it receives a Financial Support Direction or a Contribution Notice from the Pensions Regulator.
33.23 Access
Each Obligor shall, and the Parent and the Company shall ensure that each member of the Group will, (not more than once in every Financial Year unless the Agent reasonably suspects a Default is continuing or may occur) permit the Agent and/or the Security Agent and/or accountants or other professional advisers and contractors of the Agent or Security Agent free access at all reasonable times and on reasonable notice to (a) the premises, assets, books, accounts and records of each member of the Group and (b) meet and discuss matters with the senior management of the Group (including the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer).
33.24 Service contracts
33.24.1 The Parent and the Company must ensure that there is in place in respect of each Material Company qualified management with appropriate skills.
33.24.2 If either the chief financial officer or chief executive officer of the Group ceases (whether by reason of death, retirement at normal retiring age or through ill health or otherwise) to perform his or her duties as required under his or her service contract the Parent must as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter:-
(a) notify the Agent; and
(b) after consultation with the Agent as to the identity of such replacement person, find and appoint an adequately qualified replacement for him or her as promptly as practicable.
33.25 Intellectual Property
33.25.1 Each Obligor shall (and the Parent and the Company shall procure that each Group member will):-
(a) preserve and maintain the subsistence and validity of the Intellectual Property necessary for the business of the relevant Group member;
(b) use reasonable endeavours to prevent any infringement in any material respect of the Intellectual Property;
(c) make registrations and pay all registration fees and taxes necessary to maintain the Intellectual Property in full force and effect and record its interest in that Intellectual Property;
(d) not use or permit the Intellectual Property to be used in a way or take any step or omit to take any step in respect of that Intellectual Property which may materially and adversely affect the existence or value of the Intellectual Property or imperil the right of any member of the Group to use such property; and
(e) not discontinue the use of the Intellectual Property,
where failure to do so, in the case of sub-clauses (a) and (b) and above, or, in the case of sub-clauses (d) and (e) above, such use, permission to use,
omission or discontinuation, is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
33.25.2 Failure to comply with any part of Clause 33.25.1 above shall not be a breach of this Clause 33.25 to the extent that any dealing with Intellectual Property which would otherwise be a breach of Clause 33.25.1 is contemplated by the definition of Permitted Transaction.
33.26 Amendments
33.26.1 No Obligor shall (and the Parent and the Company shall ensure that no member of the Group will) amend, vary, novate, supplement, supersede, waive or terminate any term of a Finance Document except in writing:-
(a) in accordance with the provisions of Clause 47 ( Amendments and Waivers );
(b) to the extent that that amendment, variation, novation, supplement, superseding, waiver or termination is permitted by the Intercreditor Agreement; and
(c) after the Closing Date (other than an amendment which is administrative or technical in nature), in a way which could not be reasonably expected materially and adversely to affect the interests of the Lenders.
33.26.2 The Parent and the Company shall promptly supply to the Agent a copy of any document relating to any of the matters referred to in sub-clauses (a) to (c) above.
33.27 Financial assistance
Each Obligor shall (and the Parent and the Company shall procure each member of the Group will) comply in all respects with sections 678 and 679 of the Companies Act 2006 and any equivalent legislation in other jurisdictions including in relation to the execution of the Transaction Security Documents and payment of amounts due under this Agreement.
33.28 Group bank accounts
33.28.1 Except as permitted under Clause 33.28.2 below, the Parent and the Company shall ensure that all bank accounts of the Parent and the Group shall be opened and maintained with a Finance Party or an Affiliate of a Finance Party and are subject to valid Security under the Transaction Security Documents.
33.28.2 Clause 33.28.1 above does not apply to bank accounts of any business or company which is acquired by any member of the Group after the Closing Date where such bank account is in existence prior to the date on which that business or company becomes a member of the Group, provided that such bank account shall be closed within one month of the date of completion of the relevant acquisition.
33.29 Treasury Transactions
No member of the Group shall enter into any Treasury Transaction, other than a Permitted Treasury Transaction.
33.30 Further assurance
33.30.1 Subject to the Agreed Security Principles, each Obligor shall (and the Parent and the Company shall procure that each member of the Group will) promptly do all such acts or execute all such documents (including assignments, transfers, mortgages, charges, notices and instructions) as the Security Agent may reasonably specify (and in such form as the Security Agent may reasonably require in favour of the Security Agent or its nominee(s)):-
(a) to perfect the Security created or intended to be created under or evidenced by the Transaction Security Documents (which may include the execution of a mortgage, charge, assignment or other Security over all or any of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Transaction Security) or for the exercise of any rights, powers and remedies of the Security Agent or the Finance Parties provided by or pursuant to the Finance Documents or by law;
(b) to confer on the Security Agent or confer on the Finance Parties Security over any property and assets of that Obligor located in any jurisdiction equivalent or similar to the Security intended to be conferred by or pursuant to the Transaction Security Documents; and/or
(c) to facilitate the realisation of the assets which are, or are intended to be, the subject of the Transaction Security.
33.30.2 Each Obligor shall (and the Parent and the Company shall procure that each member of the Group shall) take all such action as is available to it (including making all filings and registrations) as may be necessary for the purpose of the creation, perfection, protection or maintenance of any Security conferred or intended to be conferred on the Security Agent or the Finance Parties by or pursuant to the Finance Documents.
33.31 Syndication, Assignment or Transfer
33.31.1 The Obligors acknowledge that a Lender may syndicate all or any part of the Facility, assign any of its rights or transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations (a Syndication, Assignment or Transfer ) under any Finance Document in accordance with Clause 35 ( Changes to the Lenders ). Where a Syndication, Assignment or Transfer is to be effected in accordance with Clause 35 ( Changes to the Lenders ), the Company shall enter into negotiations in good faith for a period of time of not longer than 60 days (the Time Limit ) with a view to agreeing all amendments to any Finance Document and/or replacement of or variation to any document and all ancillary documentation required by the relevant Lender and any New Lender (as defined in Clause 35.1 ( Assignments and transfers by the Lenders )) to effect the Syndication, Assignment or Transfer.
33.31.2 Upon the request of the Agent, the Company shall supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (on behalf of a relevant Lender, whether for itself or on behalf of any prospective New Lender) in order for any prospective New Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in each Finance Document.
33.31.3 The Company agrees to meet all reasonable costs, charges and expenses incurred (including the reasonable fees and expenses of any legal and other professional advisors whether directly employed by the Agent, the relevant Lender or any prospective New Lender or who provide other services to the Agent, the relevant Lender or any prospective New Lender) by the Agent, the relevant Lender and/or any prospective New Lender in connection with any proposed Syndication, Assignment or Transfer.
33.32 Wider group loans
No member of the Group shall make any loan to or repay or pay any principal or interest on any loan granted to it by any member of the German Group except with the prior written consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
33.33 Guarantors
33.33.1 The Parent and the Company shall ensure that at all times after the Closing Date, the aggregate of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in Clause 32 ( Financial Covenants )) of the Guarantors (other than the Parent) and the aggregate gross assets, the aggregate net assets and aggregate turnover of the Guarantors (other than the Parent) (in each case calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-group items and investment in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group) represents not less than 90 per cent of Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in Clause 32 ( Financial Covenants )) and consolidated gross assets, consolidated net assets and consolidated turnover of the Group.
33.33.2 The Parent and the Company need only perform its obligations under Clause 33.33.1 above if it is not unlawful for the relevant person to become a Guarantor and that person becoming a Guarantor would not result in personal liability for that persons directors or other management. Each Obligor must use, and must procure that the relevant person uses, all reasonable endeavours lawfully available to avoid any such unlawfulness or personal liability. This includes agreeing to a limit on the amount guaranteed. The Agent may (but shall not be obliged to) agree to such a limit if, in its opinion, to do so would avoid the relevant unlawfulness or personal liability.
33.34 Conditions subsequent
Each Obligor must use, and must procure that any other member of the Group that is a potential provider of Transaction Security uses, all reasonable endeavours lawfully available to avoid or mitigate the constraints on the provision of Security provided for in the Agreed Security Principles.
34. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Each of the events or circumstances set out in this Clause 34 is an Event of Default (save for Clause 34.18 ( Acceleration ).
34.1 Non-payment
An Obligor does not pay on the due date any amount payable pursuant to a Finance Document at the place at and in the currency in which it is expressed to be payable unless:-
34.1.1 its failure to pay is caused by:-
(a) administrative or technical error; or
(b) a Disruption Event; and
34.1.2 payment is made within three Business Days of its due date.
34.2 Financial covenants and other obligations
34.2.1 Any requirement of Clause 32 ( Financial covenants ) is not satisfied or an Obligor does not comply with the provisions of Clause 31 ( Information Undertakings ), Clause 33.11 ( Preservation of assets ), Clause 33.12 ( Pari passu ranking ), Clause 33.13 ( Negative pledge ), Clause 33.14 ( Disposals ), Clause 33.15 ( Arms length basis ), Clause 33.16 ( Loans or credit ), Clause 33.17 ( No Guarantees or indemnities ), Clause 33.18 ( Dividends, share redemption and Repayment of Short Term Loans ) and/or Clause 33.19 ( Financial Indebtedness ).
34.2.2 An Obligor does not comply with any provision of any Transaction Security Document.
34.3 Other obligations
34.3.1 An Obligor does not comply with any provision of the Finance Documents (other than those referred to in Clause 34.1 ( Non-payment ) and Clause 34.2 ( Financial covenants and other obligations )).
34.3.2 No Event of Default under Clause 34.3.1 above will occur if the failure to comply is capable of remedy and is remedied within 7 Business Days of the earlier of (i) the Agent giving notice to the Company or relevant Obligor and (ii) the Company or an Obligor becoming aware of the failure to comply.
34.4 Misrepresentation
Any representation or statement made or deemed to be made by an Obligor in the Finance Documents or any other document delivered by or on behalf of any Obligor under or in connection with any Finance Document is or proves to have been incorrect or misleading when made or deemed to be made.
34.5 Cross default
34.5.1 Any Financial Indebtedness of the Parent or any member of the Group is not paid when due nor within any originally applicable grace period.
34.5.2 Any Financial Indebtedness of the Parent or any member of the Group is declared to be or otherwise becomes due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).
34.5.3 Any commitment for any Financial Indebtedness of the Parent or any member of the Group is cancelled or suspended by a creditor of the Parent or any member of the Group as a result of an event of default (however described).
34.5.4 Any creditor of the Parent or any member of the Group becomes entitled to declare any Financial Indebtedness of the Parent or any member of the Group
due and payable prior to its specified maturity as a result of an event of default (however described).
34.5.5 No Event of Default will occur under this Clause 34.5 if:-
(a) the aggregate amount of Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness falling within Clauses 34.5.1 to 34.5.4 above is less than £6,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies); or
(b) the Financial Indebtedness or commitment for Financial Indebtedness arises under the NatWest Overdraft Letter unless any amount demanded in accordance with the terms of the NatWest Overdraft Letter has not been paid within 30 days of demand.
34.6 Insolvency
34.6.1 The Parent or any member of the Group is unable or admits inability to pay its debts as they fall due, is deemed to or declared to be unable to pay its debts under applicable law, suspends or threatens to suspend making payments on any of its debts or, by reason of actual or anticipated financial difficulties, commences negotiations with one or more of its creditors (excluding any Finance Party in its capacity as such) with a view to rescheduling any of its indebtedness.
34.6.2 The value of the assets of the Parent or any member of the Group is less than its liabilities (taking into account contingent and prospective liabilities).
34.6.3 A moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of the Parent or any member of the Group. If a moratorium occurs, the ending of the moratorium will not remedy any Event of Default caused by that moratorium.
34.7 Insolvency proceedings
34.7.1 Any corporate action, legal proceedings or other procedure or step is taken in relation to:-
(a) the suspension of payments, a moratorium of any indebtedness, winding-up, dissolution, administration or reorganisation (by way of voluntary arrangement, scheme of arrangement or otherwise) of the Parent or any member of the Group;
(b) a composition, compromise, assignment or arrangement with any creditor of the Parent or any member of the Group;
(c) the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrative receiver, administrator, compulsory manager or other similar officer in respect of the Parent or any member of the Group or any of its assets; or
(d) enforcement of any Security over any assets of the Parent or any member of the Group,
or any analogous procedure or step is taken in any jurisdiction.
34.7.2 Clause 34.7.1 shall not apply to:-
(a) any corporate action, legal proceedings or other similar procedure initiated by a person which is not the Parent or a member of the Group which is frivolous or vexatious and is discharged, stayed or dismissed within 14 days of commencement; or
(b) any step or procedure contemplated by sub-clause (b) of the definition of Permitted Transaction.
34.8 Creditors process
Any expropriation, attachment, sequestration, distress or execution or any analogous process in any jurisdiction affects any asset or assets of the Parent or a member of the Group having an aggregate value of £3,000,000 and is not discharged within 14 days.
34.9 Unlawfulness and invalidity
34.9.1 It is or becomes unlawful for an Obligor or any other member of the Group that is a party to the Intercreditor Agreement to perform any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any Transaction Security created or expressed to be created or evidenced by the Transaction Security Documents ceases to be effective or any subordination created under the Intercreditor Agreement is or becomes unlawful.
34.9.2 Any obligation or obligations of any Obligor under any Finance Documents or any other member of the Group under the Intercreditor Agreement are not (subject to the Legal Reservations) or cease to be legal, valid, binding or enforceable and the cessation individually or cumulatively materially and adversely affects the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents.
34.9.3 Any Finance Document ceases to be in full force and effect or any Transaction Security or any subordination created under the Intercreditor Agreement ceases to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable or effective or is alleged by a party to it (other than a Finance Party) to be ineffective.
34.10 Intercreditor Agreement
34.10.1 Any party to the Intercreditor Agreement (other than a Finance Party or an Obligor) fails to comply with the provisions of, or does not perform its obligations under, the Intercreditor Agreement; or
34.10.2 a representation or warranty given by that party in the Intercreditor Agreement is incorrect in any material respect.
34.11 Cessation of business
The Parent or any member of the Group suspends or ceases to carry on (or threatens to suspend or cease to carry on) all or a material part of its business except as a result of a Permitted Disposal or a Permitted Transaction.
34.12 Expropriation
The authority or ability of the Parent or any member of the Group to conduct its business is limited or wholly or substantially curtailed by any seizure, expropriation, nationalisation,
intervention, restriction or other action by or on behalf of any governmental, regulatory or other authority or other person in relation to the Parent or any member of the Group or any of its assets where such occurrence has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
34.13 Repudiation and rescission of agreements
34.13.1 An Obligor rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate a Finance Document or any of the Transaction Security or evidences an intention to rescind or repudiate a Finance Document or any Transaction Security.
34.13.2 Any party (other than a Finance Party) to the Intercreditor Agreement rescinds or purports to rescind or repudiates or purports to repudiate the Intercreditor Agreement in whole or in part where to do so has or is, in the reasonable opinion of the Majority Lenders, likely to have a material adverse effect on the interests of the Lenders under the Finance Documents.
34.14 Litigation
Any litigation, arbitration, administrative, governmental, regulatory or other investigations, proceedings or disputes are commenced or threatened in relation to the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents or against any member of the Group or its assets which have or are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
34.15 Pensions
The Pensions Regulator issues a Contribution Notice to the Parent or any member of the Group unless the aggregate liability of the Obligors under all Contribution Notices is less than £20,000,000.
34.16 Franchise Agreements
Any breach occurs under any Material Franchising Agreement which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
34.17 Material adverse change
Any event or circumstance occurs which the Majority Lenders reasonably believe has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
34.18 Acceleration
On and at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing the Agent may, and shall if so directed by the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Company:-
34.18.1 cancel the Total Commitments and/or Ancillary Commitments at which time they shall immediately be cancelled;
34.18.2 declare that all or part of the Utilisations, together with accrued interest, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents be immediately due and payable, at which time they shall become immediately due and payable;
34.18.3 declare that all or part of the Utilisations be payable on demand, at which time they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders;
34.18.4 declare all or any part of the amounts (or cash cover in relation to those amounts) outstanding under the Ancillary Facilities to be immediately due and payable, at which time they shall become immediately due and payable;
34.18.5 declare that all or any part of the amounts (or cash cover in relation to those amounts) outstanding under the Ancillary Facilities be payable on demand, at which time they shall immediately become payable on demand by the Agent on the instructions of the Majority Lenders; and/or
34.18.6 exercise or direct the Security Agent to exercise any or all of its rights, remedies, powers or discretions under the Finance Documents.
SECTION 9
CHANGES TO PARTIES
35. CHANGES TO THE LENDERS
35.1 Assignments and transfers by the Lenders
Subject to this Clause 35 and to Clause 36 ( Restriction on Debt Purchase Transactions ) a Lender (the Existing Lender ) may:-
35.1.1 assign any of its rights; or
35.1.2 transfer by novation any of its rights and obligations,
under any Finance Document to another bank or financial institution or to a trust, fund or other entity which is regularly engaged in or established for the purpose of making, purchasing or investing in loans, securities or other financial assets (the New Lender ).
35.2 Conditions of assignment or transfer
35.2.1 The consent of the Parent is required for an assignment or transfer by an Existing Lender, unless the assignment or transfer is:-
(a) to another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender;
(b) if the Existing Lender is a fund, to a fund which is a Related Fund of the Existing Lender; or
(c) made at a time when an Event of Default is continuing.
35.2.2 The consent of the Parent to an assignment or transfer must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Parent will be deemed to have given its consent 5 Business Days after the Existing Lender has requested it unless consent is expressly refused by the Parent within that time.
35.2.3 An assignment or transfer will only be effective on:-
(a) receipt by the Agent (whether in the Assignment Agreement or otherwise) of written confirmation from the New Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) that the New Lender will assume the same obligations to the other Finance Parties and the other Secured Parties as it would have been under if it was an Original Lender;
(b) the New Lender entering into the documentation required for it to accede as a party to the Intercreditor Agreement; and
(c) the performance by the Agent of all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to such transfer or assignment to a New Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly notify to the Existing Lender and the New Lender.
35.2.4 A transfer will only be effective if the New Lender enters into the documentation required for it to accede as a party to the Intercreditor Agreement and if the procedure set out in Clause 35.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) is complied with.
35.2.5 If:-
(a) a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents or changes its Facility Office; and
(b) as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, an Obligor would be obliged to make a payment to the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office under Clauses 24 ( Tax gross up and indemnities ) or 25 ( Increased Costs ),
then the New Lender or Lender acting through its new Facility Office is only entitled to receive payment under those Clauses to the same extent as the Existing Lender or Lender acting through its previous Facility Office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred.
35.2.6 Each New Lender, by executing the relevant Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement, confirms, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Agent has authority to execute on its behalf any amendment or waiver that has been approved by or on behalf of the requisite Lender or Lenders in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the date on which the transfer or assignment becomes effective in accordance with this Agreement and that it is bound by that decision to the same extent as the Existing Lender would have been had it remained a Lender.
35.3 Assignment or transfer fee
Unless the Agent otherwise agrees and excluding an assignment or transfer (i) to an Affiliate of a Lender, (ii) to a Related Fund or (iii) made in connection with primary syndication of the Facilities, the New Lender shall, on the date upon which an assignment or transfer takes effect, pay to the Agent (for its own account) a fee of £2,500.
35.4 Limitation of responsibility of Existing Lenders
35.4.1 Unless expressly agreed to the contrary, an Existing Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility to a New Lender for:-
(a) the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of the Finance Documents, the Transaction Security or any other documents;
(b) the financial condition of any Obligor;
(c) the performance and observance by any Obligor or any other member of the Group of its obligations under the Finance Documents or any other documents; or
(d) the accuracy of any statements (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with any Finance Document or any other document,
and any representations or warranties implied by law are excluded.
35.4.2 Each New Lender confirms to the Existing Lender, the other Finance Parties and the Secured Parties that it:-
(a) has made (and shall continue to make) its own independent investigation and assessment of the financial condition and affairs of each Obligor and its related entities in connection with its participation in this Agreement and has not relied exclusively on any information provided to it by the Existing Lender or any other Finance Party in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; and
(b) will continue to make its own independent appraisal of the creditworthiness of each Obligor and its related entities whilst any amount is or may be outstanding under the Finance Documents or any Commitment is in force.
35.4.3 Nothing in any Finance Document obliges an Existing Lender to:-
(a) accept a re-transfer or re-assignment from a New Lender of any of the rights and obligations assigned or transferred under this Clause 35; or
(b) support any losses directly or indirectly incurred by the New Lender by reason of the non-performance by any Obligor of its obligations under the Transaction Documents or otherwise.
35.5 Procedure for transfer
35.5.1 Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 35.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ) a transfer is effected in accordance with Clause 35.5.3 below when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to Clause 35.5.2 below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Transfer Certificate appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Transfer Certificate.
35.5.2 The Agent shall only be obliged to execute a Transfer Certificate delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the transfer to such New Lender.
35.5.3 Subject to Clause 35.10 ( Pro rata interest settlement ), on the Transfer Date:-
(a) to the extent that in the Transfer Certificate the Existing Lender seeks to transfer by novation its rights and obligations under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security each of the Obligors and the Existing Lender shall be released from further obligations towards one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security and their respective rights against one another under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security shall be cancelled (being the Discharged Rights and Obligations );
(b) each of the Obligors and the New Lender shall assume obligations towards one another and/or acquire rights against one another which differ from the Discharged Rights and Obligations only insofar as that
Obligor or other member of the Group and the New Lender have assumed and/or acquired the same in place of that Obligor and the Existing Lender;
(c) the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Agent, the New Lender, the other Lenders and any relevant Ancillary Lender shall acquire the same rights and assume the same obligations between themselves and in respect of the Transaction Security as they would have acquired and assumed had the New Lender been an Original Lender with the rights, and/or obligations acquired or assumed by it as a result of the transfer and to that extent the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Agent and any relevant Ancillary Lender and the Existing Lender shall each be released from further obligations to each other under the Finance Documents; and
(d) the New Lender shall become a Party as a Lender.
35.6 Procedure for assignment
35.6.1 Subject to the conditions set out in Clause 35.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ) an assignment may be effected in accordance with Clause 35.6.3 below when the Agent executes an otherwise duly completed Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender. The Agent shall, subject to Clause 35.6.2 below, as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by it of a duly completed Assignment Agreement appearing on its face to comply with the terms of this Agreement and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, execute that Assignment Agreement.
35.6.2 The Agent shall only be obliged to execute an Assignment Agreement delivered to it by the Existing Lender and the New Lender once it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assignment to such New Lender.
35.6.3 Subject to Clause 35.10 ( Pro rata interest settlement ), on the Transfer Date:-
(a) the Existing Lender will assign absolutely to the New Lender its rights under the Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security expressed to be the subject of the assignment in the Assignment Agreement;
(b) the Existing Lender will be released by each Obligor from the obligations owed by it (the Relevant Obligations ) and expressed to be the subject of the release in the Assignment Agreement (and any corresponding obligations by which it is bound in respect of the Transaction Security); and
(c) the New Lender shall become a Party as a Lender and will be bound by obligations equivalent to the Relevant Obligations.
35.6.4 Lenders may utilise procedures other than those set out in this Clause 35.6 to assign their rights under the Finance Documents (but not, without the consent of the relevant Obligor or unless in accordance with Clause 35.5 ( Procedure for transfer ), to obtain a release by that Obligor from the obligations owed to that Obligor by the Lenders nor the assumption of equivalent obligations by a New
Lender) provided that they comply with the conditions set out in Clause 35.2 ( Conditions of assignment or transfer ).
35.7 Copy of Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation to Company
The Agent shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after it has executed a Transfer Certificate, an Assignment Agreement or an Increase Confirmation, send to the Company a copy of that Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation.
35.8 Accession of Hedge Counterparties
Any person which becomes a party to the Intercreditor Agreement as a Hedge Counterparty shall, at the same time, become a Party to this Agreement as a Hedge Counterparty in accordance with clause 20.5.2 ( Deeds of Accession ) of the Intercreditor Agreement.
35.9 Security over Lenders rights
In addition to the other rights provided to Lenders under this Clause 35, each Lender may without consulting with or obtaining consent from any Obligor, at any time charge, assign or otherwise create Security in or over (whether by way of collateral or otherwise) all or any of its rights under any Finance Document to secure obligations of that Lender including, without limitation:-
35.9.1 any charge, assignment or other Security to secure obligations to a federal reserve or central bank; and
35.9.2 in the case of any Lender which is a fund, any charge, assignment or other Security granted to any holders (or trustee or representatives of holders) of obligations owed, or securities issued, by that Lender as security for those obligations or securities,
except that no such charge, assignment or Security shall:-
(a) release a Lender from any of its obligations under the Finance Documents or substitute the beneficiary of the relevant charge, assignment or other Security for the Lender as a party to any of the Finance Documents; or
(b) require any payments to be made by an Obligor or grant to any person any more extensive rights than those required to be made or granted to the relevant Lender under the Finance Documents.
35.10 Pro rata interest settlement
If the Agent has notified the Lenders that it is able to distribute interest payments on a pro rata basis to Existing Lenders and New Lenders then (in respect of any transfer pursuant to Clause 35.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) or any assignment pursuant to Clause 35.6 ( Procedure for assignment ) the Transfer Date of which, in each case, is after the date of such notification and is not on the last day of an Interest Period):-
35.10.1 any interest or fees in respect of the relevant participation which are expressed to accrue by reference to the lapse of time shall continue to accrue in favour of the Existing Lender up to but excluding the Transfer Date ( Accrued Amounts )
and shall become due and payable to the Existing Lender (without further interest accruing on them) on the last day of the current Interest Period (or, if the Interest Period is longer than six Months, on the next of the dates which falls at six Monthly intervals after the first day of that Interest Period); and
35.10.2 the rights assigned or transferred by the Existing Lender will not include the right to the Accrued Amounts so that, for the avoidance of doubt:-
(a) when the Accrued Amounts become payable, those Accrued Amounts will be payable to the Existing Lender; and
(b) the amount payable to the New Lender on that date will be the amount which would, but for the application of this Clause 35.10, have been payable to it on that date, but after deduction of the Accrued Amounts.
In this Clause 35.10 ( Pro rata interest settlement ), references to Interest Period shall be construed to include a reference to any other period for accrual of fees.
36. RESTRICTION ON DEBT PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS
36.1 Prohibition on Debt Purchase Transactions by the Group
Neither the Parent nor the Company shall procure that each other member of the Group shall not, enter into any Debt Purchase Transaction or beneficially own all or any part of the share capital of a company that is a Lender or a party to a Debt Purchase Transaction of the type referred to in sub-clauses (b) or (c) of the definition of Debt Purchase Transaction.
36.2 Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Sponsor Affiliates
36.2.1 For so long as a Sponsor Affiliate (i) beneficially owns a Commitment or (ii) has entered into a sub-participation agreement relating to a Commitment or other agreement or arrangement having a substantially similar economic effect and such agreement or arrangement has not been terminated:-
(a) in ascertaining the Majority Lenders or whether any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments or the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents such Commitment shall be deemed to be zero; and
(b) for the purposes of Clause 47.3 ( Exceptions ), such Sponsor Affiliate or the person with whom it has entered into such sub-participation, other agreement or arrangement shall be deemed not to be a Lender (unless in the case of a person not being a Sponsor Affiliate it is a Lender by virtue otherwise than by beneficially owning the relevant Commitment).
36.2.2 Each Lender shall, unless such Debt Purchase Transaction is an assignment or transfer, promptly notify the Agent in writing if it knowingly enters into a Debt Purchase Transaction with a Sponsor Affiliate (a Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction ), such notification to be substantially in the form set out in Part 1 of Schedule 15 ( Forms of Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction Notice ).
36.2.3 A Lender shall promptly notify the Agent if a Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction to which it is a party:-
(a) is terminated; or
(b) ceases to be with a Sponsor Affiliate,
such notification to be substantially in the form set out in Part 2 of Schedule 15 ( Forms of Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction Notice ).
36.2.4 Each Sponsor Affiliate that is a Lender agrees that:-
(a) in relation to any meeting or conference call to which all the Lenders are invited to attend or participate, it shall not attend or participate in the same if so requested by the Agent or, unless the Agent otherwise agrees, be entitled to receive the agenda or any minutes of the same; and
(b) in its capacity as Lender, unless the Agent otherwise agrees, it shall not be entitled to receive any report or other document prepared at the behest of, or on the instructions of, the Agent or one or more of the Lenders.
37. CHANGES TO THE OBLIGORS
37.1 Assignment and transfers by Obligors
No Obligor or any other member of the Group may assign any of its rights or transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Finance Documents.
37.2 Additional Borrowers
37.2.1 Subject to compliance with the provisions of Clauses 31.10.3 and 31.10.4, the Company may request that any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries which is not a Dormant Subsidiary becomes a Borrower. That Subsidiary shall become a Borrower if:-
(a) all the Lenders approve the addition of that Subsidiary;
(b) the Company and that Subsidiary deliver to the Agent a duly completed and executed Accession Deed;
(c) the Subsidiary is (or becomes) a Guarantor on or prior to becoming a Borrower;
(d) the Company confirms that no Default is continuing or would occur as a result of that Subsidiary becoming an Additional Borrower; and
(e) the Agent has received all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part 2 of Schedule 5 ( Conditions precedent ) in relation to that Additional Borrower, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent (acting reasonably).
37.2.2 The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon being satisfied that it has received (in form and substance satisfactory to it) (acting
reasonably) or has waived the requirement to receive all the documents and other evidence listed in Part 2 of Schedule 5 ( Conditions precedent ).
37.3 Resignation of a Borrower
37.3.1 In this Clause 37.3, Clause 37.5 ( Resignation of a Guarantor ) and Clause 37.7 ( Resignation and release of Security on disposal ), Third Party Disposal means the disposal of an Obligor to a person which is not a member of the Group where that disposal is permitted under Clause 33.14 ( Disposals ) or made with the approval of the Majority Lenders (and the Company has confirmed this is the case).
37.3.2 If a Borrower is the subject of a Third Party Disposal, the Company may request that such Borrower (other than the Parent or the Company) ceases to be a Borrower by delivering to the Agent a Resignation Letter.
37.3.3 The Agent shall accept a Resignation Letter and notify the Company and the other Finance Parties of its acceptance if:-
(a) the Company has confirmed that no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of the Resignation Letter;
(b) the Borrower is under no actual or contingent obligations as a Borrower under any Finance Documents; and
(c) where the Borrower is also a Guarantor (unless its resignation has been accepted in accordance with Clause 37.5 ( Resignation of a Guarantor )), its obligations in its capacity as Guarantor continue to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable and in full force and effect (subject to the Legal Reservations) and the amount guaranteed by it as a Guarantor is not decreased (and the Company has confirmed this is the case).
37.3.4 Upon notification by the Agent to the Company of its acceptance of the resignation of a Borrower, that company shall cease to be a Borrower and shall have no further rights or obligations under the Finance Documents as a Borrower except that the resignation shall not take effect (and the Borrower will continue to have rights and obligations under the Finance Documents) until the date on which the Third Party Disposal takes effect.
37.3.5 The Agent may, at the cost and expense of the Company, require a legal opinion from counsel to the Agent confirming the matters set out in Clause 37.3.3(c) above and the Agent shall be under no obligation to accept a Resignation Letter until it has obtained such opinion in form and substance satisfactory to it.
37.4 Additional Guarantors
37.4.1 Subject to compliance with the provisions of Clauses 31.10.3 and 31.10.4, the Company may request that any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries become a Guarantor.
37.4.2 The Company shall procure that any other member of the Group which is a Material Company shall, as soon as possible after becoming a Material Company become an Additional Guarantor and subject to the Agreed Security Principles grant Security as the Agent may require and shall accede to the
Intercreditor Agreement unless the Company certifies to the Agent that it is intended that the relevant Material Company is to become a Dormant Subsidiary within 150 days after the date on which it is reactivated or acquired and the relevant Material Company becomes a Dormant Subsidiary within that period of 150 days.
37.4.3 A member of the Group shall become an Additional Guarantor if:-
(a) the Company and the proposed Additional Guarantor deliver to the Agent a duly completed and executed Accession Deed and shall accede to the Intercreditor Agreement; and
(b) the Agent has received (or waived the requirement to receive) all of the documents and other evidence listed in Part 2 of Schedule 5 ( Conditions Precedent ) in relation to that Additional Guarantor, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
37.4.4 The Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders promptly upon being satisfied that it has received (in form and substance satisfactory to it) or waived the requirement to receive all the documents and other evidence listed in Part 2 of Schedule 5 ( Conditions precedent ).
37.4.5 Other than to the extent that the Majority Lenders notify the Agent in writing to the contrary before the Agent gives the notification described in Clause 37.4.4, the Lenders authorise (but do not require) the Agent to give that notification. The Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses whatsoever as a result of giving such notification.
37.4.6
37.5 Resignation of a Guarantor
37.5.1 The Company may request that a Guarantor (other than the Parent or the Company) ceases to be a Guarantor by delivering to the Agent a Resignation Letter if:-
(a) that Guarantor is being disposed of by way of a Third Party Disposal (as defined in Clause 37.3 ( Resignation of a Borrower )) and the Company has confirmed this is the case; or
(b) all the Lenders and (unless each Hedge Counterparty has notified the Security Agent that no payment is due to it from that member of the Group under Clause 29 ( Guarantee and indemnity )) the Hedge Counterparties have consented to the resignation of that Guarantor.
37.5.2 Subject to Clause 37.5.3 below, the Agent shall accept a Resignation Letter and notify the Company and the Lenders of its acceptance if:-
(a) the Company has confirmed that no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of the Resignation Letter;
(b) no payment is due from the Guarantor under Clause 29.1 ( Guarantee and indemnity ); and
(c) where the Guarantor is also a Borrower, it is under no actual or contingent obligations as a Borrower and has resigned and ceased to be a Borrower under Clause 37.3 ( Resignation of a Borrower ).
37.5.3 The Agent shall not accept a Resignation Letter from a Guarantor unless each Hedge Counterparty has notified the Security Agent that no payment is due from that Guarantor to that Hedge Counterparty under Clause 29.1 ( Guarantee and indemnity ) (and the Security Agent shall, upon receiving that notification, notify the Agent).
37.5.4 The resignation of that Guarantor shall not be effective until the date of the relevant Third Party Disposal at which time that company shall cease to be a Guarantor and shall have no further rights or obligations under the Finance Documents as a Guarantor.
37.6 Repetition of Representations
Delivery of an Accession Deed constitutes confirmation by the relevant Subsidiary that the representations and warranties referred to in Clause 30.31.4 are true and correct in relation to it as at the date of delivery as if made by reference to the facts and circumstances then existing.
37.7 Resignation and release of security on disposal
If a Borrower or Guarantor is or is proposed to be the subject of a Third Party Disposal then:-
37.7.1 where that Borrower or Guarantor created Transaction Security over any of its assets or business in favour of the Security Agent, or Transaction Security in favour of the Security Agent was created over the shares (or equivalent) of that Borrower or Guarantor, the Security Agent may, at the cost and request of the Company, release those assets, business or shares (or equivalent) and issue certificates of non-crystallisation;
37.7.2 the resignation of that Borrower or Guarantor and related release of Transaction Security referred to in Clause 37.7.1 above shall become effective only on the making of that disposal; and
37.7.3 if the disposal of that Borrower or Guarantor is not made, the Resignation Letter of that Borrower or Guarantor and the related release of Transaction Security referred to in Clause 37.7.1 above shall have no effect and the obligations of the Borrower or Guarantor and the Transaction Security created or intended to be created by or over that Borrower or Guarantor shall continue in such force and effect as if that release had not been effected.
SECTION 10
THE FINANCE PARTIES
38. ROLE OF THE AGENT, THE ARRANGER AND OTHERS
38.1 Appointment of the Agent
38.1.1 Each of the Arranger and the Lenders appoints the Agent to act as its agent under and in connection with the Finance Documents.
38.1.2 Each of the Arranger and the Lenders authorises the Agent to perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agent under or in connection with the Finance Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions.
38.2 Instructions
38.2.1 The Agent shall:
(a) unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion vested in it as Agent in accordance with any instructions given to it by:
(i) all Lenders if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is an all Lender decision;
(ii) in all other cases, the Majority Lenders; and
(b) not be liable for any act (or omission) if it acts (or refrains from acting) in accordance with paragraph (i) above.
38.2.2 The Agent shall be entitled to request instructions, or clarification of any instruction, from the Majority Lenders (or, if the relevant Finance Document stipulates the matter is a decision for any other Lender or group of Lenders, from that Lender or group of Lenders) as to whether, and in what manner, it should exercise or refrain from exercising any right, power, authority or discretion and the Agent may refrain from acting unless and until it receives those instructions or that clarification.
38.2.3 Save in the case of decisions stipulated to be a matter for any other Lender or group of Lenders under the relevant Finance Document and unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document, any instructions given to the Agent by the Majority Lenders shall override any conflicting instructions given by any other Parties and will be binding on all Finance Parties save for the Security Agent.
38.2.4 The Agent may refrain from acting in accordance with any instructions of any Lender or group of Lenders until it has received any indemnification and/or security that it may in its discretion require (which may be greater in extent than that contained in the Finance Documents and which may include payment in advance) for any cost, loss or liability which it may incur in complying with those instructions.
38.2.5 In the absence of instructions, the Agent may act (or refrain from acting) as it considers to be in the best interest of the Lenders.
38.2.6 The Agent is not authorised to act on behalf of a Lender (without first obtaining that Lenders consent) in any legal or arbitration proceedings relating to any Finance Document. This Clause 38.2.6 shall not apply to any legal or arbitration proceeding relating to the perfection, preservation or protection of rights under the Transaction Security Documents or enforcement of the Transaction Security or Transaction Security Documents.
38.3 Duties of the Agent
38.3.1 The Agents duties under the Finance Documents are solely mechanical and administrative in nature.
38.3.2 Subject to Clause 38.3.3 below, the Agent shall promptly forward to a Party the original or a copy of any document which is delivered to the Agent for that Party by any other Party.
38.3.3 Without prejudice to Clause 35.7 ( Copy of Transfer Certificate, Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation to Company ), Clause 38.3.1 above shall not apply to any Transfer Certificate, any Assignment Agreement or Increase Confirmation.
38.3.4 Except where a Finance Document specifically provides otherwise, the Agent is not obliged to review or check the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any document it forwards to another Party.
38.3.5 If the Agent receives notice from a Party referring to this Agreement, describing a Default and stating that the circumstance described is a Default, it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.
38.3.6 If the Agent is aware of the non-payment of any principal, interest, commitment fee or other fee payable to a Finance Party (other than the Agent, the Arranger or the Security Agent) under this Agreement it shall promptly notify the other Finance Parties.
38.3.7 The Agent shall have only those duties, obligations and responsibilities expressly specified in the Finance Documents to which it is expressed to be a party (and no others shall be implied).
38.4 Role of the Arranger
Except as specifically provided in the Finance Documents, the Arranger has no obligations of any kind to any other Party under or in connection with any Finance Document.
38.5 No fiduciary duties
38.5.1 Nothing in any Finance Document constitutes the Agent and/or the Arranger as a trustee or fiduciary of any other person.
38.5.2 None of the Agent, the Arranger or any Ancillary Lender shall be bound to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by it for its own account.
38.6 Business with the Group
The Agent, the Arranger and each Ancillary Lender may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of banking or other business with any member of the Group.
38.7 Rights and discretions
38.7.1 The Agent may:-
(a) rely on any representation, notice, communication or document (including, without limitation, any notice given by a Lender pursuant to Clause 36.2.2 or 36.2.3) believed by it to be genuine, correct and appropriately authorised;
(b) rely on any statement made by a director, authorised signatory or employee of any person regarding any matters which may reasonably be assumed to be within his knowledge or within his power to verify;
(c) assume that:
(i) any instructions received by it from the Majority Lenders, any Lenders or any group of Lenders are duly given in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents; and
(ii) unless it has received notice of revocation, that those instructions have not been revoked;
(d) rely on a certificate from any person:
(i) as to any matter of fact or circumstance which might reasonably be expected to be within the knowledge of that person; or
(ii) to the effect that such person approves of any particular dealing, transaction, step, action or thing,
as sufficient evidence that that is the case and, in the case of paragraph (c)(i) above, may assume the truth and accuracy of that certificate.
38.7.2 The Agent may assume (unless it has received notice to the contrary in its capacity as agent for the Lenders) that:-
(a) no Default has occurred (unless it has actual knowledge of a Default arising under Clause 34.1 ( Non-payment ));
(b) any right, power, authority or discretion vested in any Party or any group of Lenders has not been exercised;
(c) any notice or request made by the Company (other than a Utilisation Request) is made on behalf of and with the consent and knowledge of all the Obligors; and
(d) no Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction:-
(i) has been entered into;
(ii) has been terminated; or
(iii) has ceased to be with a Sponsor Affiliate.
38.7.3 The Agent may engage and pay for the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisors, surveyors or other professional advisors or experts.
38.7.4 Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 38.7.3 above or Clause 38.7.5 below, the Agent may at any time engage and pay for the services of any lawyers to act as independent counsel to the Agent (and so separate from any lawyers instructed by the Lenders) if the Agent in its reasonable opinion deems this to be desirable.
38.7.5 The Agent may rely on the advice or services of any lawyers, accountants, tax advisers, surveyors or other professional advisers or experts (whether obtained by the Agent or by any other Party) and shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of its so relying.
38.7.6 The Agent may act in relation to the Finance Documents through its officers, employees and agents and the Agent shall not:
(a) be liable for any error of judgment made by any such person; or
(b) be bound to supervise, or be in any way responsible for any loss incurred by reason of misconduct, omission or default on the part, of any such person,
unless such error or such loss was directly caused by the Agents gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
38.7.7 Unless a Finance Document expressly provides otherwise the Agent may disclose to any other Party any information it reasonably believes it has received as agent under this Agreement.
38.7.8 Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 38.7.7 above, the Agent:
(a) may disclose; and
(b) on the written request of the Parent or the Majority Lenders shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, disclose,
the identity of a Defaulting Lender to the other Finance Parties and the Borrower and shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, disclose the same upon the written request of the Borrower or the Majority Lenders.
38.7.9 The Agent may not disclose to any Finance Party any details of the rate notified to the Agent by any Lender or the identity of any such Lender for the purpose of Clause .
38.7.10 Notwithstanding any other provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, neither the Agent nor the Arranger is obliged to do or omit to do anything if it
would or might in its reasonable opinion constitute a breach of any law or regulation or a breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of confidentiality.
38.7.11 Notwithstanding any provision of any Finance Document to the contrary, the Agent is not obliged to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties, obligations or responsibilities or the exercise of any right, power, authority or discretion if it has grounds for believing the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against, or security for, such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
38.8 Responsibility for documentation
None of the Agent, the Arranger or any Ancillary Lender is responsible or liable for:-
38.8.1 for the adequacy, accuracy and/or completeness of any information (whether oral or written) supplied by the Agent, the Arranger, an Ancillary Lender, an Obligor or any other person given in or in connection with any Finance Document or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; or
38.8.2 the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document or the Transaction Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; or
38.8.3 any determination as to whether any information provided or to be provided to any Finance Party is non-public information the use of which may be regulated or prohibited by applicable law or regulation relating to insider dealing or otherwise.
38.9 No duty to monitor
The Agent shall not be bound to enquire:
38.9.1 whether or not any Default has occurred;
38.9.2 as to the performance, default or any breach by any Party of its obligations under any Finance Document; or
38.9.3 whether any other event specified in any Finance Document has occurred.
38.10 Exclusion of liability
38.10.1 Without limiting Clause 38.10.2 below (and without prejudice to any other provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the liability of the Agent or any Ancillary Lender), none of the Agent or any Ancillary Lender will be liable (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) for:
(a) any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value, or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of taking or not taking any action under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security, unless directly caused by its gross negligence or wilful misconduct;
(b) exercising, or not exercising, any right, power, authority or discretion given to it by, or in connection with, any Finance Document, the Transaction Security or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Finance Document or the Transaction Security; or
(c) without prejudice to the generality of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever arising as a result of:
(i) any act, event or circumstance not reasonably within its control; or
(ii) the general risks of investment in, or the holding of assets in, any jurisdiction,
including (in each case and without limitation) such damages, costs, losses, diminution in value or liability arising as a result of: nationalisation, expropriation or other governmental actions; any regulation, currency restriction, devaluation or fluctuation; market conditions affecting the execution or settlement of transactions or the value of assets (including any Disruption Event); breakdown, failure or malfunction of any third party transport, telecommunications, computer services or systems; natural disasters or acts of God; war, terrorism, insurrection or revolution; or strikes or industrial action.
38.10.2 No Party (other than the Agent or an Ancillary Lender (as applicable)) may take any proceedings against any officer, employee or agent of the Agent or any Ancillary Lender, in respect of any claim it might have against the Agent or an Ancillary Lender or in respect of any act or omission of any kind by that officer, employee or agent in relation to any Finance Document and any officer, employee or agent of the Agent or any Ancillary Lender may rely on this Clause subject to Clause 10.3 ( Third party rights ) and the provisions of the Third Parties Act.
38.10.3 The Agent will not be liable for any delay (or any related consequences) in crediting an account with an amount required under the Finance Documents to be paid by the Agent if the Agent has taken all necessary steps as soon as reasonably practicable to comply with the regulations or operating procedures of any recognised clearing or settlement system used by the Agent for that purpose.
38.10.4 Nothing in this Agreement shall oblige the Agent or the Arranger to carry out:
(a) any know your customer or other checks in relation to any person; or
(b) any check on the extent to which any transaction contemplated by this Agreement might be unlawful for any Lender,
on behalf of any Lender and each Lender confirms to the Agent and the Arranger that it is solely responsible for any such checks it is required to carry out and that it may not rely on any statement in relation to such checks made by the Agent or the Arranger.
38.10.5 Without prejudice to any provision of any Finance Document excluding or limiting the Agents liability, any liability of the Agent arising under or in
connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security shall be limited to the amount of actual loss which has been finally judicially determined to have been suffered (as determined by reference to the date of default of the Agent or, if later, the date on which the loss arises as a result of such default) but without reference to any special conditions or circumstances known to the Agent at any time which increase the amount of that loss. In no event shall the Agent be liable for any loss of profits, goodwill, reputation, business opportunity or anticipated saving, or for special, punitive, indirect or consequential damages, whether or not the Agent has been advised of the possibility of such loss or damages.
38.11 Lenders indemnity to the Agent
38.11.1 Each Lender shall (in proportion to its share of the Total Commitments or, if the Total Commitments are then zero, to its share of the Total Commitments immediately prior to their reduction to zero) indemnify the Agent, within three Business Days of demand, against any cost, loss or liability (including, without limitation, for negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever) incurred by the Agent (otherwise than by reason of the Agents gross negligence or wilful misconduct) (or, in the case of any cost, loss or liability pursuant to Clause 41.11 ( Disruption to Payment Systems etc .) notwithstanding the Agents negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent in acting as Agent under the Finance Documents (unless the Agent has been reimbursed by an Obligor pursuant to a Finance Document).
38.11.2 Subject to Clause 38.11.3 below, the Borrower shall immediately on demand reimburse any Lender for any payment that Lender makes to the Agent pursuant to Clause 38.11.1 above.
38.11.3 Clause 38.11.2 above shall not apply to the extent that the indemnity payment in respect of which the Lender claims reimbursement relates to a liability of the Agent to an Obligor.
38.12 Resignation of the Agent
38.12.1 The Agent may resign and appoint one of its Affiliates acting through an office in the United Kingdom as successor by giving notice to the Lenders and the Company.
38.12.2 Alternatively the Agent may resign by giving 30 days notice to the Lenders and the Company, in which case the Majority Lenders (after consultation with the Company) may appoint a successor Agent.
38.12.3 If the Majority Lenders have not appointed a successor Agent in accordance with Clause 38.12.2 above within 20 days after notice of resignation was given, the retiring Agent (after consultation with the Company) may appoint a successor Agent (acting through an office in the United Kingdom).
38.12.4 If the Agent wishes to resign because (acting reasonably) it has concluded that it is no longer appropriate for it to remain as agent and the Agent is entitled to appoint a successor Agent under Clause 38.12.3 above, the Agent may (if it concludes (acting reasonably) that it is necessary to do so in order to persuade the proposed successor Agent to become a party to this Agreement as Agent) agree with the proposed successor Agent amendments to this Clause 38 and any other term of this Agreement dealing with the rights or obligations of the
Agent consistent with then current market practice for the appointment and protection of corporate trustees together with any reasonable amendments to the agency fee payable under this Agreement which are consistent with the successor Agents normal fee rates and those amendments will bind the Parties.
38.12.5 The retiring Agent shall, at its own cost, make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents.
38.12.6 The Agents resignation notice shall only take effect upon the appointment of a successor.
38.12.7 Upon the appointment of a successor, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents (other than its obligations under Clause 38.12.5 above) but shall remain entitled to the benefit of Clause 26.3 ( Indemnity to the Agent ) and this Clause 38 (and any agency fees for the account of the retiring Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date). Any successor and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.
38.12.8 After consultation with the Company, the Majority Lenders may, by notice to the Agent, require it to resign in accordance with Clause 38.12.2 above. In this event, the Agent shall resign in accordance with Clause 38.12.2 above.
38.12.9 The Agent shall resign in accordance with Clause 38.12.2 above (and, to the extent applicable, shall use reasonable endeavours to appoint a successor Agent pursuant to Clause 38.12.2 above) if on or after the date which is three months before the earliest FATCA Application Date relating to any payment to the Agent under the Finance Documents, either:
(a) the Agent fails to respond to a request under Clause 24.8 ( FATCA Information ) and a Lender reasonably believes that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date;
(b) the information supplied by the Agent pursuant to Clause 24.8 ( FATCA Information ) indicates that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date; or
(c) the Agent notifies the Company and the Lenders that the Agent will not be (or will have ceased to be) a FATCA Exempt Party on or after that FATCA Application Date,
and (in each case) a Lender reasonably believes that a Party will be required to make a FATCA Deduction that would not be required if the Agent were a FATCA Exempt Party, and that Lender, by notice to the Agent, requires it to resign.
38.13 Replacement of the Agent
38.13.1 After consultation with the Parent, the Majority Lenders may, by giving 30 days notice to the Agent, (or, at any time the Agent is an Impaired Agent, by giving any shorter notice determined by the Majority Lenders) replace the Agent by appointing a successor Agent (acting through an office in the United Kingdom).
38.13.2 The retiring Agent shall (at its own cost if it is an Impaired Agent and otherwise at the expense of the Lenders) make available to the successor Agent such documents and records and provide such assistance as the successor Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of performing its functions as Agent under the Finance Documents.
38.13.3 The appointment of the successor Agent shall take effect on the date specified in the notice from the Majority Lenders to the retiring Agent. As from this date, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from any further obligation in respect of the Finance Documents (other than its obligations under Clause 38.13.2 above) but shall remain entitled to the benefit of Clause 26.3 ( Indemnity to the Agent ) and this Clause 29 (and any agency fees for the account of the retiring Agent shall cease to accrue from (and shall be payable on) that date).
38.13.4 Any successor Agent and each of the other Parties shall have the same rights and obligations amongst themselves as they would have had if such successor had been an original Party.
38.14 Confidentiality
38.14.1 In acting as agent for the Finance Parties, the Agent shall be regarded as acting through its agency division which shall be treated as a separate entity from any other of its divisions or departments.
38.14.2 If information is received by another division or department of the Agent, it may be treated as confidential to that division or department and the Agent shall not be deemed to have notice of it.
38.15 Relationship with the Lenders
38.15.1 Subject to Clause 35.10 ( Pro rata interest settlement ), the Agent may treat the person shown in its records as Lender at the opening of business (in the place of the Agents principal office as notified to the Finance Parties from time to time) as the Lender acting through its Facility Office:-
(a) entitled to or liable for any payment due under any Finance Document on that day; and
(b) entitled to receive and act upon any notice, request, document or communication or make any decision or determination under any Finance Document made or delivered on that day,
unless it has received not less than five Business Days prior notice from that Lender to the contrary in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
38.15.2 Each Lender shall supply the Agent with any information that the Security Agent may reasonably specify (through the Agent) as being necessary or desirable to enable the Security Agent to perform its functions as Security Agent. Each Lender shall deal with the Security Agent exclusively through the Agent and shall not deal directly with the Security Agent.
38.15.3 Any Lender may by notice to the Agent appoint a person to receive on its behalf all notices, communications, information and documents to be made or despatched to that Lender under the Finance Documents. Such notice shall contain the address, fax number and (where communication by electronic mail or other electronic means is permitted under Clause 43.5 ( Electronic
communication )) electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable transmission of information by that means (and, in each case, the department or officer, if any, for whose attention communication is to be made) and be treated as a notification of a substitute address, fax number, electronic mail address (or such other information), department and officer by that Lender for the purposes of Clause 43.2 ( Addresses ) and Clause 43.6.1 and the Agent shall be entitled to treat such person as the person entitled to receive all such notices, communications, information and documents as though that person were that Lender.
38.16 Credit appraisal by the Lenders and Ancillary Lenders
Without affecting the responsibility of any Obligor for information supplied by it or on its behalf in connection with any Finance Document, each Lender and Ancillary Lender confirms to the Agent, the Arranger and each Ancillary Lender that it has been, and will continue to be, solely responsible for making its own independent appraisal and investigation of all risks arising under or in connection with any Finance Document including but not limited to:-
38.16.1 the financial condition, status and nature of each member of the Group;
38.16.2 the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any Finance Document and the Transaction Security and any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security;
38.16.3 whether that Lender or Ancillary Lender has recourse, and the nature and extent of that recourse, against any Party or any of its respective assets under or in connection with any Finance Document, the Transaction Security, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document or the Transaction Security;
38.16.4 the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information provided by the Agent, any Party or by any other person under or in connection with any Finance Document, the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, made or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with any Finance Document; and
38.16.5 the right or title of any person in or to, or the value or sufficiency of any part of the Charged Property, the priority of any of the Transaction Security or the existence of any Security affecting the Charged Property.
38.17 Base Reference Banks
If a Base Reference Bank (or, if a Base Reference Bank is not a Lender, the Lender of which it is an Affiliate) ceases to be a Lender, the Agent shall (in consultation with the Company) appoint another Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender to replace that Base Reference Bank.
38.18 Agents management time
38.18.1 Any amount payable to the Agent under Clause 26.3 ( Indemnity to the Agent ), Clause 28 ( Costs and expenses ) (other than Clause 28.1.1 to the extent any such amount relates to the negotiation, preparation, printing and execution of this Agreement or any other documents referred to in this Agreement or the
Transaction Security in each case where those other documents are, or the Transaction Security is, dated the same date as, or prior to the date of, this Agreement) and Clause 38.10.4 ( Lenders indemnity to the Agent ) shall include the cost of utilising the Agents management time or other resources and will be calculated on the basis of such reasonable daily or hourly rates as the Agent may notify to the Company and the Lenders, and is in addition to any fee paid or payable to the Agent under Clause 23 ( Fees ).
38.18.2 Any cost of utilising the Agents management time or other resources shall include, without limitation, any such costs in connection with Clause 36.2 ( Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Sponsor Affiliates ).
38.19 Deduction from amounts payable by the Agent
38.19.1 If any Party owes an amount to the Agent under the Finance Documents the Agent may, after giving notice to that Party, deduct an amount not exceeding that amount from any payment to that Party which the Agent would otherwise be obliged to make under the Finance Documents and apply the amount deducted in or towards satisfaction of the amount owed. For the purposes of the Finance Documents that Party shall be regarded as having received any amount so deducted.
38.19.2 Any cost of utilising the Agents management time or other resources shall include, without limitation, any such costs in connection with Clause 36.2 ( Disenfranchisement on Debt Purchase Transactions entered into by Sponsor Affiliates ).
38.20 Reliance and engagement letters
Each Finance Party and Secured Party confirms that each of the Arranger and the Agent has authority to accept on its behalf (and ratifies the acceptance on its behalf of any letters or reports already accepted by the Arranger or Agent) the terms of any reliance letter or engagement letters relating to the Reports or any reports or letters provided by accountants in connection with the Finance Documents or the transactions contemplated in the Finance Documents and to bind it in respect of those Reports, reports or letters and to sign such letters on its behalf and further confirms that it accepts the terms and qualifications set out in such letters.
39. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE FINANCE PARTIES
No provision of this Agreement will:-
39.1.1 interfere with the right of any Finance Party to arrange its affairs (tax or otherwise) in whatever manner it thinks fit;
39.1.2 oblige any Finance Party to investigate or claim any credit, relief, remission or repayment available to it or the extent, order and manner of any claim; or
39.1.3 oblige any Finance Party to disclose any information relating to its affairs (tax or otherwise) or any computations in respect of Tax.
40. SHARING AMONG THE FINANCE PARTIES
40.1 Payments to Finance Parties
40.1.1 Subject to Clause 40.1.2 below, if a Finance Party (a Recovering Finance Party ) receives or recovers any amount from an Obligor other than in accordance with Clause 41 ( Payment mechanics ) (a Recovered Amount ) and applies that amount to a payment due under the Finance Documents then:-
(a) the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days, notify details of the receipt or recovery, to the Agent;
(b) the Agent shall determine whether the receipt or recovery is in excess of the amount the Recovering Finance Party would have been paid had the receipt or recovery been received or made by the Agent and distributed in accordance with Clause 41 ( Payment mechanics ), without taking account of any Tax which would be imposed on the Agent in relation to the receipt, recovery or distribution; and
(c) the Recovering Finance Party shall, within three Business Days of demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent an amount (the Sharing Payment ) equal to such receipt or recovery less any amount which the Agent determines may be retained by the Recovering Finance Party as its share of any payment to be made, in accordance with Clause 41.5 ( Partial payments ).
40.1.2 Clause 40.1.1 above shall not apply to any amount received or recovered by an Ancillary Lender in respect of any cash cover provided for the benefit of that Ancillary Lender.
40.2 Redistribution of payments
The Agent shall treat the Sharing Payment as if it had been paid by the relevant Obligor and distribute it between the Finance Parties (other than the Recovering Finance Party) (the Sharing Finance Parties ) in accordance with Clause 41.5 ( Partial payments ) towards the obligations of that Obligor to the Sharing Finance Parties.
40.3 Recovering Finance Partys rights
On a distribution by the Agent under Clause 40.2 ( Redistribution of payments ) of a payment received by a Recovering Finance Party from an Obligor, as between the relevant Obligor and the Recovering Finance Party, an amount of the Recovered Amount equal to the Sharing Payment will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor.
40.4 Reversal of redistribution
If any part of the Sharing Payment received or recovered by a Recovering Finance Party becomes repayable and is repaid by that Recovering Finance Party, then:-
40.4.1 each Sharing Finance Party shall, upon request of the Agent, pay to the Agent for the account of that Recovering Finance Party an amount equal to the appropriate part of its share of the Sharing Payment (together with an amount as is necessary to reimburse that Recovering Finance Party for its proportion of any interest on the Sharing Payment which that Recovering Finance Party is required to pay) (the Redistributed Amount ); and
40.4.2 as between the relevant Obligor and each relevant Sharing Finance Party, an amount equal to the relevant Redistributed Amount will be treated as not having been paid by that Obligor.
40.5 Exceptions
40.5.1 This Clause 40 shall not apply to the extent that the Recovering Finance Party would not, after making any payment pursuant to this Clause, have a valid and enforceable claim against the relevant Obligor.
40.5.2 A Recovering Finance Party is not obliged to share with any other Finance Party any amount which the Recovering Finance Party has received or recovered as a result of taking legal or arbitration proceedings, if:-
(a) it notified the other Finance Party of the legal or arbitration proceedings; and
(b) the other Finance Party had an opportunity to participate in those legal or arbitration proceedings but did not do so as soon as reasonably practicable having received notice and did not take separate legal or arbitration proceedings.
40.6 Ancillary Lenders
40.6.1 This Clause 40 shall not apply to any receipt or recovery by a Lender in its capacity as an Ancillary Lender at any time prior to service of notice under Clause 34.18 ( Acceleration ).
40.6.2 Following service of notice under Clause 34.18 ( Acceleration ), this Clause 40 shall apply to all receipts or recoveries by Ancillary Lenders except to the extent that the receipt or recovery represents a reduction of the Gross Outstandings of a Multi-account Overdraft to or towards an amount equal to the Net Outstandings.
SECTION 11
ADMINISTRATION
41. PAYMENT MECHANICS
41.1 Payments to the Agent
41.1.1 On each date on which an Obligor or a Lender is required to make a payment under a Finance Document excluding a payment under the terms of an Ancillary Document, that Obligor or Lender shall make the same available to the Agent (unless a contrary indication appears in a Finance Document) for value on the due date at the time and in such funds specified by the Agent as being customary at the time for settlement of transactions in the relevant currency in the place of payment.
41.1.2 Payment shall be made to such account in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency (or, in relation to euro, in a principal financial centre in such Participating Member State or London, as specified by the Agent) and with such bank as the Agent, in each case, specifies.
41.2 Distributions by the Agent
Each payment received by the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party shall, subject to Clause 41.3 ( Distributions to an Obligor ) and Clause 41.4 ( Clawback ) be made available by the Agent as soon as practicable after receipt to the Party entitled to receive payment in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of a Lender, for the account of its Facility Office), to such account as that Party may notify to the Agent by not less than five Business Days notice with a bank specified by that Party in the principal financial centre of the country of that currency (or, in relation to euro, in the principal financial centre of a Participating Member State or London as specified by that Party).
41.3 Distributions to an Obligor
The Agent may (with the consent of the Obligor or in accordance with Clause 42 ( Set-Off )) apply any amount received by it for that Obligor in or towards payment (on the date and in the currency and funds of receipt) of any amount due from that Obligor under the Finance Documents or in or towards purchase of any amount of any currency to be so applied.
41.4 Clawback
41.4.1 Where a sum is to be paid to the Agent under the Finance Documents for another Party, the Agent is not obliged to pay that sum to that other Party (or to enter into or perform any related exchange contract) until it has been able to establish to its satisfaction that it has actually received that sum.
41.4.2 Unless Clause 41.4.3 below applies, if the Agent pays an amount to another Party and it proves to be the case that the Agent had not actually received that amount, then the Party to whom that amount (or the proceeds of any related exchange contract) was paid by the Agent shall on demand refund the same to the Agent together with interest on that amount from the date of payment to the date of receipt by the Agent, calculated by the Agent to reflect its cost of funds.
41.4.3 If the Agent has notified the Lenders that it is willing to make available amounts for the account of a Borrower before receiving funds from the Lenders then if
and to the extent that the Agent does so but it proves to be the case that it does not then receive funds from a Lender in respect of a sum which it paid to that Borrower:
(a) that Borrower shall on demand refund it to the Agent; and
(b) the Lender by whom those funds should have been made available or, if that Lender fails to do so, that Borrower, shall on demand pay to the Agent the amount (as certified by the Agent) which will indemnify the Agent against any funding cost incurred by it as a result of paying out that sum before receiving those funds from that Lender.
41.5 Impaired Agent
41.5.1 If, at any time, the Agent becomes an Impaired Agent, an Obligor or a Lender which is required to make a payment under the Finance Documents to the Agent in accordance with Clause 41.1( Payments to the Agent ) may instead either:
(a) pay that amount direct to the required recipient(s); or
(b) if in its absolute discretion it considers that it is not reasonably practicable to pay that amount direct to the required recipient(s), pay that amount or the relevant part of that amount to an interest-bearing account held with an Acceptable Bank and in relation to which no Insolvency Event has occurred and is continuing, in the name of the Obligor or the Lender making the payment (the Paying Party ) and designated as a trust account for the benefit of the Party or Parties beneficially entitled to that payment under the Finance Documents (the Recipient Party or Recipient Parties ).
In each case such payments must be made on the due date for payment under the Finance Documents.
41.5.2 All interest accrued on the amount standing to the credit of the trust account shall be for the benefit of the Recipient Party or the Recipient Parties pro rata to their respective entitlements.
41.5.3 A Party which has made a payment in accordance with this Clause 41.5 shall be discharged of the relevant payment obligation under the Finance Documents and shall not take any credit risk with respect to the amounts standing to the credit of the trust account.
41.5.4 Promptly upon the appointment of a successor Agent in accordance with Clause 38.13 ( Replacement of the Agent ), each Paying Party (other than to the extent that the Party has given an instruction pursuant to Clause 41.5.5 below) shall give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the trust account is held to transfer the amount (together with any accrued interest) to the successor Agent for distribution to the relevant Recipient Party or Recipient Parties in accordance with Clause 41.2 ( Distributions by the Agent ).
41.5.5 A Paying Party shall, promptly upon request by a Recipient Party and to the extent:
(a) that it has not given an instruction pursuant to Clause 41.5.4 above; and
(b) that it has been provided with the necessary information by that Recipient Party,
give all requisite instructions to the bank with whom the trust account is held to transfer the relevant amount (together with any accrued interest) to that Recipient Party.
41.6 Partial payments
41.6.1 If the Agent receives a payment that is insufficient to discharge all the amounts then due and payable by an Obligor under those Finance Documents, the Agent shall apply that payment towards the obligations of that Obligor under those Finance Documents in the following order:-
(a) first , in or towards payment pro rata of any unpaid amount owing to the Agent and the Security Agent under those Finance Documents;
(b) secondly , in or towards payment pro rata of any accrued interest, fee or commission due but unpaid under those Finance Documents;
(c) thirdly , in or towards payment pro rata of any principal due but unpaid under those Finance Documents; and
(d) fourthly , in or towards payment pro rata of any other sum due but unpaid under the Finance Documents.
41.6.2 The Agent shall, if so directed by the Majority Lenders, vary the order set out in Clause 41.6.1(a) to (d) above.
41.6.3 Clauses 41.6.1 and 41.6.2 above will override any appropriation made by an Obligor.
41.7 Set-off by Obligors
All payments to be made by an Obligor under the Finance Documents shall be calculated and be made without (and free and clear of any deduction for) set-off or counterclaim.
41.8 Business Days
41.8.1 Any payment under the Finance Documents which is due to be made on a day that is not a Business Day shall be made on the next Business Day in the same calendar month (if there is one) or the preceding Business Day (if there is not).
41.8.2 During any extension of the due date for payment of any principal or Unpaid Sum under this Agreement interest is payable on the principal or Unpaid Sum at the rate payable on the original due date.
41.9 Currency of account
41.9.1 Subject to Clauses 41.9.2 to 41.9.5 below, Sterling is the currency of account and payment for any sum due from an Obligor under any Finance Document.
41.9.2 A repayment of a Utilisation or Unpaid Sum or a part of a Utilisation or Unpaid Sum shall be made in the currency in which that Utilisation or Unpaid Sum is denominated pursuant to this Agreement on its due date.
41.9.3 Each payment of interest shall be made in the currency in which the sum in respect of which the interest is payable was denominated pursuant to this Agreement when that interest accrued.
41.9.4 Each payment in respect of costs, expenses or Taxes shall be made in the currency in which the costs, expenses or Taxes are incurred.
41.9.5 Any amount expressed to be payable in a currency other than Sterling shall be paid in that other currency.
41.10 Change of currency
41.10.1 Unless otherwise prohibited by law, if more than one currency or currency unit are at the same time recognised by the central bank of any country as the lawful currency of that country, then:-
(a) any reference in the Finance Documents to, and any obligations arising under the Finance Documents in, the currency of that country shall be translated into, or paid in, the currency or currency unit of that country designated by the Agent (after consultation with the Company); and
(b) any translation from one currency or currency unit to another shall be at the official rate of exchange recognised by the central bank for the conversion of that currency or currency unit into the other, rounded up or down by the Agent (acting reasonably).
41.10.2 If a change in any currency of a country occurs, this Agreement will, to the extent the Agent (acting reasonably and after consultation with the Company) specifies to be necessary, be amended to comply with any generally accepted conventions and market practice in the Relevant Market and otherwise to reflect the change in currency.
41.11 Disruption to Payment Systems etc
If either the Agent determines (in its discretion) that a Disruption Event has occurred or the Agent is notified by the Company that a Disruption Event has occurred:-
41.11.1 the Agent may, and shall if requested to do so by the Company, consult with the Company with a view to agreeing with the Company such changes to the operation or administration of the Facility as the Agent may deem necessary in the circumstances;
41.11.2 the Agent shall not be obliged to consult with the Company in relation to any changes mentioned in Clause 41.11.1 if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances and, in any event, shall have no obligation to agree to such changes;
41.11.3 the Agent may consult with the Finance Parties in relation to any changes mentioned in Clause 41.11.1 but shall not be obliged to do so if, in its opinion, it is not practicable to do so in the circumstances;
41.11.4 any such changes agreed upon by the Agent and the Company shall (whether or not it is finally determined that a Disruption Event has occurred) be binding upon the Parties as an amendment to (or, as the case may be, waiver of) the
terms of the Finance Documents notwithstanding the provisions of Clause 47 ( Amendments and Waivers );
41.11.5 the Agent shall not be liable for any damages, costs or losses to any person, any diminution in value or any liability whatsoever (including, without limitation for negligence, gross negligence or any other category of liability whatsoever but not including any claim based on the fraud of the Agent) arising as a result of its taking, or failing to take, any actions pursuant to or in connection with this Clause 41.11; and
41.11.6 the Agent shall notify the Finance Parties of all changes agreed pursuant to Clause 41.11.4 above.
42. SET-OFF
42.1.1 A Finance Party may set off any matured obligation due from an Obligor under the Finance Documents (to the extent beneficially owned by that Finance Party) against any matured obligation owed by that Finance Party to that Obligor, regardless of the place of payment, booking branch or currency of either obligation. If the obligations are in different currencies, the Finance Party may convert either obligation at a market rate of exchange in its usual course of business for the purpose of the set-off.
42.1.2 Any credit balances taken into account by an Ancillary Lender when operating a net limit in respect of any overdraft under an Ancillary Facility shall on enforcement of the Finance Documents be applied first in reduction of the overdraft provided under that Ancillary Facility in accordance with its terms.
43. NOTICES
43.1 Communications in writing
Any communication to be made under or in connection with the Finance Documents shall be made in writing and, unless otherwise stated, may be made by fax or letter.
43.2 Addresses
The address and fax number (and the department or officer, if any, for whose attention the communication is to be made) of each Party for any communication or document to be made or delivered under or in connection with the Finance Documents is:-
43.2.1 in the case of an Original Obligor, that identified with its name below;
43.2.2 in the case of each Lender, or each Ancillary Lender, that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party;
43.2.3 in the case of any other Obligor, that notified in writing to the Agent on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Party; and
43.2.4 in the case of the Agent or the Security Agent, that identified with its name below,
or any substitute address or fax number or department or officer as the Party may notify to the Agent (or the Agent may notify to the other Parties, if a change is made by the Agent) by not less than five Business Days notice.
43.3 Delivery
43.3.1 Any communication or document made or delivered by one person to another under or in connection with the Finance Documents will only be effective:-
(a) if by way of fax, when received in legible form; or
(b) if by way of letter, when it has been left at the relevant address or five Business Days after being deposited in the post postage prepaid in an envelope addressed to it at that address,
and, if a particular department or officer is specified as part of its address details provided under Clause 43.2 ( Addresses ), if addressed to that department or officer.
43.3.2 Any communication or document to be made or delivered to the Agent or the Security Agent will be effective only when actually received by the Agent or Security Agent and then only if it is expressly marked for the attention of the department or officer identified with the Agents or Security Agents signature below (or any substitute department or officer as the Agent or Security Agent shall specify for this purpose).
43.3.3 All notices from or to an Obligor shall be sent through the Agent.
43.3.4 Any communication or document made or delivered to the Company in accordance with this Clause 43.3 will be deemed to have been made or delivered to each of the Obligors.
43.3.5 Any communication or document which becomes effective, in accordance with Clauses 43.3.1 to 43.3.4, after 5:00pm, in the place of receipt shall be deemed only to become effective on the following day.
43.4 Notification of address and fax number
Promptly upon receipt of notification of an address or fax number or change of address or fax number pursuant to Clause 43.2 ( Addresses ) or changing its own address or fax number, the Agent shall notify the other Parties.
43.5 Communication when Agent is Impaired Agent
If the Agent is an Impaired Agent the Parties may, instead of communicating with each other through the Agent, communicate with each other directly and (while the Agent is an Impaired Agent) all the provisions of the Finance Documents which require communications to be made or notices to be given to or by the Agent shall be varied so that communications may be made and notices to be given to or by the relevant Parties directly. This provision shall not operate after a replacement Agent has been appointed.
43.6 Electronic communication
43.6.1 Any communication to be made between any two Parties under or in connection with the Finance Documents may be made by electronic mail or other electronic means (including, without limitation, by way of posting to a secure website) if those two Parties:
(a) notify each other in writing of their electronic mail address and/or any other information required to enable the sending and receipt of information by that means; and
(b) notify each other of any change to their address or any other such information supplied by them by not less than 5 Business Days notice.
43.6.2 Any such electronic communication as specified in Clause 43.6.1 to be made between an Obligor and a Finance Party may only be made in that way to the extent that those two Parties agree that, unless and until notified to the contrary, this is to be an accepted form of communication.
43.6.3 Any such electronic communication as specified in Clause 43.6.1 made between any two Parties will be effective only when actually received (or made available) in readable form and in the case of any electronic communication made by a Party to the Agent or the Security Agent only if it is addressed in such a manner as the Agent or Security Agent shall specify for this purpose
43.6.4 Any electronic communication which becomes effective, in accordance with Clause 43.6.3, after 5.00pm in the place in which the Party to whom the relevant communication is sent or made available has its address for the purpose of this Agreement shall be deemed only to become effective on the following day.
43.6.5 Any reference in a Finance Document to a communication being sent or received shall be construed to include that communication being made available in accordance with this Clause 43.6.
43.7 Use of websites
43.7.1 The Company may satisfy its obligation under this Agreement to deliver any information in relation to those Lenders (the Website Lenders ) who accept this method of communication by posting this information onto an electronic website designated by the Company and the Agent (the Designated Website ) if:-
(a) the Agent expressly agrees (after consultation with each of the Lenders) that it will accept communication of the information by this method;
(b) both the Company and the Agent are aware of the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website; and
(c) the information is in a format previously agreed between the Borrower and the Agent.
If any Lender (a Paper Form Lender ) does not agree to the delivery of information electronically then the Agent shall notify the Company accordingly and the Company shall at its own cost supply the information to the Agent (in sufficient copies for each Paper Form Lender) in paper form. In any event the Company shall at its own cost supply the Agent with at least one copy in paper form of any information required to be provided by it.
43.7.2 The Agent shall supply each Website Lender with the address of and any relevant password specifications for the Designated Website following designation of that website by the Company and the Agent.
43.7.3 The Company shall promptly upon becoming aware of its occurrence notify the Agent if:-
(a) the Designated Website cannot be accessed due to technical failure;
(b) the password specifications for the Designated Website change;
(c) any new information which is required to be provided under this Agreement is posted onto the Designated Website;
(d) any existing information which has been provided under this Agreement and posted onto the Designated Website is amended; or
(e) the Company becomes aware that the Designated Website or any information posted onto the Designated Website is or has been infected by any electronic virus or similar software.
If the Company notifies the Agent under Clause 43.7.3(a) or Clause 43.7.3(e) above, all information to be provided by the Company under this Agreement after the date of that notice shall be supplied in paper form unless and until the Agent and each Website Lender is satisfied that the circumstances giving rise to the notification are no longer continuing.
43.7.4 Any Website Lender may request, through the Agent, one paper copy of any information required to be provided under this Agreement which is posted onto the Designated Website. The Company shall at its own cost comply with any such request within ten Business Days.
43.8 English language
43.8.1 Any notice given under or in connection with any Finance Document must be in English.
43.8.2 All other documents provided under or in connection with any Finance Document must be:-
(a) in English; or
(b) if not in English, and if so required by the Agent, accompanied by a certified English translation and, in this case, the English translation will prevail unless the document is a constitutional, statutory or other official document.
44. CALCULATIONS AND CERTIFICATES
44.1 Accounts
In any litigation or arbitration proceedings arising out of or in connection with a Finance Document, the entries made in the accounts maintained by a Finance Party are prima facie evidence of the matters to which they relate.
44.2 Certificates and determinations
Any certification or determination by a Finance Party of a rate or amount under any Finance Document is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive evidence of the matters to which it relates.
44.3 Day count convention
Any interest, commission or fee accruing under a Finance Document will accrue from day to day and is calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a year of 365 days or, in any case where the practice in the Relevant Market differs, in accordance with that market practice.
45. PARTIAL INVALIDITY
If, at any time, any provision of the Finance Documents is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect under any law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions nor the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other jurisdiction will in any way be affected or impaired.
46. REMEDIES AND WAIVERS
No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of any Finance Party or Secured Party, any right or remedy under the Finance Documents shall operate as a waiver of any such right or remedy or constitute an election to affirm any of the Finance Documents. No election to affirm any of the Finance Documents on the part of any Finance Party shall be effective unless it is in writing. No single or partial exercise of any right or remedy shall prevent any further or other exercise or the exercise of any other right or remedy. The rights and remedies provided in each Finance Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
47. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
47.1 Intercreditor Agreement
This Clause 47 is subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.
47.2 Required consents
47.2.1 Subject to Clause 47.3 ( Exceptions ) and Clause 47.4 ( Other exceptions ) any term of the Finance Documents may be amended or waived only with the consent of the Majority Lenders and the Company and any such amendment or waiver will be binding on all Parties.
47.2.2 The Agent may effect, on behalf of any Finance Party, any amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause 47.
47.2.3 Without prejudice to the generality of Clauses 38.7.3, 38.7.4 and 38.7.5 ( Rights and discretions ), the Agent may engage, pay for and rely on the services of lawyers in determining the consent level required for and effecting any amendment, waiver or consent under this Agreement.
47.2.4 Each Obligor agrees to any such amendment or waiver permitted by this Clause 47 which is agreed to by the Company. This includes any amendment or waiver
which would, but for this Clause 47.2.4, require the consent of all of the Guarantors.
47.3 Exceptions
An amendment, waiver or (in the case of a Transaction Security Document) a consent of, or in relation to, any term of any Finance Document that has the effect of changing or which relates to:
47.3.1 the definition of Majority Lenders in Clause 10.1 ( Definitions );
47.3.2 an extension to the date of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents;
47.3.3 a reduction in the Margin or a reduction in the amount of any payment of principal, interest, fees or commission payable;
47.3.4 a change in currency of payment of any amount under the Finance Documents;
47.3.5 an increase in any Commitment or the Total Commitments, an extension of the Availability Period or any requirement that a cancellation of Commitments reduces the Commitments of the Lenders rateably;
47.3.6 a change to the Borrowers or Guarantors other than in accordance with Clause 37 ( Changes to the Obligors );
47.3.7 any provision which expressly requires the consent of all the Lenders;
47.3.8 Clause 11.2 ( Finance Parties rights and obligations ), Clause 35 ( Changes to the Lenders ) or this Clause 47 ( Amendments and Waivers ), Clause 50 ( Governing law ) or Clause 51.1 ( Jurisdiction of English courts );
47.3.9 (other than as expressly permitted by the provisions of any Finance Document) the nature or scope of:-
(a) the guarantee and indemnity granted under Clause 29 ( Guarantee and Indemnity );
(b) the Charged Property; or
(c) the manner in which the proceeds of enforcement of the Transaction Security are distributed
(except in the case of sub-clause (b) and sub-clause (c) above, insofar as it relates to a sale or disposal of an asset which is the subject of the Transaction Security where such sale or disposal is expressly permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document);
47.3.10 the release of any guarantee and indemnity granted under Clause 29 ( Guarantee and Indemnity ) or of any Transaction Security unless permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document or relating to a sale or disposal of an asset which is the subject of the Transaction Security where such sale or disposal is expressly permitted under this Agreement or any other Finance Document; or
47.3.11 any amendment to the order of priority or subordination under the Intercreditor Agreement,
shall not be made without the prior consent of all the Lenders.
47.4 Other exceptions
47.4.1 An amendment or waiver which relates to the rights or obligations of the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Agent, any Ancillary Lender or a Hedge Counterparty (each in their capacity as such) may not be effected without the consent of the Agent, the Arranger, the Security Agent, that Ancillary Lender or, as the case may be, that Hedge Counterparty.
47.4.2 Any amendment or waiver which:
(a) relates only to the rights or obligations applicable to a particular Utilisation or class of Lender; and
(b) does not materially and adversely affect the rights or interests of Lenders in respect of any other Utilisation or another class of Lender,
may be made in accordance with this Clause 47 but as if references in this Clause 47 to the specified proportion of Lenders (including, for the avoidance of doubt, all the Lenders) whose consent would, but for this Clause 47.4.2, be required for that amendment or waiver were to that proportion of the Lenders participating in that particular Utilisation or forming part of that particular class.
47.5 Excluded Commitments
If any Defaulting Lender fails to respond to a request for a consent, waiver, amendment of or in relation to any term of any Finance Document or any other vote of Lenders under the terms of this Agreement within 5 Business Days (unless the Company agrees to a longer time period in relation to any request) of that request being made:
47.5.1 its Commitment(s) shall not be included for the purpose of calculating the Total Commitments when ascertaining whether any relevant percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of Total Commitments has been obtained to approve that request; and
47.5.2 its status as a Lender shall be disregarded for the purpose of ascertaining whether the agreement of any specified group of Lenders has been obtained to approve that request.
47.6 Disenfranchisement of Defaulting Lenders
47.6.1 For so long as a Defaulting Lender has any Available Commitment, in ascertaining:
(a) the Majority Lenders; or
(b) whether:
(i) any given percentage (including, for the avoidance of doubt, unanimity) of the Total Commitments; or
(ii) the agreement of any specified group of Lenders,
has been obtained to approve any request for a consent, waiver, amendment or other vote under the Finance Documents, that Defaulting Lenders Commitments will be reduced by the amount of its Available Commitments and, to the extent that that reduction results in that Defaulting Lenders Total Commitments being zero, that Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a Lender for the purposes of Clauses 47.6.1(a) and 47.6.1(b) above.
47.6.2 For the purposes of this Clause 47.6, the Agent may assume the following Lenders are Defaulting Lenders:-
(a) any Lender which has notified the Agent that it has become a Defaulting Lender;
(b) any Lender in relation to which it is aware that any of the events or circumstances referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of the definition of Defaulting Lender has occurred,
unless it has received notice to the contrary from the Lender concerned (together with any supporting evidence reasonably requested by the Agent) or the Agent is otherwise aware that the Lender has ceased to be a Defaulting Lender.
47.7 Replacement of a Defaulting Lender
47.7.1 The Parent may, at any time a Lender has become and continues to be a Defaulting Lender, by giving 10 Business Days prior written notice to the Agent and such Lender:-
(a) replace such Lender by requiring such Lender to (and, to the extent permitted by law, such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 35 ( Changes to Lenders ) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations under this Agreement;
(b) require such Lender to (and, to the extent permitted by law, such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 35 ( Changes to Lenders ) all (and not part only) of the undrawn Revolving Commitment of the Lender; or
(c) require such Lender to (and, to the extent permitted by law, such Lender shall) transfer pursuant to Clause 35 ( Changes to Lenders ) all (and not part only) of its rights and obligations in respect of the Facility,
to a Lender or other bank, financial institution, trust, fund or other entity (a Replacement Lender ) selected by the Parent, which is acceptable to the Agent and which confirms its willingness to assume and does assume all the obligations or all the relevant obligations of the transferring Lender in accordance with Clause 35 ( Changes to the Lenders ) for a purchase price in cash payable at the time of transfer which is either:
(d) in an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of such Lenders participation in the outstanding Utilisations and all accrued interest (to the extent that the Agent has not given a notification under Clause 35.10 ( Pro rata Interest Settlement ), Break Costs and other amounts payable in relation thereto under the Finance Documents; or
(e) in an amount agreed between the Defaulting Lender, the Replacement Lender and the Borrower and which does not exceed the amount described in 47.7.1(d) above.
47.7.2 Any transfer of rights and obligations of a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Clause shall be subject to the following conditions:-
(a) the Parent shall have no right to replace the Agent or Security Agent;
(b) neither the Agent nor the Defaulting Lender shall have any obligation to the Parent to find a Replacement Lender;
(c) the transfer must take place no later than 10 days after the notice referred to in Clause 47.7.1 above;
(d) in no event shall the Defaulting Lender be required to pay or surrender to the Replacement Lender any of the fees received by the Defaulting Lender pursuant to the Finance Documents; and
(e) the Defaulting Lender shall only be obliged to transfer its rights and obligations pursuant to Clause 47.7.2(a) once it is satisfied that it has complied with all necessary know your customer or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to that transfer to the Replacement Lender.
47.7.3 The Defaulting Lender shall perform the checks described in Clause 47.7.2(e) above as soon as reasonably practicable following delivery of a notice referred to in Clause 47.7.1 above and shall notify the Agent and the Borrower when it is satisfied that it has complied with those checks.
48. CONFIDENTIALITY
48.1 Confidential Information
Each Finance Party agrees to keep all Confidential Information confidential and not to disclose it to anyone, save to the extent permitted by Clause 48.2 ( Disclosure of Confidential Information ) and Clause 48.3 ( Disclosure to numbering service providers ), and to ensure that all Confidential Information is protected with security measures and a degree of care that would apply to its own confidential information.
48.2 Disclosure of Confidential Information
Any Finance Party may disclose:-
48.2.1 to any of its Affiliates and Related Funds and any of its or their officers, directors, employees, professional advisers, auditors, partners and Representatives such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate if any person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given pursuant to this Clause 48.2.1 is informed in writing of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no such requirement to so inform if the recipient is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the information or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information;
48.2.2 to any person:-
(a) to (or through) whom it assigns or transfers (or may potentially assign or transfer) all or any of its rights and/or obligations under one or more Finance Documents or which succeeds (or which may potentially succeed) it as Agent or Security Agent and, in each case, to any of that persons Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers;
(b) with (or through) whom it enters into (or may potentially enter into), whether directly or indirectly, any sub-participation in relation to, or any other transaction under which payments are to be made or may be made by reference to, one or more Finance Documents and/or one or more Obligors and to any of that persons Affiliates, Related Funds, Representatives and professional advisers;
(c) appointed by any Finance Party or by a person to whom Clause 48.2.2 or (a) above applies to receive communications, notices, information or documents delivered pursuant to the Finance Documents on its behalf (including, without limitation, any person appointed under Clause 38.15.3);
(d) who invests in or otherwise finances (or may potentially invest in or otherwise finance), directly or indirectly, any transaction referred to in Clause 48.2.2 or 48.2.2(a) above;
(e) to whom information is required or requested to be disclosed by any court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental, banking, taxation or other regulatory authority or similar body, the rules of any relevant stock exchange or pursuant to any applicable law or regulation;
(f) to whom or for whose benefit that Finance Party charges, assigns or otherwise creates Security (or may do so) pursuant to Clause 35.9 ( Security over Lenders rights );
(g) to whom information is required to be disclosed in connection with, and for the purposes of, any litigation, arbitration, administrative or other investigations, proceedings or disputes;
(h) who is a Party; or
(i) with the consent of the Company;
in each case, such Confidential Information as that Finance Party shall consider appropriate;
(i) in relation to Clauses 48.2.2, 48.2.2(a) and 48.2.2(c) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a Confidentiality Undertaking except that there shall be no requirement for a Confidentiality Undertaking if the recipient is a professional adviser and is subject to professional obligations to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information;
(ii) in relation to Clause 48.2.2(d) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a
Confidentiality Undertaking or is otherwise bound by requirements of confidentiality in relation to the Confidential Information they receive and is informed that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information;
(iii) in relation to Clauses 48.2.2(e), 48.2.2(f) and 48.2.2(g) above, the person to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information except that there shall be no requirement to so inform if, in the opinion of that Finance Party, it is not practicable so to do in the circumstances;
48.2.3 to any person appointed by that Finance Party or by a person to whom Clause 48.2.2 or 48.2.2(a) above applies to provide administration or settlement services in respect of one or more of the Finance Documents including without limitation, in relation to the trading of participations in respect of the Finance Documents, such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such service provider to provide any of the services referred to in this Clause 48.2.3 if the service provider to whom the Confidential Information is to be given has entered into a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of the LMA Master Confidentiality Undertaking for Use With Administration/Settlement Service Providers or such other form of confidentiality undertaking agreed between the Company and the relevant Finance Party;
48.2.4 Confidential Information to the extent necessary in order to perfect or preserve any rights under the Transaction Security;
48.2.5 to any rating agency (including its professional advisers) such Confidential Information as may be required to be disclosed to enable such rating agency to carry out its normal rating activities in relation to the Finance Documents and/or the Obligors if the rating agency to whom the Confidential Information is to be given is informed of its confidential nature and that some or all of such Confidential Information may be price-sensitive information; and
48.2.6 to any investor or a potential investor in a securitisation (or similar transaction of broadly equivalent economic effect) of that Finance Partys rights or obligations under the Finance Documents the size and term of the Facility and the name of each of the Obligors.
48.3 Disclosure to numbering service providers
48.3.1 Notwithstanding any other term of any Finance Document or any other agreement between the Parties to the contrary (whether express or implied), any Finance Party may disclose to any national or international numbering service provider appointed by that Finance Party to provide identification numbering services in respect of this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors the following information:-
(a) names of Obligors;
(b) country of domicile of Obligors;
(c) place of incorporation of Obligors;
(d) date of this Agreement, the First Amendment and Restatement Agreement and the Second Amendment and Restatement Agreement;
(e) Clause 50 ( Governing law );
(f) the names of the Agent and the Arranger;
(g) date of each subsequent amendment and restatement of this Agreement;
(h) amounts of, and names of, the Facility (and any tranches);
(i) amount of Total Commitments;
(j) currencies of the Facility;
(k) type of Facility;
(l) ranking of the Facility;
(m) Termination Date for Facility;
(n) changes to any of the information previously supplied pursuant to sub-clauses (a) to (m) above; and
(o) such other information agreed between such Finance Party and the Company,
to enable such numbering service provider to provide its usual syndicated loan numbering identification services.
48.3.2 The Parties acknowledge and agree that each identification number assigned to this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors by a numbering service provider and the information associated with each such number may be disclosed to users of its services in accordance with the standard terms and conditions of that numbering service provider.
48.3.3 Each Obligor represents that none of the information set out in sub-clauses (a) to (o) of Clause 48.3.1 above is, nor will at any time be, unpublished price-sensitive information.
48.3.4 The Agent shall notify the Company and the other Finance Parties of:-
(a) the name of any numbering service provider appointed by the Agent in respect of this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors; and
(b) the number or, as the case may be, numbers assigned to this Agreement, the Facility and/or one or more Obligors by such numbering service provider.
48.4 Entire agreement
This Clause 48 ( Confidentiality ) constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in relation to the obligations of the Finance Parties under the Finance Documents regarding
Confidential Information and supersedes any previous agreement, whether express or implied, regarding Confidential Information.
48.5 Inside information
Each of the Finance Parties acknowledges that some or all of the Confidential Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation including securities law relating to insider dealing and market abuse and each of the Finance Parties undertakes not to use any Confidential Information for any unlawful purpose.
48.6 Notification of disclosure
Each of the Finance Parties agrees (to the extent permitted by law and regulation) to inform the Company:-
48.6.1 of the circumstances of any disclosure of Confidential Information made pursuant to Clause 48.2.2(e) except where such disclosure is made to any of the persons referred to in that sub-clause during the ordinary course of its supervisory or regulatory function; and
48.6.2 upon becoming aware that Confidential Information has been disclosed in breach of this Clause 48 ( Confidentiality ).
48.7 Continuing obligations
The obligations in this Clause 48 ( Confidentiality ) are continuing and, in particular, shall survive and remain binding on each Finance Party for a period of twelve months from the earlier of:-
48.7.1 the date on which all amounts payable by the Obligors under or in connection with the Finance Documents have been paid in full and all Commitments have been cancelled or otherwise cease to be available; and
48.7.2 the date on which such Finance Party otherwise ceases to be a Finance Party.
49. COUNTERPARTS
Each Finance Document may be executed in any number of counterparts, and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of the Finance Document.
SECTION 12
GOVERNING LAW AND ENFORCEMENT
50. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.
51. ENFORCEMENT
51.1 Jurisdiction of English courts
51.1.1 The courts of England have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement (including a dispute relating to the existence, validity or termination of this Agreement or any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with this Agreement) (a Dispute ).
51.1.2 The Parties agree that the courts of England are the most appropriate and convenient courts to settle Disputes and accordingly no Party will argue to the contrary.
51.1.3 This Clause 51.1 is for the benefit of the Finance Parties and Secured Parties only. As a result, no Finance Party or Secured Party shall be prevented from taking proceedings relating to a Dispute in any other courts with jurisdiction. To the extent allowed by law, the Finance Parties and Secured Parties may take concurrent proceedings in any number of jurisdictions.
51.2 Service of process
51.2.1 Without prejudice to any other mode of service allowed under any relevant law, each Obligor (other than an Obligor incorporated in England and Wales):-
(a) irrevocably appoints the Company as its agent for service of process in relation to any proceedings before the English courts in connection with any Finance Document and the Company by its execution of this Agreement, accepts that appointment); and
(b) agrees that failure by an agent for service of process to notify the relevant Obligor of the process will not invalidate the proceedings concerned.
51.2.2 If any person appointed as an agent for service of process is unable for any reason to act as agent for service of process, the Company (on behalf of all the Obligors) must immediately (and in any event within 5 days of such event taking place) appoint another agent on terms acceptable to the Agent. Failing this, the Agent may appoint another agent for this purpose.
51.2.3 The Company expressly agrees and consents to the provisions of this Clause 51 and Clause 50 ( Governing law ).
This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
THE ORIGINAL PARTIES
PART 1
THE ORIGINAL OBLIGORS
Name of Original Borrower |
|
Registration number
|
|
Original Jurisdiction |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sytner Group Limited |
|
2883766 |
|
England and Wales |
|
Name of Original Guarantor |
|
Registration number
|
|
Original Jurisdiction |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UAG UK Holdings Limited |
|
4334322 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sytner Group Limited |
|
2883766 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sytner Cars Limited |
|
2832086 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sytner Limited |
|
813696 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sytner Holdings Limited |
|
2681878 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodman Retail Limited |
|
3097514 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R Stratton & Co Limited |
|
2696872 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cruickshank Motors Limited |
|
1837492 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Graypaul Motors Limited |
|
3079284 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sytner Automotive Limited |
|
1979805 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William Jacks Limited |
|
215293 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
William Jacks Properties Limited |
|
1120920 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ryland Group Limited |
|
4813103 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rydnal Limited |
|
4814756 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ryland Investments Limited |
|
491856 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rycroft Vehicles Limited |
|
248481 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sytner Retail Limited |
|
833930 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ryland Group Services Limited |
|
1356615 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ryland Properties Limited |
|
2286173 |
|
England and Wales |
|
John Fox Limited |
|
1359925 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edmond & Milburn Limited |
|
3008457 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sytner Vehicles Limited |
|
7089922 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sytner Properties Limited |
|
3611990 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maranello Holdings Limited |
|
2001186 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maranello Concessionaires Limited |
|
655104 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maranello Sales Limited |
|
1443371 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodman TPS Limited |
|
6821483 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guy Salmon Limited |
|
3574418 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar Parts Limited |
|
827692 |
|
England and Wales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agnew Trade Centre Limited |
|
NI020615 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agnew Retail Limited |
|
NI610593 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Isaac Agnew (Holdings) Limited |
|
NI000668 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade Parts Specialist (NI) Limited |
|
NI064523 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I A P C B Limited |
|
NI020068 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bavarian Garages (NI) Limited |
|
NI013932 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agnew Commercials Limited |
|
NI013173 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stanley Motor Works (1932) Limited |
|
NI000727 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agnew Corporate Ltd |
|
NI011916 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Isaac Agnew (Mallusk) Limited |
|
NI014730 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Isaac Agnew Limited |
|
NI010842 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agnew Autoexchange Limited |
|
NI012734 |
|
Northern Ireland |
|
THE ORIGINAL LENDERS - OTHER THAN UK NON-BANK LENDERS
Name of Original Lender |
|
Commitment |
|
Treaty Passport scheme
|
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
£ |
75,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE ORIGINAL LENDERS - UK NON-BANK LENDERS
Name of Original Lender |
|
Commitment |
|
BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited |
|
£ |
75,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
PART 1
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT
1. Obligors
1.1 A copy of the constitutional documents of each Original Obligor.
1.2 A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each Original Obligor:-
1.2.1 approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which it is a party and resolving that it execute, deliver and perform the Finance Documents to which it is a party;
1.2.2 authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Finance Documents to which it is a party on its behalf;
1.2.3 authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all documents and notices (including, if relevant, any Utilisation Request) to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and
1.2.4 in the case of an Obligor other than the Company, authorising the Company to act as its agent in connection with the Finance Documents.
1.3 A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph 1.2 above in relation to the Finance Documents and related documents.
1.4 A copy of a resolution signed by all the holders of the issued shares in each Original Guarantor, approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which the Original Guarantor is a party.
1.5 A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each corporate shareholder of each Original Guarantor (other than the Parent) approving the terms of the resolution referred to in paragraph 1.4 above.
1.6 A certificate of the Company (signed by a director) confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing or securing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guarantee, security or similar limit binding on any Original Obligor to be exceeded.
1.7 A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Company or other relevant Original Obligor certifying that each copy document relating to it specified in this Part 1 of Schedule 5 is correct, complete and in full force and effect and has not been amended or superseded as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement.
2. Finance Documents
2.1 The Intercreditor Agreement executed by the members of the Group party to that Agreement.
2.2 This Agreement executed by the members of the Group party to this Agreement.
2.3 The Fee Letters executed by the Company.
2.4 The Vehicle Financier Deeds of Priority executed by BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited and Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited and Volkswagen Bank GmbH (trading as Volkswagen Bank United Kingdom Branch) and the other parties to those deeds (incorporating the consent of the relevant vehicle financier to the creation and subsistence of the Transaction Security Documents).
2.5 A consent letter executed by Mercedes-Benz Bank AG UK Branch ( MB ) pursuant to which MB consents to the creation and subsistence of the Transaction Security Documents.
2.6 At least two originals of the following Transaction Security Documents executed by the Original Obligors specified below opposite the relevant Transaction Security Document:-
Name of Original Obligor |
|
Transaction Security Document |
|
|
|
All Original Obligors |
|
Debenture |
2.7 A copy of all notices required to be sent under the Transaction Security Documents executed by the relevant Obligors duly acknowledged by the addressee.
2.8 A copy of all share certificates, transfers and stock transfer forms or equivalent duly executed by the relevant Obligor in blank in relation to the assets subject to or expressed to be subject to the Transaction Security and other documents of title to be provided under the Transaction Security Documents.
3. Insurance
3.1 A letter from Cooke & Mason Plc insurance broker dated the date of this Agreement addressed to the Agent, the Arrangers, the Security Agent and the Lenders listing the insurance policies of the Group and confirming that they are on risk and that the insurance for the Group at the date of this Agreement is at a level acceptable to the Majority Lenders and covering appropriate risks for the business carried out by the Group.
3.2 Written evidence that the insurance policy(ies) relating to the Charged Property contain (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Security Agent) an endorsement naming the Security Agent as joint loss payee.
4. Legal opinions
A legal opinion of Pinsent Masons LLP, legal advisers to the Agent and the Arranger as to English law substantially in the form distributed to the Original Lenders prior to signing this Agreement and addressed to the Agent, the Security Agent and the Original Lenders and capable of being relied upon by the Original Lenders.
5. Other documents and evidence
5.1 The Group Structure Chart (to include details of Dormant Subsidiaries).
5.2 The Budget.
5.3 A copy, certified by an authorised signatory of the Company to be a true copy, of the Original Financial Statements of each Obligor.
5.4 A certificate signed by an authorised signatory of the Company confirming which companies within the Group are Material Companies and that the aggregate of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in Clause 32 ( Financial Covenants )) and the aggregate gross assets, the aggregate net assets and aggregate turnover of the Original Guarantors (other than the Parent) (in each case calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-Group items and investments in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group) exceeds 90% of the Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in Clause 32 ( Financial Covenants )) and consolidated gross assets, consolidated net assets and consolidated turnover of the Group.
5.5 A copy of any other Authorisation or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable (if it has notified the Company accordingly) in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by any Finance Document or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.
5.6 Evidence that the fees, costs and expenses then due from the Company pursuant to Clause 23 ( Fees ), Clause 23.5 ( Interest, commission and fees on Ancillary Facilities ), Clause 24.6 ( Stamp taxes ) and Clause 28 ( Costs and expenses ) have been paid or will be paid by the first Utilisation Date.
5.7 Utilisation Requests relating to any Utilisations to be made on the Closing Date.
5.8 A deed of release in respect of the general charge dated 16 August 1993 granted by Sytner Limited in favour of BMW Finance (GB) Limited.
5.9 A deed of release in respect of the legal charge dated 28 July 2009 granted by Sytner Cars Limited in favour of Porsche Financial Services Great Britain Limited.
5.10 Companies House Forms MG02 in relation to the following charges:-
5.10.1 General charge dated 30 September 1994 granted by John Fox Limited in favour of Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) Limited;
5.10.2 Debenture dated 19 December 1995 granted by Sytner Holdings Limited in favour of Saab Finance Limited;
5.10.3 Charge over deposit dated 7 March 2002 granted by the Parent in favour The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (as issuing bank); and
5.10.4 General charge dated 16 August 1993 granted by Sytner Limited in favour of BMW Finance (GB) Limited.
5.10.5 Legal charge dated 28 July 2009 granted by Sytner Cars Limited in favour of Porsche Financial Services Great Britain Limited
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT REQUIRED TO BE DELIVERED BY AN ADDITIONAL OBLIGOR
1. An Accession Deed executed by the Additional Obligor and the Company.
2. A copy of the constitutional documents of the Additional Obligor.
3. A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Additional Obligor:-
3.1 approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Accession Deed and the Finance Documents and resolving that it execute, deliver and perform the Accession Deed and any other Finance Document to which it is party;
3.2 authorising a specified person or persons to execute the Accession Deed and other Finance Documents on its behalf;
3.3 authorising a specified person or persons, on its behalf, to sign and/or despatch all other documents and notices (including, in relation to an Additional Borrower or any Utilisation Request to be signed and/or despatched by it under or in connection with the Finance Documents to which it is a party; and
3.4 authorising the Company to act as its agent in connection with the Finance Documents.
4. If applicable, a copy of a resolution of the board of directors of the Additional Obligor, establishing the committee referred to in paragraph 3 above.
5. A specimen of the signature of each person authorised by the resolution referred to in paragraph 3 above.
6. A copy of a resolution signed by all the holders of the issued shares of the Additional Guarantor, approving the terms of, and the transactions contemplated by, the Finance Documents to which the Additional Guarantor is a party.
7. A copy of a resolution of the board of directors of each corporate shareholder of each Additional Guarantor approving the terms of the resolution referred to in paragraph 6 above.
8. A certificate of the Additional Obligor (signed by a director) confirming that borrowing or guaranteeing or securing, as appropriate, the Total Commitments would not cause any borrowing, guarantee, security or similar limit binding on it to be exceeded.
9. A certificate of an authorised signatory of the Additional Obligor certifying that each copy document listed in this Part 2 of Schedule 5 is correct, complete and in full force and effect and has not been amended or superseded as at a date no earlier than the date of the Accession Deed.
10. If available, the latest audited financial statements of the Additional Obligor.
11. The following legal opinions, each addressed to the Agent, the Security Agent and the Lenders:-
11.1 A legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Agent in England, as to English law in the form distributed to the Lenders prior to signing the Accession Deed.
11.2 If the Additional Obligor is incorporated in or has its centre of main interest or establishment (as referred to in Clause 30.28 ( Centre of main interests and
establishments )) in a jurisdiction other than England and Wales or is executing a Finance Document which is governed by a law other than English law, a legal opinion of the legal advisers to the Agent in the jurisdiction of its incorporation, centre of main interest or establishment (as applicable) or, as the case may be, the jurisdiction of the governing law of that Finance Document (the Applicable Jurisdiction ) as to the law of the Applicable Jurisdiction and in the form distributed to the Lenders prior to signing the Accession Deed.
12. If the proposed Additional Obligor is incorporated in a jurisdiction other than England and Wales, evidence that the process agent specified in Clause 51.2 ( Service of process ), if not an Obligor, has accepted its appointment in relation to the proposed Additional Obligor.
13. Any security documents which, subject to the Agreed Security Principles, are required by the Agent to be executed by the proposed Additional Obligor.
14. Any notices or documents required to be given or executed under the terms of those security documents.
15.
15.1 If the Additional Obligor is incorporated in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, evidence that the Additional Obligor has done all that is necessary (including, without limitation, by re-registering as a private company) to comply with sections 677 to 683 of the Companies Act 2006 in order to enable that Additional Obligor to enter into the Finance Documents and perform its obligations under the Finance Documents.
15.2 If the Additional Obligor is not incorporated in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, such documentary evidence as legal counsel to the Agent may require, that such Additional Obligor has complied with any law in its jurisdiction relating to financial assistance or analogous process.
16. A copy of any other authorisation, consent, approval, resolution, licence, exemption, filing, notarisation or registration or other document, opinion or assurance which the Agent considers to be necessary or desirable in connection with the entry into and performance of the transactions contemplated by the Accession Deed or for the validity and enforceability of any Finance Document.
UTILISATION REQUEST
From: [ Sytner Group Limited ]*
To: [ Agent ]
Dated:
Dear Sirs
Sytner Group Limited £150,000,000 Facility Agreement dated 16 December 2011 as amended and restated on 19 December 2014 and as further amendment and restated on 2 April 2015 (the Facility Agreement)
1. We refer to the Facility Agreement. This is a Utilisation Request. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this Utilisation Request unless given a different meaning in this Utilisation Request.
2. We wish to borrow a Loan on the following terms:-
(a) |
|
Borrower: |
|
[ ] |
|
|
|
|
|
(b) |
|
Proposed Utilisation Date: |
|
[ ] (or, if that is not a Business Day, the next Business Day) |
|
|
|
|
|
(d) |
|
Currency of Loan: |
|
[ ] |
|
|
|
|
|
(e) |
|
Amount: |
|
[ ] or, if less, the Available Facility |
|
|
|
|
|
(f) |
|
Interest Period: |
|
[ ] |
3. We confirm that each condition specified in Clause 13.2 ( Further conditions precedent ) is satisfied on the date of this Utilisation Request.
4. The proceeds of this Loan should be credited to [ account ].
5. This Utilisation Request is irrevocable.
|
Yours faithfully |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
authorised signatory for |
|
|
the Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
SCHEDULE 7
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
To: [ ] as Agent and [ ] as Security Agent
From: [ The Existing Lender ] (the Existing Lender ) and [ The New Lender ] (the New Lender )
Dated:
Sytner Group Limited £150,000,000 Facility Agreement dated 16 December 2011 as amended and restated on 19 December 2014 and as further amendment and restated on 2 April 2015 (the Facility Agreement)
1. We refer to the Facility Agreement. This agreement (the Agreement ) shall take effect as a Transfer Certificate for the purpose of the Facility Agreement. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Agreement.
2. We refer to Clause 35.5 ( Procedure for transfer ) of the Facility Agreement:-
2.1 The Existing Lender and the New Lender agree to the Existing Lender transferring to the New Lender by novation and in accordance with Clause 35.5 ( Procedure for transfer ), all of the Existing Lenders rights and obligations under the Agreement and the other Finance Documents which relate to that portion of the Existing Lenders Commitment(s) and participations in Utilisations under the Agreement as specified in the Schedule.
2.2 The proposed Transfer Date is [ ].
2.3 The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 43.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule.
3. The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lenders obligations set out in Clause 35.4.3.
4. The New Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:-
4.1 [a Qualifying Lender falling within paragraph (a)(i) [or paragraph (b)] of the definition of Qualifying Lender, (other than a Treaty Lender);]
4.2 [a Treaty Lender;]
4.3 [not a Qualifying Lender]*.
5. [The New Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:-
5.1 a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes;
5.2 a partnership each member of which is:-
5.2.1 a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or
5.2.2 a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into
account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA; or
5.2.3 a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company.]**
6. [The New Lender confirms that it holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number [ ]), and is tax resident in [ ]*** so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax and requests that the Borrower notify that it wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.
****
[6/7]. The New Lender confirms that it [is]/[is not] a Sponsor Affiliate.
[7/8]. We refer to clause 20.3 ( Assignment and transfer of Secured Liabilities ) of the Intercreditor Agreement and confirm that the New Lender has executed a Deed of Accession (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).
[8/9]. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.
[9/10]. This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.
[10/11]. This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
Note: The execution of this Transfer Certificate may not transfer a proportionate share of the Existing Lenders interest in the Transaction Security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the New Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to perfect a transfer of such a share in the Existing Lenders Transaction Security in any jurisdiction and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.
NOTES:
* Delete as applicable each New Lender is required to confirm which of these three categories it falls within.
** Include if New Lender comes within paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender in Clause 24.1
*** Insert jurisdiction of tax residence
**** Include if the New Lender holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Facility Agreement
THE SCHEDULE
Commitment/rights and obligations to be transferred
[ insert relevant details ]
[ Facility Office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments ,]
[Existing Lender] |
[New Lender] |
|
|
By: |
By: |
This Agreement is accepted as a Transfer Certificate for the purposes of the Facility Agreement by the Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed as [ ].
[Agent] |
|
By: |
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
To: [ ] as Agent and [ ], [ ] as Security Agent, [ ] as Company, for and on behalf of each Obligor
From: [the Existing Lender ] (the Existing Lender ) and [the New Lender ] (the New Lender )
Dated:
Sytner Group Limited £150,000,000 Facility Agreement dated 16 December 2011 as amended and restated on 19 December 2014 and as further amendment and restated on 2 April 2015 (the Facility Agreement)
1. We refer to the Facility Agreement. This is an Assignment Agreement. This agreement (the Agreement ) shall take effect as an Assignment Agreement for the purpose of the Facility Agreement. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Agreement.
2. We refer to Clause 35.6 ( Procedure for assignment ) of the Facility Agreement:-
2.1 The Existing Lender assigns absolutely to the New Lender all the rights of the Existing Lender under the Facility Agreement, the other Finance Documents and in respect of the Transaction Security which correspond to that portion of the Existing Lenders Commitments and participations in Utilisations under the Facility Agreement as specified in the Schedule.
2.2 The Existing Lender is released from all the obligations of the Existing Lender which correspond to that portion of the Existing Lenders Commitments and participations in Utilisations under the Facility Agreement specified in the Schedule.
2.3 The New Lender becomes a Party as a Lender and is bound by obligations equivalent to those from which the Existing Lender is released under paragraph 2.2 above.*
3. The proposed Transfer Date is [ ].
4. On the Transfer Date the New Lender becomes:-
4.1 Party to the relevant Finance Documents (other than the Intercreditor Agreement) as a Lender; and
4.2 Party to the Intercreditor Agreement as a Senior Lender.
5. The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices of the New Lender for the purposes of Clause 43.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule.
6. The New Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Existing Lenders obligations set out in Clause 35.4.3.
7. The New Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:-
7.1 [a Qualifying Lender falling within paragraph (a)(i) [or paragraph (b)] of the definition of Qualifying Lender, other than a Treaty Lender;]
7.2 [a Treaty Lender;]
7.3 [not a Qualifying Lender]. **
8. [The New Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:-
8.1 a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes; or
8.2 a partnership each member of which is:-
8.2.1 a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or
8.2.2 a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA; or
8.3 a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company.]***
9. [The New Lender confirms that it holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number [ ] and is tax resident in [ ]****), so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax, and requests that the Borrower notify that it wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.
****
[10/11] The New Lender confirms that it [is]/[is not] * a Sponsor Affiliate.
[11/12] We refer to clause 20.3 ( Assignment and transfer of Secured Liabilities ) of the Intercreditor Agreement and confirm that the New Lender has executed a Deed of Accession (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).
[12/13] This Agreement acts as notice to the Agent (on behalf of each Finance Party) and, upon delivery in accordance with Clause 35.7 ( Copy of Transfer Certificate or Assignment Agreement to Company ) to the Company (on behalf of each Obligor) of the assignment referred to in this Agreement.
[13/14] This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.
[14/15] This Agreement and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.
* Delete as applicable.
[15/16] This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
Note: The execution of this Assignment Agreement may not transfer a proportionate share of the Existing Lenders interest in the Transaction Security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the New Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to perfect a transfer of such a share in the Existing Lenders Transaction Security in any jurisdiction and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.
NOTES:
* If the Agreement is used in place of a Transfer Certificate in order to avoid a novation of rights/obligations for reasons relevant to a civil jurisdiction, local law advice should be sought to check the suitability of the Agreement due to the assumption of obligations contained in paragraph 2.3. This issue should be addressed at Primary documentation stage. This footnote is not intended to be included in the scheduled form of Agreement in the signed Facilities Agreement.
** Delete as applicable each New Lender is required to confirm which of these three categories it falls within
*** Include if New Lender comes within paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender in Clause 24.1
**** Insert jurisdiction of tax residence
***** Include if the New Lender holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the Facility Agreement
THE SCHEDULE
Commitment/rights and obligations to be transferred by assignment, release and accession
[ insert relevant details ]
[ Facility office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments ]
[Existing Lender] |
[New Lender] |
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By: |
By: |
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This Agreement is accepted as an Assignment Agreement for the purposes of the Facility Agreement by the Agent and the Transfer Date is confirmed as [ ].
Signature of this Agreement by the Agent constitutes confirmation by the Agent of receipt of notice of the assignment referred to in this Agreement, which notice the Agent receives on behalf of each Finance Party.
[Agent]
By:
FORM OF ACCESSION DEED
To: [ ] as Agent and [ ] as Security Agent for itself and each of the other parties to the Intercreditor Agreement referred to below
From: [ Subsidiary ] and [ Company ]
Dated:
Dear Sirs
Sytner Group Limited £150,000,000 Facility Agreement dated 16 December 2011 as amended and restated on 19 December 2014 and as further amendment and restated on 2 April 2015 (the Facility Agreement)
1. We refer to the Facility Agreement. This deed (the Accession Deed ) shall take effect as an Accession Deed for the purposes of the Facility Agreement. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in paragraphs 1-3 of this Accession Deed unless given a different meaning in this Accession Deed.
2. [ Subsidiary ] agrees to become an Additional [Borrower]/[Guarantor] and to be bound by the terms of the Facility Agreement and the other Finance Documents (other than the Intercreditor Agreement) as an Additional [Borrower]/[Guarantor] pursuant to Clause [37.2 ( Additional Borrowers )]/[Clause 37.4 ( Additional Guarantors )] of the Facility Agreement. [ Subsidiary ] is a company duly incorporated under the laws of [ name of relevant jurisdiction ] and is a limited liability company and registered number [ ].
3. [ Subsidiarys ] administrative details for the purposes of the Facility Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement are as follows:-
Address:
Fax No.:
Attention:
4. [ Subsidiary ] (for the purposes of this paragraph 4, the Acceding Debtor ) intends to [incur liabilities under the following documents]/[give a guarantee, indemnity or other assurance against loss in respect of liabilities under the following documents]:-
[ Insert details (date, parties and description) of relevant documents ]
the Relevant Documents .
IT IS AGREED as follows:-
(a) Terms defined in the Intercreditor Agreement shall, unless otherwise defined in this Accession Deed, bear the same meaning when used in this paragraph 4.
(b) The Acceding Debtor and the Security Agent agree that the Security Agent shall hold:-
(i) [any Security in respect of liabilities created or expressed to be created pursuant to the Relevant Documents;
(ii) all proceeds of that Security; and]
(iii) all obligations expressed to be undertaken by the Acceding Debtor to pay amounts in respect of the liabilities to the Security Agent as trustee for the Syndicated Finance Parties (in the Relevant Documents or otherwise) and secured by the Transaction Security created in favour of the Security Agent together with all representations and warranties expressed to be given by the Acceding Debtor (in the Relevant Documents or otherwise) in favour of the Security Agent as trustee for the Syndicated Finance Parties,
on trust for the Syndicated Finance Parties on the terms and conditions contained in the Intercreditor Agreement.
(c) The Acceding Debtor confirms that it intends to be party to the Intercreditor Agreement as an Obligor, undertakes to perform all the obligations expressed to be assumed by an Obligor under the Intercreditor Agreement, agrees that it shall be bound by all the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement as if it had been an original party to the Intercreditor Agreement and confirms that it has executed a Deed of Accession (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).
(d) [In consideration of the Acceding Debtor being accepted as an Intra-Group Lender for the purposes of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Acceding Debtor also confirms that it intends to be party to the Intercreditor Agreement as an Intra-Group Lender, undertakes to perform all the obligations expressed in the Intercreditor Agreement to be assumed by an Intra-Group Lender, agrees that it shall be bound by all the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, as if it had been an original party to the Intercreditor Agreement and confirms that it has executed a Deed of Accession (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).]
[4]/[5] This Accession Deed and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.
THIS ACCESSION DEED has been signed on behalf of the Security Agent (for the purposes of paragraph 4 above only), signed on behalf of the Company and executed as a deed by [ Subsidiary ] and is delivered on the date stated above.
[Subsidiary] |
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[EXECUTED AS A DEED |
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) |
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By: [ Subsidiary ]) |
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Director |
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Director/Secretary |
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OR
[EXECUTED AS A DEED |
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By: [ Subsidiary ] |
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Signature of Director |
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Name of Director |
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in the presence of |
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Signature of witness |
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Name of witness |
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Address of witness |
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Occupation of witness] |
The Company
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[ Company ] |
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By:
The Security Agent
[ Full Name of Current Security Agent ]
By:
Date:
FORM OF RESIGNATION LETTER
To: [ ] as Agent
From: [ resigning Obligor ] and [ Company ]
Dated:
Dear Sirs
Sytner Group Limited £150,000,000 Facility Agreement dated 16 December 2011 as amended and restated on 19 December 2014 and as further amendment and restated on 2 April 2015 (the Facility Agreement)
1. We refer to the Facility Agreement. This is a Resignation Letter. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this Resignation Letter unless given a different meaning in this Resignation Letter.
2. Pursuant to [Clause 37.3 ( Resignation of a Borrower )]/[Clause 37.5 ( Resignation of a Guarantor )], we request that [ resigning Obligor ] be released from its obligations as a [Borrower]/[Guarantor] under the Facility Agreement and the Finance Documents (other than the Intercreditor Agreement).
3. We confirm that:-
3.1 no Default is continuing or would result from the acceptance of this request; and
3.2 *[[this request is given in relation to a Third Party Disposal of [ resigning Obligor ];
3.3 [ ]***
4. This Resignation Letter and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it are governed by English law.
[Company] |
[ resigning Obligor ] |
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By: |
By: |
NOTES:
* Insert where resignation only permitted in case of a Third Party Disposal.
** Amend as appropriate, e.g. to reflect agreed procedure for payment of proceeds into a specified account.
*** Insert any other conditions required by the Facility Agreement.
FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
To: [ ] as Agent
From: [ Company ]
Dated:
Dear Sirs
Sytner Group Limited £150,000,000 Facility Agreement dated 16 December 2011 as amended and restated on 19 December 2014 and as further amendment and restated on 2 April 2015 (the Facility Agreement)
1. We refer to the Facility Agreement. This is a Compliance Certificate. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning when used in this Compliance Certificate unless given a different meaning in this Compliance Certificate.
2. We confirm that:-
[Insert details of covenants to be certified].
[We confirm that the ratio of Consolidated Net Borrowings to Consolidated EBITDA is [ ]:1 and that, therefore, the Margin should be [ ]%.]
3. [We confirm that no Default is continuing.]**
4. We confirm that the aggregate of the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (calculated on the same basis as Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in Clause 32 ( Financial Covenants)) and the aggregate gross assets, aggregate net assets and aggregate turnover of the Guarantors (other than the Parent) (calculated on an unconsolidated basis and excluding all intra-group items and investments in Subsidiaries of any member of the Group) exceeds 90% of the Consolidated EBITDA, (as defined in Clause 32 ( Financial Covenants) ) and the consolidated gross assets, consolidated net assets and consolidated turnover of the Group.
Signed |
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Director Of [Company] |
Director of [Company] |
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Signed |
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Director Of [Parent] |
Director of [Parent] |
[ insert applicable certification language ]**
*If this statement cannot be made, the certificate should identify any Default that is continuing and the steps, if any, being taken to remedy it.
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for and on behalf of |
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[ name of the Companys Auditors ](1)*** |
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** To be agreed with the Companys Auditors and the Lenders (only to apply when a Default has occurred and is continuing as per Clause 31.2.3).
*** Only applicable if the Compliance Certificate accompanies the audited financial statements and is to be signed by the Auditors. To be agreed with the Companys auditors prior to signing the Agreement.
SCHEDULE 12
TIMETABLE
Delivery of a duly completed Utilisation Request (Clause 14.1 ( Delivery of a Utilisation Request )) |
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U-1 9.30am |
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Agent notifies the Lenders of the Loan in accordance with Clause 14.4 ( Lenders participation ) |
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U-1 noon |
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LIBOR is fixed |
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Quotation Day as of 11:00 a.m. |
U = date of utilisation.
U - X= X Business Days prior to date of utilisation.
SCHEDULE 13
AGREED SECURITY PRINCIPLES
1. Considerations
In determining what Security will be provided in support of the Facility (and any related hedging arrangements in respect of the types of liabilities and/or risks which the are required to be hedged from time to time) the following matters will be taken into account. Security shall not be created or perfected to the extent that it would:-
1.1 result in any breach of corporate benefit, financial assistance, fraudulent preference or thin capitalisation laws or regulations (or analogous restrictions) of any applicable jurisdiction;
1.2 result in a significant risk to the officers of the relevant grantor of Security of contravention of their fiduciary duties and/or of civil or criminal liability; or
1.3 result in costs that, in the opinion of the Agent, are disproportionate to the benefit obtained by the beneficiaries of that Security.
For the avoidance of doubt, in these Agreed Security Principles, cost includes, but is not limited to, income tax cost, registration taxes payable on the creation or enforcement or for the continuance of any Security, stamp duties, out-of-pocket expenses, and other fees and expenses directly incurred by the relevant grantor of Security or any of its direct or indirect owners, subsidiaries or Affiliates.
2. Obligations to be Secured
2.1 Subject to 1 ( Considerations ) and to paragraph 2.2 below, the obligations to be secured are the Secured Obligations (as defined below). The Security is to be granted in favour of the Security Agent on behalf of each Secured Party.
For ease of reference, the following definitions should, to the extent legally possible, be incorporated into each Transaction Security Document:-
Secured Obligations means all present and future obligations at any time due, owing or incurred by any member of the Group and by each Obligor to any Secured Party under the Finance Documents, both actual and contingent and whether incurred solely or jointly and as principal or surety or in any other capacity.
Secured Parties means the Security Agent, any Receiver or Delegate and each of the Agent, the Arrangers and the other Finance Parties from time to time but, in the case of each Agent, Arranger or other Finance Party, only if it is a party to the Intercreditor Agreement or (in the case of an Agent or any other Finance Party) has acceded to the Intercreditor Agreement, in the appropriate capacity, pursuant to clause 20.3 ( Assignment and transfer of Secured Liabilities ) of the Intercreditor Agreement.
2.2 The secured obligations will be limited:-
2.2.1 to avoid any breach of corporate benefit, financial assistance, fraudulent preference, thin capitalisation rules or the laws or regulations (or analogous restrictions) of any applicable jurisdiction; and
2.2.2 to avoid any risk to officers of the relevant member of the Group that is granting Transaction Security of contravention of their fiduciary duties and/or civil or criminal or personal liability.
3. General
Where appropriate, defined terms in the Transaction Security Documents should mirror those in this Agreement.
The parties to this Agreement agree to negotiate the form of each Transaction Security Document in good faith and will ensure that all documentation required to be entered into as a condition precedent to first drawdown under this Agreement (or immediately thereafter) is in a finally agreed form as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of this Agreement. The form of guarantee is set out in Clause 29 ( Guarantee and Indemnity ) of this Agreement and, with respect to any Additional Guarantor, is subject to any limitations set out in the Accession Deed applicable to such Additional Guarantor.
The Security shall, to the extent possible under local law, be enforceable on the occurrence of an Event of Default which has resulted in the Agent exercising any of its rights under Clauses 34.18.1, 34.18.2, 34.18.4 or 34.18.6 of this Agreement or, having exercised its rights under Clause 34.18.3 or Clause 34.18.5 of this Agreement or first making demand with respect to some or all of the utilisations or amounts outstanding under the Ancillary Facilities.
4. Undertakings/Representations and Warranties
Any representations, warranties or undertakings which are required to be included in any Transaction Security Document shall reflect (to the extent to which the subject matter of such representation, warranty and undertaking is the same as the corresponding representation, warranty and undertaking in this Agreement) the commercial deal set out in this Agreement (save to the extent that Secured Parties local counsel deem it necessary to include any further provisions (or deviate from those contained in this Agreement) in order to protect or preserve the Security granted to the Secured Parties).
FORM OF INCREASE CONFIRMATION
To: [ ] as Agent, [ ] as Security Agent and [ ] as Parent, for and on behalf of each Obligor
From: [the Increase Lender ] (the Increase Lender )
Dated: [ ]
[Parent] - [ ] Senior Facilities Agreement
dated [ ] (the Facilities Agreement)
1. We refer to the Facilities Agreement and to the Intercreditor Agreement (as defined in the Facilities Agreement). This agreement (the Agreement ) shall take effect as an Increase Confirmation for the purpose of the Facilities Agreement. Terms defined in the Facilities Agreement have the same meaning in this Agreement unless given a different meaning in this Agreement.
2. We refer to Clause 11.2 ( Increase ) of the Facilities Agreement.
3. The Increase Lender agrees to assume and will assume all of the obligations corresponding to the Commitment specified in the Schedule (the Relevant Commitment ) as if it was an Original Lender under the Facilities Agreement.
4. The proposed date on which the increase in relation to the Increase Lender and the Relevant Commitment is to take effect (the Increase Date ) is [ ].
5. On the Increase Date, the Increase Lender becomes:-
5.1 party to the relevant Finance Documents (other than the Intercreditor Agreement) as a Lender; and
5.2 party to the Intercreditor Agreement as a Senior Lender.
6. The Facility Office and address, fax number and attention details for notices to the Increase Lender for the purposes of Clause 43.2 ( Addresses ) are set out in the Schedule.
7. The Increase Lender expressly acknowledges the limitations on the Lenders obligations referred to in Clause 11.2.6.
8. The Increase Lender confirms, for the benefit of the Agent and without liability to any Obligor, that it is:-
8.1 [a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender);]
8.2 [a Treaty Lender;]
8.3 [not a Qualifying Lender].**
9. The Increase Lender confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Finance Document is either:-
9.1 a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes; or
9.2 a partnership each member of which is:-
9.2.1 a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or
9.2.2 a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the CTA; or
9.2.3 a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the CTA) of that company.]***
10. The New Lender confirms that it holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number [ ]) and is tax resident in [ ]****, so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from UK withholding tax, and requests that the Borrower notify that it wishes that scheme to apply to the Agreement.
*****
[10/11]. The Increase Lender confirms that it is not a Sponsor Affiliate.
[12/13]. We refer to clause 20.3 ( Assignment and transfer of Secured Liabilities ) of the Intercreditor Agreement and confirm that the Increase Lender has executed a Deed of Accession (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement).
[13/14]. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and this has the same effect as if the signatures on the counterparts were on a single copy of this Agreement.
[14/15]. This Agreement rand any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with it] [is/are] governed by English law.
[15/16]. This Agreement has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this Agreement.
Note: The execution of this Increase Confirmation may not be sufficient for the Increase Lender to obtain the benefit of the Transaction Security in all jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of the Increase Lender to ascertain whether any other documents or other formalities are required to obtain the benefit of the Transaction Security in any jurisdiction and, if so, to arrange for execution of those documents and completion of those formalities.
Notes:
* Only if increase in the Total Commitments.
** Delete as applicable each Increase Lender is required to confirm which of these three categories it falls within.
*** Include only if New Lender is a UK Non-Bank Lender i.e. falls within paragraph (a)(ii) of the definition of Qualifying Lender in Clause 24.1
THE SCHEDULE
RELEVANT COMMITMENT/RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS TO BE ASSUMED BY THE INCREASE LENDER
[ insert relevant details ]
[ Facility office address, fax number and attention details for notices and account details for payments ]
[Increase Lender]
By:
This Agreement is accepted as an Increase Confirmation for the purposes of the Facilities Agreement by the Agent and the Increase Date is confirmed as [ ].
Agent
By:
Security Agent
By:
NOTE:
SCHEDULE 15
FORMS OF NOTIFIABLE DEBT PURCHASE TRANSACTION NOTICE
PART 1
FORM OF NOTICE ON ENTERING INTO NOTIFIABLE DEBT PURCHASE TRANSACTION
To: [ ] as Agent
From: [ The Lender ]
Dated: [ ]
Sytner Group Limited £150,000,000 Facility Agreement dated 16 December 2011 as amended and restated on 19 December 2014 and as further amendment and restated on 2 April 2015 (the Facility Agreement)
1. We refer to Clause 36.2.2 of the Facility Agreement. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this notice unless given a different meaning in this notice.
2. We have entered into a Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction.
3. The Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction referred to in paragraph 2 above relates to the amount of our Commitment(s) as set out below.
Commitment |
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Amount of our Commitment to which Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction relates |
[Lender]
By:
FORM OF NOTICE ON TERMINATION OF NOTIFIABLE DEBT PURCHASE TRANSACTION/NOTIFIABLE DEBT PURCHASE TRANSACTION CEASING TO BE WITH SPONSOR AFFILIATE
To: [ ] as Agent
From: [ The Lender ]
Dated: [ ]
Sytner Group Limited £150,000,000 Facility Agreement dated 16 December 2011 as amended and restated on 19 December 2014 and as further amendment and restated on 2 April 2015 (the Facility Agreement)
1. We refer to Clause 36.2.3 of the Facility Agreement. Terms defined in the Facility Agreement have the same meaning in this notice unless given a different meaning in this notice.
2. A Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction which we entered into and which we notified you of in a notice dated [ ] has (terminated]/[ceased to be with a Sponsor Affiliate]. *
3. The Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction referred to in paragraph 2 above relates to the amount of our Commitment(s) as set out below.
Commitment |
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Amount of our Commitment to which Notifiable Debt Purchase Transaction relates |
[Lender]
By:
* Delete as applicable.
SCHEDULE 16
FRANCHISES
SYTNER BMW/MINI Nottingham |
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GUY SALMON LANDROVER Northampton |
SYTNER BMW/MINI Leicester |
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GUY SALMON LANDROVER Sheffield |
SYTNER BMW/MINI Sheffield |
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GUY SALMON LANDROVER Coventry |
SYTNER BMW/MINI Solihull |
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GUY SALMON LANDROVER Stratford |
SYTNER BMW/MINI Coventry |
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GUY SALMON LANDROVER Knutsford |
SYTNER BMW/MINI City |
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GUY SALMON LANDROVER Wakefield |
SYTNER BMW/MINI High Wycombe |
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GUY SALMON LANDROVER Stockport |
SYTNER BMW/MINI Chigwell |
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TOLLBAR VOLVO Warwick |
SYTNER BMW/MINI Harold Wood |
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AUDI Leeds |
SYTNER BMW/MINI Sunningdale |
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AUDI Wakefield |
SYTNER ROLLS ROYCE Sunningdale |
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AUDI Bradford |
MERCEDES-BENZ OF Bristol |
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AUDI Harrogate |
MERCEDES-BENZ OF WSM |
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AUDI Slough |
MERCEDES-BENZ OF Newbury |
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AUDI Reading |
MERCEDES-BENZ OF Swindon |
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AUDI West London |
MERCEDES-BENZ OF Bath |
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AUDI Victoria |
MERCEDES-BENZ OF Gloucester |
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LEXUS Leicester |
MERCEDES-BENZ OF Milton Keynes |
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LEXUS Bristol |
MERCEDES-BENZ OF Northampton |
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LEXUS Milton Keynes |
MERCEDES-BENZ OF Bedford |
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GRAYPAUL FERRARI/MASERATI Nottingham |
GUY SALMON JAGUAR Thames Ditton |
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GRAYPAUL FERRARI/MASERATI Edinburgh |
GUY SALMON JAGUAR Ascot |
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PORSCHE CENTRE Mid-Sussex |
GUY SALMON JAGUAR Maidstone |
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PORSCHE CENTRE Silverstone |
GUY SALMON LANDROVER Thames Ditton |
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PORSCHE CENTRE Edinburgh |
GUY SALMON LANDROVER Ascot |
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PORSCHE CENTRE Glasgow |
GUY SALMON LANDROVER Maidstone |
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BENTLEY Manchester |
GUY SALMON LANDROVER Portsmouth |
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BENTLEY Birmingham |
HONDA Redhill |
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BENTLEY Edinburgh |
GUY SALMON JAGUAR Coventry |
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MERCEDES-BENZ Newcastle |
GUY SALMON JAGUAR Northampton |
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MERCEDES-BENZ Sunderland |
AUDI Huddersfield |
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MERCEDES-BENZ Carlisle |
VW Huddersfield |
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MERCEDES-BENZ Stockton |
VW Harrogate |
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SYTNER BMW/MINI Birmingham |
VW Leeds |
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SYTNER BMW/MINI Sutton |
VW Skipton |
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SYTNER BMW/MINI Oldbury |
SEAT Huddersfield |
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SYTNER BMW/MINI Cardiff |
AUDI Derby |
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SYTNER BMW/MINI Newport |
FERRARI Birmingham |
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SYTNER BMW/MINI Maidenhead |
FERRARI Egham |
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BENTLEY Leicester |
GUY SALMON LANDROVER Bristol |
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PORSCHE Leicester |
AUDI Nottingham |
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PORSCHE Solihull |
AUDI Leicester |
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HONDA Gatwick |
EXISTING SECURITY DOCUMENTS
NAME OF OBLIGOR |
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DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT |
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PERSONS
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DATE CHARGE
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Rycroft Vehicles Limited |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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20/10/2006 |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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27/02/2007 |
Maranello Concessionaires Limited |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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13/05/2008 |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank Plc |
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31/12/2013 |
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Sytner Limited |
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Charge supplemental to a mortgage debenture dated 19/01/1976 |
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National Westminster Bank plc
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01/03/1988
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Debenture
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BMW Finance (GB) Limited (now known as BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited) |
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11/11/1988
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank Plc |
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Sytner Retail Limited |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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20/10/2006 |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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27/02/2007 |
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Debenture |
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BMW Finance (GB) Limited (now known as BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited) |
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12/01/1988 |
John Fox Limited |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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21/12/2007 |
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Maranello Sales Limited |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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13/05/2008 |
Cruickshank Motors Limited |
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Mortgage Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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12/05/1995 |
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Legal Mortgage |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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30/01/1998 |
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Floating charge over stock |
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Mercedes-Benz Finance Limited |
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29/12/1995 |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank Plc |
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31/12/2012 |
Sytner Automotive Limited (formerly Sytner Coventry Limited) |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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04/01/2006 |
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Deed of Assignment |
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BMW Finance (GB) Limited (now known as BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited) |
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22/07/2002 |
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Sytner Holdings Limited |
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Mortgage Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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31/08/1999 |
R Stratton & Co Limited |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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17/05/2003 |
Sytner Cars Limited |
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Mortgage Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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31/01/1995 |
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Graypaul Motors Limited |
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Mortgage Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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22/09/1995 |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank Plc |
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31/12/2013 |
Goodman Retail Limited |
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Mortgage Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank plc |
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22/12/1995 |
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Debenture |
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National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
31/12/2013 |
Goodman TPS Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
03/07/2009 |
Guy Salmon Limited |
|
Mortgage Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
19/06/1998 |
|
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
31/12/2014 |
Sytner Vehicles Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
23/12/2009 |
Ryland Investments Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
27/02/2007 |
Maranello Holdings Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
13/05/2008 |
William Jacks Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
31/07/2006 |
Mar Parts Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
13/05/2008 |
William Jacks Properties Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
31/07/2006 |
Ryland Group Services Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
27/02/2007 |
Ryland Properties Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
27/02/2007 |
Ryland Group Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
27/02/2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UAG UK Holdings Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
07/05/2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sytner Group Limited |
|
Mortgage Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
31/01/1995 |
|
|
Assignment of Life Policies |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
15/09/1995 |
|
|
Keyman Insurance Assignment |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
29/03/1996 |
|
|
Keyman Insurance Assignment |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
31/08/1999 |
|
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
|
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
Sytner Properties Limited |
|
Legal Mortgage |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
01/10/1998 |
|
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
03/07/2009 |
Rydnal Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
27/02/2007 |
Sandridge Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
25/07/1997 |
Sytner Finance Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
25/07/1997 |
Prophets (Gerrards Cross) Limited |
|
Mortgage debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
31/08/1999 |
Sytner Properties (Grove Park) Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
03/07/2009 |
Sytner Direct Limited |
|
Mortgage Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
16/06/1998 |
|
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
07/05/2003 |
Goodman Derby Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
19/12/2008 |
Sytner Properties (Grove Park) Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
03/07/2009 |
Hallamshire Motor Company Limited |
|
Mortgage Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
30/12/1996 |
Michael Powles Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
19/12/2008 |
Kings Motors Limited |
|
Mortgage Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
25/05/1997 |
Sytner Finance Limited |
|
Mortgage Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
25/071997 |
Prophets (Gerrards Cross) Limited |
|
Mortgage Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
31/08/1999 |
F.W. Mays & Co. Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
31/07/2006 |
Rectory Road Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
16/06/1986 |
Ascot Garage Co. Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank Plc |
|
31/07/2006 |
Isaac Agnew (Holdings) Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
Agnew Retail Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
Agnew Trade Centre Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
Isaac Agnew Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
|
|
Deed of Assignment |
|
BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited |
|
31/12/2014 |
Isaac Agnew (Mallusk) Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
Agnew Corporate Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
|
|
Account Assignment |
|
N.I.I.B. Group Limited |
|
20/03/2013 |
|
|
Master Deed of Assignment |
|
N.I.I.B. Group Limited |
|
20/03/2013 |
Stanley Motor Works (1932) Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
Bavarian Garages (NI) Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
BMW Finance (GB) Limited |
|
14/07/1989 |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
Agnew Commercials Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
I A P C B Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
Trade Parts Specialist (NI) Limited |
|
Debenture |
|
National Westminster Bank plc |
|
24/01/2012 |
SIGNATURES
The Parent
The Obligors
EXECUTED (but not delivered until the date |
) |
|
|||
hereof) AS A DEED by |
) |
/s/ Adam Collinson |
|||
RYLAND GROUP LIMITED |
) |
|
|||
acting by a director in the presence of a |
Director |
||||
witness |
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
Signature of Witness: |
/s/ Helen Lilleyman |
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
||
Name of Witness: |
Helen Lilleyman |
|
|
||
Address: |
2 Penman Way |
|
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||
|
Grove Park |
|
|
||
|
Leicester |
|
|
||
|
LE19 1ST |
|
|
||
Occupation: Personal Assistant |
|
|
|||
The Arranger |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|||
EXECUTED (but not delivered until the date |
|
|
) |
|||
hereof) AS A DEED by |
|
|
) |
|||
as attorney for and on behalf of |
|
|
) |
|||
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC in |
|
|
) /s/ Chris Lewis |
|||
the presence of:- |
|
|
) |
|||
|
|
|
) |
|||
|
|
|
) |
|||
Signature of witness: |
/s/ Aidan Fittis |
|
|
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||
|
|
|
|
|
||
Name of witness: |
Aidan Fittis |
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|||
Address: |
Pinsent Masons LLP |
|
|
|
||
|
3 Colmore Circus |
|
|
|
||
|
Birmingham |
|
|
|
||
|
B4 6BH |
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|||
EXECUTED (but not delivered until the date |
|
|
) |
|||
hereof) AS A DEED by |
|
|
) |
|||
BMW FINANCIAL SERVICES (GB) LIMITED |
|
|
) |
|||
acting by two directors or one director and the |
|
|
) /s/ R.M. Jordan |
|||
secretary |
|
|
)Director |
|||
|
|
|
) |
|||
|
|
|
) /s/ Tobias Essig |
|||
|
|
|
)Director/secretary |
|||
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|||
The Security Agent |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|||
EXECUTED (but not delivered until the date |
|
|
) |
|||
hereof) AS A DEED by |
|
|
) |
|||
as attorney for and on behalf of |
|
|
) /s/ Chris Lewis |
|||
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC in |
|
|
) |
|||
the presence of: |
|
|
) |
|||
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
||||
Signature of witness: |
/s/ Aidan Fittis |
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
Name of witness: |
Aidan Fittis |
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
Address: |
Pinsent Masons LLP |
|
|
|
||
|
3 Colmore Circus |
|
|
|
||
|
Birmingham |
|
|
|
||
|
B4 6BH |
|
|
|
||
EXHIBIT 10.1
EXECUTION VERSION
FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF PENSKE TRUCK LEASING CO., L.P.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 1 |
THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP |
2 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
Formation |
2 |
1.2 |
Certificate of Limited Partnership |
2 |
1.3 |
Name |
3 |
1.4 |
Character of Business |
3 |
1.5 |
Certain Business Policies |
3 |
1.6 |
Principal Offices |
4 |
1.7 |
Fiscal Year |
4 |
1.8 |
Accounting Matters |
4 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 2 |
DEFINITIONS |
4 |
|
|
|
2.1 |
Accepting Partners |
4 |
2.2 |
Act |
5 |
2.3 |
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit |
5 |
2.4 |
Advisory Committee |
5 |
2.5 |
After-Acquired Company |
5 |
2.6 |
Affiliate |
5 |
2.7 |
Affiliate Acquisition |
5 |
2.8 |
After-Acquired Business |
5 |
2.9 |
Agreement |
5 |
2.10 |
Alternative Structure |
6 |
2.11 |
Approved IPO Structure |
6 |
2.12 |
Auditor |
6 |
2.13 |
Bank Regulators |
6 |
2.14 |
Bankruptcy |
6 |
2.15 |
Beneficial Owner or Beneficially Own |
6 |
2.16 |
Bona Fide Lender |
6 |
2.17 |
Business Activities Ancillary |
6 |
2.18 |
Business Day |
6 |
2.19 |
Capital Account |
6 |
2.20 |
Capital Call Conditions |
7 |
2.21 |
Capital Contribution |
8 |
2.22 |
Capital Markets Activity |
8 |
2.23 |
Certificate |
8 |
2.24 |
Change of Control of the Partnership |
8 |
2.25 |
Code |
8 |
2.26 |
Control |
8 |
2.27 |
Conversion Event |
8 |
2.28 |
Corresponding Provision |
8 |
2.29 |
Default Recovery/Remarketing Activities |
9 |
2.30 |
Depreciation |
9 |
2.31 |
De Minimis Business |
9 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
2.32 |
Discretionary Distributions |
9 |
2.33 |
Effective Time |
9 |
2.34 |
Electing Partner |
9 |
2.35 |
Evaluation Material |
9 |
2.36 |
Event of Withdrawal |
9 |
2.37 |
Exchange Act |
9 |
2.38 |
Exercising Partner |
9 |
2.39 |
Existing Business Activities |
10 |
2.40 |
FCPA |
10 |
2.41 |
Final Distributions |
10 |
2.42 |
Financial Services Business |
10 |
2.43 |
Financing |
10 |
2.44 |
First Opportunity |
10 |
2.45 |
Foreclosure |
10 |
2.46 |
GECC |
10 |
2.47 |
GECC Consolidated Group |
10 |
2.48 |
GECC Contingent Liabilities Agreement |
10 |
2.49 |
GE Committee Member |
10 |
2.50 |
GE Logistics Holdco |
10 |
2.51 |
General Partner |
10 |
2.52 |
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles |
11 |
2.53 |
GE Partners |
11 |
2.54 |
GE Priority Amount |
11 |
2.55 |
GE Representative Partner |
11 |
2.56 |
GE Tennessee |
11 |
2.57 |
GE Truck Leasing Holdco |
11 |
2.58 |
Governmental Authority |
11 |
2.59 |
Gross Asset Value |
11 |
2.60 |
Holdings |
12 |
2.61 |
Holdings LLC Agreement |
12 |
2.62 |
Initial Capital Call Deficiency |
12 |
2.63 |
Initiated Offer |
12 |
2.64 |
Insurance |
12 |
2.65 |
Interested Party |
13 |
2.66 |
Investment Company Act |
13 |
2.67 |
IPO |
13 |
2.68 |
IPO Consummation Obligation |
13 |
2.69 |
IPO Demand Notice |
13 |
2.70 |
IPO Notice |
13 |
2.71 |
IPO Rebuttal |
13 |
2.72 |
Issuing Entity |
13 |
2.73 |
Law |
13 |
2.74 |
Leasing |
13 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
2.75 |
Level One Approval |
13 |
2.76 |
Level One Quorum |
13 |
2.77 |
Level Two Approval |
13 |
2.78 |
Level Two Quorum |
14 |
2.79 |
Level Three Approval |
14 |
2.80 |
Level Three Quorum |
14 |
2.81 |
Level Three Triggering Condition |
14 |
2.82 |
Level Four Approval |
14 |
2.83 |
Level Four Quorum |
14 |
2.84 |
Level Four Triggering Condition |
14 |
2.85 |
Lien |
14 |
2.86 |
Limited Partner |
15 |
2.87 |
Majority Limited Partners |
15 |
2.88 |
MBK CV |
15 |
2.89 |
MBK USA CV |
15 |
2.90 |
Member |
15 |
2.91 |
Member Interest |
15 |
2.92 |
Mitsui |
15 |
2.93 |
Mitsui Committee Member |
15 |
2.94 |
Mitsui Consolidated Group |
15 |
2.95 |
Mitsui Co-Obligation Fee, Payment and Security Agreement |
15 |
2.96 |
Mitsui Partner Designee |
15 |
2.97 |
Mitsui Partners |
16 |
2.98 |
Mitsui Pledge |
16 |
2.99 |
Mitsui Pledged Interest |
16 |
2.100 |
Mitsui Priority Amount |
16 |
2.101 |
Mitsui Trainee |
16 |
2.102 |
Net Income |
16 |
2.103 |
Net Losses |
16 |
2.104 |
New Credit Agreement |
16 |
2.105 |
Non-Exercising Partner |
16 |
2.106 |
Non-Issuing Partner |
16 |
2.107 |
Nonrecourse Deductions |
16 |
2.108 |
Nonrecourse Liability |
16 |
2.109 |
Non-Voting Observer |
16 |
2.110 |
Offer |
17 |
2.111 |
Offered Interest |
17 |
2.112 |
Offeree Partners |
17 |
2.113 |
Offering Partner |
17 |
2.114 |
Other Financial Services Activities |
17 |
2.115 |
PAG |
17 |
2.116 |
PAG Consolidated Group |
17 |
2.117 |
PAG Pledge |
17 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
2.118 |
PAG Pledged Interest |
17 |
2.119 |
PAG Security Agreement |
17 |
2.120 |
Parent Company |
17 |
2.121 |
Partner |
17 |
2.122 |
Partner Nonrecourse Debt |
17 |
2.123 |
Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain |
17 |
2.124 |
Partner Nonrecourse Deductions |
18 |
2.125 |
Partnership |
18 |
2.126 |
Partnership Certificate |
18 |
2.127 |
Partnership Group |
18 |
2.128 |
Partnership Interest |
18 |
2.129 |
Partnership Minimum Gain |
18 |
2.130 |
Partnership Registrant |
18 |
2.131 |
Partnership Year |
18 |
2.132 |
Penske Committee Member |
18 |
2.133 |
Penske Corporation |
18 |
2.134 |
Penske Partners |
18 |
2.135 |
Percentage Interest |
18 |
2.136 |
Permitted Intragroup Transferees |
18 |
2.137 |
Person |
19 |
2.138 |
Pooled Vehicle |
19 |
2.139 |
Potential Buyer |
19 |
2.140 |
Preliminary Distribution |
19 |
2.141 |
Prior Agreement |
19 |
2.142 |
Profits and Losses |
19 |
2.143 |
PTL GP |
20 |
2.144 |
PTLC |
20 |
2.145 |
PTLC Beneficiary |
21 |
2.146 |
PTLC Consolidated Group |
21 |
2.147 |
PTLC Security Agreement |
21 |
2.148 |
Purchased Interest |
21 |
2.149 |
Qualified Purchaser |
21 |
2.150 |
Recipient Group |
21 |
2.151 |
Registration Rights Agreement |
21 |
2.152 |
Regulations |
21 |
2.153 |
Regulatory Allocations |
21 |
2.154 |
Remaining Capital Call Deficiency |
21 |
2.155 |
Response Notice |
21 |
2.156 |
Restricted Person |
21 |
2.157 |
Returns |
21 |
2.158 |
Rollins Business |
22 |
2.159 |
Sale |
22 |
2.160 |
Schedule |
22 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
2.161 |
SEC |
22 |
2.162 |
Securities |
22 |
2.163 |
Securities Act |
22 |
2.164 |
Securities Activity |
22 |
2.165 |
Selling Interests |
22 |
2.166 |
Subject Purchaser |
22 |
2.167 |
Subject Year |
22 |
2.168 |
Subject Year To Date |
22 |
2.169 |
Subsidiary |
22 |
2.170 |
Tax Matters Partner |
23 |
2.171 |
Third-Party Proposed Sale |
23 |
2.172 |
Third Tier Built-In Gain |
23 |
2.173 |
TMP Eligible Partner |
23 |
2.174 |
Trade Name and Trademark Agreement |
23 |
2.175 |
Transfer |
23 |
2.176 |
Transfreight Group Companies |
23 |
2.177 |
Triggering Transfer |
23 |
2.178 |
UPREIT Structure |
23 |
2.179 |
Volcker Rule |
23 |
2.180 |
General Provisions |
23 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 3 |
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS |
24 |
|
|
|
3.1 |
Additional Capital Contributions; Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests |
24 |
3.2 |
Capital Contributions and Accounts |
27 |
3.3 |
Negative Capital Accounts |
28 |
3.4 |
Compliance with Treasury Regulations |
28 |
3.5 |
Succession to Capital Accounts |
28 |
3.6 |
No Withdrawal of Capital Contributions |
28 |
3.7 |
No Partnership Certificates |
29 |
3.8 |
Percentage Interests |
29 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 4 |
COSTS AND EXPENSES |
29 |
|
|
|
4.1 |
Operating Costs |
29 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 5 |
DISTRIBUTIONS; PARTNERSHIP ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS |
29 |
|
|
|
5.1 |
Distributions Prior to Dissolution |
29 |
5.2 |
Partnership Allocations |
30 |
5.3 |
Special Allocations |
32 |
5.4 |
Curative Allocations |
34 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
5.5 |
Other Allocation Rules |
35 |
5.6 |
Tax Allocations; Code Section 704(c) |
36 |
5.7 |
Accounting Method |
37 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 6 |
MANAGEMENT |
37 |
|
|
|
6.1 |
Rights and Duties of the Partners |
37 |
6.2 |
Fiduciary Duty of General Partner |
37 |
6.3 |
Powers of General Partner |
37 |
6.4 |
Advisory Committee |
39 |
6.5 |
Restrictions on the Authority of the General Partner |
45 |
6.6 |
Other Activities |
50 |
6.7 |
Transactions with Affiliates |
55 |
6.8 |
Mitsui Participation Rights |
56 |
6.9 |
Exculpation |
56 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 7 |
COMPENSATION |
57 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 8 |
ACCOUNTS |
57 |
|
|
|
8.1 |
Books and Records |
57 |
8.2 |
Reports, Returns and Audits |
57 |
8.3 |
Review Rights |
60 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 9 |
TRANSFERS AND SALES |
60 |
|
|
|
9.1 |
Transfer of Interests of General Partner and PTLC Consolidated Group |
60 |
9.2 |
Transfer or Sale of Limited Partner Interests |
61 |
9.3 |
Right of First Offer |
62 |
9.4 |
Certain Changes of Control |
66 |
9.5 |
Certain General Provisions |
69 |
9.6 |
Allocation of Profits, Losses and Distributions Subsequent to Sale |
70 |
9.7 |
Death, Incompetence, Bankruptcy, Liquidation or Withdrawal of a Limited Partner |
70 |
9.8 |
Satisfactory Written Assignment Required |
71 |
9.9 |
Transferees Rights |
71 |
9.10 |
Transferees Admitted as Partners |
71 |
9.11 |
Change of Control Rights |
71 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 10 |
EXIT/ IPO RIGHT |
72 |
|
|
|
10.1 |
IPO Notice |
72 |
10.2 |
Partnership Restructuring in connection with IPO |
74 |
10.3 |
IPO Alternative |
74 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 11 |
DISSOLUTION |
75 |
|
|
|
11.1 |
Events of Dissolution |
75 |
11.2 |
Final Accounting |
75 |
11.3 |
Liquidation |
75 |
11.4 |
Cancellation of Certificate |
76 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 12 |
INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS |
76 |
|
|
|
12.1 |
Investment Purpose |
76 |
12.2 |
Investment Restriction |
76 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 13 |
NOTICES |
76 |
|
|
|
13.1 |
Method of Notice |
76 |
13.2 |
Computation of Time |
80 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 14 |
GENERAL PROVISIONS |
80 |
|
|
|
14.1 |
Entire Agreement |
80 |
14.2 |
Amendment; Waiver |
80 |
14.3 |
Governing Law |
80 |
14.4 |
Binding Effect |
81 |
14.5 |
Separability |
81 |
14.6 |
Headings |
81 |
14.7 |
No Third-Party Rights |
81 |
14.8 |
Waiver of Partition |
81 |
14.9 |
Nature of Interests |
81 |
14.10 |
Counterpart Execution |
81 |
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE A Partners and Percentage Interests
SCHEDULE B Current Members of Advisory Committee
FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
OF
PENSKE TRUCK LEASING CO., L.P.
THIS FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP is entered into this 18th day of March, 2015, and effective as of the Effective Time, by and among Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, a Delaware corporation with its offices at 2675 Morgantown Road, Reading, Pennsylvania 19607 (as further defined below, PTLC ), PTL GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, formerly known as LJ VP, LLC, with its offices at 2675 Morgantown Road, Reading, Pennsylvania 19607 (as further defined below, PTL GP ), Penske Automotive Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its offices at 2555 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302 (as further defined below, PAG ), GE Capital Truck Leasing Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation with its offices at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808 (as further defined below, GE Truck Leasing Holdco ), Logistics Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation with its offices at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808 (as further defined below, GE Logistics Holdco ), General Electric Credit Corporation of Tennessee, a Tennessee corporation with its offices at 2 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814 (as further defined below, GE Tennessee ), and MBK Commercial Vehicles Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its offices at Nippon Life Marunouchi Garden Tower, 1-3 Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan (as further defined below, MBK CV ), and MBK USA Commercial Vehicles Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its offices at Nippon Life Marunouchi Garden Tower, 1-3 Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan (as further defined below, MBK USA CV ).
WITNESSETH :
WHEREAS, a limited partnership was heretofore formed in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (6 Del . C . §17-101, et seq .) (as amended from time to time and any successor to such Act, the Act ) under the name Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. pursuant to an agreement of limited partnership dated July 18, 1988 (the Partnership );
WHEREAS, the agreement of limited partnership of the Partnership was amended and restated in its entirety by the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated August 10, 1988, and thereafter and heretofore was amended or amended and restated from time to time, most recently by an amendment and restatement in its entirety known as the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated April 30, 2012, as amended by an Amendment No.1 dated as of March 17, 2015 (the Fourth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement ), by and among the parties hereto and their predecessors (other than the Mitsui Partners); and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to recognize the admission of MBK CV and MBK USA CV as limited partners and to amend and restate the Fourth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement in its entirety as hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree that the Fourth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety by this Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership and, as so amended and restated hereby, shall read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE 1
THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
1.1 Formation .
(a) The parties hereto other than the Mitsui Partners have heretofore been admitted to the Partnership as general partner or limited partners of the Partnership, as applicable, and the Partnership shall engage in the business hereinafter described for the period and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
(b) As of the Effective Time, the Mitsui Partners are being admitted to the Partnership as limited partners in the Partnership.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, PTL GP shall be the general partner in the Partnership. If any Conversion Event occurs, then at such time (A) PTL GPs Partnership Interest (or in the case of a Sale of a portion of such Partnership Interest, the portion thereof being Sold) will automatically convert from a Partnership Interest as a general partner in the Partnership to a Partnership Interest as a limited partner in the Partnership (at the same Percentage Interest) and, subject to the further conditions relating to Transfers under this Agreement, the transferee in such Sale or, if there is no such transferee, PTL GP, shall be admitted as a Limited Partner and (B) if such conversion would otherwise result in there being no General Partner, then, effective immediately prior to such conversion, the Partnership Interest held by the then Managing Member of Holdings will automatically convert from a Partnership Interest as a limited partner in the Partnership to a Partnership Interest as a general partner in the Partnership and the then Managing Member of Holdings shall be automatically admitted to the Partnership as a General Partner and shall continue the Partnership without dissolution.
1.2 Certificate of Limited Partnership . PTLC has previously executed and caused to be filed (a) a Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 18, 1988, (b) a Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 21, 1988, and (c) a Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 20, 2002 (such Certificate of Limited Partnership, together with and as amended by such Certificates of Amendment, is hereinafter collectively referred to as the
Certificate ). The General Partner shall execute such further documents (including any additional amendments to the Certificate to reflect the occurrence of the transactions contemplated by Section 1.1) and take such further action as shall be appropriate to comply with all requirements of Law for the formation and operation of a limited partnership in the State of Delaware and all other jurisdictions where the Partnership may elect to do business.
1.3 Name . The name of the Partnership is Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. Subject to the provisions of Subsection 6.5(e)(i), the General Partner may change the name of the Partnership or cause the business of the Partnership to be conducted under any other name (other than any name including the term General Electric, GE, Mitsui or derivatives thereof) and, in any such event, the General Partner shall notify the Limited Partners of such name change within thirty (30) days thereafter.
1.4 Character of Business . The business of the Partnership shall be (i) the rental leasing and servicing (including the provision of fuel) of tractors, trailers and trucks to third-party users, and the sale of such tractors, trailers and trucks used in the business of the Partnership, (ii) acting as a dedicated contract motor carrier, (iii) the provision of other third-party logistics services such as distribution center management, transportation management, managing and optimizing enterprises logistics networks, and providing supply chain consulting services, (iv) conducting Business Activities Ancillary to the businesses set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), and (v) such other activities and business as may be lawfully conducted by a limited partnership formed under the Laws of the State of Delaware. Business Activities Ancillary to a specified business shall mean business activities that are not conducted as a separate profitable business offering and comprise not more than five percent (5%) of the value measured by the net profit of the business activities of the specified business. The Partnership shall have and exercise all the powers now or hereafter conferred by the Laws of the State of Delaware on limited partnerships formed under the Laws of that State, and to do any and all things as fully as natural persons might or could do as are not prohibited by Law in furtherance of the aforesaid business of the Partnership. The business of the Partnership shall be conducted in accordance with, and any action required or permitted to be taken by the General Partner or any Limited Partner shall be taken in compliance with, all applicable Laws.
1.5 Certain Business Policies . The Partnership adopted prior to the Effective Time, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as then in effect, and maintains policies with respect to requirements of environmental Laws, antitrust Laws, anti-corruption Laws, anti-bribery Laws, Laws relating to contracts with Governmental Authorities, insider trading and ethical business practices. The Partnership shall conduct its business in accordance with such policies, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with Subsection 6.5(c)(ii). The Partnership shall (i) notify the members of the Advisory Committee promptly upon becoming aware of any violation by any member of the Partnership Group of any anti-corruption, anti-bribery or similar Laws, including the FCPA, (ii) promptly provide the members of the Advisory Committee with information regarding any such violation upon request therefor, and (iii) permit any member of the Advisory Committee not the target of the violation to examine the relevant books and records of the Partnership Group and interview relevant personnel of the Partnership Group, in each case regarding any such violation; provided , that with respect to the procedures in clause (ii) and (iii) of this Section 1.5, such procedures shall be implemented in such a manner to safeguard, to the greatest extent
reasonably practical, the attorney-client and attorney work product privileges applicable to the Partnership and/or its Partners (including by entering into a joint defense, common interest or similar agreement).
1.6 Principal Offices . The location of the principal offices of the Partnership shall be at 2675 Morgantown Road, Reading, Pennsylvania 19607, or at such other location as may be selected from time to time by the General Partner. If the General Partner changes the location of the principal offices of the Partnership, the Limited Partners shall be notified in writing within thirty (30) days thereafter. The Partnership may maintain such other offices at such other places as the General Partner deems advisable.
1.7 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Partnership shall be the calendar year (the Partnership Year ).
1.8 Accounting Matters . Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applied on a consistent basis with prior periods, except, in the case of such financial statements, for departures from Generally Accepted Accounting Principles that may from time to time be approved in writing by the Partners and the Auditor who is at the time reporting on such financial statements. In the event that any Accounting Change (as defined below) shall occur and such change results in a change in the method of calculation of permitted distributions, standards or other terms in this Agreement, then the General Partner agrees to enter into negotiations with the other Partners in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to reflect equitably such Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for permitting distributions and other matters shall have the same economic effect after such Accounting Changes as if such Accounting Changes had not been made. Until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by the Partners, all such permitted distributions and other matters in this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such Accounting Changes had not occurred. Accounting Changes refers to changes in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any final rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or any successor organization or, if applicable, the SEC.
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS
The following defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings specified below.
2.1 Accepting Partners . Accepting Partners shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.3(e).
2.2 Act . Act shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first Whereas clause hereof as amended and in effect from time to time, or the corresponding provisions of any successor statute.
2.3 Adjusted Capital Account Deficit . Adjusted Capital Account Deficit shall mean, with respect to any Limited Partner, the deficit balance, if any, in such Partners Capital Account as of the end of the relevant taxable year or other period after giving effect to the following adjustments:
(i) Credit to such Capital Account any amounts that such Partner is obligated to restore (pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) or deemed obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and
(ii) Debit to such Capital Account the items described in Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704- 1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6).
The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
2.4 Advisory Committee . Advisory Committee shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.4(a).
2.5 After-Acquired Company . After-Acquired Company shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(h).
2.6 Affiliate . Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that, at the time of determination, (i) directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with, such specified Person, (ii) beneficially owns or Controls ten percent (10%) or more of any class or series of outstanding voting securities of such specified Person, (iii) is a managing member, manager or general partner of such specified Person, or (iv) is an officer, director, managing member, manager or general partner of any of the foregoing.
2.7 Affiliate Acquisition . Affiliate Acquisition means any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which (directly or indirectly) the Partnership Group acquires any equity interests, securities, assets, properties or rights from any Partner or any Affiliate of any Partner (including in a purchase, merger or consolidation) or in respect of which any Partner or any Affiliate of any Partner is entitled to receive consideration.
2.8 After-Acquired Business . After-Acquired Business shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(h).
2.9 Agreement . This Agreement shall refer to this Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, including the Schedules hereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.10 Alternative Structure . Alternative Structure or Alternative Structures shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 10.1(b).
2.11 Approved IPO Structure . Approved IPO Structure shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 10.1(f).
2.12 Auditor . Auditor shall mean Deloitte LLP or any successor firm of independent auditors selected pursuant to Subsection 6.4(g).
2.13 Bank Regulators . Bank Regulators shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.4(i).
2.14 Bankruptcy . The Bankruptcy of a Partner shall mean (i) the filing by a Partner of a voluntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment, in any form, of its debts under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other federal or state insolvency Law, or a Partners filing an answer consenting to or acquiescing in any such petition, (ii) the making by a Partner of any assignment for the benefit of its creditors or (iii) the expiration of sixty (60) days after the filing of an involuntary petition under Title 11 of the United States Code, an application for the appointment of a receiver for the assets of a Partner, or an involuntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment of its debts under any other federal or state insolvency Law, provided that the same shall not have been vacated, set aside or stayed within such sixty (60)-day period.
2.15 Beneficial Owner or Beneficially Own . Beneficial Owner or Beneficially Own shall have the meaning given in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and a Persons beneficial ownership of securities of any Person will be calculated in accordance with the provisions of that Rule.
2.16 Bona Fide Lender . Bona Fide Lender shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.2(f).
2.17 Business Activities Ancillary . Business Activities Ancillary shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 1.4.
2.18 Business Day . Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or other day that commercial banks are required or permitted to be closed in New York City or Tokyo, Japan.
2.19 Capital Account . Capital Account shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the Capital Account maintained for such Partner in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) To each Partners Capital Account there shall be credited such Partners Capital Contributions, such Partners distributive share of Profits and any items in the nature of income or gain that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.3 or Section 5.4, and the amount of any Partnership liabilities assumed by such Partner or that are secured by any Partnership property distributed to such Partner;
(ii) To each Partners Capital Account there shall be debited the amount of cash and the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership property distributed to such Partner pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, such Partners distributive share of Losses and any items in the nature of expenses or losses that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.3 or Section 5.4, and the amount of any liabilities of such Partner assumed by the Partnership or that are secured by any property contributed by such Partner to the Partnership.
(iii) In the event all or a portion of an interest in the Partnership is Transferred, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including Section 9.4), the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest.
(iv) In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of subparagraphs (i) and (ii) and the definition of Capital Contribution, there shall be taken into account Code Section 752(c) and any other applicable provisions of the Code and Regulations.
2.20 Capital Call Conditions . Capital Call Conditions shall mean, collectively, the following conditions:
(i) the General Partner shall have determined that the Partnership requires additional equity capital to maintain any minimum investment grade corporate, unsecured, long-term debt rating for the Partnership on a stand-alone basis ( i.e. , to avoid any non-investment grade rating); and
(ii) the General Partner shall have determined to make a capital call that satisfies each of the following conditions, with the approval of the Advisory Committee (acting reasonably and in good faith) pursuant to Subsection 6.5(f)(v):
(iii) (A) the net proceeds of such capital call do not exceed the amount reasonably required to maintain such minimum investment grade corporate, unsecured, long-term debt rating ( i.e. , to avoid any non-investment grade rating) for the Partnership on a stand-alone basis;
(iv) (B) such capital call is made, solely for cash in U.S. dollars and at a price based upon the fair market value of 100% of the Partnership Interests adjusted for limited (non-controlling) Partnership Interests (as determined by the Advisory Committee following its receipt of valuation guidance from an independent third party financial advisor of nationally recognized standing to the Partnership, and taking into account such factors as, among other things, the consolidated financial statements of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, current forecasts of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries prepared in a manner consistent with past practice, the results of operations of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, the current financial condition of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, the profitability of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries and the then-current market conditions);
(v) (C) such capital call is, except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 3.1, made pro rata among all of the Partners (in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests); and
(vi) (D) no amendment, supplement or modification of any kind shall be made to this Agreement in connection with such capital call or the consummation thereof (other than to adjust Capital Accounts of the Partners, to adjust the Percentage Interests of the Partners in accordance with Subsection 3.1(d) (as applicable) and (if applicable) to admit any new purchaser of limited Partnership Interests with respect to such capital call in accordance with Subsection 3.1(f)(ii) (if applicable) as a Limited Partner).
2.21 Capital Contribution . Capital Contribution shall mean, with respect to any Partner, the amount of money and the initial Gross Asset Value of any property (other than money) contributed to the Partnership by such Partner (or its predecessors in interest) with respect to the Partnership Interest held by such Partner.
2.22 Capital Markets Activity . Capital Markets Activity shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(j).
2.23 Certificate . Certificate shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.2.
2.24 Change of Control of the Partnership . Change of Control of the Partnership shall mean (i) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of one or more members of the Partnership Group which collectively own, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Partnership Groups assets with or into another entity (whether or not it is the surviving entity) that is not the Partnership or a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership; or (ii) the Sale of all or substantially all of the Partnership Groups assets (whether by sale of assets, capital stock or otherwise) in one or a series of related transactions.
2.25 Code . Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, or the corresponding provisions of any successor statute.
2.26 Control . Control (including the correlative terms Controlling , Controlled by and under common Control with ) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
2.27 Conversion Event . Conversion Event shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i) the Sale in accordance with this Agreement or the Holdings LLC Agreement of all or any portion of PTL GPs Partnership Interest; (ii) the dissolution of Holdings pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Holdings LLC Agreement; (iii) the dissolution of PTL GP pursuant to Section 15 of the PTL GP LLC Agreement or the Bankruptcy of PTL GP; and (iv) while PTL GP then holds a Partnership Interest (as a general partner), the Managing Member of Holdings ceases to be PTLC or a Controlled Affiliate of PTLC other than as a result of a Bankruptcy of PTLC (or any permitted successor to its Member Interest as the Managing Member of Holdings).
2.28 Corresponding Provision . Corresponding Provision shall mean the provision in a Prior Agreement, if any, that corresponds to a given provision in this Agreement.
2.29 Default Recovery/Remarketing Activities . Default Recovery/Remarketing Activities shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(j).
2.30 Depreciation . Depreciation shall mean, for each taxable year or portion of a taxable year for which the Partnership is required to allocate Profits, Losses, or other items pursuant to Article 5 or the Corresponding Provision of any Prior Agreement, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes with respect to an asset for such year or other period, except that (i) with respect to any asset whose Gross Asset Value differs from its adjusted tax basis for federal income tax purposes and which difference is being eliminated by use of the remedial allocation method defined by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d), Depreciation for such taxable year or portion of a taxable year shall be the amount of the book basis recovered for such taxable year or portion of a taxable year under the rules prescribed in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2) (notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Subsection 5.6(c) or the Corresponding Provision of any Prior Agreement) and (ii) with respect to any other asset whose Gross Asset Value differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year or other period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided , however , that if the adjusted tax basis of an asset at the beginning of such taxable year or portion of a taxable year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method agreed upon by the Partners.
2.31 De Minimis Business . De Minimis Business shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(j).
2.32 Discretionary Distributions . Discretionary Distributions shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 5.1(c).
2.33 Effective Time . Effective Time shall mean the close of the Partnerships business on the date of this Agreement.
2.34 Electing Partner . Electing Partner shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 3.1(c)(ii).
2.35 Evaluation Material . Evaluation Material shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.4(i).
2.36 Event of Withdrawal . Event of Withdrawal shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 11.1(b).
2.37 Exchange Act . Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time, or the corresponding provisions of any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.38 Exercising Partner . Exercising Partner shall mean the GE Representative Partner or PTLC (excluding any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof), either of whom may deliver an IPO Notice.
2.39 Existing Business Activities . Existing Business Activities shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(j).
2.40 FCPA . FCPA shall mean the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended and in effect from time to time, or the corresponding provisions of any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.41 Final Distributions . Final Distributions shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 5.1(b).
2.42 Financial Services Business . Financial Services Business shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(j).
2.43 Financing . Financing shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(j).
2.44 First Opportunity . First Opportunity shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(h).
2.45 Foreclosure . Foreclosure shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.2(f).
2.46 GECC . GECC shall mean General Electric Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
2.47 GECC Consolidated Group . GECC Consolidated Group shall mean the consolidated group, determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, of which GECC is the common parent.
2.48 GECC Contingent Liabilities Agreement . GECC Contingent Liabilities Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated Contingent Liabilities Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2012, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.49 GE Committee Member . GE Committee Member shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.4(a).
2.50 GE Logistics Holdco . GE Logistics Holdco shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first Paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.51 General Partner . General Partner shall mean PTL GP until such time as PTL GP is replaced or substituted in accordance with the terms of Section 1.1(c) or Section 11.1(b) of this Agreement, each in its capacity as the general partner in the Partnership and with respect to its Partnership Interest as a general partner in the Partnership.
2.52 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles . Generally Accepted Accounting Principles shall refer to generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America.
2.53 GE Partners . GE Partners shall mean GE Truck Leasing Holdco, GE Logistics Holdco and GE Tennessee and any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.54 GE Priority Amount . GE Priority Amount shall mean the result of (x) 49.9% of $700,000,000 minus (y) the Mitsui Priority Amount.
2.55 GE Representative Partner . GE Representative Partner shall mean (i) GE Truck Leasing Holdco or such other Partner as designated by the then existing GE Partners, or (ii) any permitted successor or permitted assignee to which a GE Partner has Sold its right to designate or replace the GE Representative Partner pursuant to Subsection 9.5(d) (and any permitted successor or permitted assignee thereof) or such other Partner as designated thereby.
2.56 GE Tennessee . GE Tennessee shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first Paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.57 GE Truck Leasing Holdco . GE Truck Leasing Holdco shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first Paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.58 Governmental Authority . Governmental Authority shall mean any (i) U.S., foreign, federal, state, local or other government, (ii) governmental commission, board, body, bureau, agency, department or other judicial, regulatory or administrative authority of any nature, including courts, tribunals and other judicial bodies, (iii) any self-regulatory body or authority, and (iv) any instrumentality or entity designed to act for or on behalf of the foregoing in exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.
2.59 Gross Asset Value . Gross Asset Value shall mean, with respect to any asset, the assets adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes except as follows:
(1) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Partner to the Partnership shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as agreed to by the General Partner and the Contributing Partner at the time of such contribution, provided that, if the contributing Partner is the General Partner or an Affiliate of the General Partner, the gross fair market value of such asset must be approved by the Majority Limited Partners and the GE Representative Partner;
(2) The Gross Asset Values of all Partnership assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values, as proposed by the General Partner and approved by the Majority Limited Partners and the GE Representative Partner, as of the following times: (a) the acquisition of an additional interest in the Partnership by any new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount of property as consideration
for a Partnership Interest; (c) the liquidation of the Partnership within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); and (d) in connection with the grant of an interest in the Partnership (other than a de minimis interest) as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Partnership by an existing Partner acting in a partner capacity, or by a new Partner acting in a partner capacity in anticipation of being a Partner; provided, however, that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) and (d) above shall be made only if the General Partner reasonably determines that such adjustments are necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Partners in the Partnership;
(3) The Gross Asset Value of any Partnership asset distributed to any Partner shall be adjusted to equal the gross fair market value of such asset on the date of distribution as determined by the distributee and the General Partner, provided that, if the distributee is the General Partner or an Affiliate of the General Partner, the determination of the fair market value of the distributed asset shall require the approval of the Majority Limited Partners and the GE Representative Partner; and
(4) The Gross Asset Values of Partnership assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Section 743(b) but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to (a) Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and (b) subparagraph (vi) of the definition of Profits and Losses in Subsection 2.142 or Subsection 5.3(g), provided, however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (4) to the extent the General Partner determines that an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (2) is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (4).
If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to Subsections 2.59(1), (2), or (4) hereof or the Corresponding Provision of any Prior Agreement, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.
2.60 Holdings . Holdings shall mean LJ VP Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the sole member of PTL GP.
2.61 Holdings LLC Agreement . Holdings LLC Agreement shall mean that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Holdings, dated as of March 17, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.62 Initial Capital Call Deficiency . Initial Capital Call Deficiency shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 3.1(c).
2.63 Initiated Offer . Initiated Offer shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.3(c).
2.64 Insurance . Insurance shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(j).
2.65 Interested Party . Interested Party shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(a).
2.66 Investment Company Act . Investment Company Act shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
2.67 IPO . IPO shall mean the initial public offering limit to common equity securities involving the Partnership Registrant.
2.68 IPO Consummation Obligation . IPO Consummation Obligation shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 10.1(c).
2.69 IPO Demand Notice . IPO Demand Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 10.1(b).
2.70 IPO Notice . IPO Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 10.1(a).
2.71 IPO Rebuttal . IPO Rebuttal shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 10.1(b).
2.72 Issuing Entity . Issuing Entity shall mean any entity formed to be the issuer in the IPO.
2.73 Law . Law shall mean any applicable foreign or domestic, federal, state or local statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, order, judgment, decree, injunction or requirement of any Governmental Authority or any arbitration tribunal.
2.74 Leasing . Leasing shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(j).
2.75 Level One Approval . Level One Approval shall mean the approval (which may be by resolution adopted at a duly convened meeting) of at least four (4) members of the Advisory Committee (including the GE Committee Member designated by the GE Representative Partner and the Mitsui Committee Member designated by MBK CV) given at a duly called meeting of the Advisory Committee at which a Level One Quorum was present, or by written resolution in accordance with Subsection 6.4(c).
2.76 Level One Quorum . Level One Quorum shall mean the presence (in person or by telephonic communication or other means in accordance with Subsection 6.4(c)) of at least four (4) members of the Advisory Committee (including the GE Committee Member designated by the GE Representative Partner and the Mitsui Committee Member designated by MBK CV).
2.77 Level Two Approval . Level Two Approval shall mean the approval (which may be by resolution adopted at a duly convened meeting) of at least two (2) Penske Committee Members and the GE Committee Member designated by the GE Representative
Partner given at a duly called meeting of the Advisory Committee at which a Level Two Quorum was present, or by written resolution in accordance with Subsection 6.4(c).
2.78 Level Two Quorum . Level Two Quorum shall mean the presence (in person or by telephonic communication or other means in accordance with Subsection 6.4(c)) of at least three (3) members of the Advisory Committee (including the GE Committee Member designated by the GE Representative Partner).
2.79 Level Three Approval . Level Three Approval shall mean the approval (which may be by resolution adopted at a duly convened meeting) of at least two (2) Penske Committee Members and either the GE Committee Member designated by the GE Representative Partner (so long as the GE Representative Partner and its Affiliates collectively own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest) or the Mitsui Committee Member designated by MBK CV (so long as the Mitsui Partners, collectively, own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest) given at a duly called meeting of the Advisory Committee at which a Level Three Quorum was present, or by written resolution in accordance with Subsection 6.4(c).
2.80 Level Three Quorum . Level Three Quorum shall mean the presence (in person or by telephonic communication or other means in accordance with Subsection 6.4(c)) of at least three (3) members of the Advisory Committee (including the GE Committee Member designated by the GE Representative Partner (so long as the GE Representative Partner and its Affiliates collectively own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest) or the Mitsui Committee Member designated by MBK CV (so long as the Mitsui Partners, collectively, own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest).
2.81 Level Three Triggering Condition . Level Three Triggering Condition shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.5(d).
2.82 Level Four Approval . Level Four Approval shall mean the approval (which may be by resolution adopted at a duly convened meeting) of at least three (3) members of the Advisory Committee given at a duly called meeting of the Advisory Committee at which a Level Four Quorum was present, or by written resolution in accordance with Subsection 6.4(c).
2.83 Level Four Quorum . Level Four Quorum shall mean the presence (in person or by telephonic communication or other means in accordance with Subsection 6.4(c)) of at least three (3) members of the Advisory Committee.
2.84 Level Four Triggering Condition . Level Four Triggering Condition shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.5(d).
2.85 Lien . Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing); provided , however , that Liens shall not include contracts entered into by the Partnership to lease, rent or otherwise permit the utilization of the Partnerships assets in
the ordinary course of business, unless such contracts are entered into in connection with the incurrence of indebtedness by the Partnership or its Subsidiaries.
2.86 Limited Partner . Limited Partner shall mean (i) as of the Effective Time, GE Tennessee, PTLC, PAG, GE Truck Leasing Holdco, GE Logistics Holdco, MBK CV and MBK USA CV and (ii) after the Effective Time, the Persons set forth in the foregoing clause (i) and such other Persons as may be admitted from time to time as limited partners in the Partnership in accordance with this Agreement, each in its capacity as a Limited Partner; provided, however, that the term Limited Partner at any given time shall not include (A) such Persons that cease to be limited partners as provided in Article 9, or (B) PTLC if it becomes the general partner in the Partnership pursuant to Subsection 1.1(c), but only with respect to its Partnership Interest as the general partner in the Partnership.
2.87 Majority Limited Partners . Majority Limited Partners shall mean, at any given time, Limited Partners (other than PTLC and its Affiliates, which for the preclusion of doubt includes as of the Effective Time PAG and will continue to include PAG as long as it is an Affiliate of PTLC) who then hold a majority of limited partner interests in the Partnership (exclusive of any limited partner interest in the Partnership then held by PTLC and its Affiliates).
2.88 MBK CV . MBK CV shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first Paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.89 MBK USA CV . MBK USA CV shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first Paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.90 Member . Member shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Holdings LLC Agreement.
2.91 Member Interest . Member Interest shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Holdings LLC Agreement.
2.92 Mitsui . Mitsui shall mean Mitsui & Co., Ltd., a Japanese company.
2.93 Mitsui Committee Member . Mitsui Committee Member shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.4(a).
2.94 Mitsui Consolidated Group . Mitsui Consolidated Group shall mean the consolidated group, determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, of which Mitsui is the common parent.
2.95 Mitsui Co-Obligation Fee, Payment and Security Agreement . Mitsui Co-Obligation Fee, Payment and Security Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.2(g).
2.96 Mitsui Partner Designee . Mitsui Partner Designee shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.8(a).
2.97 Mitsui Partners . Mitsui Partners shall mean MBK CV and MBK USA CV and any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.98 Mitsui Pledge . Mitsui Pledge shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.2(g).
2.99 Mitsui Pledged Interest . Mitsui Pledged Interest shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.2(g).
2.100 Mitsui Priority Amount . Mitsui Priority Amount shall mean the Purchase Indemnity Amount under (and as defined in) that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among GE Logistics Holdco, GE Capital Memco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, GECC, MBK CV and MBK USA CV.
2.101 Mitsui Trainee . Mitsui Trainee shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.8(b).
2.102 Net Income . Net Income shall mean, for any period, the consolidated net income of the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; provided , however , (i) any positive or negative currency transaction adjustments will be excluded from the determination of Net Income to the extent such adjustments do not require an adjustment to the Partnerships equity and (ii) goodwill impairment charges will be excluded from the determination of Net Income.
2.103 Net Losses . Net Losses shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.3(i).
2.104 New Credit Agreement . New Credit Agreement shall mean the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2015, by and among the Partnership, PTL Finance Corporation, the subsidiary borrowers and the several lenders from time to time parties thereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.105 Non-Exercising Partner . Non-Exercising Partner shall mean the GE Representative Partner or PTLC (excluding any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof), whichever did not deliver an IPO Notice, as the case may be.
2.106 Non-Issuing Partner . Non-Issuing Partner shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.4(i).
2.107 Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions shall have the meaning set forth in Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(1) and 1.704-2(c).
2.108 Nonrecourse Liability . Nonrecourse Liability shall have the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3).
2.109 Non-Voting Observer . Non-Voting Observer shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.4(j).
2.110 Offer . Offer shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.3(c).
2.111 Offered Interest . Offered Interest shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.3(c).
2.112 Offeree Partners . Offeree Partners shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.3(c).
2.113 Offering Partner . Offering Partner shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.3(c).
2.114 Other Financial Services Activities . Other Financial Services Activities shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(j).
2.115 PAG . PAG shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first Paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.116 PAG Consolidated Group . PAG Consolidated Group shall mean a consolidated group, determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, of which PAG is the common parent.
2.117 PAG Pledge . PAG Pledge shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.2(f).
2.118 PAG Pledged Interest . PAG Pledged Interest shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.2(f).
2.119 PAG Security Agreement . PAG Security Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated PAG Co-Obligation Fee, Indemnity and Security Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.120 Parent Company . Parent Company shall mean, in the case of a GE Partner, GECC, in the case of a Penske Partner, Penske Corporation, and in the case of the Mitsui Partners, Mitsui. The Parent Company of PAG shall be Penske Corporation for so long as PAG is Controlled by Penske Corporation.
2.121 Partner . Partner shall mean the General Partner or a Limited Partner.
2.122 Partner Nonrecourse Debt . Partner Nonrecourse Debt shall have the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
2.123 Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain . Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain shall mean an amount, with respect to each Partner Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Partnership Minimum Gain that would result if such Partner Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3) relating to partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain.
2.124 Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Partner Nonrecourse Deductions shall have the meaning set forth in Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(2).
2.125 Partnership . Partnership shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in in the first Whereas clause hereof.
2.126 Partnership Certificate . Partnership Certificate shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.7.
2.127 Partnership Group . Partnership Group shall mean, individually or in the aggregate, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries.
2.128 Partnership Interest . Partnership Interest shall refer, with respect to a given Partner as of a given date, to such Partners interest as a general partner of the Partnership (if any) and such Partners interest as a limited partner of the Partnership (if any), in each case as of such date, including any and all benefits to which the holder of such an interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Partner to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
2.129 Partnership Minimum Gain . Partnership Minimum Gain shall have the meaning set forth in Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
2.130 Partnership Registrant . Partnership Registrant shall mean the Partnership or the Issuing Entity that is the issuer in the IPO, as the case may be.
2.131 Partnership Year . Partnership Year shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.7.
2.132 Penske Committee Member . Penske Committee Member shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.4(a).
2.133 Penske Corporation . Penske Corporation shall mean Penske Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
2.134 Penske Partners . Penske Partners shall mean (i) PTLC, (ii) PTL GP until the date, if any, that PTL GP ceases to be a Controlled Affiliate of Penske Corporation and (iii) PAG until the date, if any, that PAG ceases to be a Controlled Affiliate of Penske Corporation, and, in each case, any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.135 Percentage Interest . The Percentage Interest of a Partner shall be the percentage ownership set forth next to its respective name on Schedule A hereto, as such Schedule A shall be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to reflect Sales of then outstanding Partnership Interests, issuance and sales of new Partnership Interests, and additional capital contributions of the Partners, in each case, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
2.136 Permitted Intragroup Transferees . Permitted Intragroup Transferees shall mean transferees and assignees to which Partnership Interest has been Sold as permitted or
required under Subsections 9.2(b), (c) or (d), excluding those that have ceased to be a member of the GECC Consolidated Group, the PTLC Consolidated Group, the PAG Consolidated Group or the Mitsui consolidated Group, as the case may be.
2.137 Person . Person shall include an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated organization, a government or any department or agency thereof, and any other entity.
2.138 Pooled Vehicle . Pooled Vehicle shall include any of the following regardless of in what form or jurisdiction organized.
(a) hedge funds, private equity funds, commodity pools or other pooled investment vehicles, regardless of type or asset class;
(b) issuers of asset-backed securities of any kind, including asset-backed commercial paper, collateralized loan obligations, collateralized debt obligations or other similar instruments; provided, however, that Pooled Vehicle shall not include any entity described in 12 CFR §248.10(c)(8) (loan securitization) or §248.10(c)(9) (qualifying asset-backed commercial paper conduit) or any issuer that is deemed not to be an investment company by virtue of Rule 3a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act;
(c) registered investment companies, business development companies or small business investment companies; or
(d) any other entity that would be an investment company, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act, but for section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of that Act.
2.139 Potential Buyer . Potential Buyer shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.4(i).
2.140 Preliminary Distribution . Preliminary Distribution shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 5.1(a).
2.141 Prior Agreement . Prior Agreement shall mean each of the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., dated August 10, 1988, the Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., dated September 19, 2008, the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., dated March 26, 2009, and the Fourth Amended and Restated Partnership Agreement, in each case, as amended and in effect from time to time.
2.142 Profits and Losses . Profits and Losses shall mean, for each taxable year or portion of a taxable year, an amount equal to the Partnerships taxable income or loss for such taxable year or portion of a taxable year, determined in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Section 703(a)(1) of the Code shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments:
(i) Any income of the Partnership that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this Subsection 2.142 shall be added to such taxable income or loss;
(ii) Any expenditures of the Partnership described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this Subsection 2.142 shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;
(iii) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any Partnership asset is adjusted pursuant to Subsection 2.59(2) or (3) hereof, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Profits or Losses;
(iv) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Partnership property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such property differs from its Gross Asset Value;
(v) In lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such taxable year or portion of a taxable year;
(vi) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Code Sections 734(b) is required pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Partners interest in the Partnership, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the asset) from the disposition of the asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and notwithstanding any other provision of this definition of Profits and Losses, any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 5.3 and 5.4 shall not be taken into account in computing Profits or Losses.
(vii) The amounts of items of Partnership income, gain, loss, or deduction available to be specially allocated pursuant to Sections 5.3 and 5.4 shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in subparagraphs (i) through (vi).
2.143 PTL GP . PTL GP shall mean PTL GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and shall include any Permitted Intragroup Transferees of the Penske Group.
2.144 PTLC . PTLC shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first Paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any Permitted Intragroup Transferees of the Penske Group.
2.145 PTLC Beneficiary . PTLC Beneficiary shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.4(c).
2.146 PTLC Consolidated Group . PTLC Consolidated Group shall mean the consolidated group, determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, of which Penske Corporation is the common parent, except that members of the PAG Consolidated Group shall not be deemed members of the PTLC Consolidated Group.
2.147 PTLC Security Agreement . PTLC Security Agreement shall mean the Amended and Restated PTLC Co-Obligation Fee, Indemnity and Security Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2015, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.148 Purchased Interest . Purchased Interest shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.4(e).
2.149 Qualified Purchaser . Qualified Purchaser shall mean a Person who does not directly compete with the Partnership (as such term is defined in Subsection 6.6(d)).
2.150 Recipient Group . Recipient Group shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.4(i).
2.151 Registration Rights Agreement . Registration Rights Agreement shall mean the First Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement entered into by the Partners, the Partnership and Holdings, dated as of the date hereof, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.152 Regulations . Regulations shall mean the United States Income Tax Regulations, including Temporary Regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.153 Regulatory Allocations . Regulatory Allocations shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.4.
2.154 Remaining Capital Call Deficiency . Remaining Capital Call Deficiency shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 3.1(c)(iii).
2.155 Response Notice . Response Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.3(d).
2.156 Restricted Person . Restricted Person shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(h).
2.157 Returns . Returns shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 8.2(d).
2.158 Rollins Business . Rollins Business shall mean the truck leasing business as conducted by Rollins Truck Leasing Corp. at the time of its acquisition by the Partnership and such business as may have been continued by the Partnership Group.
2.159 Sale . Sale (including, with its correlative meanings, Sell and Sold ) with respect to a Partnership Interest shall mean any voluntary or involuntary sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or any portion of such Partnership Interest (or any right or interest therein), including by operation of Law, but, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include the creation of any Liens upon a Partnership Interest unless the holder of such a Lien acquires all or any portion of such Partnership Interest or the Partnership Interest is otherwise sold, transferred or assigned in accordance with the Lien.
2.160 Schedule . Schedule shall refer to one of several written Schedules to this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to the extent permitted by this Agreement, each of which is hereby incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement for all purposes.
2.161 SEC . SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.
2.162 Securities . Securities shall mean any common equity securities of the Partnership Registrant.
2.163 Securities Act . Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and in effect from time to time, or the corresponding provisions of any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.164 Securities Activity . Securities Activity shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.6(j).
2.165 Selling Interests . Selling Interests shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 10.1(d).
2.166 Subject Purchaser . Subject Purchaser shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 3.1(c).
2.167 Subject Year . Subject Year shall mean a Partnership Year with respect to which Net Income for such Partnership Year or the fiscal quarters thereof is being calculated for purposes of determining whether distributions to the Partners are to be made under Section 5.1, regardless of whether such distributions are to be made in such Partnership Year or the following Partnership Year.
2.168 Subject Year To Date . Subject Year to Date shall mean the Subject Year through and including the quarter for which Net Income is being calculated.
2.169 Subsidiary . Subsidiary shall refer to (i) any corporation (or equivalent legal entity under foreign Law) of which another Person owns directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the stock, the holders of which are ordinarily and generally, in the absence of
contingencies or understandings, entitled to vote for the election of directors, (ii) any limited liability company in which such Person owns directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the membership interests, (iii) any partnership in which such other Person owns directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the partnership interests and (iv) any other entity of which another Person has the voting power to elect the majority of the members of the board of directors, the board of managers or a similar body of such entity.
2.170 Tax Matters Partner . Tax Matters Partner shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 8.2(e).
2.171 Third-Party Proposed Sale . Third Party Proposed Sale shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.3(c).
2.172 Third Tier Built-In Gain . Third Tier Built-In Gain shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 5.5(d).
2.173 TMP Eligible Partner . TMP Eligible Partner shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 8.2(e).
2.174 Trade Name and Trademark Agreement . Trade Name and Trademark Agreement shall mean that certain Amended and Restated Trade Name and Trademark Agreement, dated April 30, 2012, between Penske System, Inc. and the Partnership, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.175 Transfer . Transfer shall mean any Sale or creation of a Lien.
2.176 Transfreight Group Companies . Transfreight Group Companies shall mean, collectively, (i) Transfreight Inc., a Canadian corporation, (ii) Transfreight Integrated Logistics Inc., a Canadian corporation, (iii) Transfreight LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and (iv) Transfreight S.A. de C.V., a Mexican corporation.
2.177 Triggering Transfer . Triggering Transfer shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 9.4(d).
2.178 UPREIT Structure . UPREIT Structure shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 10.1(a).
2.179 Volcker Rule . Volcker Rule shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.5(d)(v).
2.180 General Provisions . Unless the context otherwise requires, as used in this Agreement, (i) the terms herein, hereof and hereunder and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision; (ii) terms used in the singular also include the plural and vice versa; (iii) all references to statutes and related regulations shall include any amendments of same and any successor statutes and regulations; (iv) any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms; (v) the words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation; (vi) the word will shall be construed to have the
same meaning and effect as the word shall; (vii) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Section of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement; and (viii) 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.
ARTICLE 3
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; ISSUANCE OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
3.1 Additional Capital Contributions; Issuance of Additional Partnership Interests .
(a) Except as required in Section 3.3, no additional capital contributions shall be required to be made by the Partners.
(b) If at any time the Advisory Committee has approved raising additional equity capital pursuant to Subsection 6.5(c)(viii) or Subsection 6.5(f)(v) then the General Partner may, by written notice, cause the Partnership to make a voluntary capital call to all Partners for the amount of such additional equity capital. Any such notice of any additional capital call shall include the following information: (i) the aggregate amount of the capital contributions to be made and the reason for such capital call, (ii) the fair market value of 100% of the Partnership Interests adjusted for limited (non-controlling) Partnership Interests, as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Advisory Committee (on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the full satisfaction of such capital call), and (iii) the aggregate Percentage Interest represented by such capital call (on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the full satisfaction of such capital call).
(c) (i) A capital call by the Partnership pursuant to Subsection 3.1(b) shall remain open for thirty (30) days or such longer period as may be determined by the General Partner. If by the end of such period, any of the Partners shall have failed to provide written notice to the General Partner that it has elected to contribute its pro rata portion of such capital call (based on its Percentage Interests), the General Partner shall inform the Partners in writing within two (2) Business Days thereafter of the amount of such capital call not subscribed for by any non-participating Partners and by any Partners not participating in full with respect to their pro rata shares (such aggregate deficiency, the Initial Capital Call Deficiency ).
(d) Following receipt of notice from the General Partner of any Initial Capital Call Deficiency, each Partner that elected to contribute its pro rata portion of the capital call (each, an Electing Partner ) shall be entitled to elect to make an additional capital contribution of up to its pro rata share of any such Initial Capital Call Deficiency (based upon the aggregate Percentage Interests of all Electing Partners that elected to make a capital contribution pursuant to this Subsection 3.1(c)(ii), without giving effect to such capital contribution). Each Electing Partner that exercises this right to contribute up to such pro rata share of any Initial Capital Call Deficiency shall provide notice thereof to the General Partner and each other Partner within ten (10) days after receipt of such notice of Initial Capital Call Deficiency from the General Partner, specifying the maximum amount such Partner has elected to contribute pursuant to this Subsection 3.1(c)(ii).
(e) In the event that the Electing Partners do not elect to contribute in the aggregate an amount sufficient to satisfy in full any Initial Capital Call Deficiency within such ten (10) day period, the General Partner shall inform the Partners in writing within two (2) Business Days thereafter of the amount of such Initial Capital Call Deficiency in respect of which Electing Partners have not elected to make additional capital contributions (the Remaining Capital Call Deficiency ).
(f) Following receipt of notice from the General Partner of any Remaining Capital Call Deficiency, each Partner may elect to make additional capital contributions in respect of all or any portion of such Remaining Capital Call Deficiency by providing written notice thereof to the General Partner and each other Partner within ten (10) days after receipt of such notice of Remaining Capital Call Deficiency.
(g) If, within ten (10) days after receipt by each Partner of the notice of such Remaining Capital Call Deficiency, any Partners shall have provided notice to the General Partner of its election to contribute all or a portion of the Remaining Capital Call Deficiency, then the additional amount of capital to be contributed by all such Partners shall be allocated among them as follows:
(1) (A) First , each participating Partner shall contribute its pro rata share of the Remaining Capital Call Deficiency (calculated by reference to the Percentage Interests of such participating Partners, but excluding, for purposes of such calculation, the Percentage Interests of any non-participating Partner) up to (but not to exceed) the additional amount it has agreed to contribute with respect to such Remaining Capital Call Deficiency; and
(2) (B) Thereafter , if any of the Remaining Capital Call Deficiency shall not have been fully funded, each Partner that has contributed its full pro rata portion of such deficiency pursuant to Subsection 3.1(c)(v)(A) shall contribute its pro rata share of such remaining shortfall (calculated by reference to the Percentage Interests of only those Partners that have elected to contribute more than their pro rata share of the Remaining Capital Call Deficiency) up to (but not to exceed) the additional amount it has agreed to contribute, up to the remaining amount of such Remaining Capital Call Deficiency.
(h) Upon receipt by the General Partner of a Partners election to participate in a capital call pursuant to Subsection 3.1(c), such electing Partner shall be obligated to contribute to the Partnership the aggregate amount so elected, subject to reduction as provided herein and subject to abandonment of the capital call pursuant to Subsection 3.1(h). The failure by any Partner to elect to participate in the capital call pursuant to Subsections 3.1(c) shall be an irrevocable waiver of such Partners right to participate in satisfying such capital call.
(i) If (and only if) the Remaining Capital Call Deficiency is not satisfied in full by the participating Partners as provided in Subsection 3.1(c) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, following any capital call approved pursuant to Subsection 6.5(c)(viii)), then the General Partner may cause the Partnership to offer to sell and issue limited Partnership Interests, in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of applicable securities Laws, to any Person that is a legal entity and is not a Partner or an Affiliate of any Partner (each, a
Subject Purchaser ) and to admit such Subject Purchasers as Limited Partners of the Partnership, provided that:
(i) the pricing of the proposed issuance is at least equal to the greater of the fair market value of the limited Partnership Interests issued and sold or 90% of the implied price of limited Partnership Interests to the existing Partners in such immediately preceding capital call (based upon the notice delivered by the General Partner to the existing Partners pursuant to Section 3.1(b) above), and the proposed issuance is otherwise on arms length terms and conditions; provided that if the proposed issuance of limited Partnership Interests is at a price that is less than the implied price of limited Partnership Interests to the existing Partners in such immediately preceding capital call, then (A) the implied price of limited Partnership Interests to the existing Partners in the immediately preceding capital call shall be decreased to equal the price for limited Partnership Interests in such proposed issuance (but without reducing the amount of the capital contributions by the participating Partners in respect of such capital call), (B) the aggregate Percentage Interest represented by the preceding capital call shall be adjusted to reflect the implied price of limited Partnership Interests in the proposed issuance and the aggregate proceeds to be received by the Partnership in connection with such proposed issuance and related capital call and (C) the General Partner shall promptly notify the Partners of the matters reflected in clauses (A) and (B) above; and
(ii) such issuance is only for the unsatisfied portion of the Remaining Capital Call Deficiency in respect of such immediately preceding capital call.
(j) Any offer and sale of limited Partnership Interests to a Subject Purchaser pursuant to Subsection 3.1(e) shall be made by the General Partner during the period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the final election by Electing Partners with respect to the Remaining Capital Call Deficiency and shall be at a price and on terms and conditions that, in the case of an issuance approved pursuant to Subsection 6.5(f)(v), comply with Subsection 3.1(e) and, in the case of an issuance approved pursuant to Subsection 6.5(c)(viii), comply with the terms and conditions set forth by the Advisory Committee in granting its approval. In addition, such offer and sale shall be made only subject to the following conditions:
(i) the purchase price is paid 100% in cash in U.S. dollars to the Partnership (less associated customary fees and expenses);
(ii) no amendment, supplement or modification of any kind will be made to this Agreement in connection with the proposed issuance or the consummation thereof (other than to admit each of the purchasers thereof as Limited Partners, and to adjust the Percentage Interests of all Partners, in each case on Schedule A, after receipt by the Partnership of a true and complete copy of this Agreement duly executed by each such purchaser);
(iii) such issuance shall comply with applicable Laws (including any applicable securities Laws and any applicable regulatory filing requirement of any Governmental Authority with respect thereto); and
(iv) none of the bad actor disqualifying events, described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i)-(viii) promulgated under the Securities Act, shall be applicable to any of the purchasers of such limited Partnership Interests pursuant to such issuance.
(k) The closing of the capital contributions and issuance and sale of limited Partnership Interests provided by this Section 3.1 shall be held simultaneously, at a time and place as determined by the General Partner. However, if such issuance and sale is not consummated within one hundred eighty (180) days following the final election by participating Partners with respect to the Remaining Capital Call Deficiency, then the restrictions provided for herein shall again become effective, and no capital call and no issuance and sale of limited Partnership Interests may be made thereafter by the Partnership without again complying with the provisions of this Section 3.1.
(l) If the expected proceeds of any equity issuance pursuant to Subsection 3.1(e) are insufficient to satisfy any related Remaining Capital Call Deficiency, then the related capital call and proposed issuance of Partnership Interests shall be abandoned and shall not be consummated by the Partners or the Partnership; provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Partnership has received a notice or other indication from the applicable rating agency or agencies that the aggregate amount expected to be funded to the Partnership in connection with a capital call and related proposed issuance of Partnership Interests approved pursuant to Section 6.5(f)(v) (taking into account the amount of any Remaining Capital Call Deficiency) is nonetheless sufficient to avoid the Partnerships loss of any minimum investment grade corporate, unsecured, long term debt rating, then (i) the General Partner shall provide, as promptly as practicable to the Partners, a written notice (x) describing such notice or other indication and (y) stating the General Partners reasonable determination that, taking into account such notice or other indication, that the aggregate amount expected to be funded to the Partnership in connection with such capital call and related proposed issuance is believed by the General Partner to be sufficient to avoid the Partnerships loss of any such debt rating, and (ii) the related capital call and proposed issuance of Partnership Interests shall not be abandoned and shall be consummated by the Partners or the Partnership.
(m) Following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Section 3.1, (x) the Capital Accounts for each participating Partner shall be adjusted, and (y) the Percentage Interests of each of the Partners shall each be adjusted, in each case, as and to the extent applicable.
3.2 Capital Contributions and Accounts . As of the Effective Time, MBK CV and MBK USA CV are being admitted as Limited Partners, and each of them is succeeding to the Capital Account of the Partnership Interest(s) being transferred to it. A Capital Account shall be maintained for each Partner on the books of the Partnership. Each Partners interest in the capital of the Partnership shall be represented by its Capital Account. The Capital Account of each Partner as of the Effective Time, after giving effect to the first sentence of this Section 3.2, to all distributions and contributions made at or prior to the Effective Time, to all distributions made pursuant to Subsection 5.1(b) for the 2014 Subject Year and to all allocations of items of income, gain, loss and deduction (including all special allocations) with respect to any period (or a portion thereof) ending at or prior to the Effective Time, shall be proportionate to such Partners Percentage Interest as set forth on Schedule A in effect at the
Effective Time. The Partnership shall be permitted to adjust the Capital Account of each Partner after the Effective Time as appropriate to give effect to the immediately preceding sentence.
3.3 Negative Capital Accounts . In the event the Partnership is liquidated within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) (other than as a result of a termination under Section 708(b)(1)(B) of the Code), (x) distributions shall be made pursuant to Article 11 to the Partners who have positive Capital Accounts in compliance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2), and (y) if the General Partners Capital Account has a deficit balance (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, and allocations for all taxable years, including the taxable year during which such liquidation occurs), the General Partner shall contribute to the capital of the Partnership the amount necessary to restore such deficit balance to zero in compliance with Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(3). If any Limited Partner has a deficit balance in its Capital Account (after giving effect to all contributions, distributions, and allocations for all taxable years, including the taxable year during which such liquidation occurs), such Limited Partner shall have no obligation to make any contribution to the capital of the Partnership with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to the Partnership or to any other Person for any purposes whatsoever. In no event shall any transaction contemplated by clauses (x) and (y) of the first sentence of this Subsection 3.3 result in a change in any Partners Percentage Interest.
3.4 Compliance with Treasury Regulations . The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b) (or any corresponding provision of succeeding Law) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Regulation. In the event the General Partner shall determine and the Majority Limited Partners and the GE Representative Partner approve that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits thereto, are computed in order to comply with such Regulation, the Partnership may make such modifications (provided that no such modification shall have a material adverse effect on the economic position of any Partner). The Partnership also shall make any appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b) (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding Law provided that such modification shall not have a material adverse effect on the economic position of any Partner).
3.5 Succession to Capital Accounts . In the event any interest in the Partnership is Sold in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest. For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, the portion of the Capital Account to which the transferee succeeds shall be that percentage of the transferors total Capital Account as the Percentage Interest being transferred bears to the total Percentage Interest of the transferor, taking into account Section 9.6.
3.6 No Withdrawal of Capital Contributions . No Partner shall withdraw any Capital Contributions without the unanimous written approval of the other Partners. No Partner shall receive any interest with respect to its Capital Contributions.
3.7 No Partnership Certificates . No certificates to evidence a Partners interest in the Partnership (a Partnership Certificate ) shall be issued and any Partnership Certificates previously issued shall be null and void and without any force or effect whatsoever.
3.8 Percentage Interests . Effective as of the Effective Time, the Percentage Interest of each Partner in the Partnership is as set forth on Schedule A hereto.
ARTICLE 4
COSTS AND EXPENSES
4.1 Operating Costs . The Partnership shall (i) pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses of the Partnership incurred in pursuing and conducting, or otherwise related to, the business of the Partnership and (ii) reimburse the General Partner for any documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by it in connection therewith (including in the performance of its duties as tax matters partner), to the extent permitted by Section 6.7.
ARTICLE 5
DISTRIBUTIONS; PARTNERSHIP ALLOCATIONS;
TAX MATTERS
5.1 Distributions Prior to Dissolution .
(a) Preliminary Quarterly Distributions . By no later than 45 days following the end of each of the first three quarters of each Subject Year, subject to Section 9.6, applicable Law and the terms of any applicable credit agreement, indenture, debt security or debt instrument, the Partnership shall make a distribution to the Partners of the amount, if any, by which fifty percent (50%) of Net Income for the Subject Year To Date exceeds the distributions made pursuant to this Subsection 5.1(a) with respect to such Subject Year (the Preliminary Distributions ), in the following amounts, order and priority (for the avoidance of doubt, the amounts, order and priority of distributions pursuant to this Subsection 5.1(a) shall not apply to any distributions in accordance with Section 11.3 upon the dissolution of the Partnership and the failure to continue the Partnership as provided in Section 11.1):
(i) First, in the event that the Partnership shall have sold all or substantially all of the Rollins Business, to GE Truck Leasing Holdco in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the excess, if any, of (1) $57,000,000, over (2) the product of (x) .40 times (y) the excess, if any, of (I) the initial Gross Asset Value of the Code Section 197 intangibles attributable to the Rollins Business, over (II) the sales price for such intangibles, over (B) all prior distributions to GE Truck Leasing Holdco pursuant to this Subsection 5.1(a)(i) or Subsection 5.1(b)(i); and
(ii) Second, to the Partners pro rata in accordance with each Partners Percentage Interest.
(b) Annual Distributions . With respect to any Subject Year, by no later than April 15 of the following Partnership Year, subject to Section 9.6, applicable Law and the terms
of any applicable credit agreement, indenture, debt security or debt instrument, the Partnership shall make a distribution to the Partners of the amount, if any, by which fifty percent (50%) of Net Income for the Subject Year based on the Partnerships audited financial statements determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles with respect to the Subject Year exceeds the cumulative Preliminary Distributions made with respect to the Subject Year (the Final Distribution ), in the following amounts, order and priority (for the avoidance of doubt, the amounts, order and priority of distributions pursuant to this Subsection 5.1(b) shall not apply to any distributions in accordance with Section 11.3 upon the dissolution of the Partnership and the failure to continue the Partnership as provided in Section 11.1):
(i) First, in the event that the Partnership shall have sold all or substantially all of the Rollins Business, to GE Truck Leasing Holdco in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the excess, if any, of (1) $57,000,000, over (2) the product of (x) .40 times (y) the excess, if any, of (I) the initial Gross Asset Value of the Code Section 197 intangibles attributable to the Rollins Business, over (II) the sales price for such intangibles, over (B) all prior and current distributions to GE Truck Leasing Holdco pursuant to Subsection 5.1(a)(i) and prior distributions to GE Truck Leasing Holdco pursuant to this Subsection 5.1(b)(i); and
(ii) Second, to the Partners pro rata in accordance with each Partners Percentage Interest.
(c) Discretionary Special Distributions . Except for distributions to the Partners in accordance with Subsections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b), the Partnership shall not, at any time prior to January 28, 2018, make any other distributions to the Partners (such other distributions Discretionary Distributions ). During the period from and after January 29, 2018 and on or prior to January 28, 2023, and provided that (x) the ratio of consolidated debt to consolidated equity of the Partnership is less than 3.0 to 1.0 immediately before, and after giving pro forma effect to the payment of, the proposed Discretionary Distributions and (y) the amount of all distributions made by the Partnership to the Partners during the then current calendar year does not exceed 80% of the consolidated net income of the Partnership for the then current Partnership Year through the date of such Discretionary Distribution, then the making of a Discretionary Distribution shall require a Level Four Approval. For the avoidance of doubt, from and after January 29, 2023, the making of any Discretionary Distribution shall require a Level Four Approval. Any Discretionary Distributions made pursuant to this Subsection 5.1(c) shall be made by the Partnership to the Partners pro rata in accordance with each Partners Percentage Interest.
(d) Notice of Determination of Law . If any determination is made by the General Partner that applicable Law would forbid any distribution pursuant to this Section 5.1, then the General Partner shall provide notice to the GE Representative Partner and MBK CV of such determination (which shall include the basis for such determination) and provide the GE Representative Partner and MBK CV with a reasonable opportunity to discuss such determination.
5.2 Partnership Allocations .
(a) Profits and Losses . For each taxable year or portion of a taxable year for which the Partnership is required to allocate Profits, Losses, or other items pursuant to this Article 5, after giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Sections 5.3 and 5.4, and subject to the rules of Section 5.5 and Section 9.6, Profits and Losses of the Partnership for the relevant period shall be allocated to the Partners in proportion to their Percentage Interests, subject to the limitation in Subsection 5.2(b) below with respect to the allocation of Losses.
(b) Loss Limitation .
(i) Capital Account Limitation . The Losses allocated pursuant to Subsection 5.2(a) shall not exceed the maximum amount of Losses that can be so allocated without causing any Limited Partner to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of any taxable year. All Losses otherwise allocable to a Limited Partner in excess of the limitation set forth in this Subsection 5.2(b)(i) shall be allocated (A) in the case of any Penske Partner (other than PAG), first, to the other Penske Partners (other than PAG), if any, that are Limited Partners without such an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit in proportion to and to the extent of the amount of Losses that can be allocated to each such Penske Partner without causing it to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit and, thereafter, to the General Partner, (B) in the case of PAG, to the General Partner, (C) in the case of any GE Partner, first, to the other GE Partners without such an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit in proportion to and to the extent of the amount of Losses that can be allocated to each such GE Partner without causing it to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit and, thereafter, to the General Partner, (D) in the case of PTL GP, as a Limited Partner, (x) with respect to eighty-two percent (82%) of such excess losses, first to Penske Partners that are Limited Partners without such an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, after the application of clauses (A), (B) and (C) of this Subsection 5.2(b)(i), in proportion to and to the extent of the amount of Losses that can be allocated to each such Limited Partner without causing it to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit and, thereafter, to the General Partner, and (y) with respect to eighteen percent (18%) of such excess losses, first to PAG to the extent of the amount of Losses that can be allocated to PAG, after the application of clause (B) of this Subsection 5.2(b)(i), without causing it to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit and, thereafter, to the General Partner, and (E) in the case of the Mitsui Partners, first, to the other Mitsui Partner if such other Mitsui Partner has no Adjusted Capital Account Deficit to the extent of the amount of Losses that can be allocated to such other Mitsui Partner without causing it to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit and, thereafter, to the General Partner.
(ii) Tax Basis Limitation . If, as a result of the application of Code Section 704(d), the federal income tax loss associated with an allocation of Losses allocated to a Partner pursuant to Subsection 5.2(a) or Subsection 5.2(b)(i) cannot be claimed by such Partner for the taxable year during which such Losses arose, then such Losses may be reallocated as set forth in this Subsection 5.2(b)(ii), but only to the extent such Partner consents to such reallocation, in the following manner and order: (A) if any Penske Partner other than PAG is limited to any extent by Code Section 704(d) with respect to its ability to claim tax losses associated with an allocation of Losses pursuant to Subsection 5.2(a) or Subsection 5.2(b)(i), then the other Penske Partners among such group that are not so limited may elect, by written notice to the General Partner, to have such Losses allocated to them in proportion to and to the extent of the amount of such Losses that can be allocated to each such
Penske Partner without causing its ability to claim the tax losses associated with such Losses to be limited under Code Section 704(d) and without causing it to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit; (B) if any GE Partner is limited to any extent by Code Section 704(d) with respect to its ability to claim tax losses associated with an allocation of Losses pursuant to Subsection 5.2(a) or Subsection 5.2(b)(i), then the other GE Partners among such group that are not so limited may elect, by written notice to the General Partner, to have such Losses allocated to them in proportion to and to the extent of the amount of such Losses that can be allocated to each such GE Partner without causing its ability to claim the tax losses associated with such Losses to be limited under Code Section 704(d) and without causing it to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit; and (C) if PTL GP is limited to any extent by Code Section 704(d) with respect to its ability to claim tax losses associated with an allocation of Losses pursuant to Subsection 5.2(a) or Subsection 5.2(b)(i), then the Penske Partners (other than PAG) that are not so limited may elect, by written notice to the General Partner, to have up to eighty-two percent (82.00%) of such Losses allocated to them in proportion to and to the extent of the amount of such Losses that can be allocated to each such Penske Partner without causing its ability to claim the tax losses associated with such Losses to be limited under Code Section 704(d) and without causing it to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, PAG may elect, by written notice to the General Partner, to have up to eighteen percent (18.00%) of such Losses allocated to it to the extent of the amount of such Losses that can be allocated to PAG without causing its ability to claim the tax losses associated with such Losses to be limited under Code Section 704(d) and without causing it to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit and (D) if any Mitsui Partner is limited to any extent by Code Section 704(d) with respect to its ability to claim tax losses associated with an allocation of Losses pursuant to Subsection 5.2(a) or Subsection 5.2(b)(i), then the other Mitsui Partner that is not so limited may elect, by written notice to the General Partner, to have such Losses allocated to it to the extent of the amount of such Losses that can be allocated to such other Mitsui Partner without causing such other Mitsui Partners ability to claim the tax losses associated with such Losses to be limited under Code Section 704(d) and without causing such other Mitsui Partner to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.
5.3 Special Allocations . The following special allocations shall be made in the following order:
(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback . Except as otherwise provided in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 5, if there is a net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain during any Partnership taxable year, each Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such taxable year (and, if necessary, subsequent taxable years) in an amount equal to such Partners share of the net decrease in Partnership Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(g). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Partner pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f)(6) and 1.704-2(j)(2). This Subsection 5.3(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(b) Partner Minimum Gain Chargeback . Except as otherwise provided in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4), notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 5, if there
is a net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to a Partner Nonrecourse Debt during any Partnership taxable year, each Partner who has a share of the Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Partner Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5), shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain for such taxable year (and, if necessary, subsequent taxable years) in an amount equal to such Partners share of the net decrease in Partner Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Partner Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Partner pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2). This Subsection 5.3(b) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(c) Qualified Income Offset . In the event any Limited Partner unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Partnership income and gain shall be specially allocated to each such Limited Partner in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of such Limited Partner as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Subsection 5.3(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Limited Partner would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Article 5 have been tentatively made as if this Subsection 5.3(c) were not in the Agreement.
(d) Gross Income Allocation . In the event any Limited Partner has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any taxable year that is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Limited Partner is obligated to restore (pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) and (ii) the amount such Limited Partner is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Limited Partner shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Subsection 5.3(d) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Limited Partner would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article 5 have been made as if Subsection 5.3(c) and this Subsection 5.3(d) were not in the Agreement.
(e) Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable year shall be specially allocated among the Partners in proportion to their Percentage Interests.
(f) Partner Nonrecourse Deductions . Any Partner Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable year shall be specially allocated to the Partner who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the Partner Nonrecourse Debt to which such Partner Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
(g) Code Section 754 Adjustment . To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Partnership asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) (2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into
account in determining Capital Accounts as the result of a distribution to a Partner in complete liquidation of its interest in the Partnership, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Partners in accordance with their interests in the Partnership in the event Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies, or to the Partners to whom such distribution was made in the event Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) (4) applies.
(h) Special Allocation of Income and Gain to GE Truck Leasing Holdco Upon Liquidation . In the event that, during any taxable year, the Partnership dissolves and is liquidated pursuant to Article 11, (i) GE Truck Leasing Holdco shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in an amount equal to $35,600,000 (or, in the event that GE Truck Leasing Holdco ceases to be a Partner, the other GE Partners shall be specially allocated such items of income and gain, pro rata), and (ii) MBK CV and MBK USA CV shall be specially allocated items of Partnership income and gain in amounts equal to $7,120,000 and $1,780,000, respectively (or, in the event that MBK CV or MBK USA CV ceases to be a Partner, the remaining Mitsui Partner shall be specially allocated the aggregate amount of such items of income and gain).
(i) Special Allocation of Gain . In the event that, in any taxable year, the Partnership realizes, or is deemed to realize, a gain from the sale, disposition, or adjustment to the Gross Asset Value of Partnership Property, the gain from such sale, disposition or adjustment that would have been allocated to each Partner of the same group under Sections 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 of this Agreement (other than this Section 5.3(i)) shall be re-allocated among the Partners of such same group in proportion to, and to the extent of, the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate amount of Losses allocated to each such Partner (or its predecessor or transferor) for the current and all prior taxable years pursuant to Subsection 5.2(b)(ii) or the Corresponding Provision of any Prior Agreement, over (ii) the cumulative amount of gain allocated to such Partner (or its predecessor or transferor) pursuant to this Subsection 5.3(i) or the Corresponding Provision of any Prior Agreement for all prior tax years..
5.4 Curative Allocations . The allocations set forth in Subsections 5.2(b)(i), 5.3(a), 5.3(b), 5.3(c), 5.3(d), 5.3(e), 5.3(f) and 5.3(g) and the Corresponding Provisions of the Prior Agreements (the Regulatory Allocations ) are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations. It is the intent of the Partners that, to the extent possible, all Regulatory Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 5.4 Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 5 (other than the Regulatory Allocations), the General Partner shall make such offsetting special allocations of Partnership income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner it determines appropriate (without causing an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for any Partner) so that, after such offsetting allocations are made, each Partners Capital Account balance is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Partner would have had if the Regulatory Allocations were not part of the Agreement or any Prior Agreement and all Partnership items were allocated pursuant to Subsections 5.2(a), 5.2(b)(ii), 5.3(h) and 5.3(i) or the Corresponding Provisions of the Prior Agreements. In exercising its discretion under this Section 5.4, the General Partner shall take into account future Regulatory Allocations under Subsections 5.3(a) and 5.3(b) that, although
not yet made, are likely to offset other Regulatory Allocations previously made under Subsections 5.3(e) and 5.3(f).
5.5 Other Allocation Rules .
(a) Profits, Losses, and any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit shall be allocated to the Partners pursuant to this Article 5 as of the last day of each taxable year, provided that Profits, Losses, and such other items shall also be allocated at such times as the Gross Asset Values of Partnership assets are adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (2) of Subsection 2.59.
(b) The Partners are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this Article 5 and hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Article 5 in reporting their shares of Partnership income and loss for income tax purposes.
(c) For purposes of determining the Profits, Losses, or any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit allocable to any period, Profits, Losses, and any such other items shall be determined on a daily, monthly, or other basis using the closing of the books method or, if proposed by the General Partner and approved by the GE Representative Partner with respect to a particular period, any other permissible method under Code Section 706 and the Regulations thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in respect of the calendar month in which the Mitsui Partners acquire Partnership Interests from the GE Partners as of the Effective Time, the General Partner shall allocate the monthly Profits, Losses and other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit with respect to such Partnership Interests as follows: (i) the product of such monthly Profits, Losses and other items multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days of such month that have elapsed (based on the close of business) as of the Effective Time, and the denominator of which is the total number of days of such month, shall be allocated to the transferring GE Partners, and (ii) the product of such monthly Profits, Losses and other items multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days of such month that occur after the Effective Time, and the denominator of which is the total number of days of such month of, shall be allocated to the Mitsui Partners.
(d) Any excess nonrecourse liability of the Partnership, within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), shall be allocated first among the Partners in proportion to and to the extent of the amount of built-in gain that is allocable to each such Partner on section 704(c) property or property for which reverse section 704(c) allocations are applicable where such property is subject to the nonrecourse liability to the extent that such built-in gain exceeds the gain described in Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(2) with respect to such property ( Third Tier Built-In Gain ), except that, if and to the extent necessary for a Partner or Partners to avoid a limitation in a taxable year on Partnership deductions or losses under Code Section 704(d) or the recognition of gain on a Partnership distribution under Code Section 731(a)(1), allocations based on Third Tier Built-In Gain for such taxable year shall be increased to such Partner or Partners and reduced to one or more other Partners, in each case in accordance with Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), provided that such decreases have no adverse effect under Code Section 704(d) or 731(a)(1) on any Partner for such taxable year. The amount of any excess nonrecourse liabilities not allocated pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be allocated in accordance with
the Partners interests in Partnership profits. Solely for purposes of this Subsection 5.5(d), the Partners interests in Partnership profits are in proportion to their Percentage Interests.
5.6 Tax Allocations; Code Section 704(c) .
(a) In accordance with Section 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Partnership shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Partners so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Partnership for federal income tax purposes and its initial Gross Asset Value.
(b) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any asset of the Partnership shall be or has been adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or any Prior Agreement, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in the same manner as under Section 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
(c) Any elections or other decisions relating to such Section 704(c) allocations shall be made by the Partners in any manner that reasonably reflects the purpose and intention of this Agreement. Section 704(c) allocations pursuant to this Section 5.6 are solely for purposes of federal, state, and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Partners Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items, or distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
(d) The Partnership shall continue to use the remedial allocation method (as defined in Regulations Section 1.704-3(d)) for purposes of computing section 704(c) allocations and reverse section 704(c) allocations to the extent that it previously adopted that method with respect to property contributed to the Partnership with a Gross Asset Value that differed from its adjusted tax basis at the time of contribution and property for which differences between Gross Asset Value and adjusted tax basis were created by a revaluation of Partnership property pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f).
(e) Except as otherwise provided in Subsection 5.6(d) or Subsection 5.6(f), the Partnership shall use the traditional method (as defined in Regulations Section 1.704-3(d)) for purposes of computing section 704(c) allocations with respect to property contributed to the Partnership with a Gross Asset Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis at the time of contribution and reverse section 704(c) allocations with respect to property for which differences between Gross Asset Value and adjusted tax basis are created when the Partnership revalues Partnership property pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f).
(f) The Partnership may use any method or combination of methods that is reasonable, under Regulations Section 1.704-3(a), that is proposed in writing by the General Partner and approved by the GE Representative Partner in writing, for purposes of computing section 704(c) allocations with respect to specific contributions of property, as identified in the General Partners written proposal, or for purposes of computing reverse section 704(c)
allocations with respect to specific revaluations of property pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), as identified in the General Partners written proposal.
(g) The Partnership shall account for any goodwill of the Partnership with respect to which there is a Code Section 734(b) basis adjustment consistent with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.197-2 (including Regulations Section 1.197-2(k), Example 31 ).
5.7 Accounting Method . The books of the Partnership (for both tax and financial reporting purposes) shall be kept on an accrual basis.
ARTICLE 6
MANAGEMENT
6.1 Rights and Duties of the Partners .
(a) The Limited Partners shall not participate in the control of the business of the Partnership and shall have no power to act for or bind the Partnership. The Limited Partners shall have the right to approve certain actions proposed to be taken by the General Partner and certain voting rights, all as set forth herein.
(b) Subject to Delaware Law, no Limited Partner shall be liable for losses or debts of the Partnership beyond the aggregate amount such Partner is required to contribute to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement plus such Partners share of the undistributed net profits of the Partnership, except that nothing in this Subsection 6.1(b) shall limit any liability, obligation or claim incurred by a Limited Partner in its capacity as General Partner at such time as it was acting as the General Partner of the Partnership.
6.2 Fiduciary Duty of General Partner . The General Partner shall have fiduciary responsibility for the safekeeping and use of all funds and assets (including records) of the Partnership, whether or not in its immediate possession or control, and the General Partner shall not employ, or permit another to employ, such funds or assets in any manner except for the exclusive benefit of the Partnership.
6.3 Powers of General Partner .
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the General Partner shall have full and complete charge of all affairs of the Partnership, and the management and control of the Partnerships business shall rest exclusively with the General Partner. Except as otherwise provided in the Act or by this Agreement, the General Partner shall possess all of the rights and powers of a partner in a partnership without limited partners under Delaware Law. The General Partner shall be required to devote to the conduct of the business of the Partnership such time and attention as is necessary to accomplish the purposes, and to conduct properly the business, of the Partnership.
(b) Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, including but not limited to Section 6.5, the General Partner shall perform or cause to be performed all management and operational functions relating to the business of the Partnership. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the General Partner is solely authorized on behalf of the Partnership, in the General Partners sole discretion and without the approval of the Limited Partners, to:
(i) expend the capital and revenues of the Partnership in furtherance of the Partnerships business set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of Section 1.4 or otherwise approved in accordance with Subsection 6.5(c)(iv) after the Effective Time, and pay, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, all expenses, debts and obligations of the Partnership to the extent that funds of the Partnership are available therefor;
(ii) subject to Section 6.5(d)(v), make investments in United States government securities, securities of governmental agencies, commercial paper, insured money market funds, bankers acceptances and certificates of deposit, pending disbursement of the Partnership funds in furtherance of the Partnerships business set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of Section 1.4 or otherwise approved in accordance with Subsection 6.5(c)(iv) after the Effective Time or to provide a source from which to meet contingencies;
(iii) enter into and terminate agreements and contracts with third parties in furtherance of the Partnerships business set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 1.4 or otherwise approved in accordance with Subsection 6.5(c)(iv) after the Effective Time, institute, defend and settle litigation arising therefrom, and give receipts, releases and discharges with respect to all of the foregoing;
(iv) maintain, at the expense of the Partnership, adequate records and accounts of all operations and expenditures and furnish any Partner with the reports referred to in Section 8.2;
(v) purchase, at the expense of the Partnership, liability, casualty, fire and other insurance and bonds to protect the Partnerships properties, business, partners and employees and to protect the General Partner and its employees;
(vi) employ, at the expense of the Partnership, consultants, accountants, attorneys, and others and terminate such employment; provided , however , that if any Affiliate of any Partner is so employed, such employment shall be in accordance with Section 6.7;
(vii) execute and deliver any and all agreements, documents and other instruments necessary or incidental to the conduct of the business of the Partnership; and
(viii) incur indebtedness, borrow funds and/or issue guarantees, in each case for the conduct of the Partnerships business set forth in (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of Section 1.4 or otherwise approved in accordance with Subsection 6.5(c)(iv) after the Effective Time.
By executing this Agreement, each Partner shall be deemed to have consented to any exercise by the General Partner of any of the foregoing powers.
(c) The General Partner shall cause Schedule A to be amended to reflect any Sale of a Partners Partnership Interest (to the extent permitted by this Agreement), the total Percentage Interest of each Partner, any change in name of the Partnership or change in the name or names under which the Partnership conducts its business (to the extent permitted by this Agreement), and receipt by the Partnership of any notice of change of address of a Partner. The amended Schedule A , which shall be kept on file at the principal office of the Partnership, shall supersede all such prior Schedules and become part of this Agreement, and the General Partner shall promptly forward a copy of the amended Schedule A to each Partner upon each amendment thereof.
6.4 Advisory Committee .
(a) Selection of the Advisory Committee . The Partnership shall have an Advisory Committee (the Advisory Committee ) consisting of five (5) members. Of the five (5) Advisory Committee members, three (3) shall be designated by PTLC (each, a Penske Committee Member ) and, subject to Section 9.5(d), one (1) shall be designated by the GE Representative Partner (a GE Committee Member ) and one (1) shall be designated by MBK CV (the Mitsui Committee Member ). Schedule B annexed hereto sets forth the members of the Advisory Committee as of the Effective Time.
(b) Functions of the Advisory Committee; Quorum; Vote Required for Action .
(i) The Advisory Committee shall consult with and advise the General Partner with respect to the business of the Partnership. In addition, the Advisory Committee shall review any matters or actions proposed to be taken by the General Partner which pursuant to Section 6.5 hereof require the Advisory Committees prior approval. Subject to the provisions of Subsection 6.4(b)(ii) below and provided that notice shall have been duly given as set forth in Subsection 6.4(c) below: (A) at any meeting of the Advisory Committee in which an action requiring a Level One Approval shall be considered, the presence of a Level One Quorum shall be a quorum for the consideration of such action, (B) at any meeting of the Advisory Committee in which an action requiring a Level Two Approval shall be considered, the presence of a Level Two Quorum shall be a quorum for the consideration of such action, (C) at any meeting of the Advisory Committee in which an action requiring a Level Three Approval shall be considered, the presence of a Level Three Quorum shall be a quorum for the consideration of such action, and (D) at any meeting of the Advisory Committee in which an action requiring a Level Four Approval shall be considered, the presence of a Level Four Quorum shall be a quorum for the consideration of such action, and (E) at any other meeting of the Advisory Committee, the presence of a Level Four Quorum shall be the quorum necessary for the conduct of any other business.
(ii) With respect to any regularly-scheduled meeting of the Advisory Committee, and any other meeting of the Advisory Committee notice of which shall have been duly given as set forth in Subsection 6.4(c) below, in the event that a quorum shall not be present at the time and place fixed for such regularly-scheduled meeting or specified in such notice of any other meeting, then such meeting shall automatically be adjourned (without the need for further notice) until the same time (and at the same place) on the next succeeding
Business Day. At any meeting of the Advisory Committee which shall have been so adjourned, the number of members specified for the quorum in Subsection 6.4(b)(i) above shall constitute a quorum solely with respect to (A) as to any regularly-scheduled meeting of the Advisory Committee, any matter that may properly be considered at such meeting and (B) as to any other meeting of the Advisory Committee, only those matters which shall have been specified in the notice calling the meeting which was so adjourned and no other matters, and any action purportedly taken by the Advisory Committee in contravention of the foregoing shall be void and of no force or effect whatsoever.
(iii) Each member of the Advisory Committee shall have one vote on all matters which may come before the Advisory Committee for decision. Members of the Advisory Committee may be present and vote at meetings thereof in person or by written proxy. All actions by the Advisory Committee shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Advisory Committee and in certain circumstances as further specified in Subsections 6.5(c), 6.5(d), 6.5(e) and 6.5(f) below the affirmative vote set forth in such sections.
(c) Meetings in Person or by Telephone; Notice; Action by Written Consent . Meetings of the Advisory Committee may be in person, by telephonic communication or by such other means as to permit all members to hear and be heard by each other at the same time. All members of the Advisory Committee shall be given not less than five (5) Business Days advance notice of all meetings (other than regularly scheduled meetings), which notice shall set forth the business to be considered at such meeting, the time of such meeting and the place of such meeting (if other than the principal office of the Partnership). Notice of any meeting may be waived by means of a written instrument, including by electronic transmission that may be printed on paper, to such effect executed and delivered by the waiving member to the Partnership either prior to or after such meeting. Meetings in person shall be held at the principal office of the Partnership, or at such other place as may be determined by the Advisory Committee and, at any such meeting, any one or more members of the Advisory Committee may participate by means of telephonic communication or other means as aforesaid, so long as all members of the Advisory Committee participating in such meeting can hear and be heard by one another, and such participation shall be deemed presence in person for purposes of such meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Advisory Committee may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Advisory Committee approve such action in a writing or writings or by electronic transmission or transmissions, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of meetings of the Advisory Committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
(d) Regular Meetings and Special Meetings .
(1) Regular meetings of the Advisory Committee shall be held at such times as the Advisory Committee shall from time to time determine, but no less frequently than once each quarter of the Partnership Year.
(2) Special meetings of the Advisory Committee shall be held whenever called by any member of the Advisory Committee upon no less than five (5) Business
Days notice to each member of the Advisory Committee prior to such meeting unless such notice is waived by each such member. Any and all business that may be transacted at a regular meeting of the Advisory Committee may be transacted at a special meeting, subject to the notice requirements of Subsection 6.4(b)(ii)(B).
(3) As and to the extent practicable, the members of the Advisory Committee shall be furnished in advance of any regular or special meetings of the Advisory Committee, information relating to any action to be submitted at such regular or special meeting for any Level One Approval, Level Two Approval, Level Three Approval and/or Level Four Approval, as applicable, by the Advisory Committee.
(4) At each meeting of the Advisory Committee, the General Partner shall provide to each member of the Advisory Committee a written summary of any and all actions, claims or proceedings initiated by the Partnership where the same involves claims in excess of $1,000,000 (other than any vehicle-related accident claims).
(e) Resignation, Replacement and Removal of Advisory Committee Members . Any Penske Committee Member may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by proposal of PTLC. Any GE Committee Member may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by proposal of the GE Representative Partner. Any Mitsui Committee Member may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by proposal of MBK CV. In the event of the death, adjudication of insanity or incompetency, resignation, withdrawal or removal of: (i) a Penske Committee Member, PTLC shall designate a replacement member; or (ii) the other Committee Members, the Partner authorized under Subsections 6.4(a) or 9.5(d) to designate such Committee Member shall designate a replacement member.
(f) Certain Provisions with respect to the Advisory Committee . The Advisory Committee may adopt from time to time appropriate rules and regulations concerning the frequency and conduct of its meetings. Any member of the Advisory Committee may delegate any or all of his or her authority as a member of the Advisory Committee to any person, or may appoint any person as such members proxy with respect to any matter or matters to be considered or action to be taken by the Advisory Committee, provided that the Partner which designated the Advisory Committee member has approved such delegation or appointment in writing. Such approval may be revoked by the granting Partner or Advisory Committee member at any time, provided that any such revocation shall not affect the validity of any action taken by such delegate or proxy prior to such revocation.
(g) Audit Function . The Partnership has engaged the Auditor as its independent auditors. The Advisory Committee shall review and confer with respect to the performance of the Partnerships independent auditors and may, by Level One Approval, require that such auditors be substituted by the General Partner; provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing only a Level Four Approval shall be required if the substitute auditors are Deloitte LLP, KPMG LLP, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or Ernst & Young LLP (or, with respect to each, any successor firm thereof). The Partnership shall maintain an internal audit staff which (i) shall report directly to the Advisory Committee and (ii) shall not be utilized by any Partner or any of its Affiliates (other than the Partnership Group) with respect to its separate business.
(h) No Liability . Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Agreement, the Advisory Committee shall not be deemed to possess and shall not exercise any power that, if possessed or exercised by a Limited Partner, would constitute participation in the control of the business of the Partnership, within the meaning of Section 17-303 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, and no member of the Advisory Committee shall be liable to the Partnership, the General Partner, any Limited Partner, or any other person or entity for any losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising from any act or omission performed or omitted by it as a member of the Advisory Committee other than acts or omissions involving willful misconduct or bad faith or a breach of Subsection 6.4(i). The Partnership shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, each member of the Advisory Committee (and any proxy thereof) against losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising from any act or omission performed or omitted by him or her as a member of the Advisory Committee or any subcommittee thereof from time to time other than those involving willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of such committee member or a breach of Subsection 6.4(i).
(i) Confidentiality . With respect to any and all information provided to or obtained by any Partner, any assignees of Partnership Interests or any of their Affiliates, or any of its or their directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives or advisors, including Non-Voting Observers, as a result of such Partner being a Partner in the Partnership or its designee being a member of or an observer on the Advisory Committee (except for the exclusions below, Evaluation Material ), such Partner and each of its Affiliates, and its and their directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives or advisors, including a Non-Voting Observer, shall hold such information in strict confidence and use such information solely in connection with such Partners evaluation of its investment in the Partnership; provided , however , that any Partner may disclose such information (a) as required by applicable law, rule or regulation (including but not limited to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or applicable securities laws of any other jurisdiction, or rules of a stock exchange or other self-regulatory bodies), (b) to any person involved in the preparation of the Partners or any of its Affiliates financial statements, public filings or tax returns, (c) to any of its own Affiliates, or its or their directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives or advisors who are informed of the strictly confidential nature of such information and are or have been advised of their obligation to keep information of this type strictly confidential, (d) upon the request or demand of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any of the Partnership or any of their Partners or any of their Affiliates or (e) to any person and such persons advisors with whom any Partner or any of its Affiliates is contemplating a financing transaction or to whom such Partner is contemplating a Transfer of all or any portion of its Partnership Interests in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (a Potential Buyer ), provided that such Potential Buyer and such persons advisors are advised of the strictly confidential nature of such information and the Potential Buyer agrees to be bound by a confidentiality agreement containing protective provisions no less protective of the information of the Partnership than provided in this Agreement. All press releases, public announcements, and similar publicity (other than such public announcements required by applicable law, rule or regulation, pursuant to clause (a) in the immediately preceding sentence) respecting the Partnership and referencing the name of any Partner or any Affiliate of any Partner ( Non-Issuing Partner ) other than the Partner issuing such press release, public announcement, similar publicity or making such required disclosure shall be made only with the prior written consent of such Non-Issuing Partner, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld; provided , however , that without consent any Partner may state in such a public announcement that it is a Partner and
disclose the legal names of the Partnership, and the other Partners and their respective parents. Nothing in this paragraph shall waive any attorney-client privilege, attorney work product privilege or other privilege, and any information subject to such privilege shall not be disclosed except by agreement of the Advisory Committee or as required by applicable law, rule or regulation or restrict the Partnerships ability to issue press releases in the ordinary course of business. For purposes of this Subsection 6.4(i), the Partnership shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of any of the Partners. Evaluation Material shall not include information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the applicable Partner, its representatives or others to whom it voluntarily discloses such information other than Governmental Authorities (the Recipient Group ) in breach of this Agreement, (ii) was available to a member of the Recipient Group prior to such informations disclosure by or on behalf of the Partnership from a source (other than Recipient Group) who, to the knowledge of the applicable Partner, is not subject to a confidentiality agreement with, or other obligation of secrecy to, the Partnership, its Affiliates or representatives prohibiting such disclosure, (iii) is or becomes available to the Recipient Group from a source (other than the Recipient Group) who, to the knowledge of the applicable Partner, is not subject to a confidentiality agreement with, or other obligation of secrecy to, the Partnership, its Affiliates or representatives prohibiting such disclosure, or (iv) was independently developed by the Recipient Group without reference to the Evaluation Material. If a member of the Recipient Group is requested or required (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand, or similar legal process or by regulatory agency, or stock exchange or other applicable rules) to disclose any of the Evaluation Material, or if a member of the Recipient Group determines that such Evaluation Material is required to be disclosed by applicable law, rule or regulation, the applicable Partner agrees promptly upon obtaining knowledge of such request, requirement or determination to disclose to provide the Advisory Committee with prompt notice of each such request or determination, to the extent practicable and not legally prohibited, so that the Partnership or a Partner as appropriate may seek an appropriate protective order (at its own cost and expense). If, absent the entry of a protective order or other appropriate remedy, the applicable member of a Recipient Group is legally required to disclose the Evaluation Material, such applicable member may disclose such information only to the persons and to the extent required without liability under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, GECC, the GE Partners, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries are subject to rules and regulations of, and examination and supervision by, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and in certain circumstances other regulators and supervisors of financial institutions (the Bank Regulators ). Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to preclude or restrict any of such entities from disclosing, pursuant to the examination or supervisory requirements or requests of any of the Bank Regulators, to any of the Bank Regulators with jurisdiction over such entities at such time, or any such Bank Regulators from obtaining access to, any Evaluation Material, and in connection therewith such entities shall not be required to give the Partnership or any Partner notice with respect to such disclosure or access.
(j) Non-Voting Observers .
(i) Each Partner, together with its Affiliates, that does not have the right to appoint a member of the Advisory Committee pursuant to Subsection 6.4(a), but holds a Percentage Interest of not less than five percent (5%) (which for the purposes of this determination shall include a pro rata portion of the Partnership Interest held by PTL GP
based upon the Partners ownership interests in Holdings (if any), but with respect to PAG, shall exclude Partnership Interests held directly or indirectly by the other Penske Partners (other than its interest through PTL GP as described above) and only for so long as such Partner, together with its Affiliates, owns a Percentage Interest of not less than five percent (5%) (which for the purposes of this determination shall include a pro rata portion of the Partnership Interest held by PTL GP based upon the Partners ownership interests in Holdings (if any), but with respect to PAG, shall exclude Partnership Interests held directly or indirectly by the other Penske Partners (other than its interest through PTL GP as described above)), including as of the Effective Time, PAG, shall have the right to a non-voting observer (the Non-Voting Observer ) at all duly called and convened meetings of the Advisory Committee (as provided for in Subsection 6.4(c). For the sake of clarity, as of the Effective Time, PAG has the right to a Non-Voting Observer. The Non-Voting Observer shall be entitled to receive all materials and information distributed to the members of the Advisory Committee (in such capacity) in connection with such duly called and convened meetings (including written consents in lieu of such meetings) and shall have access to the Partnerships management and records as if the Non-Voting Observer were a member of the Advisory Committee, except that the General Partner may exclude any Non-Voting Observers from all applicable portions of any meeting of the Advisory Committee, or deny access to any information or portions thereof provided to members of the Advisory Committee, if the General Partner reasonably determines that the participation of the Non-Voting Observer, or access to the applicable information, could reasonably be expected to (1) result in a waiver of the attorney-client privilege (based on the advice of the Partnerships counsel and, if applicable, taking into account the execution of a common interest agreement) with respect to any matters to be discussed or any matters included in the information to be distributed; (2) expose to any Non-Voting Observer (who represents or is affiliated with a competitor to the Partnership, a customer, supplier or other business partner of the Partnership or a competitor to the Partnerships customers, suppliers or other business partners) (A) if a contract or understanding with any Person or Affiliate of such Person represented by the Non-Voting Observer is being described, discussed or voted upon, any information related to such contract or understanding and/or (B) the Partnerships business operations, objectives, opportunities, competitive positioning and/or prospects related to any such Person or any matter in which such Person may be reasonably deemed to have an interest that is adverse to the Partnership; (3) cause the Partnership to violate obligations with respect to confidential or proprietary information of third parties, provided that a Non-Voting Observer shall not be so excluded unless all other Persons whose participation in such meeting of the Advisory Committee, or portions thereof, or receipt of such information, or portions thereof, would result in a violation of such third party obligations are also excluded; or (4) pose an actual or potential conflict of interest for the Partner designating the Non-Voting Observer, any of its Affiliates or the Non-Voting Observer. In addition, if a Non-Voting Observer designated by a Partner is an observer, employee, officer, director, partner, member, consultant or fiduciary at another company that competes with the Partnership or is primarily engaged in a business in a substantially related industry, a majority of the members of the Advisory Committee shall be permitted to exclude the Non-Voting Observer from any meeting of the Advisory Committee, or portions thereof, or deny access to any information provided to the members of the Advisory Committee, if such members reasonably determine, in a closed session, to exclude
such Non-Voting Observer to protect the proprietary nature of the information included in the matters to be discussed and/or distributed.
(ii) For the avoidance of doubt, any failures to comply with this Subsection 6.4(j) shall not affect in any way the validity of any actions taken by the Advisory Committee.
6.5 Restrictions on the Authority of the General Partner .
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the General Partner shall not have authority to do any of the following:
(i) any act in contravention of this Agreement;
(ii) any act which would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the Partnership, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement;
(iii) possess Partnership property, or assign any rights in specific Partnership property, for other than a Partnership purpose;
(iv) admit a Person as a Partner, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement;
(v) except as permitted pursuant to Section 14.2, amend or waive any provision of this Agreement;
(vi) except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, Transfer all or any portion of its interest as the General Partner of the Partnership;
(vii) knowingly commit any act which would subject any Limited Partner to liability as a general partner in any jurisdiction in which the Partnership transacts business, except to effect the conversion of the Partnership Interests pursuant to Subsection 1.1(c); or
(viii) elect to dissolve the Partnership, except as expressly permitted herein.
(b) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, other than Subsection 6.4(h), the General Partner shall not have authority to do any of the following without a Level One Approval of the Advisory Committee:
(i) Enter into any credit agreement, indenture, debt security or debt instrument (or any amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification thereto or waiver thereof) that would or (at such time the agreement or other instrument, or amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification thereto or waiver thereof, is executed), reasonably would be expected to (A) restrict or prevent the exercise by the GE Partners or the
Mitsui Partners, including, in each case, any permitted successors or permitted assignees, of any rights, actions or transactions contemplated by Article 9 (without limiting the foregoing, any provision that would require the consent of creditors or their agents or representatives to such exercise in order to prevent acceleration or rapid amortization of indebtedness or would give creditors or their agents or representatives the right to accelerate or more rapidly amortize indebtedness in connection with such exercise being deemed to be expected to restrict or prevent such right, action or transaction) or (B) reduce distributions by the Partnership below those otherwise required by Subsections 5.1(a) and (b);
(i) change the Partnerships policies relating to requirements of environmental Laws, antitrust Laws, anti-corruption Laws, anti-bribery Laws, Laws relating to contracts with Governmental Authorities, insider trading or ethical business practices;
(ii) materially change policies relating to accounting matters other than those required by GAAP;
(iii) change the character of the Partnership Groups business from that set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of Section 1.4 or cause the Partnership Group to engage in any activity other than as described therein;
(iv) increase or amend the compensation arrangements for the direct services of Roger S. Penske between the Partnership Group and Roger S. Penske or any entity that is an Affiliate of Roger S. Penske from those currently in effect;
(v) (A) file a voluntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment, in any form, of the Partnerships debts under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other federal or state insolvency Law, or file an answer consenting to or acquiescing in any such petition, (B) make any Transfer for the benefit of the Partnerships creditors (other than the creation of Liens as contemplated by Section 6.5(d)(i)(C)), or (C) allow the expiration of sixty days after the filing of an involuntary petition under Title 11 of the United States Code, the application by a third party for the appointment of a receiver for the assets of the Partnership, or the filing of an involuntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment of the Partnerships debts under any other federal or state insolvency Law, unless the same shall not have been vacated, set aside or stayed within such sixty-day period;
(vi) cause the Partnership Group to take any action or series of related actions, outside of the ordinary course of business consistent with the past practice of the Partnership Group since May 2012, that could reasonably be expected to result in the loss of any investment grade corporate, unsecured, long-term debt rating for the Partnership on a stand-alone basis; it being understood that (A) such actions shall not include distributions required by Subsections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b) and (B) changes in policies or ratings criteria of ratings agencies shall not be taken into account for this provision;
(vii) raise additional equity capital by means of a capital call or equity issuance (provided that any such capital call shall, in any case, precede such equity
issuance), other than a capital call and equity issuance that may be approved pursuant to Subsection 6.5(f)(v);
(viii) amend or waive any provision of the Trade Name and Trademark Agreement, if such amendment or waiver is adverse in any respect to the Partnership; or
(ix) making donations by or in the name of the Partnership if the same involves amounts in excess of $3,000,000 for any single donation or series of related donations.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, but subject to Subsections 6.4(h) and 6.5(c), the General Partner shall not have authority to do any of the following without a Level Two Approval; provided , however , that if at any time (i) the GE Representative Partner and its Affiliates collectively own less than a fifteen percent (15%) Percentage Interest and the Mitsui Partners and their Affiliates, collectively, own at least a twenty percent (20%) Percentage Interest or (ii) the GE Representative Partner and its Affiliates collectively own less than a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest and the Mitsui Partners and their Affiliates, collectively, own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest (each condition set forth in clauses (i) and (ii), a Level Three Triggering Condition ), then each of the actions set forth in Subsections 6.5(d)(i) and 6.5(d)(iv) and, solely to the extent relating to periods after any continuing Level Four Triggering Condition or any continuing Level Three Triggering Condition (as applicable), 6.5(d)(iii), shall instead require a Level Three Approval; provided , further , that if at any time the GE Representative Partner and its Affiliates collectively own less than a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest and the Mitsui Partners and their Affiliates, collectively, own less than a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest (the Level Four Triggering Condition ), then each of the actions set forth in Subsections 6.5(d)(i) and 6.5(d)(iv) and, solely to the extent relating to periods after any continuing Level Four Triggering Condition or any continuing Level Three Triggering Condition (as applicable), 6.5(d)(iii), shall instead require a Level Four Approval:
(i) cause the Partnership Group to (A) incur indebtedness outside of the ordinary course of business, (B) incur indebtedness that is not pari passu in right of payment with the New Credit Agreement (or any replacement or successor revolving credit agreements pari passu in right of payment with the New Credit Agreement) or the senior notes of the Partnership and PTL Finance Corporation outstanding at the Effective Time or (C) grant any Liens with respect to any property of the Partnership Group other than: (I) such Liens granted in connection with the financing of the acquisition of vehicles (or, in the context of an acquisition by any member of the Partnership Group, existing Liens on real property so acquired) by the Partnership Group in the ordinary course of business, which Liens attach only to the vehicles (or, in the context of an acquisition by any member of the Partnership Group, existing Liens on real property so acquired) being acquired with the proceeds of the applicable financing, including any chattel paper, replacements, substitutes and proceeds thereof, as such terms are defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or (II) Liens permitted by the New Credit Agreement (or any replacement or successor revolving credit agreements pari passu in right of payment with the New Credit Agreement);
(ii) enter into any credit agreement, indenture, debt security or debt instrument (or any amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification thereto or waiver thereof) that would or (at such time the agreement or other instrument, or amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification thereto or waiver thereof, is executed), reasonably would be expected to restrict or prevent the exercise by the GE Partners, including any permitted successors or permitted assignees, of any rights, actions or transactions contemplated by Article 10 (without limiting the foregoing, any provision that would require the consent of creditors or their agents or representatives to such exercise in order to prevent acceleration or rapid amortization of indebtedness or would give creditors or their agents or representatives the right to accelerate or more rapidly amortize indebtedness in connection with such exercise being deemed to be expected to restrict or prevent such right, action or transaction);
(iii) determine the accounting methods and conventions to be used in, or any other method or procedure related to, the preparation of the Returns (as defined in Subsection 8.2(d)), and make any and all elections under the tax Laws of any jurisdiction as to the treatment of items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Partnership or file a Form 8832 - Entity Classification Election or in any other manner make or change an election under U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3(c)(1) or successor regulations to have the Partnership taxed as anything other than as a partnership for federal tax purpose;
(iv) (A) (I) subject to Section 6.7(c) below, cause the Partnership Group to (a) make acquisitions during any Partnership Year of (i) any stock or other equity interest in any other entity (including by purchase, merger or consolidation) or (ii) any assets of any other Person (other than in respect of the acquisition of new vehicles, the sale-and-leaseback (or sale-and-rentback) of vehicles, or the acquisition of vehicles for the purpose of disposition by the Partnership within a reasonable period of time, in each case in the ordinary course of business of the Partnership) or (b) redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any of the equity interests of any Subsidiary of the Partnership held by Persons other than the Partnership or any of the Partnerships wholly owned Subsidiaries (other than pro rata payments to all holders of the equity interests of any such Subsidiary) (clauses (a) and (b), collectively, Acquisitions ) which collectively (in respect of all such Acquisitions) have an enterprise value (which for purposes of this Section 6.5(d)(iv) shall take into account any indebtedness for borrowed money of any acquired entity or related assets and any redemption payments) in excess of $250,000,000 (in the aggregate), or (II) cause the Partnership to incur capital expenditures (other than in respect of vehicles) in any Partnership Year, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of an amount equal to the sum of (a) $10,000,000 and (b) 15% of facilities and equipment, net (excluding vehicles) as of the end of the immediately preceding Partnership Year as set forth in the Partnerships consolidated balance sheet for such immediately preceding Partnership Year;
(v) so long as the GE Partners collectively hold at least a five percent (5.0%) Percentage Interest, and so long as a GE Partner or one of its Affiliates is subject to compliance with the Volcker Rule (as defined below), cause, permit or suffer the Partnership or any entity in the Partnership Group to: (1) take any action or series of related actions as a result of which such entity could reasonably be expected to be (A) an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act, but for Section 3(c)(1) or
3(c)(7) of such Act or (B) a commodity pool that meets the criteria set forth in 12 C.F.R. § 248.10(b)(ii); (2) acquire or retain an interest of any kind in a Pooled Vehicle, unless a GE Partner or an Affiliate of a GE Partner determines in good faith, following consultation with counsel, that such acquisition or retention is permitted under Section 13 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (the so called Volcker Rule ) and the regulations and interpretations implementing the Volcker Rule; or (3) purchase or sell any financial instrument of any kind or character principally for the purpose of short term resale or benefitting from actual or expected short-term price movements, unless a GE Partner or an Affiliate of a GE Partner determines in good faith, following consultation with counsel, that such purchase or sale is permitted under the Volcker Rule and the regulations and interpretation implementing the Volcker Rule; and for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 6.5(d)(v) shall supersede or replace the requirement of any Level One Approval of the Advisory Committee pursuant to Section 6.5(c)(iv); or
(vi) so long as the GE Partners collectively hold at least a five percent (5.0%) Percentage Interest, cause, permit or suffer the Partnership or any entity in the Partnership Group to make any acquisition during any Partnership Year of any stock or other equity interest in any other entity (including by purchase, merger or consolidation) that would be subject to the prior notice requirements in 12 U.S.C. § 5363(b) (relating to prior Federal Reserve notice requirements in Section 163 of Dodd-Frank for the acquisition of ownership or control of any voting securities of a nonbank financial company with total consolidated assets of $10,000,000,000 or more).
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, other than Subsections 6.4(h), 6.5(c) and 6.5(d), the General Partner shall not have authority to do any of the following without a Level Three Approval:
(i) change the name of the Partnership or the name or names under which the Partnership conducts business; provided, however, that nothing in this Subsection 6.5(e)(i) shall be deemed to prevent the Partnership from ceasing to use the name Penske if and to the extent required by the Trade Name and Trademark Agreement;
(ii) subject to Section 6.7(c) below, cause the Partnership Group to make any Acquisitions which collectively (in respect of all such Acquisitions) have an enterprise value in excess of $100,000,000 but not in excess of $250,000,000 (in the aggregate) during any Partnership Year;
(iii) hire or terminate or modify the compensation of the manager of the internal audit staff contemplated by Subsection 6.4(g) or adopt its budget; or
(iv) for the sake of clarity, to the extent provided in the first paragraph of Subsection 6.5(d), if the Level Three Triggering Condition has occurred and is continuing, any other action that would otherwise require a Level Two Approval.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, other than Subsections 6.4(h), 6.5(c), 6.5(d) and 6.5(e), the General Partner shall not have authority to do any of the following without a Level Four Approval:
(i) adopt the annual budget and business plan of the Partnership Group;
(ii) materially change the Partnerships policies relating to credit approval levels;
(iii) appoint the senior officers of the Partnership;
(iv) subject to Subsection 6.7(c) below, cause the Partnership Group to make any Acquisitions which collectively (in respect of all such Acquisitions) have an enterprise value in excess of $10,000,000 but not in excess of $100,000,000 (in the aggregate) during any Partnership Year;
(v) raise equity capital solely through a capital call in accordance with Section 3.1 that satisfies the Capital Call Conditions (including any adjustment to the Percentage Interest of the Partners in connection therewith), and/or issue limited Partnership Interests to satisfy any Remaining Capital Call Deficiency in respect of such capital call;
(vi) declare or cause the Partnership to make any Discretionary Distributions to its Partners pursuant to Subsection 5.1(c); or declare or pay any dividend on or make any distribution on or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value any of the equity interests of any Subsidiary of the Partnership held by Persons other than the Partnership or any of the Partnerships wholly owned Subsidiaries except for pro rata payments to all holders of the equity interests of any such Subsidiary; or
(vii) for the sake of clarity, to the extent provided in the first paragraph of Subsection 6.5(d), if the Level Four Triggering Condition has occurred and is continuing, any other action that would otherwise require a Level Two Approval.
6.6 Other Activities . (a) Any Partner (other than the General Partner in such capacity) (the Interested Party ) may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, whether presently existing or hereafter created, and neither the Partnership nor any Partner (including the General Partner) other than the Interested Party shall have any rights in or to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Penske Corporation, PTLC, PAG or any of their respective Affiliates shall, at any time that (i) the aggregate Percentage Interests that the Penske Partners own exceed five percent (5%), (ii) any Penske Partner has the right to designate one or more members of the Advisory Committee, (iii) a Penske Partner is the General Partner or (iv) so long as PTL GP is the General Partner, a Penske Partner is the Managing Member of Holdings, and for a period of two (2) years after none of the conditions set forth in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) applies, directly compete with the Partnership (as such phrase is defined in Subsection 6.6(d) below) or acquire or possess any ownership interest (other than investments of less than two percent (2%) of any class of outstanding securities of a corporation or other entity) in any other entity which directly competes with the Partnership.
(c) (i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither GECC nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, at any time that the aggregate Percentage Interests that the GE Partners own exceeds five percent (5%) and for a period of two (2) years after the later of (x) the date upon which the GE Partners cease to own in excess of such five percent (5%) and (y) the date on which none of the GE Partners has the right to designate a member of the Advisory Committee, directly compete with the Partnership (as such phrase is defined in Subsection 6.6(d) below).
(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Mitsui nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, at any time that the aggregate Percentage Interests that Mitsui and its Subsidiaries, collectively, own exceeds five percent (5%) and for a period of two (2) years after the later of (x) the date upon which Mitsui and its Subsidiaries, collectively, cease to own in excess of such five percent (5%) and (y) the date on which MBK CV no longer has the right to designate a member of the Advisory Committee, directly compete with the Partnership (as such phrase is defined in Subsection 6.6(d) below).
(d) As used in this Section 6.6, the phrase directly compete(s) with the Partnership shall mean the active conduct and operation of a business engaged in the renting and full-service leasing (but not any other types of Leasing) and servicing of tractors, trailers and/or trucks to third party users, or in acting as a dedicated contract motor carrier, in each case in the United States of America or Canada. For the avoidance of doubt, and without implicitly agreeing that the following activities would be subject to the provisions of Subsections 6.6(b) or 6.6(c) above, (i) Penske Corporation, PTLC and/or PAG shall not be deemed to be in breach of Subsection 6.6(b), (ii) GECC shall not be deemed to be in breach of Subsection 6.6(c)(i), and (iii) Mitsui shall not be deemed to be in breach of Subsection 6.6(c)(ii), in each case, by virtue of any of Penske Corporation, PTLC, PAG or any of their respective Affiliates, GECC or any of its Subsidiaries, or Mitsui or any of its Subsidiaries, respectively, engaging in any of the following:
(A) contracting with, arranging for, or using any third party motor or other carriers, delivery services or logistics providers (whether for the benefit of Penske Corporation, PTLC, PAG or any of their respective Affiliates, GECC or any of its Subsidiaries, or Mitsui or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, or on behalf of any of the respective suppliers or customers of the foregoing Persons), in each case, in connection with the delivery of raw materials, inventory, or products that, in each case, are purchased, sold, financed or brokered, respectively, by Penske Corporation, PTLC, PAG or any of their respective Affiliates, GECC or any of its Subsidiaries, or Mitsui or any of its Subsidiaries or in respect of which such Person is acting as a freight forwarder;
(B) transportation of hydrocarbons, including crude oil, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas and oil products;
(C) conducting or operating any business primarily servicing specific infrastructure projects in which Penske Corporation, PTLC, PAG or any of their respective Affiliates, GECC or any of its Subsidiaries, or Mitsui or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, has investments from time to time;
(D) Leasing heavy equipment for construction or other industrial use, including dump trucks, loader cranes and aerial work platform; and
(E) Leasing railcars, providing transportation management and transportation route planning and other logistics services for transportation by railcars.
(e) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
(f) Subsection 6.6(b) above shall cease to be applicable to any Person (other than the General Partner and its Subsidiaries) at such time as it is no longer an Affiliate of Penske Corporation and shall not apply to any Person (other than the General Partner and its Subsidiaries) that purchases assets, operations or a business from Penske Corporation or one of its Affiliates, if such Person is not an Affiliate of Penske Corporation after such transaction is consummated.
(g) Subsection 6.6(c) above shall cease to be applicable to (i) any Person at such time as it is no longer a Subsidiary of GECC and shall not apply to any Person that purchases assets, operations or a business from GECC or one of its Subsidiaries, if such Person is not a Subsidiary of GECC after such transaction is consummated and (ii) any Person at such time as it is no longer a Subsidiary of Mitsui and shall not apply to any Person that purchases assets, operations or a business from Mitsui or one of its Subsidiaries, if such Person is not a Subsidiary of Mitsui after such transaction is consummated.
(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections 6.6(b) and 6.6(c) above, and without implicitly agreeing that the following activities would be subject to the provisions of Subsections 6.6(b) or 6.6(c) above, nothing in Subsection 6.6(b) or 6.6(c) above shall preclude, prohibit or restrict a Person whose conduct is restricted under Subsection 6.6(b) or 6.6(c) above (each a Restricted Person ) from engaging in any manner in any (i) Financial Services Business, (ii) Existing Business Activities, (iii) De Minimis Business or (iv) business activity that would otherwise violate Subsection 6.6(b) or 6.6(c) above, as applicable, that is acquired from any Person (an After-Acquired Business ) or is carried on by any Person that is acquired by or combined with a Restricted Person in each case after the Effective Time (an After-Acquired Company ); provided , that with respect to clauses (iii) and (iv), as applicable, so long as within 18 months (or such longer period agreed to by the General Partner, the GE Representative Partner and Mitsui) after the purchase or other acquisition of the After-Acquired Business or the After-Acquired Company or the loss by a Restricted Person of De Minimis Business status for its otherwise violative business activities if the restriction in Subsection 6.6(b) or (c) above with respect to the applicable Restricted Person has not terminated during such period, such Restricted Person, following the extension to the Partnership of the First Opportunity which does not result in an acquisition transaction with the Partnership, signs a definitive agreement to dispose, and subsequently disposes of the relevant portion of the business or securities of the After-Acquired Business or the After-Acquired Company or the otherwise violative business activity; or at the expiration of such 18-month period (or such longer period agreed to by the General Partner, the GE Representative Partner and Mitsui) the business of the After-Acquired Business or the After-Acquired Company or the otherwise violative business activity complies with Subsection 6.6(b) or Subsection 6.6(c) above, as applicable. With respect to clauses (iii) and (iv), as applicable, the applicable Restricted Person shall extend to the Partnership the first opportunity to potentially acquire the relevant portion of the business or securities of the Acquired Business or the Acquired Company or the otherwise violative business activity. The Restricted Person and the Partnership agree to enter into good faith discussions, for
a period of ninety (90) days after the Restricted Person notifies the Partnership of the transaction opportunity in writing, regarding the Partnerships potential acquisition of the relevant portion of the business or securities of the Acquired Business or the Acquired Company or the otherwise violative business activity (the First Opportunity ); provided , that the Partnership shall notify the Restricted Person as soon as practicable if it is not interested in vigorously pursuing the opportunity, which notice shall terminate the First Opportunity; provided , further that nothing herein shall (A) require the Restricted Party to Sell to the Partnership, or require the Partnership to acquire from the Restricted Party, the relevant portion of the business or securities of the Acquired Business or the Acquired Company or the otherwise violative business activity; or (B) prohibit or restrict any discussions or negotiations at any time with third parties to acquire the relevant portion of the business or securities of the Acquired Business or the Acquired Company. At any time following the expiration or termination of the First Opportunity, the Restricted Party may enter into definitive agreements to Sell, or subsequently Sell, the relevant portion of the business or securities of the Acquired Business or the Acquired Company; provided , that, if the applicable Restricted Person is an Affiliate of Penske Corporation, the terms and conditions of the Partnerships potential acquisition shall be presented to the Advisory Committee for discussion prior to the consummation of any Sale of the relevant portion of the business or securities of the Acquired Business or the Acquired Company.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any amendments, modifications or waivers to this Section 6.6 relating to activities of (x) Penske Corporation or any of its Affiliates, or GECC or any of its Subsidiaries or Mitsui or any of its Subsidiaries shall be approved in writing by the members of the Advisory Committee designated by the Partners holding a majority of the Partnership Interests not held by such parties seeking such amendment, modification or waiver to this Section 6.6, or (y) any Partner other than Penske Corporation or any of its Affiliates, GECC or any of its Subsidiaries, or Mitsui or any of its Subsidiaries shall be approved in writing by four (4) members of the Advisory Committee (including the GE Committee Member designated by the GE Representative Partner).
(j) Definitions:
(1) Capital Markets Activity means any activity undertaken in connection with efforts by any Person to raise for or on behalf of any Person capital from any public or private source.
(2) Default Recovery/Remarketing Activities means (i) the exercise of any rights or remedies in connection with any Capital Markets, Financing, Insurance, Leasing, Other Financial Services or Securities Activity (whether such rights or remedies arise under any agreement relating to such activity, under applicable Law or otherwise) including any foreclosure, realization or repossession or ownership of any collateral, business assets or other security for any Financing (including the equity in any entity or business), Insurance or Other Financial Services Activity or any property subject to Leasing or (ii) the remarketing (including any possession, ownership, Insurance, maintenance, transportation, shipment, storage, refurbishment, repair, sale, offer to sale, auction, consignment, liquidation, disposal, scrapping or other remarketing activities) of any collateral, business assets or other security for any Financing (including the equity in any entity or business), Insurance or Other Financial Services Activity or any property subject to Leasing.
(3) De Minimis Business means (a) any business activity that would otherwise violate Subsection 6.6(b) or Subsection 6.6(c) above that is carried on by an After-Acquired Business or an After-Acquired Company, but only if , at the time of such acquisition or thereafter at the end of each Partnership Year following such acquisition, the operating revenues (excluding non-operating revenues) derived from business that directly competes with the Partnership (as such phrase is defined in Subsection 6.6(d) above) by such After-Acquired Business or After-Acquired Company constitute less than $100,000,000 for the most recently completed fiscal year preceding such acquisition or at the end of any Partnership Year following such acquisition, or (b) any business activity conducted by Penske Corporation or any of its Affiliates, or GECC or any of its Subsidiaries, or Mitsui or any of its Subsidiaries that constitutes Business Activities Ancillary to its principal businesses.
(4) Existing Business Activities means, with respect to Penske Corporation or any of its Affiliates, any business conducted or investment held by Penske Corporation or any of its Affiliates on the date of this Agreement; and means, with respect to GECC or any of its Subsidiaries any business conducted or investment held by GECC or any of its Subsidiaries on the date of this Agreement; and means, with respect to Mitsui or any of its Subsidiaries, any business conducted or investment held by Mitsui or any of its Subsidiaries on the date of this Agreement, or, in each case, contemplated by any existing contractual arrangements applicable to Penske Corporation or any of its Affiliates, GECC or any of its Subsidiaries or Mitsui or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, on the date of this Agreement. It is acknowledged and agreed that neither the business operations conducted as of the date hereof by GE Capital Fleet Services or the commercial equipment finance businesses of GE Capital, nor any reasonable expansions of such business operations or extensions of such business operations (including by acquisition) which are reasonably and directly related to the businesses and operations of GE Capital Fleet Services or the commercial equipment finance businesses of GE Capital conducted as of the date hereof shall be deemed to directly compete with the Partnership for purposes of this Section 6.6. In addition, it is acknowledged and agreed that the business operations conducted as of the date hereof by the North American logistics business of Mitsui (as conducted by the Transfreight Group Companies) shall not be deemed to directly compete with the Partnership for purposes of this Section 6.6 unless and until the occurrence of the closing of the definitive agreement for the acquisition by PTL of such business. It is acknowledged and agreed that the following business operations and expansions shall not be deemed to directly compete with the Partnership for purposes of this Section 6.6 (x) the business operations conducted as of the date hereof by Mitsui Bussan Logistics Inc. or its Subsidiaries, and/or any reasonable expansions of such business operations or extensions of such business (including by acquisition) which are reasonably and directly related to the business and operations of Mitsui Bussan Logistics Inc. or its Subsidiaries conducted as of the date hereof and (y) the business operations conducted as of the date hereof by TRI-NET(JAPAN)INC. or its Subsidiaries, and/or any reasonable expansions of such business operations or extensions of such business (including by acquisition) which are reasonably and directly related to the business and operations of TRI-NET(JAPAN)INC. or its Subsidiaries conducted as of the date hereof.
(5) Financial Services Business means any activities undertaken principally in connection with or in furtherance of (i) any Capital Markets Activity, (ii) Financing, (iii) Leasing (other than Leasing activities that would constitute directly competing with the Partnership, as defined in Subsection 6.6(d) above), (iv) Default
Recovery/Remarketing Activities, (v) Other Financial Services Activities, (vi) any Securities Activity or (vii) the sale of Insurance, the conduct of any Insurance brokerage activities or services or the provision of Insurance advisory services, business processes or software. Financial Services Business also includes any investment or ownership interest in a Person through an employee benefit or pension plan.
(6) Financing means the making, entering into, purchase of, or participation in (including syndication or servicing activities) (i) secured or unsecured loans, conditional sales agreements, debt instruments or transactions of a similar nature or for similar purposes and (ii) non-voting preferred equity investments.
(7) Insurance means any product or service determined to constitute insurance, assurance or reinsurance by the Laws in effect in any jurisdiction in which the restriction set forth in Subsection 6.6(b) or 6.6(c) above applies.
(8) Leasing means the rental, leasing, or financing, in each case under operating leases, finance leases, capital leases, synthetic leases, leveraged leases, tax-oriented leases, non-tax-oriented leases, retail installment sales contracts, hire purchase or rental agreements, of property, whether real, personal, tangible or intangible.
(9) Other Financial Services Activities means the offering, sale, distribution or provision, directly or through any distribution system or channel, of any financial products, financial services, asset management services, including investments on behalf of Penske Corporation or any of its Affiliates, GECC or any of its Subsidiaries or Mitsui or any of its Subsidiaries purely for financial investment purposes, investments for the benefit of third party and client accounts, credit card products or services, vendor financing and trade payables services, back-office billing, processing, collection and administrative services or products or services related or ancillary to any of the foregoing.
(10) Securities Activity means any activity, function or service (without regard to where such activity function or service actually occurs) which, if undertaken or performed (i) in the United States would be subject to the United States federal securities Laws or the securities Laws of any state of the United States or (ii) outside of the United States within any other jurisdiction in which the restrictions set forth in Subsection 6.6(b) or Subsection 6.6(c) above apply, would be subject to any Law in any such jurisdiction governing, regulating or pertaining to the sale, distribution or underwriting of securities or the provision of investment management, financial advisory or similar services.
6.7 Transactions with Affiliates .
(a) Subject to Subsection 6.7(c), nothing in this Agreement shall preclude transactions between the Partnership and any Partner (including the General Partner) or an Affiliate or Affiliates of any Partner acting in and for its own account, provided that any services performed or products provided by or assets or properties sold by or to the Partner or any such Affiliates are services, products, assets and/or properties that the General Partner reasonably believes, at the time of requesting such services, products, assets and/or properties to be in the best interests of the Partnership, and further provided that the rate of compensation to be paid for
any such services, products, assets and/or properties shall be comparable to the amount paid for similar services, products, assets and/or properties under similar circumstances to independent third parties in arms length transactions, and further provided that the members of the Advisory Committee will receive a written notice within thirty days of the date on which any such transaction is entered setting forth the material terms of any transaction or series of related transactions described above for which the aggregate amount involved in such transaction or series of transactions, which includes the U.S. dollar value of the amounts involved throughout the duration of any agreements entered into with respect to such transaction(s), is greater than $15,000,000.
(b) All bills with respect to services provided to the Partnership by a Partner or any Affiliate of a Partner shall be separately submitted and shall be supported by logs or other written data.
(c) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.7, the General Partner shall not have the authority to enter into any commitment or agreement regarding, or to consummate, any Affiliate Acquisition or series of related Affiliate Acquisitions in respect of which the target assets, business(es) or company(ies) have an aggregate enterprise value (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account any direct or indirect indebtedness for borrowed money of any acquired entity or any related assets, including any such indebtedness assumed or prepaid) in excess of $15,000,000 without the approval of each Penske Committee Member and each member of the Advisory Committee that is not appointed by the Partner or Partners that are proposing to engage (or whose Affiliate or Affiliates are proposing to engage) in any such Affiliate Acquisition with the Partnership (or, in the absence of any such disinterested members of the Advisory Committee, all members of the Advisory Committee).
6.8 Mitsui Participation Rights .
(a) MBK CV (so long as the Mitsui Partners own, collectively, at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest) shall have the right to appoint a senior level management position selected by MBK CV and deemed as adequate by the General Partner directly reporting to the Chief Executive Officer of the Partnership (the Mitsui Partner Designee ).
(b) MBK CV (so long as the Mitsui Partners own, collectively, at least a ten (10%) Percentage Interest) shall have the right to send annually a person selected by MBK CV to be a trainee at the Partnership (the Mitsui Trainee ). The Mitsui Trainee shall be assigned from time to time, at the reasonable discretion of the General Partner, to various business units within the Partnership for the purpose of gaining a deep understanding of the Partnerships business practices and expanding his or her skills and knowledge with respect to the truck leasing, rental and logistics industries so that the Mitsui Trainee may assist the Mitsui Partners in identifying new opportunities to add value to the Partnership.
6.9 Exculpation .
Neither the General Partner (including for purposes of this Section 6.8 any Person formerly serving as the General Partner) nor any of its Affiliates nor any of their respective holders of partnership interests, shareholders, officers, directors, employees or agents shall be
liable, in damages or otherwise, to the Partnership or to any of the Limited Partners for any act or omission on its or his or her part, except for (i) any act or omission resulting from its or his or her own willful misconduct or bad faith, (ii) with respect to the General Partner only, any breach by the General Partner of its obligations as a fiduciary of the Partnership or (iii) with respect to the General Partner only, any breach by the General Partner of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The Partnership shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the General Partner or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective holders of partnership interests, members, shareholders, officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any claim or liability of any nature whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the assets or business of the Partnership, except where attributable to the willful misconduct or bad faith of such individual or entity or where relating to a breach by the General Partner of its obligations as a fiduciary of the Partnership or to a breach by the General Partner of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 7
COMPENSATION
The General Partner shall be entitled to reimbursement of all of its expenses attributable to the performance of its obligations hereunder, as provided in Article 4 hereof, to the extent permitted by Section 6.7. Subject to the Act, no amount so paid to the General Partner shall be deemed to be a distribution of Partnership assets for purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 8
ACCOUNTS
8.1 Books and Records . The General Partner shall maintain complete and accurate books of account of the Partnerships affairs at the Partnerships principal office, including a list of the names and addresses of all Partners. Each Partner shall have the right to inspect the Partnerships books and records (including the list of the names and addresses of Partners). Each of the Partners shall have the right to audit independently the books and records of the Partnership, any such audit being at the sole cost and expense of the Partner conducting such audit.
8.2 Reports, Returns and Audits .
(a) The books of account shall be closed promptly after the end of each Partnership Year. The books and records of the Partnership shall be audited as of the end of each Partnership Year by the Auditor. Within ninety (90) days after the end of each Partnership Year, the General Partner shall make a written report to each person who was a Partner at any time during such Partnership Year which shall include financial statements comprised of at least the following: a balance sheet as of the close of the preceding Partnership Year, and statements of earnings or losses, changes in financial position and changes in Partners capital accounts for the Partnership Year then ended, which financial statements shall be certified by the Auditor as in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The report shall also contain such additional statements with respect to the status of the Partnership business as are considered
necessary by any member of the Advisory Committee to advise any or all Partners properly about their investment in the Partnership. As soon as practicable after the end of each quarter in each Partnership Year, the Partnership shall deliver to PTLC, the GE Representative Partner, PAG and, so long as the Mitsui Partners, collectively, hold not less than a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest, MBK CV, a written report which shall include forecasts for the current quarter, including forecast changes in debt balance of the Partnership.
(b) Prior to August 15 of each year, each Partner shall be provided with an information letter (containing such Partners Form K-1 or comparable information) with respect to its distributive share of income, gains, deductions, losses and credits for income tax reporting purposes for the previous Partnership Year, together with any other information concerning the Partnership necessary for the preparation of a Partners income tax return(s), and the Partnership shall provide each Partner with an estimate of the information to be set forth in such information letter by no later than April 15 of each year. With the sole exception of mathematical errors in computation, the financial statements and the information contained in such information letter shall be deemed conclusive and binding upon such Partner unless written objection shall be lodged with the General Partner within ninety (90) days after the giving of such information letter to such Partner.
(c) The Partnership shall also furnish the Partners with such periodic reports concerning the Partnerships business and activities as are considered necessary by any member of the Advisory Committee or PAG to advise any or all Partners properly about their investment in the Partnership.
(d) The General Partner shall, in accordance with the advice of the Advisory Committee, prepare or cause to be prepared all federal, state and local tax returns of the Partnership (the Returns ) for each year for which such Returns are required to be filed, and shall cause all such Returns to be filed in a timely manner; provided however that it shall not file any Return without first providing the GE Representative Partner and, so long as the Mitsui Partners, collectively, hold not less than a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest, MBK CV, with a reasonable opportunity to review the Return and without first obtaining the consent of the GE Representative Partner to such filing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. To the extent permitted by Law, for purposes of preparing the Returns, the Partnership shall use the Partnership Year. Subject to Subsection 6.5(d)(iii), the General Partner may make any elections under the Code and/or applicable state or local tax Laws, and the General Partner shall be absolved from all liability for any and all consequences to any previously admitted or subsequently admitted Partners resulting from its making or failing to make any such election. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the General Partner shall make the election provided for in Section 754 of the Code with respect to the Partnership and any Partnership Subsidiary that is a partnership for federal tax purposes, if requested to do so by any Partner, without the need of approval of the Advisory Committee. Any allocation required under Section 755 of the code as a result of a Section 754 election shall be made by the General Partner acting in good faith; provided , that any such allocation relating to or with respect the Partnership Interests transferred by the GE Partners to the Mitsui Partners shall be approved by the Mitsui Partners, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(e) The General Partner shall be the tax matters partner of the Partnership within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code (the Tax Matters Partner ) and shall serve in any similar capacity under applicable Law. In any case in which more than one Partner is eligible under Regulations Section 301.6231(a)(7)-1(c), by reason of having been or being the General Partner, to be designated as the Tax Matters Partner for a given taxable year (each such Partner a TMP Eligible Partner ), the Tax Matters Partner designated for such year shall be selected by unanimous agreement among all such TMP Eligible Partners for such year. In the absence of unanimous agreement, the TMP Eligible Partner that was the General Partner on the last day of such taxable year shall be designated as the Tax Matters Partner for such taxable year. The GE Representative Partner and so long as the Mitsui Partners hold, collectively, not less than a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest, Mitsui and MBK CV (or, if MBK CV ceases to own any Partnership Interest, MBK USA CV), shall each be given at least fifteen (15) Business Days advance notice from the Tax Matters Partner of the time and place of, and the GE Representative Partner shall have the right to participate in, and MBK CV (or MBK USA CV, as applicable) shall have the right to review (but not participate in), (i) any administrative proceeding relating to the determination at the Partnership level of partnership items on which the Partners, rather than the Partnership, are taxable and (ii) any discussions with the Internal Revenue Service (or other governmental tax authority) relating to the allocations pursuant to Article 5 of this Agreement or the Corresponding Provision of any Prior Agreement. The Tax Matters Partner shall not initiate any action or proceeding in any court in its capacity as Tax Matters Partner, extend any statute of limitation, or take any other action contemplated by Sections 6222 through 6232 of the Code (or similar state, local or foreign Laws with respect to income or income-based taxes that apply to the Partners rather than the Partnership) if such initiation, extension or other action would legally bind any other Partner or the Partnership without (x) the approval of the GE Representative Partner which approval will not be unreasonably withheld or untimely delayed and (y) so long as the Mitsui Partners hold, collectively, not less than a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest, the review of MBK CV (or, if MBK CV ceases to own any Partnership Interest, MBK USA CV). The Tax Matters Partner shall from time to time upon request of any other Partner confer, and cause the Partnerships tax attorneys and accountants to confer, with such other Partner and its attorneys and accountants on any matters relating to a Partnership tax return or any tax election.
(f) The Partnership shall provide such other information as may be reasonably required for the Partners or their Affiliates to timely comply with applicable financial reporting requirements or their customary financial reporting practices and the Partnership shall continue to provide substantially the same accounting assistance to the Partners or their Affiliates as the Partnership provided to them for the 2014 Partnership Year including preparing quarterly accounting closing schedules at the end of each quarter of the Partnership Year. Additionally, the Partnership shall provide such other information as may be requested in good faith by the GE Partners or their Affiliates to establish or confirm ongoing compliance with their applicable financial regulatory requirements, including any such requirements that may be applicable to the Partnership itself or any other entity in the Partnership Group by reason of its relationship with any Partner. If any GE Partner or any Affiliate of any GE Partner determines in good faith, following consultation with counsel, that compliance with its applicable financial regulatory requirements under Section 13 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, requires that the Partnership implement a particular compliance program, the Partnership shall take reasonable steps to do so, cooperating in good faith with the GE Partner. If any GE Partner requests information pursuant to the second sentence of this Subsection 8.2(f) and (i) the
preparation or compilation of such information, including the format thereof, is outside the ordinary course of the Partnerships business and (ii) the out-of-pocket cost of the preparation and delivery of such information, or a resultant change of format for the delivery thereof, exceeds $1,000,000 in any calendar year, then the GE Partners will be responsible to pay to the Partnership all such out-of-pocket costs associated with the preparation, compilation and delivery of such information to the extent in excess of $1,000,000 for such calendar year.
8.3 Review Rights . Without limiting the provisions of Section 6.5(f)(i) above, not less than twenty-one days prior to the presentation of the annual budget and business plan of the Partnership Group to the Advisory Committee, the General Partner shall provide a draft thereof to each of the GE Representative Partner and MBK CV. During the twenty-one day period prior to the presentation of the annual budget and business plan of the Partnership Group to the Advisory Committee, each of the GE Representative Partner and MBK CV may review with the General Partner such annual budget and business plan, and may propose for consideration any recommendations thereto (which may or may not be accepted in the sole discretion of the General Partner). In addition to the foregoing, the members of the Advisory Committee designated by the GE Representative Partner and by MBK CV may make any comments to, raise any questions or make any recommendations to the annual budget and business plan of the Partnership Group presented to the Advisory Committee at any meeting of the Advisory Committee.
ARTICLE 9
TRANSFERS AND SALES
9.1 Transfer of Interests of General Partner and PTLC Consolidated Group . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article 9 or any other provision of this Agreement:
(a) The General Partner shall not withdraw from the Partnership or resign as General Partner or Transfer all or any portion of its general partner Partnership Interest, except in each case (i) as provided in Subsection 1.1(c), (ii) as a consequence of a Sale mandated by Subsection 9.4(a) or (iii) with the prior written approval of the Majority Limited Partners, the GE Representative Partner and MBK CV.
(b) The General Partner shall be liable to the Partnership for any Event of Withdrawal in violation of Subsection 9.1(a) above.
(c) PTL GP may not Sell all or any portion of its Partnership Interest, except in accordance with the Holdings LLC Agreement.
(d) For so long as members of the GECC Consolidated Group hold in the aggregate not less than a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest and for two (2) years after that is no longer the case, the PTLC Consolidated Group shall be required at all times to hold not less than a twenty-five percent (25%) Percentage Interest, except as a consequence of a Sale mandated by Subsection 9.4(a).
(e) Any voluntary or involuntary sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of, or any creation of a lien on, any of the equity interests in Holdings or PTL GP shall be deemed to be, and shall be treated as, a Transfer of Partnership Interests for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that any Liens granted under the PAG Security Agreement or the PTLC Security Agreement are authorized, and the granting of Liens on the equity interests, of Holdings or PTL GP (but not a Foreclosure or other exercise of remedies in respect of such Liens), that are permissible under the PAG Security Agreement or the PTLC Security Agreement, are permitted hereunder; and provided , further , that Sections 9.1 (except for this further proviso), 9.2 and 9.3 will not apply to any Sale of Collateral (as defined in the PAG Security Agreement or the PTLC Security Agreement) as authorized by such agreements or to any Third Party Sale or Equity Offering as defined in and contemplated by Article 10 of the Holdings LLC Agreement.
9.2 Transfer or Sale of Limited Partner Interests .
(a) Except (i) as permitted by the further provisions of this Section 9.2, (ii) as permitted by Section 9.3, (iii) as required by Section 9.4, (iv) in accordance with Article 10 or (v) in accordance with Sections 10.2 and 10.3 of the Holdings LLC Agreement, at all times subject to Section 9.1, commencing as of the Effective Time, no Limited Partner may Transfer all or any portion of its limited partner Partnership Interest to any Person.
(b) (i) Each of GE Truck Leasing Holdco, GE Logistics Holdco and GE Tennessee may Sell all or any portion of its Partnership Interests from time to time to any member or members of the GECC Consolidated Group, (ii) PTLC may Sell all or any portion of its limited partner Partnership Interests from time to time to any member or members of the PAG Consolidated Group or to any member or members of the PTLC Consolidated Group and (iii) the Mitsui Partners may Sell all or any portion of their limited respective Partnership Interests from time to time to any member or members of the Mitsui Consolidated Group.
(c) PAG may Sell all or any portion of its Partnership Interests from time to time to any member or members of the PTLC Consolidated Group or any member or members of the PAG Consolidated Group.
(d) In the event of any Sale pursuant to Subsection 9.2(b) or 9.2(c), if the assignee in such Sale shall cease at any time for any reason (other than as a result of a change in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles after the Effective Time) to be a member of the GECC Consolidated Group, the PTLC Consolidated Group, the PAG Consolidated Group or the Mitsui Consolidated Group, as the case may be, then such assignee shall concurrently with ceasing to be a member of the applicable Consolidated Group Sell such Partnership Interests to a Person that is a member of the applicable Consolidated Group.
(e) Prior to and as a condition to any Sale pursuant to Subsection 9.2(b) or 9.2(c) the assignee shall agree in writing with the Partnership to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement in the same manner as the assignor.
(f) PAG may, in connection with a bona fide financing from one or more third-party lenders (such lenders, or an agent or a representative therefor (a Bona Fide
Lender )), grant a security interest in, or otherwise pledge (the PAG Pledge ), to a Bona Fide Lender, PAGs share in the profits and losses of the Partnership and PAGs right to receive distributions of the Partnership solely with respect to all or any portion of its Percentage Interest as of the Effective Time in the Partnership, as such percentage has been or may be increased other than by virtue of a Transfer to PAG or any of its Subsidiaries of any additional Partnership Interest, unless the GE Representative Partner and PTLC agree otherwise (such portion of the limited partner Partnership Interests owned by PAG and so secured or pledged being referred to herein as the PAG Pledged Interest ) but, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) shall not include any indirect interest held by PAG in or through Holdings or PTL GP and (y) notwithstanding anything else herein, PAGs rights pursuant to this Subsection 9.2(f) shall not be Transferable to any assignee or otherwise, unless the GE Representative Partner and PTLC agree otherwise, it being understood and agreed that (i) prior to or upon any foreclosure or similar exercise of rights of the Bona Fide Lender pursuant to the terms of its security interest (a Foreclosure ) the Bona Fide Lender (or any transferee of the PAG Pledged Interest following any Foreclosure) shall only be entitled to receive distributions of cash or other property from the Partnership in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (and after a Foreclosure only to receive allocations of the income, gains, credits, deductions, profits and losses of the Partnership attributable to such PAG Pledged Interest after the effective date of such Foreclosure in accordance with the terms of this Agreement) and shall not at any time become a Partner (and shall not have any rights with respect to governance, voting, approvals, consents, observation or other management rights with respect to the Partnership, all of which shall remain with PAG) and (ii) upon a Foreclosure, PAGs rights with respect to governance, observation or other management rights with respect to the Partnership shall lapse and any and all voting, approval and consent rights of PAG attributable to the PAG Pledged Interest foreclosed upon shall be deemed made in proportion to the other Partners.
(g) The Mitsui Partners may, in connection with the Mitsui Co-Obligation Fee, Payment and Security Agreement entered into by the Mitsui Partners as of the date hereof (the Mitsui Co-Obligation Fee, Payment and Security Agreement ), grant a security interest in, or otherwise pledge (the Mitsui Pledge ) to GECC or any Affiliate thereof, the Mitsui Partners share in the profits and losses of the Partnership and the Mitsui Partners rights to receive distributions of the Partnership solely with respect to all or any portion of their limited partner Partnership Interests that are pledged pursuant to the terms of the Mitsui Co-Obligation Fee, Payment and Security Agreement as of the Effective Time (such portion of the limited partner Partnership Interests owned by the Mitsui Partners and so secured or pledged being referred to herein as the Mitsui Pledged Interest ). Notwithstanding anything else herein, none of Sections 9.1, 9.2 (except this sentence) or 9.3 shall apply to any Sale of the Mitsui Pledged Interest as authorized by the Mitsui Co-Obligation Fee, Payment and Security Agreement.
9.3 Right of First Offer .
(a) No Partner shall Transfer all or any portion of such Partners Partnership Interest except (i) as permitted by Section 9.2, (ii) as further permitted in this Section 9.3, (iii) as required by Section 9.4, (iv) in accordance with Article 10 or (v) in accordance with Sections 10.2 and 10.3 of the Holdings LLC Agreement, at all times subject to Section 9.1, or, for avoidance of doubt, Subsection 1.1(c).
(b) For purposes of this Section 9.3, members of the GECC Consolidated Group, members of the PTLC Consolidated Group, members of the PAG Consolidated Group and members of the Mitsui Consolidated Group shall each be deemed a single Partner.
(c) No Partner may Sell all or any portion of its Partnership Interest, unless (i) such portion of its Partnership Interest constitutes a Percentage Interest of at least five percent (5%) unless such Partner is selling all of its then-held Partnership Interests, taken as a whole, immediately prior to the consummation of such Sale and (ii) the consideration for such Sale consists solely of cash and/or a promissory note; provided , however , that if a promissory note shall form a portion of the consideration being offered by a third-party offeror, such note must (A) be issued by the party which proposes to acquire the Partnership Interest, (B) bear an interest rate not less than the then-current market rate for a note of such creditworthiness, terms and conditions and tenor and (iii) not represent more than fifty percent (50%) of the total amount of the consideration being offered for such Partnership Interest. In the event that (I) a Partner (other than (i) PTL GP or (ii) PTLC, in each case with respect to its general partner interest), proposes to Sell all or any portion of its Partnership Interest (an Initiated Offer ), or (II) a Partner shall have received an offer from a third party to acquire such Partners Partnership Interest (or such portion thereof) that the Partner proposes to accept (a Third-Party Proposed Sale ), then in either such event such Partner (the Offering Partner ) shall first offer (the Offer ) in writing (which Offer shall set forth the price and all other material terms of such proposed Sale, and, in the case of a Third-Party Proposed Sale, have attached to it a copy of such third partys written offer to purchase) to sell its Partnership Interest (or such portion thereof) (individually or collectively, the Offered Interest ) to the other Partners other than PTL GP (the Offeree Partners ) at the price and on the other financial terms specified in the Offer and on substantially the same terms (other than price and the other financial terms) as are set forth in the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of March 26, 2009 pursuant to which PTLC Holdings Co., LLC purchased a Partnership Interest from GE Logistics Holdco. A copy of such Offer shall also be provided to the General Partner at the same time as it is provided to the other Partners.
(d) Within sixty (60) days (or such longer period as the Offering Partner and the Offeree Partners may agree) after the date of the Offer each Offeree Partner must provide notice to the Offering Partner and the General Partner (the Response Notice ) that such Offeree Partner either (1) agrees to purchase its proportion, based on its Percentage Interests relative to the aggregate Percentage Interests held by all Offeree Partners (taking into account the interests held indirectly through PTL GP), of the Offered Interest at the offering price and on the other terms set forth in the Offer or at such other price and on such other terms as the Partners may agree or (2) declines to accept the Offer; provided that, if the Offering Partner is also proposing to Sell Member Interests concurrently to the same purchaser or affiliated group of purchasers, each Offeree Partner must either (x) agree to purchase its proportion of Member Interests and Partnership Interests, collectively, based on its Percentage Interest relative to the aggregate Percentage Interests held by all Offeree Partners for Partnership Interests as of the date of the Offer (taking into account the interests held indirectly through PTL GP), or (y) decline to accept the Offer for the offered Partnership Interests and Member Interests collectively, and the terms Offer and Offered Interest shall be deemed to include such offered Partnership Interests and Member Interests collectively.
(e) If the Response Notices of the Offeree Partners constitute an acceptance, collectively, for the entire Offered Interest, the parties will consummate the Sale of the Offered Interest at the time and in the manner set forth in Subsection 9.3(g) and 9.5(a). Unless otherwise agreed by the accepting Offeree Partners (the Accepting Partners ), the right to purchase the Offered Interest will be allocated among the Offeree Partners pro rata based on the relative Percentage Interests held by all Offeree Partners for Partnership Interests as of the date of the Offer. If the Response Notices of the Offeree Partners do not constitute an acceptance, collectively, for the entire Offered Interest, then at the end of the sixty (60) day period (as it may be extended pursuant to Subsection 9.3(d) above) (or, if earlier, when all Response Notices have been received) set forth in Subsection 9.3(d), the Offering Partner shall provide written notice to the Accepting Partners pursuant to which the Accepting Partners shall have the option to elect to purchase, for a period of thirty (30) days following the date of such notice, all (but not less than all) of the portion of the Offered Interest that the non-Accepting Partners did not elect to purchase, in proportion to the relative Percentage Interests (disregarding the Percentage Interests of the non-Accepting Partners) of such Accepting Partners (or on such other basis as the Accepting Partners determine) and on substantially the same terms and conditions described in Subsection 9.3(c).
(f) If (i) none of the Offeree Partners delivers a Response Notice (or the Offeree Partners otherwise decline to purchase all of the Offered Interest) within the sixty (60) day period (as it may be extended pursuant to Subsection 9.3(d) above) set forth in Subsection 9.3(d) or (ii) after the end of the thirty (30) day period set forth in Subsection 9.3(e), the Accepting Partners have not elected to purchase all of the Offered Interest, then in each case the Offeree Partners will be deemed to have declined to exercise their rights under this Section 9.3 and the Offering Partner shall, with respect to the Offered Interest only, have the right, if an Initiated Offer, to, at the Offering Partners sole expense, not violative of Law or Section 9.5(b), launch a confidential marketing process (which may include the engagement of financial advisors and other advisors to conduct a customary auction sale process in which potential buyers are required to enter into confidentiality agreements contemplated by clause (e) of Section 6.4(i)), and, if an Initiated Offer or a Third Party Proposed Sale, enter into negotiations with a third party or enter into a definitive agreement, to Sell the Offered Interest in respect of an Offer at the same or a higher price and upon terms and conditions that are no less favorable in the aggregate to the Offering Partner than as set forth in the Offer (other than those representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and other agreements customary for similar transactions) for a period of one-hundred eighty (180) days, which period may be extended as agreed upon by the Offering Partner and the Offeree Partners.
(g) If an Offeree Partner or Partners shall have accepted the Offer in accordance with Subsections 9.3(d) and (e), then the Offering Partner shall Sell the Offered Interest to the Accepting Partners (or to such nominees of the Accepting Partners as the Accepting Partners may specify in writing to the Offering Partner not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the closing of such purchase and Sale) and the Sale of the Offered Interest to the Accepting Partners (or such nominees, as the case may be) shall be consummated within ninety (90) days thereafter, which period shall if all other conditions to closing have been satisfied except for required regulatory approvals (and those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at closing), be extended, unless the Offering Partner and the Accepting Partners otherwise agree in writing, for as long as reasonably necessary in order to obtain such regulatory
approvals (until such time as it is determined that such approvals will not be obtained), at the principal office of the Partnership or such other location as the Offering Partner and the Accepting Partners (or their nominees) may agree, at which time the Offering Partner shall Sell to the Accepting Partners (or their nominees) the Offered Interest, free and clear of all Liens, claims, options to purchase and other restrictions of any nature whatsoever, except those set forth in this Agreement, against payment in cash of the purchase price therefor; provided, however, that in the event that the Accepting Partners (or their nominees) shall be purchasing the Offered Interest at the price set forth in the Offer pertaining thereto, and the terms of such Offer shall state that the third-party offeror offered to acquire the Offered Interest for consideration consisting of cash and (subject to the proviso to Subsection 9.3(c) above) a promissory note, then the Accepting Partners (or their nominees) shall pay to the Offering Partner the purchase price for the Offered Interest in cash, in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the amount of the purchase price which would have been paid in cash by the third-party offeror as set forth in the Offer, plus (ii) the principal amount of the promissory note which would have been delivered by the third-party offeror as set forth in the Offer.
(h) In the event that any proposed Sale of a Partnership Interest to a third party shall not have been consummated within the 90 days after the execution of the underlying definitive agreement referred to in Subsection 9.3(f) (which period shall, if all other conditions to closing have been satisfied except for required regulatory approvals (and those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at closing), automatically be extended for as long as reasonably necessary in order to obtain such regulatory approvals (until such time as it is determined that such approvals will not be obtained), any such proposed Sale, or any further proposed Sale, of such Partnership Interest shall again be subject to the provisions of this Section 9.3.
(i) Upon any Sale or exchange by PTLC and/or any of its Affiliates of one-hundred percent (100%) of the Partnership Interest then held by PTLC and its Affiliates (whether to the GE Representative Partner or any of its Affiliates or to one or more third parties), GE Tennessee (or an assignee of Partnership Interests held at the Effective Time by members of the GECC Consolidated Group which assignee shall have assumed the obligations under this Subsection 9.3(i)) shall pay or cause to be paid to PTLC, in cash, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $5,000,000 and (ii) the amount equal to the amount of federal income tax that would be due and payable by PTLC and/or its Affiliates, as the case may be, in respect of such Sale or exchange, determined as if the maximum marginal rate for corporations with respect to ordinary income or capital gains, as the case may be, as in effect in the year such Sale or exchange takes place, applied to such transaction, on the excess of (A) the gain recognized by PTLC and/or its Affiliates upon such Sale or exchange over (B) the excess of (1) the aggregate amount of the losses and deductions allocated to PTLC and/or any of its Affiliates from the inception of the Partnership through the date of such Sale or exchange pursuant to Section 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.6 of this Agreement or the Corresponding Provisions of any Prior Agreement over (2) the aggregate amount of the income and gains allocated to PTLC and/or any of its Affiliates from the date of inception of the Partnership through the date of such Sale or exchange pursuant to Sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.6 of this Agreement or the Corresponding Provisions of any Prior Agreement (the excess of such losses and deductions over such income and gains is sometimes hereinafter referred to as Net Losses ). For purposes of computing the amount of such federal income tax that would be due and payable in respect of such Sale or exchange, (x) both the Net Losses and the gain recognized by PTLC and/or its Affiliates upon such Sale or exchange shall be deemed to
have arisen in the same taxable year, and (y) all losses, deductions and credits allocated to PTLC and/or its Affiliate under Sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 and 5.6 of this Agreement shall be taken into account and no limitations shall apply or be deemed to apply to the use of such losses, deductions and credits. Such calculation shall initially be made by PTLC and shall be confirmed in writing to GE Tennessee (or the assuming assignee as aforesaid) by the Auditor before any payment shall be required to be made by or on behalf of GE Tennessee (or such assignee) under this Subsection 9.3(i).
(j) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 9.3, (i) the provisions of this Subsection 9.3 shall not restrict or otherwise apply to the Sale of Partnership Interests (x) effected pursuant to the IPO or (y) after the IPO that are effected pursuant to (I) a public offering under an effective registration statement or (II) Rule 144 under the Securities Act and (ii) no Transfer permitted under this Section 9.3 shall be offered or consummated in the absence of an effective registration statement covering the applicable Partnership Interest under the Securities Act, unless such Transfer is exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
9.4 Certain Changes of Control .
(a) In the event that (i) Penske Corporation, at any time and for any reason, either (A) shall have ceased to own, directly or indirectly, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the outstanding common stock or other voting securities of Penske Transportation Holdings Corp. and (1) in an election of directors for which proxies are not solicited under the Exchange Act, Penske Corporation and/or its Affiliates by vote of their own shares and shares for which they have obtained proxies from other shareholders, shall be unable to elect at least half of the directors of Penske Transportation Holdings Corp., or (2) in an election of directors for which proxies are solicited under the Exchange Act, proxies for management nominees and the vote of Penske Corporation and/or its Affiliates and other persons shall not have resulted in the election of management nominee directors who aggregate at least half of the directors elected, or (B) shall have ceased to own, directly or indirectly, at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding common stock or other voting securities of Penske Transportation Holdings Corp., or (ii) Penske Transportation Holdings Corp., at any time and for any reason, shall have ceased to own, directly or indirectly, and have voting control over at least eighty percent (80%) of the outstanding common stock or other voting securities of the PTLC Consolidated Group member or members then holding Partnership Interests (excluding PTL GP and Holdings from the PTLC Consolidated Group for this determination), then from and after the occurrence of any of the events specified in clauses (i)(A), (i)(B) and (ii) above, the GE Partners or any nominee(s) thereof shall have the right, but not the obligation (which right shall expire one hundred eighty (180) days from the date on which the GE Partners shall have received the notice referred to in the last sentence of this Subsection 9.4(a)), to purchase pro rata (determined by reference to the relative Percentage Interests then held by each them) from such holders and any of the members of the PAG Consolidated Group then holding Partnership Interests, one-hundred percent (100%) of their respective Partnership Interests and one-hundred percent (100%) of their respective Member Interests at a purchase price, payable in cash, to be determined as of the date the GE Partners shall advise PTLC, PAG and the Mitsui Partners of the GE Partners or its nominee(s)s decision to acquire one-hundred percent (100%) of the Partnership Interests and one-hundred percent (100%) of the Member Interests held by the PTLC Consolidated Group and the PAG
Consolidated Group pursuant to this Subsection 9.4(a) by means of the appraisal procedure set forth in Subsection 9.4(e) herein plus any additional amount payable pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 9.3(i). PTLC shall give prompt written notice to the GE Partners of the occurrence of any of the events specified in clauses (i)(A), (i)(B) or (ii) of this Subsection 9.4(a).
(b) In the event that GECC at any time and for any reason shall have ceased to own, directly or indirectly, and have voting control over eighty percent (80%) of the outstanding common stock or other voting securities of the GECC Consolidated Group member or members then holding Partnership Interests, then from and after the occurrence of such events, PTLC or any nominee(s) thereof shall have the right, but not the obligation (which right shall expire one hundred eighty (180) days from the date on which PTLC shall have received the notice referred to in the last sentence of this Subsection 9.4(b)), to purchase from such holders one-hundred percent (100%) of their respective Partnership Interests and one-hundred percent (100%) of their respective Member Interests at a purchase price, payable in cash, to be determined as of the date PTLC shall advise such holders of its or its nominee(s)s decision to acquire one-hundred percent (100%) of their respective Partnership Interests and one-hundred percent (100%) of their respective Member Interests pursuant to this Subsection 9.4(b) by means of the appraisal procedure set forth in Subsection 9.4(e). The GE Partners shall give prompt written notice to PTLC of the occurrence of any of the events specified in this Subsection 9.4(b).
(c) In the event that Mitsui at any time and for any reason shall have ceased to own, directly or indirectly, and have voting control over eighty percent (80%) of the outstanding common stock or other voting securities of the Mitsui Consolidated Group member or members then holding Partnership Interests, then from and after the occurrence of such events, PTLC (or the members of the PTLC Consolidated Group then holding Partnership Interests (the PTLC Beneficiary ), the GE Partners or any nominee(s) thereof shall have the right, but not the obligation (which right shall expire one hundred eighty (180) days from the date on which the PTLC Beneficiary and the GE Partners shall have received the notice referred to in the last sentence of this Subsection 9.4(c)), to purchase from such holders their pro rata portion (based upon the relative ownership of the Partnership Interests by the PTLC Beneficiary (which pro rata portion, solely for purposes of this Subsection 9.4(c) and Subsection 9.4(e), shall include the Partnership Interests owned by PAG) and the GE Partners) of the respective Partnership Interests of such Persons, or one-hundred percent (100%) of the respective Partnership Interests of such Persons if either the PTLC Beneficiary or the GE Partners, as applicable, does not elect to purchase its pro rata portion of such Partnership Interests, at a purchase price, payable in cash, to be determined as of the earlier date that either of the PTLC Beneficiary or the GE Partners shall advise such holders of its or its nominee(s)s decision to acquire its pro rata portion of the respective Partnership Interests of such Persons, or one-hundred percent (100%) of the respective Partnership Interests of such Persons, if either the PTLC Beneficiary or the GE Partners, as applicable, do not elect to purchase their pro rata portion of such Partnership Interests, pursuant to this Subsection 9.4(c), by means of the appraisal procedure set forth in Subsection 9.4(e). The Mitsui Partners shall give prompt written notice to the PTLC Beneficiary and the GE Partners of the occurrence of any of the events specified in this Subsection 9.4(c).
(d) In the event that any Penske Partner proposes to Transfer any portion of such Penske Partners Partnership Interest and, after giving effect to such Transfer (and any related series of Transfers by any Penske Partners) the Penske Partners and the Mitsui Partners
cease to own, collectively (directly or indirectly), more than a fifty percent (50%) Percentage Interest (the Triggering Transfer ), then in connection with such Triggering Transfer, the Mitsui Partners and the GE Partners will have the right to require the Transferring Penske Partner to cause the proposed transferee to purchase from the Mitsui Partners or the GE Partners (as applicable) a portion of the Partnership Interests of the Mitsui Partners or the GE Partners (as applicable) equal to (i) the Percentage Interest that the Mitsui Partners or the GE Partners (as applicable), directly or indirectly, own prior to giving effect to such transfer multiplied by (ii) the Partnership Interests being purchased in total, at the same purchase price and on the same terms and conditions as those applicable to the Transferring Penske Partner.
(e) If (A) the GE Partners or any nominee(s) thereof shall have elected in writing within the period specified in Subsection 9.4(a) to purchase one-hundred percent (100%) of the Partnership Interests and one-hundred percent (100%) of the Member Interests held by the PTLC Consolidated Group and the PAG Consolidated Group or (B) PTLC or any nominee(s) thereof shall have elected in writing within the period specified in Subsection 9.4(b) to purchase one-hundred percent (100%) of the Partnership Interests and one-hundred percent (100%) of the Member Interests held by the GECC Consolidated Group or (C) the PTLC Beneficiary, the GE Partners or any nominee(s) thereof shall have elected in writing within the period specified in Subsection 9.4(c) to purchase their pro rata portion of the Partnership Interests held by the Mitsui Consolidated Group, or one-hundred percent (100%) of the respective Partnership Interests of such Persons if either the PTLC Beneficiary or the GE Partners, as applicable, does not elect to purchase its pro rata portion of such Partnership Interests (based upon the relative ownership of the Partnership Interests by the PTLC Beneficiary and the GE Partners) (the Partnership Interests and Member Interests to be purchased hereinafter referred to as the Purchased Interest ), then (x) in the case of any exercise by the GE Partners of their option to acquire one hundred percent (100%) of the Partnership Interests and one hundred percent of the Member Interests held by the PTLC Consolidated Group and the PAG Consolidated Group, the Mitsui Partners shall be entitled to require the GE Partners to purchase one-hundred percent (100%) of the Partnership Interests held by the Mitsui Partners (at the same purchase price and on the same terms and conditions as the Partnership Interests held by the PTLC Consolidated Group and the PAG Consolidated Group) by delivering written notice thereof within 30 days of the final determination of the fair market value of the Purchased Interests in accordance with the procedures set forth in Subsection 9.4(e)(y) below, and (y) each of the PTLC Consolidated Group, the GE Consolidated Group (except with respect to any exercise by the PTLC Beneficiary, the GE Partners or any nominee of an election pursuant to Subsection 9.4(c)) and, solely in the case of an election pursuant to Subsection 9.4(c), each of the PTLC Consolidated Group and/or the GECC Consolidated Group, as applicable, and the Mitsui Consolidated Group shall engage, at its own expense, an investment banking firm or valuation firm (which term includes accounting firms) of recognized national standing and experience in matters of this type, to appraise the Purchased Interest. Such firms shall determine the fair market value of the Purchased Interest as of the date of the GE Partners or PTLCs, as applicable, notice referred to above. In reaching their determinations, such firms shall not take into account any control premium or non-controlling discount attributable to the Purchased Interest or the illiquid nature of an investment in the Purchased Interest. If the difference between the amount of the higher of such determinations and the amount of the lower of such determinations is not more than an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the amount of the higher of such determinations, then the determinations of all such firms shall be averaged. If the difference between the
respective amounts of such determinations is greater than an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the amount of the higher of such determinations, then, in lieu of averaging such determinations, such firms shall jointly select an independent investment banking or valuation firm (which term includes accounting firms) of recognized national standing and experience in matters of this type, in each case, to determine the fair market value of the Purchased Interest, which determination shall not take into account any control premium, non-controlling discount or the illiquid nature of an investment therein as aforesaid. The costs and expenses of any such independent investment banking or valuation firm shall be borne equally by the GE Partners and the PTLC Beneficiary (except with respect to any exercise by the PTLC Beneficiary, the GE Partners or any nominee of an election pursuant to Subsection 9.4(c)) and, solely in the case of an election pursuant to Subsection 9.4(c), the PTLC Beneficiary and/or the GE Partners, as applicable, and the Mitsui Partners. Each applicable Partner agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the appraising firms to complete their appraisals pursuant to this Subsection 9.4(e) as promptly as practicable. Upon the determination of the fair market value of the Purchased Interest by such independent firm, the two highest determinations of the fair market value of the Purchased Interest shall be averaged, which amount shall be the purchase price referred to in Subsection 9.4(a), 9.4(b) or 9.4(c). For the avoidance of doubt, if the Mitsui Partners elect to require the GE Partners to purchase one-hundred percent (100%) of the Partnership Interests held by the Mitsui Partners, such purchase and sale shall be at the same purchase price and on the same terms and conditions as the corresponding purchase and sale of the Partnership Interests of the Partnership Interests of the PTLC Consolidated Group and the PAG Consolidated Group.
9.5 Certain General Provisions .
(a) Any amounts payable in cash by any party pursuant to Subsection 9.3 or Subsection 9.4 shall be effected by means of wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account or accounts in the United States as the payee shall specify not less than one (1) Business Day prior to the date on which such payment is to occur.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Subsection 9.2, 9.3 or 9.4, in the event that the acquisition by a Person of a Partnership Interest pursuant to any such provision would result in the Partnership ceasing to enjoy the status of a limited partnership under Delaware Law, then such Person shall not effect such acquisition, but such Person may effect the acquisition through an Affiliate of such Person or member of such Persons consolidated group if such acquisition eliminates the cessation of the Partnerships enjoying the status of a limited partnership under Delaware Law.
(c) The Limited Partners agree, upon request of the General Partner, to execute such certificates or other documents and perform such acts as the General Partner reasonably deems appropriate to preserve the status of the Partnership as a limited partnership, upon or after the completion of any Transfer of any Partnership Interest, under Delaware Law.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) in the event of the consummation of any Sale by any GE Partner of all or any portion of its Partnership Interests in accordance with this Article 9, the transferring GE Partner may Sell (A) the rights of the GE Representative Partner under Subsections 6.4(a) and 6.4(e) to designate and replace a
member of the Advisory Committee that it is then entitled to so designate and replace or (B) the rights to designate and replace the GE Representative Partner under Section 6.4(e), provided that such Sale is accompanied by the Sale to the same third party of the right of the GE Representative Partner under Subsections 6.4(a) and 6.4(e) to designate and replace a member of the Advisory Committee; or (ii) in the event of any Sale of a Partnership Interest permitted by this Agreement, the transferring GE Partner or PTLC may Sell its purchase rights under Subsection 9.4(a) or Subsections 9.4(b) and (c), respectively. For the avoidance of doubt, the GE Representative Partner may Sell its right to designate and replace a member of the Advisory Committee to another member of the GECC Consolidated Group, subject to Subsection 9.2(d).
(e) Any transferee of a Partnership Interest that (i) acquires a Percentage Interest of at least ten percent (10%), (ii) has the right to designate and replace a member of the Advisory Committee pursuant to this Agreement or (iii) has the right to direct the vote of a member of the Advisory Committee shall be required to enter into a noncompetition covenant on substantially the same terms as the restrictions on GECC and its Subsidiaries set forth in Subsection 6.6(c).
(f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, in the event of any Sale of a Partnership Interest permitted by this Agreement, the transferor Partner shall not cease to be a Partner or be deemed to have withdrawn as a Partner, until the transferee of such Partnership Interest shall have been admitted as a Partner pursuant to Section 9.10 below.
9.6 Allocation of Profits, Losses and Distributions Subsequent to Sale . All Profits, Losses, or any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit of the Partnership attributable to any Partnership Interest acquired by reason of any Sale of such Partnership Interest (i) that are allocable, in accordance with Subsection 5.5(c) to the portion of the Partnership Year ending on the effective date of the Sale shall be allocated, and any distributions made with respect thereto shall be distributed, to the transferor, and (ii) that are allocable, in accordance with Subsection 5.5(c), to subsequent periods shall be allocated, and any distributions made with respect thereto shall be distributed, to the transferee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (x) GE Capital Memco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a former Limited Partner of the Partnership shall be entitled to receive (and the Partnership shall pay directly to it), in respect of the Percentage Interest held by it prior to the date hereof, all distributions made pursuant to Subsection 5.1(b) for the 2014 Subject Year payable in respect of such Percentage Interest, and (y) the Mitsui Partners shall be entitled to receive, in respect of their Percentage Interests, all distributions for the 2015 Subject Year that are unpaid as of the Effective Time, if any, and any future distributions in respect of any prior Subject Year other than distributions made pursuant to Subsection 5.1(b) for the 2014 Subject Year.
9.7 Death, Incompetence, Bankruptcy, Liquidation or Withdrawal of a Limited Partner . The death, incompetence, Bankruptcy, liquidation or withdrawal of a Limited Partner shall not cause (in and of itself) a dissolution of the Partnership, but the rights of such a Limited Partner to share in the Profits and Losses of the Partnership, to receive distributions and to assign its Partnership Interest pursuant to this Article 9, on the happening of such an event, shall devolve on its beneficiary or other successor, executor, administrator, guardian or other legal representative for the purpose of settling its estate or administering its property, and
the Partnership shall continue as a limited partnership. Such successor or personal representative, however, shall become a substituted limited partner only upon compliance with the requirements of Section 9.10 with respect to a transferee of a Partnership Interest. The estate of a Bankrupt Limited Partner shall be liable for all the obligations of the Limited Partner.
9.8 Satisfactory Written Assignment Required . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, both the Partnership and the General Partner shall be entitled to treat the transferor of a Partnership Interest as the absolute owner thereof in all respects, and shall incur no liability for distributions of cash or other property made in good faith to it, until such time as a written assignment or other evidence of the consummation of a Sale that conforms to the requirements of this Article 9 and is reasonably satisfactory to the General Partner has been received by and recorded on the books of the Partnership, at which time the Sale shall become effective for purposes of this Agreement.
9.9 Transferees Rights . Any purported Transfer of a Partnership Interest which is not in compliance with this Agreement shall be null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever. A permitted transferee of any Partnership Interest pursuant to Section 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4 or 9.7 hereof shall be entitled to receive, in accordance with Section 9.6, allocations of Profits, Losses, or other items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit of the Partnership attributable to such Partnership Interest and allocable to periods after the effective date of the Sale, and distributions of cash or other property from the Partnership made with respect to periods after the effective date of the Sale, subject, in each case, to the last sentence of Section 9.6, but shall not become a Partner unless and until admitted pursuant to Section 9.10 hereof.
9.10 Transferees Admitted as Partners . The assignee or transferee of any Partnership Interest shall be admitted as a Partner only upon the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) A duly executed and acknowledged written instrument of Sale, in a form reasonably acceptable to the General Partner, and either a copy of this Agreement duly executed by the transferee or an instrument of assumption in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the General Partner setting forth the transferees agreement to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement have been delivered to the Partnership.
(b) The transferee has paid any fees and reimbursed the Partnership for any expenses paid by the Partnership in connection with the Sale and admission.
The effective date of an admission of an assignee of a Partner and the withdrawal of the transferring Partner, if any, shall be the first day which is the last Business Day of a calendar month to occur following the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions, except as otherwise may be agreed by all the Partners in writing.
9.11 Change of Control Rights . In addition to any other approval required under the Act, any Change of Control of the Partnership (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the changes contemplated by Subsection 1.1(c)) shall be subject to approval by MBK CV (so long as the Mitsui Partners, collectively, own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest) and
the GE Representative Partner (so long as the GE Representative Partner and its Affiliates collectively own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest).
ARTICLE 10
EXIT/ IPO RIGHT
10.1 IPO Notice .
(a) On or after December 31, 2017, any Exercising Partner will have the right to deliver a written demand to the General Partner and the other Partners that an IPO (the IPO Notice ) be effected in accordance with the provisions of this Article 10 and, if applicable, to effect the registration of all or any portion of the Exercising Partners Securities (which may include any of such Partners Affiliates identified in such IPO Notice) in such IPO. Except as expressly provided below, each of the other Partners agrees to use all reasonable best efforts to effect such IPO. Upon receipt of such IPO Notice, promptly and in any event within the sixty (60) day period thereafter, the Exercising Partner and the Non-Exercising Partner (and their respective advisors) will meet from time to time at mutually agreeable times and locations to attempt to decide jointly in good faith on an appropriate transaction structure for such IPO. In such meetings, the Exercising Partner and the Non-Exercising Partner (and their respective advisors) will review, analyze and discuss the economic and tax impacts of potential transaction structures and will consider a transaction structure similar to the Barnes & Noble transaction (commonly referred to as an UPREIT structure ) and appropriate opinion(s) (if any) of a nationally recognized law firm or accounting firm with respect to potential transaction structures. In addition to the foregoing, the Exercising Partner and the Non-Exercising Partner shall consult with MBK CV regarding the structuring of any IPO and shall consider in good faith any suggestions of MBK CV in connection therewith.
(b) If the Exercising Partner, the Non-Exercising Partner and MBK CV are unable to agree on a transaction structure for such IPO within such sixty (60) day period (or such longer period as they may mutually agree), the Exercising Partner will have the right, within the thirty (30) day period following such sixty (60) day period, to deliver a written demand to the General Partner and the other Partners that such IPO shall utilize the transaction structure set forth in such notice (the IPO Demand Notice ). Within sixty (60) days thereafter, the Non-Exercising Partner will have the right to object to such IPO Demand Notice by delivering a written notice to such effect to the Exercising Partner and the other Partners based solely on the Non-Exercising Partners conclusion that the consummation of such IPO (utilizing the transaction structure set forth in the IPO Demand Notice) could be reasonably expected to result in material adverse tax impacts on the Non-Exercising Partner or its Parent Company as well as the basis for such objection (with such basis set forth in reasonable detail in writing if practicable) (the IPO Rebuttal ). If an IPO Rebuttal is received, for the thirty (30) day period following receipt thereof, the Exercising Partner will have the opportunity to (i) object to such IPO Rebuttal on the basis that the proposed transaction structure set forth therein would not constitute such a material adverse tax impact and/or (ii) propose an alternate transaction structure(s) for the IPO that would not result in material adverse tax impacts on the Non-Exercising Partner or its Parent Company (the Alternative Structure or Alternative Structures ). If a valid Alternative Structure is proposed within such thirty (30) day period (or
such longer period as the Exercising Partner and the Non-Exercising Partner may mutually agree), then the IPO Consummation Obligation will continue by utilizing such Alternative Structure, provided that the Alternative Structure would not have material adverse tax impacts on the Non-Exercising Partner or its Parent Company. The Partners hereby agree that in no event will indemnification be required for any potential adverse tax impacts arising in connection with the consummation of an IPO or the utilization of any transaction structure.
(c) Subject to Subsections 10.1(a) and 10.1(b), commencing one year from the date of the initial IPO Notice, the General Partner and the Partnership shall take all reasonable best efforts to pursue an IPO to be consummated as soon as practicable thereafter (the IPO Consummation Obligation ). The time period for commencement or consummation of the IPO pursuant to the IPO Consummation Obligation may be delayed upon receipt of a manually signed approval of a duly authorized officer of the Exercising Partner to such effect.
(d) If an IPO is consummated pursuant to this Section 10.1, all of the Partners shall have the right to participate pro rata in such IPO in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if the IPO is consummated on or before June 18, 2019 ( i.e. , the date of maturity of the Company Bonds (as defined in the Holdings LLC Agreement)), or on a later date on which the Company Bonds continue to be outstanding, and the GE Partners, the Mitsui Partners or the Penske Partners desire to participate as selling equityholders in the IPO (the Selling Interests ), then, with respect to the Selling Interests, the GE Partners, the Mitsui Partners and the Penske Partners will have the right to demand that the Partnership give first priority to: (i) in the case of the Penske Partners, Partnership Interests held by the Penske Partners with a value of up to $350,700,000 (i.e., 50.1% of the $700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company Bonds), (ii) in the case of the GE Partners, Partnership Interests held by the GE Partners with a value of up to the GE Priority Amount, and (iii) in the case of the Mitsui Partners, Partnership Interests held by the Mitsui Partners with a value of up to the Mitsui Priority Amount.
(e) For the avoidance of doubt, the transactions contemplated by this Section 10.1 shall not be subject to Sections 9.2 and 9.3.
(f) In the event that an IPO is abandoned or otherwise not consummated pursuant to this Section 10.1, and a transaction structure proposed for such IPO had been subject to the review and discussion process in Subsections 10.1(a) and 10.1(b), during which it was agreed or determined that such transaction structure would not have material adverse tax impacts on the Non-Exercising Partner or its Parent Company (an Approved IPO Structure ), either Exercising Partner will have the right to deliver an IPO Notice with respect to such Approved IPO Structure and the Non-Exercising Partner will have the right, within the sixty (60) day period following the delivery of such IPO Notice, to deliver an IPO Rebuttal based solely on its conclusion that such Approved IPO Structure could reasonably be expected to result in material adverse tax impacts on the Non-Exercising Partner or its Parent Company when compared to the tax impacts existing at the time such transaction structure was previously determined not to have material adverse tax impacts on the Non-Exercising Partner or its Parent Company. If such IPO Rebuttal is delivered, then the Exercising Partner and the Non-Exercising Partner shall then follow the procedures set forth in Subsection 10.1(b) with respect to such IPO Notice. If no such
IPO Rebuttal is timely delivered to the Exercising Partner, then the IPO Consummation Obligation will continue by utilizing such Approved IPO Structure.
(g) In the event that an IPO is abandoned or otherwise not consummated pursuant to this Section 10.1, and (i) the last transaction structure proposed by the Exercising Partner and discussed under Subsections 10.1(a) and (b) would have had material adverse tax impacts on the Non-Exercising Partner or its Parent Company, (ii) an Approved IPO Structure did not exist, or (iii) the Exercising Partner desires to pursue a transaction other than an Approved IPO Structure, then, notwithstanding the first sentence of Subsection 10.1(a), neither the Exercising Partner nor the non-Exercising Partner will have the right to deliver a new IPO Notice until on or after the first anniversary of the date of the most recent IPO Notice. Such IPO Notice will be subject to the process set forth in Subsections 10.1(a) and 10.1(b), except that the sixty (60) day periods therein shall be thirty (30) day periods for any such subsequent IPO Notice.
(h) No Exercising Partner shall have the right to deliver an IPO Notice during the pendency of discussions pursuant to this Section 10.1 concerning a previously delivered IPO Notice.
(i) For the avoidance of doubt, the Exercising Partner, the Non-Exercising Partner and the Mitsui Partners agree that in connection with any IPO, such Partners shall agree on a mutually acceptable structure therefor, including by making amendments to this Agreement to reflect appropriate governance rights for the Partners in a public company structure at such time; provided, however, that any such governance rights included in this Agreement at the time of such IPO shall not be materially and disproportionately detrimental to the Mitsui Partners relative to the other Limited Partners (taking into account the Percentage Interests held by the Limited Partners).
10.2 Partnership Restructuring in connection with IPO . Subject to Subsection 10.1(a), commencing one year from the date of receipt of the IPO Notice by the General Partner, the GE Partners and PTLC shall meet to discuss restructuring the Partnership in order to effect an IPO with the most favorable tax treatment possible and each of the General Partner, the GE Partners and PTLC shall use reasonable best efforts to devise and effect such restructuring.
10.3 IPO Alternative . Upon receipt of the IPO Notice, the GE Partners or Penske Partners, as applicable, will have the option to simultaneously seek a purchaser of the Partnership Interests and Member Interests held by the Exercising Partner. If such interests are not purchased pursuant to a purchase agreement executed and delivered to the Partnership by another Person at a price acceptable to the Exercising Partner(s) in its sole discretion by the first anniversary of the date of the IPO Notice, then the Exercising Partner or other Partners will have the right to participate in the IPO in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement. Any Sale of Partnership Interests pursuant to this Section 10.3 shall not be subject to the provisions of Article 9.
ARTICLE 11
DISSOLUTION
11.1 Events of Dissolution . The Partnership shall continue until December 31, 2030, or such later date as PTLC, the GE Representative Partner (so long as the GE Representative Partner and its Affiliates collectively own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest) and MBK CV (so long as the Mitsui Partners, collectively, own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest) may agree, unless sooner dissolved upon the earliest to occur of the following events, which shall cause an immediate dissolution of the Partnership:
(a) the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Partnerships assets;
(b) the withdrawal, resignation, filing of a certificate of dissolution or revocation of the charter or Bankruptcy of the General Partner or the occurrence of any other event which causes the General Partner to cease to be a general partner of the Partnership under the Act, except as contemplated by Section 1.1 (each an Event of Withdrawal ); provided , however , that upon the occurrence of an Event of Withdrawal of the General Partner, the Partnership shall not be dissolved and its business shall not be required to be wound up if within 90 days after such Event of Withdrawal all the Limited Partners then holding a majority of the Partnership Interests (exclusive of any Partnership Interest then held by members of the PTLC Consolidated Group) agree in writing to continue the business of the Partnership and to the appointment, effective as of the occurrence of such Event of Withdrawal, of one or more successor general partners of the Partnership, each of whom is hereby authorized to continue the business of the Partnership; or
(c) such earlier date as PTLC, the GE Representative Partner (so long as the GE Representative Partner and its Affiliates collectively own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest) and MBK CV (so long as the Mitsui Partners, collectively, own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest) elect.
11.2 Final Accounting . Upon the dissolution of the Partnership and the failure to continue the Partnership as provided in Section 11.1 hereof, a proper accounting shall be made by the Partnerships Auditor from the date of the last previous accounting to the date of dissolution.
11.3 Liquidation . Upon the dissolution of the Partnership and the failure to continue the Partnership as provided in Section 11.1 hereof, the General Partner or, if there is no General Partner, a person approved by PTLC, the GE Representative Partner (so long as the GE Representative Partner and its Affiliates collectively own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest) and MBK CV (so long as the Mitsui Partners, collectively, own at least a ten percent (10%) Percentage Interest), shall act as liquidator to wind up the Partnership. The liquidator shall have full power and authority to sell, assign and encumber any or all of the Partnerships assets and to wind up and liquidate the affairs of the Partnership in an orderly and business-like manner. All proceeds from liquidation shall be distributed in the following orders of priority: (a) to the payment and discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Partnership
(other than liabilities for distributions to Partners) and expenses of liquidation, (b) to the setting up of such reserves as the liquidator may reasonably deem necessary for any contingent liability of the Partnership (other than liabilities for distributions to Partners), and (c) the balance to the Partners in accordance with their Capital Accounts after adjustment to reflect all Profit and Loss for the Partnership Year in which such liquidation occurs.
11.4 Cancellation of Certificate . Upon the completion of the distribution of Partnership assets as provided in Section 11.3 hereof, the Partnership shall be terminated and the person acting as liquidator shall cause the cancellation of the Certificate and shall take such other actions as may be necessary or appropriate to terminate the Partnership.
ARTICLE 12
INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS
12.1 Investment Purpose . Each Limited Partner represents and warrants to the Partnership and to each other Partner that it has acquired its limited partner interest in the Partnership for its own account, for investment only and not with a view to the distribution thereof, except to the extent provided in or contemplated by this Agreement.
12.2 Investment Restriction . Each Partner recognizes that (a) the limited partner interests in the Partnership have not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance upon an exemption from such registration, and agrees that it will not Transfer its limited partner interest in the Partnership (i) in the absence of an effective registration statement covering such limited partner interest under the Securities Act, unless such offer or Transfer is exempt from registration for any proposed sale, and (ii) except in compliance with all applicable provisions of this Agreement, and (b) the restrictions on transfer imposed by this Agreement may severely affect the liquidity of an investment in limited partner interests in the Partnership.
ARTICLE 13
NOTICES
13.1 Method of Notice . Any notice or request hereunder may be given to any Partner at their respective addresses/ numbers set forth below or at such other address/ number as may hereafter be specified in a notice designated as a notice of change of address under this Section. Any notice or request hereunder may be given by (a) hand delivery, (b) overnight courier, (c) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or (d) electronic transmission or facsimile (or such other e-mail address or number as may hereafter be specified in a notice designated as a notice of change of address), with electronic confirmation of its receipt and subsequently confirmed by registered or certified mail or overnight courier. Any notice or other communication required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed given (i) when personally delivered to any officer of the party to whom it is addressed, (ii) on the earlier of actual receipt thereof or five (5) Business Days following posting thereof by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, (iii) upon actual receipt thereof when sent by a recognized overnight delivery service or (iv) upon actual receipt thereof when sent by electronic transmission or by facsimile to the address or number set forth below with electronic
confirmation of its receipt, in each case, addressed to each party at its address set forth below or at such other address as has been furnished in writing by a party to the other by like notice, provided, that in order for an electronic transmission to constitute proper notice hereunder, such electronic transmission must specifically reference this Section 13.1 and state that it is intended to constitute notice hereunder:
(1) |
If to PTLC at: |
Penske Truck Leasing Corporation
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with a copy to: |
Penske Truck Leasing Corporation
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and a copy to |
Penske Corporation
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(2) |
If to PTL GP at: |
c/o Penske Truck Leasing Corporation
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with a copy to: |
c/o Penske Truck Leasing Corporation
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and a copy to |
Penske Corporation
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(3) |
If to PAG at: |
Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
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with a copy to: |
Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
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(4) |
If to GE Truck Leasing |
GE Capital Truck Leasing Holding Corp. |
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Leasing Holdco at: |
901 Main Avenue 3
rd
Floor
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with a copy to |
GE Capital Truck Leasing Holding Corp.
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(5) |
If to GE Logistics |
Logistics Holding Corp. |
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Holdco at: |
1209 Orange Street
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with a copy to |
Logistics Holding Corp.
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(6) |
If to GE Tennessee at: |
General Electric Credit Corporation of Tennessee
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with a copy to |
General Electric Credit Corporation of Tennessee
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(7) |
If to MBK CV at: |
MBK Commercial Vehicles Inc.
Nippon Life Marunouchi Garden Tower 1-3, Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan Attention: Fumiaki Miyamoto General Manager First Motor Vehicles Div. Facsimile: +81 3-3285-9005 |
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with a copy to |
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
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(8) |
If to MBK USA CV at: |
MBK USA Commercial Vehicles Inc.
Nippon Life Marunouchi Garden Tower |
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1-3, Marunouchi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan Attention: Fumiaki Miyamoto General Manager First Motor Vehicles Div. Facsimile: +81 3-3285-9005 |
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with a copy to |
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
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13.2 Computation of Time . In computing any period of time under this Agreement, the day of the act, event or default from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the period so computed shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which event the period shall run until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or non-Business Day.
ARTICLE 14
GENERAL PROVISIONS
14.1 Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof prospectively from the Effective Time. For preclusion of doubt, this Agreement does not modify or amend any rights or obligations of the Partnership or any Partners with respect to events or circumstances arising or existing prior to the Effective Time, which matters will continue to be governed by the agreement of limited partnership of the Partnership in effect at the applicable time, and does not waive or release any claim of a Partner or the Partnership with respect to any event or circumstance arising or existing prior to the Effective Time.
14.2 Amendment; Waiver . The written approval of all of the Partners shall be required with respect to any amendment of this Agreement that would have either a disproportionate or a material adverse effect on the rights or obligations of any Partner; all other amendments shall require the approval of the General Partner and Majority Limited Partners. For the avoidance of doubt, distributions and allocations to the Partners are deemed material for the purposes of the preceding sentence. No rights under this Agreement shall be waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the party sought to be charged with such waiver. The General Partner shall give written notice to all Partners promptly after any amendment has become effective.
14.3 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the provisions, policies or principles thereof relating to choice or conflict of Laws.
14.4 Binding Effect . Except as provided otherwise herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and permitted assigns.
14.5 Separability . Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
14.6 Headings . The section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
14.7 No Third-Party Rights . Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create any right in any person not a party hereto (other than the permitted successors and permitted assigns of a party hereto) and this Agreement shall not be construed in any respect to be a contract in whole or in part for the benefit of any third party (except as aforesaid).
14.8 Waiver of Partition . Each Partner, by requesting and being granted admission to the Partnership, is deemed to waive until termination of the Partnership any and all rights that it may have to commence or maintain any action for partition of the Partnerships assets.
14.9 Nature of Interests . All Partnership property, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Partnership as an entity, and none of the Partners shall have any direct ownership of such property.
14.10 Counterpart Execution . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original instrument and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by email, PDF or facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written, effective as of the Effective Time.
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GENERAL PARTNER : |
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PTL GP, LLC |
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By: |
LJ VP Holdings LLC, |
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its sole member |
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By: Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, |
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its sole managing member |
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By: |
/s/ Brian Hard |
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Name: |
Brian Hard |
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Title: |
President |
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LIMITED PARTNER : |
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PENSKE TRUCK LEASING |
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CORPORATION |
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By: |
/s/ Brian Hard |
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Name: |
Brian Hard |
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Title: |
President |
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LIMITED PARTNER : |
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PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ David Jones |
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Name: |
David Jones |
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Title: |
EVP & CFO |
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LIMITED PARTNER : |
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GE CAPITAL TRUCK LEASING |
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HOLDING CORP. |
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By: |
/s/ Dennis M. Murray |
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Name: |
Dennis M. Murray |
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Title: |
Authorized Person |
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LIMITED PARTNER : |
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LOGISTICS HOLDING CORP. |
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By: |
/s/ Dennis M. Murray |
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Name: |
Dennis M. Murray |
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Title: |
Authorized Person |
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LIMITED PARTNER : |
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GENERAL ELECTRIC CREDIT |
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CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE |
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By: |
/s/ Dennis M. Murray |
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Name: |
Dennis M. Murray |
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Title: |
Authorized Person |
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LIMITED PARTNER : |
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MBK COMMERCIAL VEHICLES INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Rui Nakatani |
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Name: |
Rui Nakatani |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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LIMITED PARTNER : |
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MBK USA COMMERCIAL VEHICLES INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Rui Nakatani |
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Name: |
Rui Nakatani |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
Schedule A
Effective at the Close of Business of the Partnership on March 18, 2015
Name |
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Percentage Interest |
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General Partner |
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PTL GP, LLC |
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10.79 |
% |
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Limited Partners |
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Penske Truck Leasing Corporation |
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32.23 |
% |
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Penske Automotive Group, Inc. |
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7.08 |
% |
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GE Capital Truck Leasing Holding Corp. |
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29.27 |
% |
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Logistics Holding Corp. |
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0.24 |
% |
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General Electric Credit Corporation of Tennessee |
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0.39 |
% |
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MBK Commercial Vehicles Inc. |
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16.00 |
%(1) |
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MBK USA Commercial Vehicles Inc. |
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4.00 |
%(2) |
(1) Note : Certain of the Partnership Interests included in, and represented by, MBK CVs Percentage Interest are pledged, as of the Effective Time, pursuant to the terms of the Mitsui Co-Obligation Fee, Payment and Security Agreement.
(2) Note : Certain of the Partnership Interests included in, and represented by, MBK USA CVs Percentage Interest are pledged, as of the Effective Time, pursuant to the terms of the Mitsui Co-Obligation Fee, Payment and Security Agreement.
Schedule B
Current Members of Advisory Committee
Penske Committee Members: |
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Roger S. Penske
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GE Committee Member: |
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Trevor Schauenberg |
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Mitsui Committee Member: |
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Takeshi Mitsui |
EXHIBIT 10.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the Agreement ) dated as of March 17, 2015 is by and between Penske Automotive Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ( PAG ) and Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, a Delaware corporation ( PTLC ). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Partnership Agreement.
RECITALS
WHEREAS , PTLC and PAG are parties to the Rights Agreement dated as of June 4, 2012 (the Prior Rights Agreement );
WHEREAS , PAG and PTLC are partners under the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. dated March 17, 2015 (the New Partnership Agreement ) which amended and restated in its entirety the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. dated April 30, 2012 (as previously amended).
WHEREAS , PAG and PTLC are members under the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of LJ VP Holdings LLC dated March 17, 2015 (the New LLC Agreement ) which amended and restated the Limited Liability Company Agreement dated April 30, 2012.
WHEREAS , PTLC and PAG desire to amend and restate the Rights Agreement to reflect the existence of the New Partnership Agreement and the New LLC Agreement and to conform paragraph cross-references to the text of these agreements.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual promises and obligations hereinafter set forth and in the other agreements executed between the parties on or about the date hereof, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I RIGHTS
Section 1.1 Notice Right . PAG, on the one hand, and PTLC, on the other hand, hereby agree that in the event either of them receives any Offers or written notices under Article 9 of the New Partnership Agreement or under Article 9 of the New LLC Agreement that each will promptly forward a copy of the related correspondence to the other.
Section 1.2 Additional Rights . Neither PAG nor PTLC shall exercise any of its rights in Sections 9.3 and 9.4 of the New Partnership Agreement or the corresponding sections of the New LLC Agreement without providing the other with a reasonable period of time under the circumstances to consider the necessary action and respond accordingly. Specifically, (1) PTLC shall not commence any Offer under Sections 9.3(c)(I) or 9.3(c)(II) or the corresponding sections of the LLC Agreement or accept an offer from a third party to acquire such partys Partnership Interest without first notifying PAG of the proposed Transfer opportunity and providing PAG with a
pro rata opportunity to join in such Transfer under the terms offered, (2) PAG shall not commence any Offer under Sections 9.3(c)(I) or 9.3(c)(II), or the corresponding section of the LLC Agreement or accept an offer from a third party to acquire PAGs Partnership Interest or Member Interest without first notifying PTLC of the proposed Transfer opportunity and providing PTLC with a right of first refusal of all or a portion of the proposed Transfer under the terms proposed, (3) neither party shall accept or decline any Offer under Sections 9.3 (c)(I), 9.3(c)(II), 9.3(d) or 9.3(e) of the New Partnership Agreement or the corresponding section of the LLC Agreement without first consulting with the other party and assuring in any response, such other partys response is conveyed in accordance with their instruction on a pro rata basis, and (4) neither party shall exercise any right under Section 9.4(b) or 9.4(c) of the New Partnership Agreement or the corresponding sections (if any) of the New LLC Agreement without first consulting with the other party and assuring in any response, such other partys response is conveyed in accordance with their instruction.
ARTICLE II TERMINATION
Section 2.1 Termination . This Agreement may be terminated at any time by mutual written consent of the parties and shall terminate at such time as either PAG or PTLC have no further limited or general partnership ownership interest under the Partnership Agreement and further member interest under the LLC Agreement.
ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.1 Amendments and Waivers . This Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived only upon the written agreement of the parties to the Agreement at that time.
Section 3.2 Successors and Assign . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and the personal representatives and assigns of the parties hereto, whether so expressed or not.
Section 3.3 Entire Agreement . This Agreement (with the documents referred to herein or delivered pursuant hereto and together with the Agreement) embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.
Section 3.4 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Michigan without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof which might result in the application of the laws or any other jurisdiction.
Section 3.5 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. All signatures need not appear on any one counterpart.
Section 3.6 Severability . Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
Section 3.7 Specific Performance . The parties hereto acknowledge that there would be no adequate remedy at law if any party fails to perform any of its obligations hereunder, and accordingly agree that each party, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to injunctive relief, including specific performance, to enforce such obligations without the posting of any bond, and, if any action should be brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto shall raise the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.
Section 3.8 Further Assurances . Each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
PENSKE TRUCK LEASING CORPORATION |
PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Walter Czarnecki |
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By: |
/s/ David K. Jones |
Name: Walter Czarnecki |
Name: David K. Jones |
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Title: Vice President |
Title: EVP & CFO |
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EXHIBIT 10.3
EXECUTION VERSION
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
LJ VP HOLDINGS LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page |
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ARTICLE 1 |
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THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY |
3 |
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1.1 |
Formation; Membership and Memco |
3 |
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1.2 |
Certificate of Limited Liability Company |
4 |
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1.3 |
Name |
4 |
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1.4 |
Character of Business |
4 |
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1.5 |
Certain Business Policies |
4 |
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1.6 |
Principal Offices |
4 |
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1.7 |
Fiscal Year |
4 |
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1.8 |
Accounting Matters |
5 |
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ARTICLE 2 |
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DEFINITIONS |
5 |
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2.1 |
Act |
5 |
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2.2 |
Adjusted Capital Account Deficit |
5 |
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2.3 |
Affiliate |
5 |
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2.4 |
Agreement |
6 |
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2.5 |
Alternate Transaction |
6 |
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2.6 |
Alternative Structure |
6 |
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2.7 |
Assumed Obligations. |
6 |
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2.8 |
Auditor |
6 |
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2.9 |
Backstop Defaulting Member |
6 |
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2.10 |
Backstop Indemnity Obligation |
6 |
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2.11 |
Bankruptcy |
6 |
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2.12 |
Bond Indenture |
6 |
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2.13 |
Bonds |
6 |
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2.14 |
Bonds Interest Payment Date |
7 |
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2.15 |
Bonds Maturity Date |
7 |
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2.16 |
Business Day |
7 |
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2.17 |
Capital Account |
7 |
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2.18 |
Capital Contribution |
7 |
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2.19 |
Certificate |
7 |
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2.20 |
Code |
7 |
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2.21 |
Company |
8 |
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2.22 |
Company Minimum Gain |
8 |
2.23 |
Company Sub |
8 |
2.24 |
Company Year |
8 |
2.25 |
Control |
8 |
2.26 |
Deemed Transfer |
8 |
2.27 |
Default Rate |
8 |
2.28 |
Depreciation |
8 |
2.29 |
Distribution Rights |
8 |
2.30 |
Effective Date |
9 |
2.31 |
Effective Time |
9 |
2.32 |
Equity Offering |
9 |
2.33 |
Evaluation Material |
9 |
2.34 |
Exchange Act |
9 |
2.35 |
Fall Away Event |
9 |
2.36 |
Financing |
9 |
2.37 |
First Amended LLC Agreement |
9 |
2.38 |
Former GE Members |
9 |
2.39 |
Funding Loan |
9 |
2.40 |
GE Logistics Holdco |
9 |
2.41 |
GE Protection Provisions |
9 |
2.42 |
GE Tennessee |
11 |
2.43 |
GE Termination Date |
11 |
2.44 |
GE Truck Leasing Holdco |
11 |
2.45 |
GECC |
11 |
2.46 |
GECC Consolidated Group |
11 |
2.47 |
GECC Obligations |
11 |
2.48 |
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles |
11 |
2.49 |
General Partner Activities |
11 |
2.50 |
Governmental Authority |
11 |
2.51 |
Gross Asset Value |
11 |
2.52 |
Holdings Post Fall-Away Obligations |
12 |
2.53 |
Indemnification Agreements |
12 |
2.54 |
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
13 |
2.55 |
Initial GE Members |
13 |
2.56 |
Initial Members |
13 |
2.57 |
Interested Party |
13 |
2.58 |
Interest Obligations |
13 |
2.59 |
Investment Company Act |
13 |
2.60 |
Law |
13 |
2.61 |
Lien |
13 |
2.62 |
Managing Member |
14 |
2.63 |
Maturity Date |
14 |
2.64 |
Maturity Obligations |
14 |
2.65 |
Member |
14 |
2.66 |
Member Interest |
14 |
2.67 |
Member Nonrecourse Debt |
14 |
2.68 |
Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain |
14 |
2.69 |
Member Nonrecourse Deductions |
14 |
2.70 |
Memco |
14 |
2.71 |
Non-Issuing Person |
14 |
2.72 |
Non-Managing Member |
14 |
2.73 |
Nonrecourse Deductions |
15 |
2.74 |
Nonrecourse Liability |
15 |
2.75 |
Original LLC Agreement |
15 |
2.76 |
PAG |
15 |
2.77 |
PAG Consolidated Group |
15 |
2.78 |
Partnership |
15 |
2.79 |
Partnership Agreement |
15 |
2.80 |
Partnership Interests |
15 |
2.81 |
Penske Members |
15 |
2.82 |
Percentage Interest |
15 |
2.83 |
Permitted Intragroup Transferees |
15 |
2.84 |
Permitted Working Capital |
15 |
2.85 |
Person |
16 |
2.86 |
Potential Buyer |
16 |
2.87 |
Prime Rate |
16 |
2.88 |
Profits and Losses |
16 |
2.89 |
PTLC |
17 |
2.90 |
PTLC Consolidated Group |
17 |
2.91 |
Qualified Purchaser |
17 |
2.92 |
Rebuttal |
17 |
2.93 |
Recipient Group |
17 |
2.94 |
Redemption |
17 |
2.95 |
Redemption Agreement |
17 |
2.96 |
Redemption Consideration |
17 |
2.97 |
Regulated Entities |
17 |
2.98 |
Regulations |
17 |
2.99 |
Regulators |
17 |
2.100 |
Regulatory Allocations |
18 |
2.101 |
Returns |
18 |
2.102 |
Sale |
18 |
2.103 |
Schedule |
18 |
2.104 |
Securities Act |
18 |
2.105 |
Statutory Termination Date |
18 |
2.106 |
Subsidiary |
18 |
2.107 |
Third-Party Sale |
18 |
2.108 |
Transaction Notice |
18 |
2.109 |
Transfer |
18 |
2.110 |
Trustee |
18 |
2.111 |
Trustee Affiliate |
19 |
2.112 |
General Provisions |
19 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 3 |
|
|
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS |
19 |
|
3.1 |
Capital Contribution |
19 |
3.2 |
Capital Accounts |
19 |
3.3 |
Compliance with Treasury Regulations |
19 |
3.4 |
Succession to Capital Accounts |
20 |
3.5 |
No Withdrawal of Capital Contributions |
20 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 4 |
|
|
COSTS AND EXPENSES |
20 |
|
4.1 |
Organizational and Other Costs |
20 |
4.2 |
Operating Costs |
20 |
ARTICLE 5 |
20 |
|
DISTRIBUTIONS; COMPANY ALLOCATIONS; |
|
|
TAX MATTERS |
20 |
|
5.1 |
Distributions Prior to Dissolution |
20 |
5.2 |
Company Allocations |
21 |
5.3 |
Special Allocations |
22 |
5.4 |
Curative Allocations |
24 |
5.5 |
Other Allocation Rules |
24 |
5.6 |
Tax Allocations; Code Section 704(c) |
25 |
5.7 |
Accounting Method |
25 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 6 |
|
|
MANAGEMENT |
26 |
|
6.1 |
Rights and Duties of the Non-Managing Members and Others |
26 |
6.2 |
Fiduciary Duty of Managing Member |
26 |
6.3 |
Powers of Managing Member |
26 |
6.4 |
Restrictions on Managing Members Authority |
27 |
6.5 |
Other Activities |
29 |
6.6 |
Exculpation |
29 |
6.7 |
Transactions with Affiliates |
30 |
6.8 |
Confidentiality |
30 |
6.9 |
Replacement of the Managing Member |
32 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 7 |
|
|
COMPENSATION |
33 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 8 |
|
|
ACCOUNTS |
33 |
|
8.1 |
Books and Records |
33 |
8.2 |
Reports, Returns and Audits |
33 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 9 |
|
|
TRANSFERS AND SALES |
36 |
|
9.1 |
Transfer of Interests of Managing Member and PTLC Consolidated Group |
36 |
9.2 |
Transfer or Sale of Member Interests or GE Protection Provisions |
37 |
9.3 |
Intentionally Omitted |
37 |
9.4 |
Intentionally Omitted |
38 |
9.5 |
Certain General Provisions |
38 |
9.6 |
Allocation of Profits, Losses and Distributions Subsequent to Sale |
40 |
9.7 |
Death, Incompetence, Bankruptcy, Liquidation or Withdrawal of a Member |
40 |
9.8 |
Satisfactory Written Assignment Required |
41 |
9.9 |
Transferees Rights |
41 |
9.10 |
Transferees Admitted as Members |
41 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 10 |
|
|
MATTERS REGARDING THE FALL AWAY EVENT, THE BONDS AND DIRECT OBLIGATIONS TO GECC |
42 |
|
10.1 |
Fall Away Event and Obligations of the Company to GECC |
42 |
10.2 |
Third-Party Sale |
43 |
10.3 |
Maturity |
43 |
10.4 |
Backstop Indemnity Obligations and Reinstatement |
44 |
10.5 |
Memco and GECC |
45 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 11 |
|
|
LIABILITY OF MEMBERS, MEMCO AND GECC |
45 |
|
11.1 |
Liability of Members, Memco and GECC |
45 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 12 |
|
|
DISSOLUTION |
45 |
|
12.1 |
Events of Dissolution |
45 |
12.2 |
Final Accounting |
46 |
12.3 |
Liquidation |
46 |
12.4 |
Cancellation of Certificate |
46 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 13 |
|
|
NOTICES |
46 |
|
13.1 |
Method of Notice |
46 |
13.2 |
Computation of Time |
48 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 14 |
|
|
INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS |
48 |
|
14.1 |
Investment Purpose |
48 |
14.2 |
Investment Restriction |
48 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 15 |
|
|
GENERAL PROVISIONS |
49 |
|
15.1 |
Amendment; Waiver; Enforcement |
49 |
15.2 |
Governing Law |
49 |
15.3 |
Binding Effect |
49 |
15.4 |
Separability |
49 |
15.5 |
Headings |
49 |
15.6 |
No Third-Party Rights |
49 |
15.7 |
Waiver of Partition and Application for Dissolution |
50 |
15.8 |
Nature of Interests |
50 |
15.9 |
Counterpart Execution |
50 |
15.10 |
Consent |
50 |
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE A Capital Contributions
SCHEDULE B Members and Member Interests
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
LJ VP HOLDINGS LLC
THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT is entered into this 17th day of March, 2015, and effective as of the Effective Time, by and among LJ VP Holdings LLC (the Company), Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, a Delaware corporation with its offices at 2675 Morgantown Road, Reading, Pennsylvania 19607 (as further defined below, PTLC), and Penske Automotive Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its offices at 2555 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302 (as further defined below, PAG). GE Capital Memco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company with offices at 901 Main Avenue, 6 th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851 (as further defined below, Memco), is a party to this Agreement, effective as of the Effective Time, for purposes of the GE Protection Provisions (as defined below) until the GE Termination Date (as defined below).
WITNESSETH :
WHEREAS, the Company was heretofore formed in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (6 Del.C. §18-101, et seq.) (as amended from time to time and any successor to such Act, the Act) under the name LJ VP Holdings LLC;
WHEREAS, PTLC, PAG, GE Capital Truck Leasing Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation with its offices at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808 (as further defined below, GE Truck Leasing Holdco), Logistics Holding Corp., a Delaware corporation with its offices at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808 (as further defined below, GE Logistics Holdco), and General Electric Credit Corporation of Tennessee, a Tennessee corporation with its offices at 2 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 600, Bethesda MD 20814 (as further defined below, GE Tennessee, and collectively with PTLC, PAG, GE Truck Leasing Holdco and GE Logistics Holdco, the Initial Members) entered into a Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of April 24, 2012, with respect to the Company (the Original LLC Agreement);
WHEREAS, the Initial Members amended and restated the Original LLC Agreement on April 30, 2012 (as amended prior to the Effective Time, the First Amended LLC Agreement);
WHEREAS, on April 30, 2012, the Company and General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC), as co-obligors, issued unsecured notes in the principal amount of $700,000,000;
WHEREAS, on April 30, 2012, the Company contributed funds to its wholly owned subsidiary now known as PTL GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(Company Sub) and Company Sub acquired a 21.54% limited partnership interest in Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the Partnership);
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2014, Company Subs interest in the Partnership was converted to a general partnership interest and Company Sub became the sole general partner in the Partnership;
WHEREAS, on February 20, 2015, each of GE Truck Leasing Holdco, GE Logistics Holdco and GE Tennessee (collectively, the Initial GE Members) contributed and assigned its entire Member Interest to Memco, an entity wholly owned by the Initial GE Members, and, as a result, Memco became the owner of a 49.9% Member Interest in the Company;
WHEREAS, GECC caused the assumption by GECC of all obligations with respect to such unsecured notes in the principal amount of $700,000,000 and the indenture under which they were issued, pursuant to section 11.03 of such indenture, on the date hereof (the occurrence of such assumption, the Fall Away Event) and, as a result, (a) the Company became obligated pursuant to the First Amended LLC Agreement to pay to GECC 100% of the amount of any Interest Obligations, Maturity Obligations, and all expenses relating to such notes to the extent of the Companys cash and cash equivalents, except for Permitted Working Capital, to the extent set forth in Section 10.3 thereof (the Holdings Post Fall-Away Obligations) and (b) the Company was relieved of any and all direct and indirect obligations to the trustee and the noteholders under and with respect to such notes and indenture (and all direct obligations of the Company to such trustee and noteholders under such notes and indenture were thereby released, discharged and satisfied); provided, however, that the Company remains liable to make certain payments to GECC required to the extent set forth in Article 10 hereof with respect to such notes and indenture;
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, and immediately following the Fall Away Event, Company Sub distributed to the Company a 10.75% Partnership Interest as general partner (and retained a 10.79% Partnership Interest as general partner) together with rights to distributions on such interest due April 15, 2015 with respect to 2014 and the distribution with respect to the first quarter of 2015 (the Distribution Rights);
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, and immediately following the foregoing distribution, the Company redeemed (the Redemption) Memcos entire 49.9% Member Interest in the Company in consideration for (i) the 10.75% Partnership Interest (which, immediately upon the Redemption became a Limited Partner interest), including the Distribution Rights, (ii) 49.9% of all cash owned or held by the Company or the Company Sub (in bank accounts or otherwise) as of the date of hereof and (iii) Memcos assumption of the Assumed Obligations (the consideration set forth in clauses (i)(iii), collectively, the Redemption Consideration), and, as a result of the Redemption, as of the Effective Time, (a) Memco is no longer a Member of the Company and has no Capital Account, Member Interest or other limited liability company or other equity interest in the Company and (b) the Company is obligated to make certain payments to GECC, as more fully set forth in Article 10;
WHEREAS, in consideration of, and as a material inducement and condition to, GECC agreeing to the Fall Away Event and the Redemption, the Members agreed to execute this Agreement restricting or prohibiting certain actions and protecting GECCs rights to payment as contemplated herein and remedies with respect thereto;
WHEREAS, Memco, in consideration of, and as a material inducement to acquiring the 49.9% Member Interest and completing the Redemption, has agreed to become a party to this Agreement to enforce the GE Protection Provisions for its own account as well as for the benefit of GECC and the Initial GE Members;
WHEREAS, the Members and Memco now desire to amend and restate in its entirety the First Amended LLC Agreement; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree that the First Amended LLC Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety by this Agreement, and as so amended and restated hereby shall read in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE 1
THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
1.1 Formation; Membership and Memco .
(a) The Company was formed under and pursuant to the provisions of the Act to engage in the business hereinafter described for the period and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
(b) The Members have contributed to the capital of the Company the Capital Contributions set forth on Schedule A and own the Percentage Interests set forth on Schedule B.
(c) On February 20, 2015, each Initial GE Member contributed and assigned its entire Membership Interest to Memco in accordance with the First Amended LLC Agreement and, as a result, Memco became the owner of a 49.9% Member Interest in the Company. Following such contribution and assignment, on the date hereof, the Company effected the Redemption of the 49.9% Member Interest from Memco in exchange for the Redemption Consideration. As a result of such contribution and assignment and the Redemption, none of the Former GE Members is a Member of the Company or has any Capital Account, Member Interest or other limited liability company or other equity interest in the Company.
(d) Memco is a party to this Agreement for purposes of the GE Protection Provisions, including exercising and enforcing its rights (for its own benefit and for the benefit of the Initial GE Members and GECC) under the GE Protection Provisions, and shall remain a party with respect to such GE Protection Provisions while those provisions are in effect as provided in Section 2.41. Each of the Members acknowledges and agrees that Memco will have the right to enforce all obligations of the Company to the Initial GE Members, Memco and GECC including those obligations outlined in Article 10. For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither GECC nor Memco is a Member or has a Member Interest or other limited liability company or other equity interest in the Company by virtue of Memco being a party to this Agreement, GECC being a third party beneficiary or otherwise.
1.2 Certificate of Limited Liability Company . PTLC, as Managing Member, executed and caused to be filed a Certificate of Formation of the Company in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on April 10, 2012 (the Certificate). The Managing Member hereafter shall execute such further documents and take such further action as shall be appropriate to comply with all requirements of Law for the formation and operation of a limited liability company in the State of Delaware.
1.3 Name . The name of the Company is LJ VP Holdings LLC.
1.4 Character of Business . Following the Effective Time, the business of the Company shall be limited exclusively to (a) owning the member interests of the Company Sub and directing the Company Subs activities as general partner or limited partner of the Partnership, as applicable, (b) making payments required under Section 10.1 and (c) sales, debt or equity offerings which may be required in accordance with this Agreement under Section 10.3. The Company shall have and exercise all the powers now or hereafter conferred by the Laws of the State of Delaware on limited liability companies formed under the Laws of that State to do any and all things as fully as natural persons might or could do as are not prohibited by Law, but only as necessary or appropriate to effectuate the purpose of the Company set forth in the immediately preceding sentence. The business of the Company shall be conducted in accordance with, and any action required or permitted to be taken by the Managing Member or any Non-Managing Member shall be taken in compliance with, all applicable Laws.
1.5 Certain Business Policies . The Company, on behalf of itself and the Company Sub, will maintain the standards and abide by the policies set forth in the Partnerships Code for Business Conduct in effect as of the Effective Time as if the Company were the Partnership thereunder. The Company shall conduct its business and the business of the Company Sub in accordance with such policies, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with Subsection 6.4(b)(iii).
1.6 Principal Offices . The location of the principal offices of the Company shall be at 2675 Morgantown Road, Reading, Pennsylvania 19607, or at such other location as may be selected from time to time by the Managing Member. If the Managing Member changes the location of the principal offices of the Company, the Non-Managing Members and, until the GE Termination Date, Memco, shall be notified in writing within thirty (30) days thereafter. In addition, if prior to the GE Termination Date the Managing Member proposes to change the principal office to a location outside of the United States, it must obtain the prior written consent of Memco. The Company may maintain such other offices at such other places as the Managing Member deems advisable.
1.7 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Company shall be the calendar year (the Company Year).
1.8 Accounting Matters . Unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applied on a consistent basis with prior periods, except, in the case of such financial statements, for departures from Generally Accepted Accounting Principles that may from time to time be approved in writing by the Auditor who is at the time reporting on such financial statements and with respect to any periods ending prior to or including the Effective Date, approved in writing by Memco if such departure with respect to the Company and Company Sub would have any adverse impact on Memco, the Initial GE Members or GECC.
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS
The following defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings specified below.
2.1 Act . Act shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first recital of this Agreement.
2.2 Adjusted Capital Account Deficit . Adjusted Capital Account Deficit shall mean, with respect to any Member, the deficit balance, if any, in such Members Capital Account as of the end of the relevant taxable year or other period, after giving effect to the following adjustments:
(i) Credit to such Capital Account any amounts that such Member is obligated to restore (pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) or deemed obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and
(ii) Debit to such Capital Account the items described in Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 4 ), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 5 ) and 1.704- 1 (b)(2)(ii)( d )( 6 ).
The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account Deficit is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d ) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
2.3 Affiliate . Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that, at the time of determination, (i) directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with, such specified Person, (ii) beneficially owns or Controls ten percent (10%) or more of any class or series of outstanding voting securities of such specified Person, (iii) is a managing member, manager or general partner of such specified Person, or (iv) is an officer, director, managing member, manager or general partner of any of the foregoing.
2.4 Agreement . This Agreement shall refer to this Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, including the Schedules hereto, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.5 Alternate Transaction . Alternate Transaction shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.3.
2.6 Alternative Structure . Alternative Structure or Alternative Structures shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.3.
2.7 Assumed Obligations . Assumed Obligations shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Redemption Agreement.
2.8 Auditor . Auditor shall mean Deloitte LLP, or any successor firm of independent auditors, which until the Indemnification Satisfaction Date shall be selected pursuant to Subsection 6.4(g) of the Partnership Agreement.
2.9 Backstop Defaulting Member . Backstop Defaulting Member shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.1.
2.10 Backstop Indemnity Obligation . Backstop Indemnity Obligation shall mean the obligation of each of PTLC and PAG and its permitted successors and permitted assigns for payment of its Co-Obligation Fee and Indemnified Amount (as such terms are defined in its Indemnification Agreement).
2.11 Bankruptcy . The Bankruptcy of a Member shall mean (i) the filing by a Member of a voluntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment, in any form, of its debts under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other federal or state insolvency Law, or a Members filing an answer consenting to or acquiescing in any such petition, (ii) the making by a Member of any assignment for the benefit of its creditors or (iii) the expiration of sixty (60) days after the filing of an involuntary petition under Title 11 of the United States Code, an application for the appointment of a receiver for the assets of a Member, or an involuntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment of its debts under any other federal or state insolvency Law, provided that the same shall not have been vacated, set aside or stayed within such sixty (60) day period.
2.12 Bond Indenture . Bond Indenture shall mean that certain Senior Indenture, dated as of April 30, 2012, by and among GECC and the Company as issuers thereunder and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, as in effect as of the Effective Date, together with an Officers Certificate of even date therewith delivered in accordance with Section 2.02 thereof and a supplemental indenture dated as of the date hereof, to reflect the Fall Away Event.
2.13 Bonds . Bonds shall mean the senior unsecured notes issued on April 30, 2012 by the Company and GECC, as co-obligors, in an aggregate principal amount of $700,000,000, pursuant to the Bond Indenture, which ceased to be an obligation of the Company as a result of the Fall Away Event, in effect at the Effective Time; provided, however, that the Company remains liable to make the payments to GECC required under Article 10 with respect to the Bonds.
2.14 Bonds Interest Payment Date . Bonds Interest Payment Date shall mean the date that any Interest Obligations are due and payable to the holders of the Bonds as set forth in the Bond Indenture as in effect at the Effective Time.
2.15 Bonds Maturity Date . Bonds Maturity Date shall mean the date that the Maturity Obligations are due and payable to the holders of the Bonds as set forth in the Bond Indenture as in effect at the Effective Time.
2.16 Business Day . Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or other day that commercial banks are required or permitted to be closed in New York City.
2.17 Capital Account . Capital Account shall mean, with respect to any Member, the Capital Account maintained for such Member in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) To each Members Capital Account there shall be credited such Members Capital Contributions, such Members distributive share of Profits and any items in the nature of income or gain that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.3 or Section 5.4, and the amount of any Company liabilities assumed by such Member or that are secured by any Company property distributed to such Member;
(ii) To each Members Capital Account there shall be debited the amount of cash and the Gross Asset Value of any Company property distributed to such Member pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, such Members distributive share of Losses and any items in the nature of expenses or losses that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.3 or Section 5.4, and the amount of any liabilities of such Member assumed by the Company or that are secured by any property contributed by such Member to the Company.
(iii) In the event all or a portion of an interest in the Company is Transferred, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest.
(iv) In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of subparagraphs (i) and (ii) and the definition of Capital Contribution, there shall be taken into account Code Section 752 (c) and any other applicable provisions of the Code and Regulations.
2.18 Capital Contribution . Capital Contribution shall mean, with respect to any Member, the amount of money and the initial Gross Asset Value of any property (other than money) contributed to the Company by such Member (or its predecessors in interest) with respect to the Member Interest of such Member.
2.19 Certificate . Certificate shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.2.
2.20 Code . Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time, or the corresponding provisions of any successor statute.
2.21 Company . Company shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
2.22 Company Minimum Gain . Company Minimum Gain shall have the same meaning as the term partnership minimum gain in Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d).
2.23 Company Sub . Company Sub shall have the meaning set forth in the fifth recital of this Agreement.
2.24 Company Year . Company Year shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.7.
2.25 Control . Control (including the correlative terms Controlling, Controlled by and under common Control with) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
2.26 Deemed Transfer . Deemed Transfer shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 8.2(e).
2.27 Default Rate . Default Rate shall mean a rate of interest per annum equal to the Prime Rate as it may change from time to time plus 2.5%, provided that the Default Rate shall not exceed a rate that may be lawfully charged.
2.28 Depreciation . Depreciation shall mean, for each taxable year or portion of a taxable year for which the Company is required to allocate Profits, Losses, or other items pursuant to Article 5, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes with respect to an asset for such year or other period, except that (i) with respect to any asset whose Gross Asset Value differs from its adjusted tax basis for federal income tax purposes and which difference is being eliminated by use of the remedial allocation method defined by Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d), Depreciation for such taxable year or portion of a taxable year shall be the amount of the book basis recovered for such taxable year or portion of a taxable year under the rules prescribed in Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3(d)(2) (notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Subsection 5.6(c)) and (ii) with respect to any other asset whose Gross Asset Value differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such year or other period, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis; provided , however , that if the adjusted tax basis of an asset at the beginning of such taxable year or portion of a taxable year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method agreed upon by the Managing Member and, with respect to any period ending prior to or including the Effective Date, Memco, to the extent such modification would have any adverse impact on a Former GE Member.
2.29 Distribution Rights . Distribution Rights shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the ninth recital of this Agreement.
2.30 Effective Date . Effective Date shall mean the date on which the Effective Time occurs.
2.31 Effective Time . Effective Time shall mean the time immediately following the effectiveness of the Redemption.
2.32 Equity Offering . Equity Offering shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.3.
2.33 Evaluation Material . Evaluation Material shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.8.
2.34 Exchange Act . Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and in effect from time to time, or the corresponding provisions of any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.35 Fall Away Event . Fall Away Event shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the eighth recital of this Agreement.
2.36 Financing . Financing shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.3.
2.37 First Amended LLC Agreement . First Amended LLC Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the third recital of this Agreement.
2.38 Former GE Members . Former GE Members shall mean the Initial GE Members and Memco.
2.39 Funding Loan . Funding Loan shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 8.2(e)(iii).
2.40 GE Logistics Holdco . GE Logistics Holdco shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the second recital of this Agreement.
2.41 GE Protection Provisions . GE Protection Provisions shall mean those Sections and Articles set forth in the table below. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, each such Section and Article shall cease to be a GE Protection Provision upon the termination date, if any, set forth opposite such Section or Article. Any definition in Article 2 that is used or referred to (directly or indirectly) in any GE Protection Provision will be a GE Protection Provision until the termination date, if any, of such GE Protection Provision (it being understood that if a definition is used or referred to in more than one GE Protection Provision, such definition will remain a GE Protection Provision until the last of such GE Protection Provisions terminates as heretofore provided). Any definition that references Memco or GECC but that is not otherwise used in or referred to (directly or indirectly) in a GE Protection Provision shall be a GE Protection Provision until the GE Termination Date. The provisions of Article 13 and Section 15.2-15.9 in effect as of the date hereof shall continue in place and shall apply to any matter or dispute involving Memco or GECC regardless of any changes which may
be made to those provisions subsequent to the date hereof, unless Memco provides its prior written consents to such amendment.
Section |
|
Termination Date |
|
1.1(d) |
|
None |
|
1.4 |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
1.5 |
|
GE Termination Date |
|
1.6 |
|
GE Termination Date |
|
1.8 |
|
Statutory Termination Date |
|
3.3 |
|
Statutory Termination Date |
|
3.5 |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
4.2 |
|
GE Termination Date |
|
5.1 |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
5.2-5.7 |
|
Statutory Termination Date |
|
6.1 |
|
None |
|
6.2 |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
6.3(a) and (d) |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
6.3(c) |
|
GE Termination Date |
|
6.4(a)(i), (v) and (vii) |
|
None |
|
6.4(a)(ii)-(iv), (vi) and (viii)-(x) |
|
GE Termination Date |
|
6.4(b)(i)-(iv) |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
6.4(b)(v)-(vi) |
|
Statutory Termination Date |
|
6.4(b)(vii)-(x) |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
6.5 |
|
None |
|
6.6 |
|
None |
|
6.7 |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
6.8 |
|
GE Termination Date |
|
6.9 |
|
GE Termination Date |
|
Article 7 |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
8.1 |
|
GE Termination Date |
|
8.2 |
|
GE Termination Date |
|
9.1(a)-(b) |
|
GE Termination Date |
|
9.1(c) |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
9.2(a)-(e) and (g) |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
9.2(f) |
|
None |
|
9.5(b) |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
9.5(c) |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
9.5(e) |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
9.9 |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
9.10 |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
Article 10 |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
Article 11 |
|
None |
|
12.1 |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
12.3 |
|
Indemnification Satisfaction Date |
|
15.1 |
|
None |
|
2.42 GE Tennessee . GE Tennessee shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the second recital of this Agreement.
2.43 GE Termination Date . GE Termination Date shall mean the later of the Indemnification Satisfaction Date and the Statutory Termination Date.
2.44 GE Truck Leasing Holdco . GE Truck Leasing Holdco shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the second recital of this Agreement.
2.45 GECC . GECC shall mean General Electric Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
2.46 GECC Consolidated Group . GECC Consolidated Group shall mean the consolidated group, determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, of which GECC is the common parent.
2.47 GECC Obligations . GECC Obligations shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.1.
2.48 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles . Generally Accepted Accounting Principles shall refer to generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America.
2.49 General Partner Activities . General Partner Activities shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.2.
2.50 Governmental Authority . Governmental Authority shall mean any (i) U.S., foreign, federal, state, local or other government, (ii) governmental commission, board, body, bureau, agency, department or other judicial, regulatory or administrative authority of any nature, including courts, tribunals and other judicial bodies, (iii) any self-regulatory body or authority, and (iv) any instrumentality or entity designed to act for or on behalf of the foregoing in exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.
2.51 Gross Asset Value . Gross Asset Value shall mean, with respect to any asset, the assets adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes except as follows:
(1) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as agreed to by the Contributing Member and the Managing Member at the time of such contribution;
(2) The Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values, as proposed by the Managing Member, as of the following times: (a) the acquisition of an additional interest in the Company by any new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de
minimis Capital Contribution; (b) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minimis amount of property as consideration for a Member Interest; (c) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); and (d) in connection with the grant of an interest in the Company (other than a de minimis interest) as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Company by an existing Member acting in a member capacity, or by a new Member acting in a member capacity in anticipation of being a Member; provided , however , that adjustments pursuant to clauses (a), (b) and (d) above shall be made only if the Managing Member reasonably determines that such adjustments are necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative economic interests of the Members in the Company;
(3) The Gross Asset Value of any Company asset distributed to any Member shall be adjusted to equal the gross fair market value of such asset on the date of distribution as determined by the distributee and the Managing Member, provided that, if the distributee is the Managing Member or an Affiliate of the Managing Member, the determination of the fair market value of the distributed asset at any time prior to the Effective Time shall require the prior written approval of Memco; and
(4) The Gross Asset Values of Company assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Section 743(b) but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to (a) Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( m ) and (b) subparagraph (vi) of the definition of Profits and Losses in Subsection 2.88 or Subsection 5.3(g), provided , however , that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (4) to the extent the Managing Member determines that an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (2) is necessary or appropriate in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (4).
If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to Subsections 2.51(1), (2), or (4) hereof, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.
2.52 Holdings Post Fall-Away Obligations . Holdings Post Fall-Away Obligations shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in eighth recital of this Agreement.
2.53 Indemnification Agreements . Indemnification Agreements shall mean (i) the Amended and Restated PTLC Co-Obligation Fee, Indemnity and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among PTLC, Penske System, Inc. and GECC, (ii) the Amended and Restated PAG Co-Obligation Fee, Indemnity, and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between PAG and GECC, each as may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and (iii) any instrument of assumption or indemnification executed by any transferee of Member Interests that sets forth such transferees agreement to be
bound by all of the provisions of an Indemnification Agreement in connection with a Sale of Member Interests pursuant to Article 9.
2.54 Indemnification Satisfaction Date . Indemnification Satisfaction Date shall mean the 124th day after (i) the final payment of all GECC Obligations by the Company to GECC pursuant to Article 10 or, (ii) if the Company does not have sufficient funds to make the payments to satisfy the GECC Obligations in full, as and when they become due, the final payment by PTLC and PAG of any Indemnified Amounts (as defined under the Indemnification Agreements); provided , however , that if during such 124-day period (i) any voluntary or involuntary petition is filed seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment, in any form, of the debts of the Company, PTLC, PAG or the Company Sub (the Relevant Entities) under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other federal or state insolvency Law, which, in the case of an involuntary petition, is not dismissed within 90 days after such filing (ii) any Relevant Entity makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or (iii) any action is brought to avoid or rescind the payments contemplated by Article 10 hereof, the Indemnification Satisfaction Date shall be extended until the earlier of (A) a final decision of a court of competent jurisdiction rejecting such avoidance or rescission claim and (B), in the good faith judgment of Memco, no rescission or avoidance of the payments contemplated by Article 10 in connection with the matters described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) is reasonably possible.
2.55 Initial GE Members . Initial GE Members shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the fifth recital of this Agreement.
2.56 Initial Members . Initial Members shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the second recital of this Agreement.
2.57 Interested Party . Interested Party shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.5.
2.58 Interest Obligations . Interest Obligations shall mean the scheduled interest payment obligations required under the Bonds and the Bond Indenture (other than the interest component of any Maturity Obligations).
2.59 Investment Company Act . Investment Company Act shall mean the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended and in effect from time to time, or the corresponding provisions of any successor statute, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
2.60 Law . Law shall mean any applicable foreign or domestic, federal, state or local statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, order, judgment, decree, injunction or requirement of any Governmental Authority or any arbitration tribunal.
2.61 Lien . Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
2.62 Managing Member . Managing Member shall mean initially PTLC until such time as it withdraws or is replaced in accordance with this Agreement, any Person substituted therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and any Person admitted from time to time as a managing member in the Company in accordance with this Agreement.
2.63 Maturity Date . Maturity Date shall mean the original scheduled maturity of the Bonds as reflected in the Bond Indenture.
2.64 Maturity Obligations . Maturity Obligations shall mean an aggregate amount sufficient to satisfy all obligations due on the Maturity Date, including principal and interest, pursuant to the Bond Indenture.
2.65 Member . Member shall mean the Non-Managing Member and Managing Member and shall include each Person subsequently admitted from time to time as a member in the Company in accordance with Article 9 of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, neither Memco nor GECC is a Member or a member of the Company.
2.66 Member Interest . Member Interest shall refer, with respect to a given Member as of a given date, to such Members interest as a Managing Member in the Company (if any) and such Members interest as a Non-Managing Member in the Company (if any), in each case as of such date, including any and all benefits to which the holder of such an interest may be entitled as provided in this Agreement, together with all obligations of such Member to comply with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
2.67 Member Nonrecourse Debt . Member Nonrecourse Debt shall have the same meaning as the term partner nonrecourse debt set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4).
2.68 Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain . Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain shall mean an amount, with respect to each Member Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Company Minimum Gain that would result if such Member Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3) relating to partner Nonrecourse Debt minimum gain.
2.69 Member Nonrecourse Deductions . Member Nonrecourse Deductions shall have the same meaning as the term partner nonrecourse deductions set forth in Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(2).
2.70 Memco . Memco shall mean GE Capital Memco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and/or any other entity designated by Memco pursuant to Section 9.2(f) as a permitted successor or permitted assignee thereof.
2.71 Non-Issuing Person . Non-Issuing Person shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.8.
2.72 Non-Managing Member . Non-Managing Member shall mean PAG and shall include each Person admitted from time to time as a non-managing member in the Company.
2.73 Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions shall have the meaning set forth in Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(1) and 1.704-2(c).
2.74 Nonrecourse Liability . Nonrecourse Liability shall have the meaning set forth in Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(3).
2.75 Original LLC Agreement . Original LLC Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the second recital of this Agreement.
2.76 PAG . PAG shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first Paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.77 PAG Consolidated Group . PAG Consolidated Group shall mean a consolidated group, determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, of which PAG is the common parent.
2.78 Partnership . Partnership shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the fifth recital of this Agreement.
2.79 Partnership Agreement . Partnership Agreement shall mean the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated as of April 30, 2012, as amended on the date hereof, by and among PTLC, PAG, GE Logistics Holdco, GE Truck Leasing Holdco, GE Tennessee, and Memco, as limited partners, and Company Sub, as general partner, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.80 Partnership Interests . Partnership Interests shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Partnership Agreement.
2.81 Penske Members . Penske Members shall mean PTLC and shall include any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.82 Percentage Interest . The Percentage Interest of a Member shall be the percentage ownership set forth next to its respective name on Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule B shall be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time to reflect Sales of interests in the Company to the extent permitted by this Agreement.
2.83 Permitted Intragroup Transferees . Permitted Intragroup Transferees shall mean successors and assigns permitted or required under Subsections 9.2(b), (c) or (e).
2.84 Permitted Working Capital . Permitted Working Capital shall mean any amounts that the Managing Member reasonably determines are necessary to meet current expenses of the Company, provided that, without the prior written approval of Memco with respect to periods ending prior to or including the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, such amounts shall not exceed $100,000 in the aggregate.
2.85 Person . Person shall include an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated organization, a government or any department or agency thereof, and any other entity.
2.86 Potential Buyer . Potential Buyer shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.8.
2.87 Prime Rate . Prime Rate shall mean the prime rate (the base rate on corporate loans at large U.S. money center commercial banks) as published in the Wall Street Journal or other equivalent publication if the Wall Street Journal no longer publishes such information.
2.88 Profits and Losses . Profits and Losses shall mean, for each taxable year or portion of a taxable year, an amount equal to the Companys taxable income or loss for such taxable year or portion of a taxable year, determined in accordance with Section 703(a) of the Code (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Section 703(a)(1) of the Code shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments:
(i) Any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this Subsection 2.88 shall be added to such taxable income or loss;
(ii) Any expenditures of the Company described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this Subsection 2.88 shall be subtracted from such taxable income or loss;
(iii) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to Subsection 2.51(2) or (3) hereof, the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Profits or Losses;
(iv) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Company property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such property differs from its Gross Asset Value;
(v) In lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such taxable year or portion of a taxable year;
(vi) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Sections 734(b) is required pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)( m )( 4 ) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Members interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the
basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the asset) from the disposition of the asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and
(vii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this definition of Profits and Losses, any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Sections 5.3 and 5.4 shall not be taken into account in computing Profits or Losses.
The amounts of items of Company income, gain, loss, or deduction available to be specially allocated pursuant to Sections 5.3 and 5.4 shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in subparagraphs (i) through (vi).
2.89 PTLC . PTLC shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the first Paragraph of this Agreement and shall include any Permitted Intragroup Transferees thereof.
2.90 PTLC Consolidated Group . PTLC Consolidated Group shall mean the consolidated group, determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, of which Penske Corporation is the common parent, except that members of the PAG Consolidated Group shall not be deemed members of the PTLC Consolidated Group.
2.91 Qualified Purchaser . Qualified Purchaser shall mean a qualified purchaser as defined in Section 2(a)(51)(A) of the Investment Company Act.
2.92 Rebuttal . Rebuttal shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.3.
2.93 Recipient Group . Recipient Group shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.8.
2.94 Redemption . Redemption shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the tenth recital of this Agreement.
2.95 Redemption Agreement . Redemption Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Subsection 11.1(a).
2.96 Redemption Consideration . Redemption Consideration shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the tenth recital of this Agreement.
2.97 Regulated Entities . Regulated Entities shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.8(b).
2.98 Regulations . Regulations shall mean the United States Income Tax Regulations, including Temporary Regulations, promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
2.99 Regulators . Regulators shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 6.8(b).
2.100 Regulatory Allocations . Regulatory Allocations shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.4.
2.101 Returns . Returns shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Subsection 8.2(d).
2.102 Sale . Sale (including, with its correlative meanings, Sell and Sold) with respect to a Member Interest shall mean any voluntary or involuntary sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of all or any portion of such Member Interest (or any right or interest therein), including by operation of Law, but, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include the creation of any Liens upon a Member Interest unless the holder of such a Lien acquires all or any portion of such Member Interest or the Member Interest is otherwise sold, transferred or assigned in accordance with the Lien.
2.103 Schedule . Schedule shall refer to one of several written Schedules to this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to the extent permitted by this Agreement, each of which is hereby incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement for all purposes.
2.104 Securities Act . Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and in effect from time to time, or the corresponding provisions of any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.105 Statutory Termination Date . Statutory Termination Date shall mean the 60 th day following the expiration of the statute of limitations for assessment of taxes with respect to all Returns covering any period ending prior to or including the Effective Time.
2.106 Subsidiary . Subsidiary shall refer to (i) any corporation (or equivalent legal entity under foreign Law) of which another Person owns directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the stock, the holders of which are ordinarily and generally, in the absence of contingencies or understandings, entitled to vote for the election of directors, (ii) any limited liability company in which such Person owns directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the membership interests, (iii) any partnership in which such other Person owns directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the partnership interests and (iv) any other entity of which another Person has the voting power to elect the majority of the members of the board of directors, the board of managers, or a similar body of such entity.
2.107 Third-Party Sale . Third-Party Sale shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.2.
2.108 Transaction Notice . Transaction Notice shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.3.
2.109 Transfer . Transfer shall mean any Sale or creation of a Lien.
2.110 Trustee . Trustee shall mean, The Bank of New York Mellon, or any successor thereto appointed as trustee pursuant to the Bond Indenture.
2.111 Trustee Affiliate . Trustee Affiliate shall mean, with respect to the Trustee, any other Person that, at the time of determination, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is Controlled by or is under common Control with, the Trustee.
2.112 General Provisions . Unless the context otherwise requires, as used in this Agreement (i) the terms herein, hereof and hereunder and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision; (ii) terms used herein in the singular also include the plural and vice versa; (iii) all references to statutes and related regulations shall include any amendments of same and any successor statutes and regulations; (iv) any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms; (v) the words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation; (vi) the word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall; (vii) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Section of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement; and (viii) 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.
ARTICLE 3
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS; CAPITAL ACCOUNTS
3.1 Capital Contribution . Each of PTLC and PAG made the Capital Contributions set forth on Schedule A hereto, and, effective as of the Effective Time, the Percentage Interest of each Member in the Company is as set forth on Schedule B hereto.
3.2 Capital Accounts . A Capital Account shall be established and maintained for each Member on the books of the Company. Each Members interest in the capital of the Company shall be represented by its Capital Account.
3.3 Compliance with Treasury Regulations . The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b) (or any corresponding provision of succeeding Law) and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Regulation. In the event the Managing Member shall determine that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits thereto, are computed in order to comply with such Regulation, the Company may make such modifications; provided, however that any modification with respect to a period ending prior to or including the Effective Date, to the extent such modification would have any adverse impact on a Former GE Member, must first be approved by Memco in writing. The Company also shall make any appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise cause this Agreement not to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-1(b) (or any corresponding provisions of succeeding Law), provided that such modification shall not have a material adverse effect on the economic position of any Member.
3.4 Succession to Capital Accounts . In the event any interest in the Company is Sold in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and Article 9 of the Partnership Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred interest. For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence, the portion of the Capital Account to which the transferee succeeds shall be that percentage of the transferors total Capital Account as the Percentage Interest being Sold bears to the total Percentage Interest of the transferor, taking into account Section 9.6.
3.5 No Withdrawal of Capital Contributions . No Member shall withdraw any Capital Contributions without the unanimous written approval of the other Members and, until the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, the prior written approval of Memco. No Member shall receive any interest with respect to its Capital Contributions.
ARTICLE 4
COSTS AND EXPENSES
4.1 Organizational and Other Costs . The Company has paid or shall cause to be paid all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the formation and organization of the Company. Such costs and expenses borne by the Company include all related accounting, trustee, administrative, tax, consulting, filing and registration costs.
4.2 Operating Costs . The Company shall (i) pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses of the Company incurred in pursuing and conducting, or otherwise related to, the business of the Company, including all legal, trustees and accountants costs and expenses relating thereto whether billed to the Company, its Members or Memco or one of its Affiliates, and (ii) reimburse the Managing Member for any reasonable documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by it in connection therewith (including in the performance of its duties as Tax Matters Partner); provided that, at any time the Company Sub acts as general partner of the Partnership (the General Partner Activities), neither the Managing Member nor the Company Sub shall be entitled to pay from Company funds or Company Sub funds nor be reimbursed by the Company for any costs, expenses or liabilities incurred in connection with such General Partner Activities.
ARTICLE 5
DISTRIBUTIONS; COMPANY ALLOCATIONS;
TAX MATTERS
5.1 Distributions Prior to Dissolution . Prior to the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, the Managing Member shall not make distributions to the Members, except the deemed distributions to Members required by Section 10.1 or this Section 5.1 and distributions to Members specifically approved in writing in advance by Memco, which distributions shall be made to all Members (or only to GECC in the case of deemed distributions to any Members pursuant to Section 10.1 or this Section 5.1) in proportion to their Percentage Interests; provided , that, if any of PTLC or PAG is in breach of any Backstop Indemnity Obligation (the Backstop Defaulting Member), at the option of Memco, all or a portion of any cash or cash equivalents on
hand at the Company, except Permitted Working Capital, will be required to be distributed to all Members in proportion to their Percentage Interests, with any distributions otherwise payable to any Backstop Defaulting Member being paid by the Company directly to GECC to the extent of all damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by GECC or any of its Affiliates arising or resulting from or attributable to any breach of or default of such Member under a Backstop Indemnity Obligation at such time; provided , further , that such distributions payable to a Backstop Defaulting Member but paid to GECC will be deemed paid to the Backstop Defaulting Member and directed by such Backstop Defaulting Member to be paid directly to GECC on behalf of such Backstop Defaulting Member; and provided , further , that in case of a breach of a Backstop Indemnity Obligation, in addition to or in lieu of its right to force distributions to the Members and payments directly to GECC as described above, Memco shall have the right to direct the Company to pay an amount (other than amounts reserved as Permitted Working Capital which the Company shall retain) owing by the Backstop Defaulting Member to GECC, up to the amount owed by such Backstop Defaulting Member, to GECC, which amount shall be treated as (a) loaned by the Company to the Backstop Defaulting Member(s), and (b) used by the Backstop Defaulting Member(s) to pay their Backstop Indemnity Obligation(s) to GECC. The loan described in clause (a) above shall (i) accrue interest at the Default Rate, and (ii) shall be payable on the Bonds Maturity Date. Following the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, the Managing Member may make distributions to the Members in proportion to their Percentage Interests.
5.2 Company Allocations .
(a) Profits and Losses . For each taxable year or portion of a taxable year for which the Company is required to allocate Profits, Losses, or other items pursuant to this Article 5, after giving effect to the special allocations set forth in Sections 5.3 and 5.4, Profits and Losses of the Company shall be allocated to the Members and the Former GE Members, as the case may be, in proportion to their Percentage Interests for all relevant periods ending prior to the Effective Date and with respect to any period ending after but including the Effective Date in accordance with Section 5.5(c) and to the Members in proportion to their Percentage Interests for all relevant periods (or portions thereof) commencing after the Effective Date, subject to the limitation in Subsection 5.2(b) with respect to the allocation of Losses. Solely for purposes of this Section 5.2 (a)-(g) and Sections 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6, the reference to Members shall include the Former GE Members to the extent covering periods ending prior to or including the Effective Time using the Percentage Interest of the Members and the Former GE Members at the applicable time.
(b) Loss Limitation . The Losses allocated pursuant to Subsection 5.2(a) shall not exceed the maximum amount of Losses that can be so allocated without causing any Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of any taxable year. All losses otherwise allocable to a Member in excess of the limitation set forth in this Subsection 5.2(b) shall be allocated (A) in the case of any Penske Member and PAG, to those Penske Members and PAG without such an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit in proportion to and to the extent of the amount of Losses that can be allocated to each such Penske Member and PAG without causing it to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, (B) with respect to any period ending prior to or including the Effective Time (consistent with Section 5.5(c)), in the case of any Former GE Member, to the other Former GE Members without such an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit in
proportion to and to the extent of the amount of Losses that can be allocated to each such Former GE Member without causing in each case such Former GE Member to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, and (C) in the case of any such excess Losses not allocated to a Member under clause (A) or clause (B) of this Subsection 5.2(b), to each Member without such an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, after the application of clauses (A) and (B) of this Subsection 5.2(b), in proportion to and to the extent of the amount of Losses that can be allocated to each such Member without causing it to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit.
(c) Initial GE Members, Memco and GECC . As of February 20, 2015, each of the Initial GE Members ceased to be a Member and ceased to have any Capital Account, Member Interest or limited liability company or other equity interest in the Company. As of the date hereof, Memco ceased to be a Member and ceased to have any Capital Account, Member Interest or limited liability company or other equity interest in the Company and shall not, with respect to any periods (or portions thereof) commencing after the Effective Time, be allocated any Profits, Losses or other items pursuant to this Article 5, including any special allocations. GECC is not a Member, has no Capital Account, Member Interest or limited liability company or other equity interest in the Company and shall not be allocated any Profits, Losses or other items pursuant to this Article 5, including any special allocations.
5.3 Special Allocations . The following special allocations shall be made in the following order:
(a) Minimum Gain Chargeback . Except as otherwise provided in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 5, if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during any Company taxable year, each Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such taxable year (and, if necessary, subsequent taxable years) in an amount equal to such Members share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704¬2(g). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Member pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-2(f)(6) and 1.704-2(j)(2). This Subsection 5.3(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(b) Member Minimum Gain Chargeback . Except as otherwise provided in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4), notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 5, if there is a net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to a Member Nonrecourse Debt during any Company taxable year, each Member who has a share of the Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5), shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such taxable year (and, if necessary, subsequent taxable years) in an amount equal to such Members share of the net decrease in Member Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Member pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2). This Subsection 5.3(b) is intended to comply with the
minimum gain chargeback requirement in Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
(c) Qualified Income Offset . In the event any Member unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or distributions described in Regulations Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 4 ), Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 5 ), or Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)( d )( 6 ), items of Company income and gain shall be specially allocated to each such Member in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of such Member as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Subsection 5.3(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Article 5 have been tentatively made as if this Subsection 5.3(c) and Subsection 5.3(h) were not in the Agreement.
(d) Gross Income Allocation . In the event any Member has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any taxable year that is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Member is obligated to restore (pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) and (ii) the amount such Member is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Regulations Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each such Member shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain in the amount of such excess as quickly as possible; provided that an allocation pursuant to this Subsection 5.3(d) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Member would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article 5 have been made as if Subsections 5.3(c) and 5.3(h) and this Subsection 5.3(d) were not in the Agreement.
(e) Nonrecourse Deductions . Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable year shall be specially allocated among the Members in proportion to their Percentage Interests.
(f) Member Nonrecourse Deductions . Any Member Nonrecourse Deductions for any taxable year shall be specially allocated to the Member who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(1).
(g) Code Section 754 Adjustment . To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as the result of a distribution to a Member in complete liquidation of its interest in the Company, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Members in accordance with their interests in the Company in the event Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies, or to the Members to whom such distribution was made in the event Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.
(h) Special Allocation During Period of Liquidation . In the event that the Capital Accounts of the Members would not otherwise be in proportion to their Percentage Interests in the year liquidating distributions are made under Subsection 12.3(d), after all other
allocations provided for in this Article 5 have been made as if this Subsection 5.3(h) were not in the Agreement, items of Company income, gain, loss, or deduction for all taxable years of the Company which include any portion of the period from the date of the event of dissolution described in Section 12.1 that results in the liquidation through the date of the final distribution under Subsection 12.3(d) shall be allocated among the Members in such manner as to cause the Capital Accounts of the Members to be in proportion to their Percentage Interests. To the extent necessary to achieve Capital Accounts that are in proportion to Percentage Interests, after all other items of income, gain, loss, and deduction have been taken into account under this Subsection 5.3(h), with respect to each Member, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the product of such Members Percentage Interest and the aggregate amount of all of the Members Capital Accounts over (ii) the amount that would be the Members Capital Account absent application of this sentence shall be treated as paid to such Member as a guaranteed payment, and the corresponding deduction shall be allocated among the other Members as required to achieve the desired proportionality of Capital Accounts.
5.4 Curative Allocations . The allocations set forth in Subsection 5.2(b) and Section 5.3, other than Subsection 5.3(h) (the Regulatory Allocations) are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations. It is the intent of the Members that, to the extent possible, all Regulatory Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 5.4. Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 5 (other than the Regulatory Allocations), the Managing Member shall make such offsetting special allocations of Company income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner it determines appropriate (without causing an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for any Member) so that, after such offsetting allocations are made, each Members Capital Account balance is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Member would have had if the Regulatory Allocations were not part of the Agreement and all Company items were allocated pursuant to Subsection 5.2(a). In exercising its discretion under this Section 5.4, the Managing Member shall take into account future Regulatory Allocations under Subsections 5.3(a) and 5.3(b) that, although not yet made, are likely to offset other Regulatory Allocations previously made under Subsections 5.3(e) and 5.3(f).
5.5 Other Allocation Rules .
(a) Profits, Losses, and any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit shall be allocated to the Members pursuant to this Article 5 as of the last day of each taxable year, provided that Profits, Losses, and such other items shall also be allocated at such times as the Gross Asset Values of Company assets are adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (2) of Subsection 2.51.
(b) The Members are aware of the income tax consequences of the allocations made by this Article 5 and hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Article 5 in reporting their shares of Company income and loss for income tax purposes.
(c) For purposes of determining the Profits, Losses, or any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit allocable to any period, Profits, Losses, and any such other items shall be determined on a daily, monthly, or other basis using the closing of the books
method or, if proposed by the Managing Member with respect to a particular period, any other permissible method under Code Section 706 and the Regulations thereunder; provided, however, that such other method must be approved by Memco for any period ending prior to or including the Effective Date, to the extent such other method would have any adverse impact on a Former GE Member.
(d) Any excess nonrecourse liability of the Company, within the meaning of Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with the Members interests in Company profits. Solely for purposes of this Subsection 5.5(d), the Members interests in Company profits are in proportion to their Percentage Interests.
5.6 Tax Allocations; Code Section 704(c) .
(a) In accordance with Section 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Members so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its initial Gross Asset Value.
(b) In the event the Gross Asset Value of any asset of the Company shall be adjusted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in the same manner as under Section 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.
(c) Any elections or other decisions relating to such Section 704(c) allocations shall be made by the Members in any manner that reasonably reflects the purpose and intention of this Agreement. Section 704(c) allocations pursuant to this Section 5.6 are solely for purposes of federal, state, and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Members Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, other items, or distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
(d) Except as otherwise determined by the Managing Member, the Company shall use the traditional method (as defined in Regulations Section 1.704-3(b)) for purposes of computing section 704(c) allocations with respect to property contributed to the Company with a Gross Asset Value that differs from its adjusted tax basis at the time of contribution, and for purposes of computing reverse section 704(c) allocations with respect to property for which differences between Gross Asset Value and adjusted tax basis are created when the Company revalues Company property pursuant to Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f); provided, however, that such other method must be approved by Memco for any period ending prior to or including the Effective Date, to the extent such other method would have any adverse impact on a Former GE Member.
5.7 Accounting Method . The books of the Company (for tax reporting purposes) shall be kept on an accrual basis. Any change in the accounting method affecting periods ending prior to or including the Effective Date will require the prior written consent of Memco to the extent such change would have any adverse impact on a Former GE Member.
ARTICLE 6
MANAGEMENT
6.1 Rights and Duties of the Non-Managing Members and Others . Neither the Non-Managing Members, Memco nor GECC shall participate in the control of the business of the Company or have any power to act for or bind the Company. The Non-Managing Members shall have the right to approve certain actions proposed to be taken by the Managing Member and certain voting rights, all as set forth herein. In addition, as set forth in this Article 6 and elsewhere in this Agreement, Memco shall have the right to approve or consent (or withhold its approval or consent) with respect to certain actions proposed to be taken by the Managing Member or the Company, all as set forth herein. If Memcos approval or consent is required under any provision of this Agreement and it is not granted by Memco in writing, such action shall not be taken until such approval or consent is no longer required or until it is granted, and any action taken without such approval or consent shall be null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever; provided , however , that, with respect to each provision of this Agreement that requires the approval or consent of Memco, Memco shall provide its approval or consent or notify the Company that it shall not provide its approval or consent timely following receipt by Memco of a written request for consent outlining in reasonable detail the matter for which Memcos approval or consent is being sought.
6.2 Fiduciary Duty of Managing Member . The Managing Member shall have fiduciary responsibility for the safekeeping and use of all funds and assets (including records) of the Company and the Company Sub, whether or not in its immediate possession or control. The Managing Member shall not employ, or permit any other Person to employ, such funds or assets in any manner except for the exclusive benefit of the Company and the Company Sub, as applicable.
6.3 Powers of Managing Member .
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Managing Member shall have full and complete charge of all affairs of the Company, and the management and control of the Companys business as described in Section 1.4 shall rest exclusively with the Managing Member. The Managing Member shall be required to devote to the conduct of the business of the Company such time and attention as is necessary to accomplish the purposes, and to conduct properly the business, of the Company.
(b) By executing this Agreement, each Non-Managing Member shall be deemed to have consented to any exercise by the Managing Member of any of the foregoing powers.
(c) The Managing Member shall cause Schedule B to be amended to reflect any Sale of a Members Member Interest (to the extent permitted by this Agreement), the total Member Interest of each Member, any change in name of the Company or change in the name or names under which the Company conducts its business (to the extent permitted by this Agreement), and receipt by the Company of any notice of change of address of a Member. The amended Schedule B, which shall be kept on file at the principal office of the Company, shall
supersede all such prior Schedules and become part of this Agreement, and the Managing Member shall promptly forward a copy of the amended Schedule B to each Member and, until the GE Termination Date, Memco, upon each amendment thereof.
(d) Until the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, the Managing Member shall pay all of the Companys cash and cash equivalents, except for Permitted Working Capital, to GECC as required by the terms of this Agreement.
6.4 Restrictions on Managing Members Authority .
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Managing Member shall not have authority to do any of the following without the prior written consent of the Non-Managing Members that own at least ten percent (10%) of the Partnership Interests of the Partnership and, unless specified otherwise with respect to matters occurring prior to the GE Termination Date (or such later time as expressly set forth below), Memco:
(i) any act in contravention of any provision of this Agreement, which prohibition with respect to any GE Protection Provision will survive the GE Termination Date for so long as such provision is in effect;
(ii) any act which would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the Company, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement;
(iii) possess Company property, or assign any rights in specific Company property, for other than a Company purpose;
(iv) admit a person as a Member or as a member of Company Sub, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement;
(v) amend this Agreement, except in accordance with Section 15.1, which prohibition with respect to any GE Protection Provision shall survive the GE Termination Date for so long as such provision is in effect;
(vi) except to the extent permitted by this Agreement, Transfer its interest as a Managing Member of the Company;
(vii) knowingly commit any act which would subject any Member, any Former GE Member or GECC to any liabilities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which the Company transacts business, such provision with respect to the Former GE Members or GECC will survive the GE Termination Date;
(viii) elect, permit or cause to dissolve the Company or Company Sub, except as expressly permitted herein;
(ix) amend or modify the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company Sub or the Certificate of Formation of the Company Sub; or
(x) cause or permit the Transfer of any equity interest of the Company in the Company Sub, or of all or any portion of the Partnership Interests held by the Company Sub, except to the extent expressly permitted by this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Managing Member shall not have authority to do any of the following with respect to periods ending prior to or including the Indemnification Satisfaction Date (except as otherwise specifically provided in clauses (v) and (vi) below) without the prior written approval of Memco in its sole discretion:
(i) cause the Company to (A) incur any indebtedness (other than as contemplated under Section 10.3), (B) grant or permit any Liens with respect to any property of the Company or (C) cause or permit any other obligations or liabilities of the Company to exist, except (x) as contemplated by this Agreement or as the Manager of the Company Sub, (y) usual and customary set off rights associated with bank accounts, securities accounts, and similar accounts, or (z) the payment of its taxes and the expenditure of the monies to maintain its good standing and its insurance and obligations for professional and auditing services;
(ii) [RESERVED.]
(iii) conduct the Companys business and the business of the Company Sub in a manner other than in accordance with the Partnerships Code for Business Conduct in effect as of the Effective Time or as changed if approved pursuant to the Partnership Agreement as if the Company were the Partnership thereunder;
(iv) change any policies relating to accounting matters, other than those required by GAAP;
(v) prior to the Statutory Termination Date, determine the accounting methods and conventions to be used in, or any other method or procedure related to, the preparation of the Returns, make any and all elections under the tax Laws of any jurisdiction as to the treatment of items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the Company, or file a Form 8832 - Entity Classification Election or in any other manner make or change an election under U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3(c)(1) or successor regulations to have the Company taxed as anything other than as a partnership for federal tax purposes or to have the Company Sub taxed as anything other than a disregarded entity for federal tax purposes;
(vi) prior to the Statutory Termination Date, take any position for income tax purposes, whether on a Return or otherwise, that is inconsistent with the income tax treatment as agreed to in Subsection 8.2(e);
(vii) change the character of the Companys business from that set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of Section 1.4 hereof, or cause the Company to engage in any activity other than as permitted therein;
(viii) form, acquire or hold any subsidiary (other than Company Sub), including any partnership, limited liability company or corporation, or make any investment in any entity (other than Company Sub);
(ix) declare or pay any distributions to the Members other than in accordance with Section 5.1 or Section 10.1; or
(x) file a voluntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment, in any form, of the Companys or Company Subs debts under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other federal or state insolvency Law, or file an answer consenting to or acquiescing in any such petition, (ii) make any Transfer for the benefit of the Partnerships creditors or (iii) allow the expiration of sixty (60) days after the filing of an involuntary petition under Title 11 of the United States Code, the application by a third party for the appointment of a receiver for the assets of the Company or Company Sub, or the filing of an involuntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment of the Companys or Company Subs debts under any other federal or state insolvency Law, unless the same shall not have been vacated, set aside or stayed within such sixty (60) day period.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Managing Member shall not have authority to take any actions described in Subsections 6.4(b)(i) and 6.4(b)(vii) at any time without the prior written approval of PAG in its sole discretion.
6.5 Other Activities.
(a) Any Member or Memco or GECC (the Interested Party) may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, whether presently existing or hereafter created, and neither the Company nor any Member other than the Interested Party shall have any rights in or to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom.
(b) Nothing in this Agreement shall release, terminate or modify the obligations of any Member under Section 6.6 of the Partnership Agreement.
(c) Any Member, not otherwise bound by the terms of the covenant not to compete in Section 6.6 of the Partnership Agreement, that together with its Affiliates holds at least ten percent (10%) of the Partnership Interests in the Partnership, either directly or indirectly through its pro rata share of the Company Subs Partnership Interest in the Partnership, shall enter into a covenant not to compete with the Partnership that shall have the same terms and conditions as the covenant not to compete in Section 6.6 of the Partnership Agreement.
6.6 Exculpation . Neither the Managing Member nor any Affiliate of the Managing Member nor any of their respective partners, shareholders, officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable, in damages or otherwise, to the Company or to any of the Members for any act or omission on its or his or her part, except for (a) any act or omission resulting from its or his or her own willful misconduct or bad faith, (b) with respect to the Managing Member only, any breach by the Managing Member of its obligations as a fiduciary of the Company or (c) with respect to the Managing Member only, any breach by the Managing Member of any of the terms
and provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Managing Member and its respective partners, shareholders, officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any claim or liability of any nature whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the assets or business of the Company, except where attributable to the willful misconduct or bad faith of such individual or entity or where relating to a breach by the Managing Member of its obligations as a fiduciary of the Company or to a breach by the Managing Member of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The Managing Member shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the Company and each of its Members (other than the Managing Member), each of the Former GE Members and GECC from and against any claim or liability attributable to the Managing Members willful misconduct or bad faith or where relating to a breach by the Managing Member of its obligations as a fiduciary of the Company or to a breach by the Managing Member of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement. The Managing Member shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless to the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Company and the Company Sub from and against any damage, loss, claim, liability or expense incurred by the Company Sub in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership and for which the applicable creditors or limited partners of the Partnership have no recourse against the Company Sub or Managing Member (including by indemnification or exculpation) under the Act or the Partnership Agreement.
6.7 Transactions with Affiliates .
(a) Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude transactions between the Company and any Member (including the Managing Member) or an Affiliate or Affiliates of any Member acting in and for its own account, provided that any services performed or products provided by the Member or any such Affiliates are services and/or products that the Managing Member reasonably believes, at the time of requesting such services, to be in the best interests of the Company, and further provided that the rate of compensation to be paid for any such services and/or products shall be comparable to the amount paid for similar services and/or products under similar circumstances to independent third parties in arms length transactions, and further provided that the Members and, until the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, Memco will receive a written notice within thirty (30) days of the date on which any such transaction is entered setting forth the material terms of any transaction or series of related transactions described above for which the aggregate amount involved in such transaction or series of transactions, which includes the U.S. dollar value of the amounts involved throughout the duration of any agreements entered into with respect to such transaction(s), is greater than $10 million.
(b) All bills with respect to services provided to the Company by a Member or any Affiliate of a Member shall be separately submitted and shall be supported by logs or other written data.
6.8 Confidentiality.
(a) With respect to any and all information provided to or obtained by any Member, any assignees of Member Interests, any Former GE Member, GECC or any of their respective Affiliates, or any of its or their directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives or advisors as a result of such Person being a Member or party to or beneficiary of this
Agreement, except for the exclusions below (Evaluation Material), such Member, Former GE Member, GECC and each of its respective Affiliates, and its and their directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives or advisors shall hold such information in strict confidence and use such information solely in connection with such Persons evaluation of its or its Affiliates investment in or rights or remedies with respect to the Company; provided , however , that any Member, Former GE Member or GECC may disclose such information (a) as required by applicable Law (including the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or rules of a stock exchange or other self-regulatory bodies), (b) to any person involved in the preparation of such Persons or any of its Affiliates financial statements, tax returns or public filings, (c) to any of its own Affiliates, or its or their directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives or advisors who are informed of the strictly confidential nature of such information and are or have been advised of their obligation to keep information of this type strictly confidential, (d) upon the request or demand of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any of the Company or any of the Members, Former GE Members or GECC or any of their Affiliates or (e) to any person and such persons advisors with whom any Member, Former GE Member or GECC or any of their Affiliates is contemplating a financing transaction or to whom such Member, Former GE Member or GECC is contemplating a Transfer of all or any portion of its Member Interests or rights or remedies under this Agreement, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (a Potential Buyer), provided that such Potential Buyer and such Persons advisors are advised of the strictly confidential nature of such information and the Potential Buyer agrees to be bound by a confidentiality agreement containing protective provisions no less protective of the information of the Company than provided in this Agreement. All press releases, public announcements, and similar publicity (other than such public announcements required by applicable Law, pursuant to clause (a) in the immediately preceding sentence) respecting the Company and referencing the name of any Member, Former GE Member, GECC or any of their Affiliates (Non-Issuing Person) other than the Person issuing such press release, public announcement, similar publicity or making such required disclosure shall be made only with the prior written consent of such Non-Issuing Person, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld; provided , however , that without consent any Member may state in such a public announcement that it is a Member and disclose the legal names of the Company, and the other Members and their respective parents and Memco or GECC may state in such public announcement that it is a party or beneficiary as the case may be and disclose the legal names of the Company and the Members and their respective parents. Nothing in this paragraph shall waive any attorney-client privilege, attorney work product privilege or other privilege, and any information subject to such privilege shall not be disclosed except as required by applicable Law or restrict the Companys ability to issue press releases in the ordinary course of business. For purposes of this Subsection 6.8, the Company shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of any of the Members. Evaluation Material shall not include information that (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure in breach of this Agreement by the applicable Member, Former GE Member, GECC, or any of their representatives or others to whom it voluntarily discloses such information other than Governmental Authorities (the Recipient Group), (ii) was available to a member of the Recipient Group prior to such informations disclosure by or on behalf of the Company from a source (other than Recipient Group) who, to the knowledge of the applicable Member, Former GE Member or GECC, as applicable, is not subject to a confidentiality agreement with, or other obligation of secrecy to, the Company, its Affiliates or representatives prohibiting such disclosure, (iii) is or becomes
available to the Recipient Group from a source (other than the Recipient Group) who, to the knowledge of the applicable Member, Former GE Member or GECC, as applicable, is not subject to a confidentiality agreement with, or other obligation of secrecy to, the Company, its Affiliates or representatives prohibiting such disclosure, or (iv) was independently developed by the Recipient Group without reference to the Evaluation Material. If a member of the Recipient Group is requested or required (by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand, or similar legal process or by regulatory agency, or stock exchange or other applicable rules) to disclose any of the Evaluation Material, or if a member of the Recipient Group determines that such Evaluation Material is required to be disclosed by applicable Law, the applicable Member, Former GE Member or GECC agrees, promptly upon obtaining knowledge of such request, requirement or determination to disclose, to provide the Managing Member and, at all times prior to the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, Memco with prompt notice of each such request or determination, to the extent practicable and not legally prohibited, so that the Company or a Member as appropriate may seek an appropriate protective order (at its own cost and expense). If, absent the entry of a protective order or other appropriate remedy, the applicable member of a Recipient Group is legally required to disclose the Evaluation Material, such applicable member may disclose such information only to the persons and to the extent required without liability under this Agreement.
(b) GECC, the Former GE Members, the Partnership and its Subsidiaries and the GECC Consolidated Group (the Regulated Entities) are subject to rules and regulations of, and examination and supervision by, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and in certain circumstances other regulators and supervisors of financial institutions (the Regulators). Nothing in this Agreement or any other agreement or document in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to preclude or restrict any of the Regulated Entities from disclosing, pursuant to the examination or supervisory requirements or requests of any of the Regulators, to any of the Regulators with jurisdiction over the Regulated Entities, or any such Regulators from obtaining access to, any Evaluation Material, and in connection therewith the Regulated Entities shall not be required to give any other party notice with respect to such disclosure or access.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the rights and obligations set forth in this Section 6.8 of each Former GE Member, GECC, each of their respective Affiliates and each of its or their directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives and advisors shall survive beyond the GE Termination Date and continue indefinitely.
6.9 Replacement of the Managing Member . Upon Bankruptcy of PTLC (or any permitted successor to its Member Interests as the Managing Member), PTLC or any such successor shall automatically cease to be the Managing Member and a new Managing Member shall be designated by PAG and, if the replacement is to occur at any time prior to the GE Termination Date, with the prior written consent of Memco.
ARTICLE 7
COMPENSATION
The Managing Member shall be entitled to reimbursement of all of its expenses attributable to the performance of its obligations hereunder, to the extent provided in Section 4.2 hereof. Subject to the Act, no amount so paid to the Managing Member shall be deemed to be a distribution of Company assets for purposes of this Agreement. Prior to the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, no additional compensation shall be paid to the Managing Member without the prior written consent of Memco.
ARTICLE 8
ACCOUNTS
8.1 Books and Records . The Managing Member shall maintain complete and accurate books of account of the Companys affairs at the Companys principal office, including a list of the names and addresses of all Members. Memco, at any time, upon reasonable prior notice, prior to the GE Termination Date, and each Member shall have the right to inspect the Companys books and records (including the list of the names and addresses of Members). Memco, at any time prior to the GE Termination Date, and each of the Members shall have the right to audit independently the books and records of the Company, any such audit being at the sole cost and expense of Memco or the Member conducting such audit.
8.2 Reports, Returns and Audits .
(a) The books of account shall be closed promptly after the end of each Company Year. The books and records of the Company shall be audited as of the end of each Company Year by the Auditor. Within ninety (90) days after the end of each Company Year, the Managing Member shall make a written report to each person who was a Member at any time during such Company Year (and to Memco with respect to all periods ending prior to or including the Indemnification Satisfaction Date) which shall include financial statements comprised of at least the following: a balance sheet as of the close of the immediately preceding Company Year, and statements of earnings or losses, changes in financial position and changes in Members capital accounts for the Company Year then ended, which financial statements shall be certified by the Auditor as in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The report shall also contain such additional statements with respect to the status of the Company business as are considered necessary by the Managing Member to advise any or all Members, Former GE Members and GECC properly about their investment in, or rights and remedies with respect to, the Company. The Managing Member shall be reimbursed by the Company for its reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing the reports contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence and those required by Subsections 8.2(b), 8.2(c), 8.2(d) and 8.2(g).
(b) Prior to August 15 of each year, each Member and, to the extent any Former GE Member had a Member Interest with respect to the applicable prior period, such Former GE Members, shall be provided with an information letter (containing such Members Form K-1 or comparable information) with respect to its distributive share of income, gains, deductions, losses and credits for income tax reporting purposes for the previous Company Year, together with any other information concerning the Company necessary for the preparation of a Members, a Former GE Members income tax return(s), and the Company shall provide each Member, each Former GE Member with an estimate of the information to be set forth in such information letter by no later than April 15 of each year. With the sole exception of mathematical errors in computation, the financial statements and the information contained in such information letter shall be deemed conclusive and binding upon such Member or such Former GE Member unless written objection shall be lodged with the Managing Member within ninety (90) days after the giving of such information letter to such Member or such Former GE Member.
(c) The Managing Member shall also furnish the Members and, until the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, Memco with such periodic reports concerning the Companys business and activities as are considered necessary by any Member, Former GE Member or GECC to advise any or all Members, Former GE Members and GECC properly about their interest in, or rights and remedies with respect to, the Company.
(d) The Managing Member shall prepare or cause to be prepared all federal, state and local tax returns of the Company (the Returns) for each year for which such Returns are required to be filed, and shall cause all such Returns to be filed in a timely manner; provided, however that it shall not file any Return for any period ending prior to or including the Effective Time without first providing Memco with a reasonable opportunity to review the Return and obtaining the prior written consent of Memco to such filing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such Returns shall be prepared consistent with the agreed income tax treatment described in Subsection 8.2(e). To the extent permitted by Law, for purposes of preparing the Returns, the Company shall use the Company Year. Subject to Subsection 6.4(b)(v), the Managing Member may make any elections under the Code and/or applicable state or local tax Laws, and the Managing Member shall be absolved from all liability for any and all consequences to any previously admitted or subsequently admitted Members resulting from its making or failing to make any such election. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Managing Member shall make the election provided for in Section 754 of the Code, if requested to do so by any Member.
(e) The Members agree, for income tax purposes, that:
(i) The Bonds shall be treated as debt of GECC and not as debt of the Company;
(ii) An amount equal to the net proceeds of the Bonds shall be treated as Transferred in cash by GECC to the Initial Members at the time the Bonds were issued in proportion to their then Percentage Interests (such Transfer a Deemed Transfer);
(iii) Each Deemed Transfer to PTLC or PAG shall be treated as the proceeds of a loan from GECC to such Member (each such loan a Funding Loan) with a face amount equal to the product of the face amount of the Bonds and such Members Percentage Interest;
(iv) Each Funding Loan shall be treated as having terms consistent with the agreement among GECC, PTLC and PAG, as reflected in this Agreement and the Indemnification Agreements, relating to their economic sharing of obligations relating to the Bonds, including, but not by way of limitation, the treatment of all Co-Obligation Fees paid or accrued by PTLC or PAG under the Indemnification Agreements as interest paid or accrued on such Members Funding Loan and the treatment of all payments by PTLC or PAG of an Indemnified Amount described in Section 3(i) or Section 3(ii) of the Indemnification Agreements or, to the extent related to the Co-Obligation Fee under the Indemnification Agreements or to payments referred to in Section 3(i) or Section 3(ii) of the Indemnification Agreements, Section 3(v) of the Indemnification Agreements as payments made on, or of financing costs or other fees or expenses with respect to, such Members Funding Loan;
(v) Each Initial Member at the time of the Deemed Transfer shall be treated as having contributed cash, in an amount equal to the amount of the Deemed Transfer to such Member, to the Company as a Capital Contribution on the date the Bonds were issued;
(vi) All payments (including principal and interest) by the Company on, or of financing costs or other fees or expenses with respect to, the Bonds shall be treated as distributed in cash to the Members and the Former GE Members in proportion to their Percentage Interests on the date such payment was or is made, with amounts so treated as distributed to PTLC or PAG further treated as used to make payments (including principal and interest) to GECC on, or of financing costs or other fees or expenses with respect to, such Members Funding Loan; and
(vii) All Fall Away Payment Amounts (as defined in the Indemnification Agreements) treated under this Agreement as distributed to PTLC or PAG shall be treated as used by such Member to make payments (including principal and interest) to GECC on, or of financing costs or other fees or expenses with respect to, such Members Funding Loan, and then used by GECC to make payments (including principal and interest) on, or of financing costs or other fees or expenses with respect to, the Bonds.
The Members are aware of the income tax consequences of the above characterizations of the Bonds and the related payments and expenses described in this Subsection 8.2(e) and hereby agree to be bound by the provisions of this Subsection 8.2(e) in reporting such items for income tax purposes.
(f) The Managing Member shall be the tax matters partner of the Company within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(7) of the Code (the Tax Matters Partner) and shall serve in any similar capacity under applicable state, local or foreign Law. With respect to all periods ending prior to or including the Effective Time, Memco shall be given at least fifteen (15)
Business Days advance notice from the Tax Matters Partner of the time and place of, and shall have the right to participate in (i) any administrative proceeding relating to the determination at the Company level of partnership items on which the Members and the Former GE Members, rather than the Company, are taxable and (ii) any discussions with the Internal Revenue Service (or other governmental tax authority) relating to the allocations pursuant to Article 5 of this Agreement. The Tax Matters Partner shall not initiate any action or proceeding in any court in its capacity as Tax Matters Partner, extend any statute of limitation, or take any other action contemplated by Sections 6222 through 6232 of the Code (or similar state, local or foreign Laws with respect to income or income-based taxes that apply to the Members or Former GE Members rather than the Company) with respect to any period ending prior to or including the Effective Time if such initiation, extension or other action would legally bind any other Member, the Former GE Members or the Company without the prior written approval of Memco, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld or untimely delayed. The Tax Matters Partner shall from time to time upon request of Memco or any other Member confer, and cause the Companys tax attorneys and accountants to confer, with Memco or such other Member and its attorneys and accountants on any matters relating to a Company tax return or any tax election that may affect the Former GE Members or the Members as applicable.
(g) The Company shall provide such other information as may be reasonably required for the Members or any of the Former GE Members to timely comply with applicable financial and tax reporting requirements or their customary financial and tax reporting practices.
ARTICLE 9
TRANSFERS AND SALES
9.1 Transfer of Interests of Managing Member and PTLC Consolidated Group . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article 9 or any other provision of this Agreement:
(a) The Managing Member shall not withdraw from the Company or resign as Managing Member nor shall it Transfer all or any portion of its Member Interest as a Managing Member, except in each case (i) for the Sale of a portion but not all of the Managing Members Interests pursuant to Subsection 9.2(b), or (ii) with the prior written approval of all of the Members and, at any time prior to the GE Termination Date, Memco. Upon the consummation of any such Transfer, the Member Interest so Transferred will automatically and simultaneously convert into a non-managing Member Interest.
(b) The Managing Member shall be liable to the Company for any withdrawal or resignation in violation of Subsection 9.1(a) above, or for a withdrawal by the Managing Member from the Company as its Managing Member arising out of the Bankruptcy of a member of the PTLC Consolidated Group other than the Partnership or a Subsidiary of the Partnership.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, Sections 9.1 and 9.2 will not apply to (i) any Sale of Collateral (as defined in the Indemnification Agreements) pursuant to any of the Indemnification Agreements, or (ii) a Third- Party Sale or Equity Offering as contemplated by Article 10; provided, that, if any Member Interests held by
the Managing Member are Sold pursuant to such Sale, such interests shall automatically and simultaneously convert into non-managing Member Interests upon the consummation of such Sale; provided , further , that, if any such Sale results in a Sale of all remaining Member Interests held by the Managing Member, a new Managing Member shall be designated at that time by PAG and, if such designation occurs at any time prior to the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, with the prior written consent of Memco.
9.2 Transfer or Sale of Member Interests or GE Protection Provisions .
(a) No Member may Transfer all or any portion of its Member Interest to any Person except (i) as provided in Subsection 9.1(c), (ii) as permitted by the further provisions of this Section 9.2 (subject to the provisions of Sections 9.1 and 9.5), or (iii) with respect to any Sale to a Person who is not a member of the PAG Consolidated Group or PTLC Consolidated Group, in compliance with the provisions of the Partnership Agreement applicable to Transfers of Partnership Interests (as such terms are defined in such agreement), at all times subject to Sections 9.1 and 9.10.
(b) PTLC may Sell a portion but not all of its Member Interests from time to time to any member or members of the PAG Consolidated Group or to any member or members of the PTLC Consolidated Group.
(c) PAG may Sell all or any portion of its Member Interests from time to time to any member or members of the PTLC Consolidated Group or to any member or members of the PAG Consolidated Group.
(d) As security for the performance of the Backstop Indemnity Obligation by each of PTLC and PAG, each of PTLC and PAG has granted and may grant to GECC a security interest in, or otherwise pledge to GECC, such Members Member Interests and any and all rights with respect thereto.
(e) In the event of any Sale pursuant to Subsection 9.2(b) or (c) and the assignee in such Sale shall cease at any time for any reason (other than as a result of a change in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles after the Effective Time) to be a member of the PTLC Consolidated Group or the PAG Consolidated Group, as the case may be, then such assignee shall concurrently with ceasing to be a member of the applicable Consolidated Group Sell such Member Interests to a Person that is a member of the applicable Consolidated Group.
(f) Memco may Sell all or any portion of its rights and remedies under this Agreement from time to time to any member or members of the GECC Consolidated Group. In connection with a Sale pursuant to this Subsection 9.2(f), the acquiror may become a party to this Agreement with all of the applicable rights and remedies of Memco.
(g) Prior to and as a condition to any Sale pursuant to Subsections 9.2(b), 9.2(c) or 9.2(e), the assignee shall agree in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement in the same manner as the assignor.
9.3 Intentionally Omitted .
9.4 Intentionally Omitted .
9.5 Certain General Provisions.
(a) Intentionally omitted.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Subsection 9.2, in the event that the acquisition by a Person of a Member Interest pursuant to any such provision would result in the Company ceasing to enjoy the status of a limited liability company under Delaware Law, then such Person shall not effect such acquisition, but such Person may effect the acquisition through an Affiliate of such Person or member of such Persons consolidated group if such acquisition eliminates the cessation of the Company enjoying the status of a limited liability company under Delaware Law.
(c) The Members and Memco agree, upon request of the Managing Member, to execute such certificates or other documents and perform such acts as the Managing Member reasonably deems appropriate to preserve the status of the Company as a limited liability company, upon or after the completion of any Transfer of any Member Interest, under Delaware Law.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, in the event of any Sale of a Member Interest permitted by this Agreement, the transferor Member shall not cease to be a Member or be deemed to have withdrawn as a Member until the transferee of such Member Interest shall have been admitted as a Member pursuant to Section 9.10.
(e) The Company has not registered and does not intend to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act in reliance on the exception from such registration provided in Section 3(c)(7) thereof. Accordingly, and notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of this Subsection 9.5(e) shall govern any Sale of Member Interests for so long as the Company determines (in the Companys sole discretion) to retain its ability to qualify for the exception from registration provided by Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Section 9.5 and any other provision of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section 9.5(e) shall govern.
(i) All Member Interests shall be offered and Sold without registration under the Securities Act in transactions that are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) thereof and/or in transactions otherwise exempt from such requirements and in any event only to persons that are Qualified Purchasers that meet the requirements of paragraph (iii) of this Section 9.5(e) in reliance on the exception from registration as an investment company provided by Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act.
(ii) Member Interests may be Sold to a transferee only if such transferee is a Qualified Purchaser (and meets the requirements as set forth in paragraph (iii) of this Section 9.5(e), as certified in a transfer certificate (in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B) delivered to the Managing Member) and the Sale is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
(iii) The Company has not registered and does not intend to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act in reliance on the exception from such registration provided in Section 3(c)(7) thereof. Member Interests are to be offered and Sold only to persons that are Qualified Purchasers (and meet the other requirements set forth in Annex 1 hereto). Each Member shall represent, warrant, acknowledge and agree, and each subsequent purchaser or other transferee of a Member Interest will, by its acceptance or purchase thereof, represent, warrant, acknowledge and agree, to the restrictions as set forth in Annex 1 hereto. In addition, at any time that a Member shall make a contribution of capital to the Company, such Member shall, by such action, represent, warrant, acknowledge and agree to the restrictions as set forth in Annex 1 hereto. If a holder of a Member Interest shall at any time after its acquisition of such Member Interest be unable to make the representations, warranties, acknowledgments and agreements set forth in Annex 1 , it shall provide prompt notice thereof to the Managing Member.
(iv) The Members agree that Schedule B hereto, and any amendment thereto delivered to the Members in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.3(c) hereof, shall bear the restrictive legend substantially in the form set out in Exhibit A hereto, for so long as the Company determines to retain its ability to rely on the exception provided by Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act. The Company shall not delete or change such legend at any time prior to the Indemnification Satisfaction Date without the prior written approval of Memco in its sole discretion.
(v) In addition, whether or not the Company is relying on Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act, Schedule B hereto will bear such part of the legend set forth in Exhibit A that is applicable to the Securities Act (or a legend substantially to such effect) for so long as such portion of the legend and the restrictions on Sale set forth therein are required to ensure that Sales thereof comply with the provisions of the Securities Act.
(vi) No Member Interest shall be Sold unless it is to a transferee that is a Qualified Purchaser and meets the other requirements set forth in Annex 1 hereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Sale of a Member Interest may be made if such Sale would require registration of the Company under the Investment Company Act. Each person that purchases or otherwise acquires a Member Interest will be required to certify in a transfer certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit B that it meets the requirements set forth above under Annex 1 hereto. In addition to the other requirements herein, the Managing Member may request such additional documents and certifications as it may reasonably deem necessary (including an opinion of counsel) in order to verify that a Sale of a Member Interest is exempt from or not subject to registration under the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws and would not require the Company to register under the Investment Company Act. The Managing Member may deem as void and of no effect and deny any Sale of a Member Interest if it reasonably determines that such Sale is subject to but not registered or exempt from registration under applicable securities laws or could require the Company to register under the Investment Company Act.
(vii) Any purported Sale of a Member Interest or any beneficial interests therein that is in breach, at the time made, of any transfer restrictions set forth in this Agreement will be void ab initio . The Managing Member shall be entitled to require any holder of a Member Interest that is determined not to have been a Qualified Purchaser (or to have not met the other requirements set forth under Annex 1 hereto) at the time of acquisition of such Member Interest, to forthwith Sell such Member Interest to a person that is a Qualified Purchaser meeting the requirements set forth under Annex 1 hereto in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. If such holder (or beneficial owner) fails to effect an immediate Sale of such Member Interest, the Managing Member may cause such holders Member Interest to be Sold to a person that certifies to the Managing Member that it is a Qualified Purchaser meeting the other requirements set forth in Annex 1 hereto and is aware that the Sale is being made pursuant to an exemption from the Securities Act, together with the other acknowledgements, representations and agreements made by a transferee of a Member Interest. After the receipt of a written notice from the Managing Member of any such Sale, the Managing Member may treat the transferee of such Member Interest as the owner thereof for all purposes hereunder.
(viii) Until the Company determines (with the prior written consent of Memco in its sole discretion if such determination is made prior to the Indemnification Satisfaction Date) not to retain its ability to qualify for the exception from registration provided by Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act, the Members shall not cause the Company to offer a Member Interest in its own or any affiliated participant-directed employee plan.
(ix) Until the Company determines (with the prior written consent of Memco in its sole discretion if such determination is made prior to the Indemnification Satisfaction Date) not to retain its ability to qualify for the exception from registration provided by Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act, the Members shall not cause the Company to issue any Member Interest or any other security or interest therein except pursuant to substantially the same provisions as are set forth in this Section 9.5(e).
9.6 Allocation of Profits, Losses and Distributions Subsequent to Sale . All Profits, Losses, or any other items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit of the Company attributable to any Member Interest acquired by reason of any Sale of such Member Interest (i) that are allocable, in accordance with Subsection 5.5(c) to the portion of the Company Year ending on the effective date of the Sale shall be allocated, and any distributions made with respect thereto shall be distributed, to the transferor, and (ii) that are allocable, in accordance with Subsection 5.5(c), to subsequent periods shall be allocated, and any distributions made with respect thereto shall be distributed, to the transferee. The effective date of any Transfer permitted under this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 9.9, shall be the close of business on the Business Day the Company is notified of the Sale.
9.7 Death, Incompetence, Bankruptcy, Liquidation or Withdrawal of a Member . The death, incompetence, Bankruptcy, liquidation or withdrawal of a Member shall not cause (in and of itself) a dissolution of the Company, but the rights of such a Member to share in the Profits and Losses of the Company, to receive distributions and to assign its Interest pursuant to this
Article 9, on the happening of such an event, shall devolve on its beneficiary or other successor, executor, administrator, guardian or other legal representative for the purpose of settling its estate or administering its property, and the Company shall continue as a limited liability company. Such successor or personal representative, however, shall become a substituted member only upon compliance with the requirements of Section 9.10 hereof with respect to a transferee of a Member Interest. The estate of a Bankrupt Member shall be liable for all the obligations of the Member.
9.8 Satisfactory Written Assignment Required . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, both the Company and the Managing Member shall be entitled to treat the transferor of a Member Interest as the absolute owner thereof in all respects, and shall incur no liability for distributions of cash or other property made in good faith to it, until such time as a written assignment or other evidence of the consummation of a Sale that conforms to the requirements of this Article 9 and is reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Member has been received by and recorded on the books of the Company, at which time the Sale shall become effective for purposes of this Agreement.
9.9 Transferees Rights . Any purported Transfer of a Member Interest which is not in compliance with this Agreement shall be null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever. A permitted transferee of any Member Interest pursuant to Sections 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 or 9.7 hereof or any transferee of a Member Interest pursuant to the Indemnification Agreements shall be entitled to receive, in accordance with Section 9.6, allocations of Profits, Losses, or other items of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit of the Company attributable to such Member Interest and allocable to periods after the effective date of the Transfer, and distributions of cash or other property from the Company made with respect to periods after the effective date of the Transfer, but shall not become a Member unless and until admitted pursuant to Section 9.10 hereof
9.10 Transferees Admitted as Members . The assignee or transferee of any Member Interest shall be admitted as a Member only upon the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) A duly executed and acknowledged written instrument of Sale, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Managing Member, and either a copy of each of this Agreement and, in the case of PAG or a Penske Member, the applicable Indemnification Agreement duly executed by the transferee or an instrument of assumption in form and substance satisfactory to GECC setting forth the transferees agreement to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and, in the case of PAG or a Penske Member, the applicable Indemnification Agreement (including the portion of the Backstop Indemnity Obligation corresponding to the Member Interests being Transferred which shall be determined by multiplying the percentage of Member Interests in the Company being transferred by such Member by 50.1%) have been delivered to the Company; provided that GECC shall have the opportunity to request additional information or documentation reasonably necessary to make a determination that the assumption of Backstop Indemnity Obligation is being made by a creditworthy party; provided further that the assumption of such Backstop Indemnity Obligation shall not release the transferring Member of any of its obligations under the Backstop Indemnity Obligation unless such transferring Member is PAG and the Transfer is effected in accordance with Section 11.4(c) of the Indemnification Agreement executed by PAG; and
(b) The transferee has paid any fees and reimbursed the Company for any expenses paid by the Company in connection with the Sale and admission.
The effective date of an admission of an assignee of a Member and the withdrawal of the transferring Member, if any, shall be the first day which is the last Business Day of a calendar month to occur following the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions, except as otherwise may be agreed by all the Members in writing.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each Member agrees that any Sale of Collateral (as defined in the Indemnification Agreements) taken in accordance with the Indemnification Agreements or a Third-Party Sale or Equity Offering as contemplated by Article 10 shall be valid and effective (including under Section 18-702 of the Delaware Act), without further approval or other action by any Member, to transfer all right, title and interest of each applicable Member in the Member Interest so sold (including the rights to (x) share in profits and losses, (y) receive distributions and (z) receive allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or similar item) to any Person in accordance with the Indemnification Agreements, this Agreement and applicable Law.
ARTICLE 10
MATTERS REGARDING THE FALL AWAY EVENT, THE BONDS AND DIRECT OBLIGATIONS TO GECC
10.1 Fall Away Event and Obligations of the Company to GECC . Prior to the Fall Away Event and the Redemption, the Company was obligated to pay 100% of the total amount of the Interest Obligations and Maturity Obligations (as those are required to be paid under the Bond Indenture), together with all expense relating to the Bonds to the extent of the Companys cash and cash equivalents, except for Permitted Working Capital. As a result of the Fall Away Event, (a) the Company was obligated pursuant to the First Amended LLC Agreement to pay to GECC 100% of the total amount of the Interest Obligations and Maturity Obligations (as those are required to be paid under the Bond Indenture), together with all expenses relating to the Bonds to the extent of the Companys cash and cash equivalents, except for Permitted Working Capital and (b) the Company was relieved of any and all direct and indirect obligations to the trustee and the noteholders under and with respect to the Bond Indenture. As a result of the Redemption, the Companys obligation to pay to GECC was reduced from 100% to, and the Company hereby agrees to pay by wire transfer to GECC (instructions to be provided by GECC), 50.1% of the total amount of the Interest Obligations and Maturity Obligations (within three business days before such payments are required to be paid under the Bond Indenture from time to time, without regard to any modifications of the Bond Indenture after the Effective Time or any prepayment by GECC of the Interest Obligations or Maturity Obligations after the Effective Time), together with all expenses relating to the Bonds, (the GECC Obligations) to the extent of the Companys cash and cash equivalents, except for the Permitted Working Capital, in advance of each original scheduled due date (as reflected in the Bond Indenture) as though GECC were the Trustee under the Bond Indenture. Such payments shall be deemed distributions in proportion to the Percentage Interests of each of the Members, with the amounts that are
deemed distributions to each of the Members deemed to be payments to GECC of such Members respective obligations under its Backstop Indemnity Obligation.
10.2 Third-Party Sale . If an Event of Default with respect to PTLC or PAG has occurred under any of the Indemnification Agreements which is continuing, GECC will immediately have the right at any time thereafter to cause the Company to Sell to a third party at a price for cash, and upon other terms and conditions, all as determined in good faith by GECC, all or a portion of the Company Sub or all or a portion of the Company Subs Partnership Interest sufficient as determined in good faith by GECC to cure the Event of Default (each, a Third-Party Sale), in addition to any of its other rights and remedies under this Agreement or the Indemnification Agreements. The expenses of such Third-Party Sale shall be paid from the gross proceeds of such Third-Party Sale and the net proceeds of such Third- Party Sale shall be available for distribution by the Company in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.1 and 10.1. No such Third-Party Sale will Transfer directly or indirectly the Company Subs rights as general partner of the Partnership. Upon the consummation of (a) any Sale of all of the Company Sub or all of the Company Subs Partnership Interest, if the Company Sub is then the general partner of the Partnership, the Company Subs general partner Partnership Interest shall automatically convert into a limited partner Partnership Interest and, effective immediately prior to such conversion, PTLCs interest in the Partnership shall automatically convert into a general partner Partnership Interest and (b) any Sale of any portion of the Company Subs Partnership Interest at a time when the Company Sub is the general partner of the Partnership, such Sold Partnership Interest shall automatically convert to a limited partner Partnership Interest.
10.3 Maturity . Provided that no Event of Default has occurred under any of the Indemnification Agreements which is continuing, no later than one (1) year prior to the Maturity Date, the Members will meet with GECC at a mutually agreeable time and location to attempt to decide jointly whether to pursue one of the following in order for PTLC and PAG (directly and/or by payment of the Companys available cash) to pay to GECC all Indemnified Amounts (as that term is defined in the Indemnity Agreements): (a) contributing cash to the Company in the form of additional Capital Contributions to allow the Company to pay to GECC the Indemnified Amounts; (b) pursuing an additional bond or other financing to allow the Company to pay the Indemnified Amounts to GECC (a Financing) or (c) pursuing one (1) or more equity offerings by the Company or the Company Sub, either of newly issued Member Interests or of Partnership Interests held by Company Sub, the proceeds of which shall be used to pay to GECC the Indemnified Amounts, and which would include the automatic conversion of the Managing Members Partnership Interest effective immediately prior to such sale into a general partner Partnership Interest with respect to any sale of all of the Partnership Interest held by Company Sub if such conversion has not previously occurred (an Equity Offering). If (i) the Members and GECC cannot agree in each Members and GECCs respective sole discretion on the method for paying the Indemnified Amounts to GECC in a reasonable period of time in advance of the Maturity Date, and the Penske Members and PAG have not provided sufficient evidence satisfactory to GECC (in the reasonable discretion of GECC) of the ability and intent of the Penske Members and PAG to pay to GECC the Indemnified Amounts, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred under any of the Indemnification Agreements which is continuing, then, commencing one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the Maturity Date, upon notice by GECC delivered to the Managing Member no later than one hundred fifty (150) days prior to the Maturity Date (the Transaction Notice) GECC will have the right in its sole discretion, absent
an agreement in writing among GECC, the Penske Members and PAG (which agreement in writing shall be at the sole discretion of GECC) to another course of action (an Alternate Transaction), which shall be to pursue, and to cause the Company and/or the Company Sub to consummate, a Third-Party Sale, Financing or Equity Offering on terms negotiated by GECC in good faith, without any guarantees, pledges or contributions by the other Members or their respective Parent Companies or GECC (or any of their Affiliates); provided that the Members will, upon request by GECC, absent an Alternate Transaction, support a Financing with their own obligations to pay to the same extent the Members are obligated to GECC under the Indemnification Agreements and with collateral to the same extent such collateral supports the obligations to GECC under the Indemnification Agreements. Upon receipt of the Transaction Notice, promptly and in any event within the immediately succeeding ninety (90)-day period thereafter (or such other period as agreed to by the Members and GECC), the Penske Members will have the opportunity to demonstrate to GECC that the consummation of a Third-Party Sale, Financing or Equity Offering, as applicable, would result in a material disproportionate adverse tax impact on the Penske Members or any of their Parent Companies or PAG compared to the GECC Consolidated Group related to such Members Member Interest or Partnership Interest assuming for purposes of this determination that the Former GE Members had remained a party to this Agreement and that the Redemption had not occurred (the Rebuttal). If a Rebuttal is received by GECC, the Penske Members will have the opportunity to propose alternate structures for the Third-Party Sale, Financing or Equity Offering, as applicable, to minimize the effect of such adverse tax impacts (the Alternative Structure or Alternative Structures) and GECC will use its commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Penske Members or PAG with devising such Alternative Structure(s), but GECC shall not be obligated to utilize such Alternative Structure(s) if such structures are not reasonably acceptable to GECC. The Members and GECC hereby agree that in no event will indemnification be required for any potential adverse tax impacts arising in connection with the consummation of a Third-Party Sale, Financing or Equity Offering or Alternative Structure. For the avoidance of doubt, (I) the opportunity to provide a Rebuttal or propose Alternative Structures by the Penske Members or PAG does not in any way affect or limit the right of GECC to consummate a Third-Party Sale, Financing or Equity Offering pursuant to this Section 10.3, (II) a Third-Party Sale, Financing or Equity Offering contemplated by this Section 10.3 need not be consummated prior to or simultaneously with the payment of the Maturity Obligations due on the Bonds at maturity and (III) nothing in this Section 10.3 or elsewhere will limit GECCs rights and remedies under any other provision of this Agreement or the Indemnification Agreements.
10.4 Backstop Indemnity Obligations and Reinstatement . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Indemnification Agreements to the contrary, PTLCs and PAGs respective Backstop Indemnity Obligations shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment of any of the funds from the Company to or for the account of GECC is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon any Bankruptcy of any Member or its Affiliates or otherwise. In addition, if at any time following the Indemnification Satisfaction Date any payment to GECC pursuant to this Article 10 or under the Backstop Indemnity Obligations is rescinded or must be restored or returned for any reason, the obligations of the Company to make the payments required under this Article 10 shall be reinstated or continue in full force and effect until those payments are restored to GECC and until that date, the provisions of Section 5.1 and 6.3(d), as in effect on the date hereof, shall be
reinstated or continue in full force and effect as if the Indemnification Satisfaction Date had not occurred.
10.5 Memco and GECC . Each of the Members and the Company acknowledge and agree that (a) GECC is a third party beneficiary of the GE Protection Provisions and (b) Memco has agreed to take any actions requested by GECC to enforce the provisions of this Article 10 and the other GE Protective Provisions.
ARTICLE 11
LIABILITY OF MEMBERS, MEMCO AND GECC
11.1 Liability of Members, Memco and GECC .
(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided by the Act, no Member will be liable for any debt, obligation or liability of the Company or of any other Member or have any obligation to restore any deficit balance in its Capital Account solely by reason of being a Member of the Company. Neither Memco nor GECC will be liable for any debt, obligation or liability of the Company or any Member. For the avoidance of doubt, the immediately preceding sentence does not amend or alter the terms of the Redemption Agreement, dated of even date herewith, between the Company and Memco (the Redemption Agreement).
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any duty otherwise existing at Law or in equity, none of the Non-Managing Members, Memco and GECC, will, to the maximum extent permitted by Law, including Section 18-1101(d) of the Act, owe any fiduciary duties to the Company, the other Members or any other Person bound by this Agreement as long as the Non-Managing Members, Memco and GECC act, subject to their rights under Subsection 11.1(d), in accordance with the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing, including good faith reliance on the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they expand or restrict or eliminate the duties and liabilities of any Non-Managing Member, Memco or GECC otherwise existing at Law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to modify to that extent the other duties and liabilities of the Non-Managing Members, Memco or GECC.
(c) Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, whenever in this Agreement a Non-Managing Member, Memco or GECC is permitted or required to take any action or to make a decision, the Non-Managing Member, Memco or GECC may take the action or make the decision in its sole discretion, and the Non-Managing Member, Memco and GECC may consider, and make its determination based on, the interests and factors as it desires.
ARTICLE 12
DISSOLUTION
12.1 Events of Dissolution . The Company shall continue until December 31, 2030, or such later date as the Members may unanimously agree, unless sooner dissolved upon the earliest to occur of the following events, which shall cause an immediate dissolution of the Company:
(a) the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Companys assets; or
(b) such earlier date as the Members, with the prior written consent of Memco at any time prior to the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, shall unanimously elect.
12.2 Final Accounting . Upon the dissolution of the Company, a proper accounting shall be made by the Companys Auditor from the date of the last previous accounting to the date of dissolution.
12.3 Liquidation . Upon the dissolution of the Company, the Managing Member or, if there is no Managing Member, a person approved by the Members and, at any time prior to the Indemnification Satisfaction Date, Memco, shall act as liquidator to wind up the Company. The liquidator shall have full power and authority to sell, assign and encumber any or all of the Companys assets, subject to the provisions of the Partnership Agreement, and to wind up and liquidate the affairs of the Company in an orderly and business-like manner. All proceeds from liquidation shall be distributed in the following orders of priority: (a) to the payment and discharge of the debts and liabilities of the Company (other than liabilities for distributions to Members), (b) to the payment of expenses of liquidation, (c) to the setting up of such reserves as the liquidator may reasonably deem necessary for any contingent liability of the Company (other than liabilities for distributions to Members), and (d) the balance to the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests.
12.4 Cancellation of Certificate . Upon the completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided in Section 12.3 hereof, the Company shall be terminated and the person acting as liquidator shall cause the cancellation of the Certificate and shall take such other actions as may be necessary or appropriate to terminate the Company.
ARTICLE 13
NOTICES
13.1 Method of Notice . Any notice or request hereunder may be given to any Member at their respective addresses/ numbers set forth below or at such other address/ number as may hereafter be specified in a notice designated as a notice of change of address under this Section. Any notice or request hereunder may be given by (a) hand delivery, (b) overnight courier, (c) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or (d) electronic transmission or facsimile (or such other e-mail address or number as may hereafter be specified in a notice designated as a notice of change of address), with electronic confirmation of its receipt and subsequently confirmed by registered or certified mail or overnight courier. Any notice or other communication required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed given (i) when personally delivered to any officer of the party to whom it is addressed, (ii) on the earlier of actual receipt thereof or five (5) Business Days following posting thereof by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, (iii) upon actual receipt thereof when sent by a recognized overnight delivery service or (iv) upon actual receipt thereof when sent by electronic transmission or by facsimile to the address or number set forth below with electronic confirmation of its receipt, in each case, addressed to each party at its address set forth below or
at such other address as has been furnished in writing by a party to the other by like notice; provided, that in order for an electronic transmission to constitute proper notice hereunder, such electronic transmission must specifically reference this Section 13.1 and state that it is intended to constitute notice hereunder:
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If to PTLC at: |
Penske Truck Leasing Corporation
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with a copy to: |
Penske Truck Leasing Corporation
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and a copy to |
Penske Corporation
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If to PAG at: |
Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
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with a copy to: |
Penske Automotive Group, Inc.
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and a copy to: |
Penske Corporation
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If to Memco at: |
General Electric Capital Corporation
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with a copy to: |
General Electric Capital Corporation
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13.2 Computation of Time . In computing any period of time under this Agreement, the day of the act, event or default from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the period so computed shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which event the period shall run until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or non-Business Day.
ARTICLE 14
INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS
14.1 Investment Purpose . Each Member represents and warrants to the Company and to each other Member that it has acquired its Member Interest in the Company for its own account, for investment only and not with a view to the distribution thereof, except to the extent provided in or permitted by this Agreement.
14.2 Investment Restriction . Each Member recognizes that (a) the Member Interests in the Company have not been registered under the Securities Act in reliance upon an exemption from such registration, and agrees that it will not Transfer its Member Interest in the Company (i) in the absence of an effective registration statement covering such Member Interest under the Securities Act, unless such Transfer is exempt from registration for any proposed sale, and (ii) except in compliance with all applicable provisions of this Agreement, and (b) the restrictions on
Transfer imposed by this Agreement may severely affect the liquidity of the Member Interests in the Company.
ARTICLE 15
GENERAL PROVISIONS
15.1 Amendment; Waiver; Enforcement . Except as provided in Subsection 6.3(c) and subject to Section 15.6, this Agreement may not be amended nor may any rights hereunder be waived without the prior written approval of (a) the Managing Member, and (b) the Non-Managing Members holding a majority of the aggregate Percentage Interests of all Non-Managing Members, provided that no such amendment or waiver shall disproportionately and adversely affect the rights or obligations of any Member under this Agreement without the consent of such Member. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision to the contrary in this Agreement, no GE Protection Provision may be amended, modified or waived prior to the termination date of the applicable GE Protection Provision as set forth in Section 2.41 , without the prior written consent of Memco in its sole discretion. In addition, if any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision in this Agreement other than the GE Protection Provisions could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse impact on GECC, any Former GE Member, any GE Protection Provision or the ability of the Company to pay its obligations to GECC as they come due, such amendment, modification or waiver shall require the prior written consent of Memco in its sole discretion. The Managing Member shall give written notice to all Non-Managing Members and Memco promptly after any amendment entered into in accordance with the terms of this Agreement has become effective. Memco shall have the right to enforce the terms of this Agreement against the Company and the Members, including (in addition to all of Memcos other rights and remedies) the right to specifically enforce the GE Protection Provisions.
15.2 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the provisions, policies or principles thereof relating to choice or conflict of Laws.
15.3 Binding Effect . Except as provided otherwise herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and permitted assigns.
15.4 Separability . Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
15.5 Headings . The section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
15.6 No Third-Party Rights . Other than GECCs and the Initial GE Members rights with respect to the GE Protection Provisions, which shall be enforced by Memco or its assignees, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create any right in any person not a party hereto
(other than the permitted successors and assigns of a party hereto) and this Agreement shall not be construed in any respect to be a contract in whole or in part for the benefit of any third party (except as aforesaid).
15.7 Waiver of Partition and Application for Dissolution . Each Member, by requesting and being granted admission to the Company, is deemed to waive (a) until termination of the Company any and all rights that it may have to maintain an action for partition of the Companys assets and (b) the right to apply for dissolution of the Company pursuant to § 18-802 of the Act.
15.8 Nature of Interests . All Company property, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and none of the Members shall have any direct ownership of such property.
15.9 Counterpart Execution . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original instrument and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by email, PDF or facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
15.10 Consent . In accordance with the terms of the First Amended LLC Agreement, including Section 3.9 thereof, each of the Members hereby consents to and ratifies the redemption by, and transfer to, the Company of all of the issued and outstanding Member Interests of Memco in exchange for (i) the partnership interest in Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P. representing 10.75% of the issued and outstanding partnership interests of Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., (ii) the cash consideration, (iii) the assumption by Memco of certain obligations, and (iv) other covenants, in each case as provided for in the Redemption Agreement. Pursuant to Section 9.10(a) of the First Amended LLC Agreement, PTLC, as the Managing Member, hereby approves, accepts and ratifies such Redemption Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written, effective as of the Effective Time.
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LJ VP HOLDINGS LLC |
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By: Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, its |
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Managing Member |
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By: |
/s/ Brian Hard |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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MANAGING MEMBER : |
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PENSKE TRUCK LEASING |
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CORPORATION |
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By: |
/s/ Brian Hard |
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Name: |
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Title: |
[Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of LJ VP Holdings LLC]
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MEMBER : |
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PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ David Jones |
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Name: David Jones |
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Title: EVP & CFO |
[Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of LJ VP Holdings LLC]
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AND JOINED IN FOR PURPOSES OF THE GE
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GE CAPITAL MEMCO, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: GE Capital Truck Leasing Holding Corp., its sole manager |
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By: |
/s/ Dennis M. Murray |
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Name: |
Dennis M. Murray |
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Title: |
President |
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[Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of LJ VP Holdings LLC]
Schedule A
Name and Address |
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Capital Contributions |
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Managing Member |
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Penske Truck Leasing Corporation |
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$ |
2,054,000 |
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Non-Managing Members |
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Penske Automotive Group, Inc. |
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$ |
451,000 |
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Schedule B
LJ VP HOLDINGS LLC (THE COMPANY) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED AS AN INVESTMENT COMPANY UNDER THE U.S. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED (THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT), AND THE MEMBER INTERESTS SET FORTH BELOW HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND NEITHER THE MEMBER INTERESTS NOR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO A PERSON WHO IS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 2(a)(51) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THEREUNDER (QUALIFIED PURCHASER) ACQUIRING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR THE ACCOUNT OF A PERSON WHO IS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER (AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER) AND EACH SUCH PERSON AND ACCOUNT FOR WHICH SUCH PERSON IS PURCHASING (A) ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT PARENT COMPANY OF THE PURCHASER OR SUCH ACCOUNT PARTY OF WHICH SUCH PURCHASER OR ACCOUNT PARTY (AS APPLICABLE) IS A MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY (DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY) (EACH, A PARENT COMPANY), AND ANY MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF THE PURCHASER OR THE ACCOUNT PARTY AND OTHER MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES OF SUCH PARENT COMPANY, IN THE AGGREGATE OWNS AND INVESTS ON A DISCRETIONARY BASIS NOT LESS THAN $25,000,000 IN INVESTMENTS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX 2) , (B) IS NOT (X) A PARTNERSHIP, COMMON TRUST FUND, SPECIAL TRUST, PENSION FUND OR RETIREMENT PLAN OR OTHER ENTITY IN WHICH THE PARTNERS, BENEFICIARIES, SECURITY OWNERS OR PARTICIPANTS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, MAY DESIGNATE THE PARTICULAR INVESTMENTS TO BE MADE OR THE ALLOCATION THEREOF, UNLESS EACH SUCH PARTNER, BENEFICIARY, SECURITY OWNER OR PARTICIPANT EMPOWERED ALONE OR WITH OTHER PARTNERS, BENEFICIARIES, SECURITY OWNERS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE SUCH DECISIONS MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, OR (Y) OR AN ENTITY THAT HAS INVESTED MORE THAN 40% OF ITS ASSETS IN SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY, GIVING EFFECT TO THE AMOUNT INVESTED IN CONNECTION WITH ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, UNLESS EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS SECURITIES MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, (C) WAS NOT FORMED, REFORMED, RECAPITALIZED, OPERATED OR ORGANIZED FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF PURCHASING THE MEMBER INTEREST OR INVESTING IN THE COMPANY, UNLESS EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS SECURITIES MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF THE COMPANY (THE AGREEMENT) FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, AND (D) EITHER (X) IS NOT AN ENTITY ORGANIZED PRIOR TO APRIL 30, 1996 THAT IS EXCEPTED FROM THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(C)(1) OR 3(C)(7) THEREOF OR (Y) HAS RECEIVED THE CONSENT OF THE
BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF ITS SECURITIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS TREATMENT AS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY SECTION 2(A)(51)(C) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT AND THE RULES THEREUNDER. EACH HOLDER AND TRANSFEREE OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN, BY VIRTUE OF SUCH HOLDING AND ACQUISITION, REPRESENTS THAT IT AGREES TO COMPLY WITH THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT, AND WILL NOT TRANSFER ITS MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN EXCEPT TO AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER WHO, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, MAKES THE REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS PURCHASING SET FORTH IN A TRANSFER CERTIFICATE IN THE FORM ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT B TO THE AGREEMENT . ANY PURPORTED TRANSFER OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN THAT IS IN BREACH, AT THE TIME MADE, OF ANY TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT WILL BE VOID AB INITIO. IF AT ANY TIME THE COMPANY DETERMINES IN GOOD FAITH THAT A HOLDER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR BENEFICIAL INTEREST THEREIN IS IN BREACH, AT THE TIME GIVEN, OF ANY OF THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT, THE COMPANY SHALL CONSIDER THE ACQUISITION OF SUCH MEMBER INTEREST OR SUCH BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN VOID, OF NO FORCE OR EFFECT AND WILL NOT, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY, OPERATE TO TRANSFER ANY RIGHTS TO THE TRANSFEREE NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY TO THE COMPANY. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY MAY REQUIRE SUCH ACQUIRER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER TO SELL ITS MEMBER INTEREST OR SUCH BENEFICIAL INTEREST THEREIN TO AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER.
Company Name
LJ VP Holdings LLC
Percentage Interests
As of the Effective Time
Name and Address |
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Percentage |
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Managing Member |
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Penske Truck Leasing Corporation |
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2675 Morgantown Road, |
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Reading, Pennsylvania 19607 |
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82 |
% |
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Non-Managing |
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Penske Automotive Group, Inc. |
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2555 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, |
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Michigan 48302 |
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18 |
% |
Exhibit A
FORM OF RESTRICTIVE LEGEND
LJ VP HOLDINGS LLC (THE COMPANY) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED AS AN INVESTMENT COMPANY UNDER THE U.S. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED (THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT), AND THE MEMBER INTERESTS SET FORTH BELOW HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND NEITHER THE MEMBER INTERESTS NOR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO A PERSON WHO IS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 2(a)(51) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THEREUNDER (QUALIFIED PURCHASER) ACQUIRING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR THE ACCOUNT OF A PERSON WHO IS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER (AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER) AND EACH SUCH PERSON AND ACCOUNT FOR WHICH SUCH PERSON IS PURCHASING (A) ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT PARENT COMPANY OF THE PURCHASER OR SUCH ACCOUNT PARTY OF WHICH SUCH PURCHASER OR ACCOUNT PARTY (AS APPLICABLE) IS A MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY (DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY) (EACH, A PARENT COMPANY), AND ANY MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF THE PURCHASER OR THE ACCOUNT PARTY AND OTHER MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES OF SUCH PARENT COMPANY, IN THE AGGREGATE OWNS AND INVESTS ON A DISCRETIONARY BASIS NOT LESS THAN $25,000,000 IN INVESTMENTS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX 2) , (B) IS NOT (X) A PARTNERSHIP, COMMON TRUST FUND, SPECIAL TRUST, PENSION FUND OR RETIREMENT PLAN OR OTHER ENTITY IN WHICH THE PARTNERS, BENEFICIARIES, SECURITY OWNERS OR PARTICIPANTS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, MAY DESIGNATE THE PARTICULAR INVESTMENTS TO BE MADE OR THE ALLOCATION THEREOF, UNLESS EACH SUCH PARTNER, BENEFICIARY, SECURITY OWNER OR PARTICIPANT EMPOWERED ALONE OR WITH OTHER PARTNERS, BENEFICIARIES, SECURITY OWNERS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE SUCH DECISIONS MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, OR (Y) OR AN ENTITY THAT HAS INVESTED MORE THAN 40% OF ITS ASSETS IN SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY, GIVING EFFECT TO THE AMOUNT INVESTED IN CONNECTION WITH ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, UNLESS EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS SECURITIES MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, (C) WAS NOT FORMED, REFORMED, RECAPITALIZED, OPERATED OR ORGANIZED FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF PURCHASING THE MEMBER INTEREST OR INVESTING IN THE COMPANY, UNLESS EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS SECURITIES MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF THE COMPANY (THE AGREEMENT) FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, AND (D) EITHER (X) IS NOT AN ENTITY ORGANIZED PRIOR TO APRIL 30, 1996 THAT IS
EXCEPTED FROM THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(C)(1) OR 3(C)(7) THEREOF OR (Y) HAS RECEIVED THE CONSENT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF ITS SECURITIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS TREATMENT AS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY SECTION 2(A)(51)(C) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT AND THE RULES THEREUNDER. EACH HOLDER AND TRANSFEREE OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN, BY VIRTUE OF SUCH HOLDING AND ACQUISITION, REPRESENTS THAT IT AGREES TO COMPLY WITH THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT, AND WILL NOT TRANSFER ITS MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN EXCEPT TO AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER WHO, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, MAKES THE REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS PURCHASING SET FORTH IN A TRANSFER CERTIFICATE IN THE FORM ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT B TO THE AGREEMENT . ANY PURPORTED TRANSFER OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN THAT IS IN BREACH, AT THE TIME MADE, OF ANY TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT WILL BE VOID AB INITIO. IF AT ANY TIME THE COMPANY DETERMINES IN GOOD FAITH THAT A HOLDER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR BENEFICIAL INTEREST THEREIN IS IN BREACH, AT THE TIME GIVEN, OF ANY OF THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT, THE COMPANY SHALL CONSIDER THE ACQUISITION OF SUCH MEMBER INTEREST OR SUCH BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN VOID, OF NO FORCE OR EFFECT AND WILL NOT, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY, OPERATE TO TRANSFER ANY RIGHTS TO THE TRANSFEREE NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY TO THE COMPANY. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY MAY REQUIRE SUCH ACQUIRER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER TO SELL ITS MEMBER INTEREST OR SUCH BENEFICIAL INTEREST THEREIN TO AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER.
Exhibit B
FORM OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of LJ VP Holdings LLC.
The undersigned purchaser of a Member Interest hereby represents, warrants and agrees, that:
(A) the purchaser (i) is a qualified purchaser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) is aware that the Company will not be registered under the Investment Company Act in reliance on the exemption set forth in Section 3(c)(7) thereof and that the Member Interest has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and (iii) is acquiring such Member Interest for its own account or the account of one or more qualified purchasers as to which the purchaser exercises sole investment discretion and for which all of the other representations and warranties set forth herein and in the legend appearing above the schedule of Percentage Interests on Schedule B to the Agreement, as the case may be, are true and correct;
(B) the purchaser is not purchasing the Member Interest with a view to the resale, distribution or other disposition thereof in violation of the Securities Act;
(C) neither the purchaser nor any account for which the purchaser is acquiring the Member Interest will hold such Member Interest for the benefit of any other person and the purchaser and each such account (and any direct or indirect parent company of the purchaser or such account party of which such purchaser or account party (as applicable) is a majority-owned subsidiary (directly or indirectly) (each, a Parent Company) that meets the definition of a qualified purchaser) will be the sole beneficial owners thereof for all purposes and will not sell participation interests in the Member Interest or enter into any other arrangement pursuant to which any other person will be entitled to an interest in any payments on or based on the Member Interest;
(D) Schedule B setting forth the Percentage Interests in the Company bear a legend to the following effect:
LJ VP HOLDINGS LLC (THE COMPANY) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED AS AN INVESTMENT COMPANY UNDER THE U.S. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED (THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT), AND THE MEMBER INTERESTS SET FORTH BELOW HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND NEITHER THE MEMBER INTERESTS NOR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO A PERSON WHO IS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 2(a)(51) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT AND THE RULES AND
REGULATIONS THEREUNDER (QUALIFIED PURCHASER) ACQUIRING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR THE ACCOUNT OF A PERSON WHO IS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER (AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER) AND EACH SUCH PERSON AND ACCOUNT FOR WHICH SUCH PERSON IS PURCHASING (A) ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT PARENT COMPANY OF THE PURCHASER OR SUCH ACCOUNT PARTY OF WHICH SUCH PURCHASER OR ACCOUNT PARTY (AS APPLICABLE) IS A MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY (DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY) (EACH, A PARENT COMPANY), AND ANY MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF THE PURCHASER OR THE ACCOUNT PARTY AND OTHER MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES OF SUCH PARENT COMPANY, IN THE AGGREGATE OWNS AND INVESTS ON A DISCRETIONARY BASIS NOT LESS THAN $25,000,000 IN INVESTMENTS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX 2) , (B) IS NOT (X) A PARTNERSHIP, COMMON TRUST FUND, SPECIAL TRUST, PENSION FUND OR RETIREMENT PLAN OR OTHER ENTITY IN WHICH THE PARTNERS, BENEFICIARIES, SECURITY OWNERS OR PARTICIPANTS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, MAY DESIGNATE THE PARTICULAR INVESTMENTS TO BE MADE OR THE ALLOCATION THEREOF, UNLESS EACH SUCH PARTNER, BENEFICIARY, SECURITY OWNER OR PARTICIPANT EMPOWERED ALONE OR WITH OTHER PARTNERS, BENEFICIARIES, SECURITY OWNERS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE SUCH DECISIONS MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, OR (Y) OR AN ENTITY THAT HAS INVESTED MORE THAN 40% OF ITS ASSETS IN SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY, GIVING EFFECT TO THE AMOUNT INVESTED IN CONNECTION WITH ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, UNLESS EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS SECURITIES MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, (C) WAS NOT FORMED, REFORMED, RECAPITALIZED, OPERATED OR ORGANIZED FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF PURCHASING THE MEMBER INTEREST OR INVESTING IN THE COMPANY, UNLESS EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS SECURITIES MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF THE COMPANY (THE AGREEMENT) FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, AND (D) EITHER (X) IS NOT AN ENTITY ORGANIZED PRIOR TO APRIL 30, 1996 THAT IS EXCEPTED FROM THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(C)(1) OR 3(C)(7) THEREOF OR (Y) HAS RECEIVED THE CONSENT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF ITS SECURITIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS TREATMENT AS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY SECTION 2(A)(51)(C) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT AND THE RULES THEREUNDER. EACH HOLDER AND TRANSFEREE OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN, BY VIRTUE OF SUCH HOLDING AND ACQUISITION, REPRESENTS THAT IT AGREES TO COMPLY WITH THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT, AND WILL NOT TRANSFER ITS MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN EXCEPT TO AN
ELIGIBLE PURCHASER WHO, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, MAKES THE REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS PURCHASING SET FORTH IN A TRANSFER CERTIFICATE IN THE FORM ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT B TO THE AGREEMENT . ANY PURPORTED TRANSFER OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN THAT IS IN BREACH, AT THE TIME MADE, OF ANY TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT WILL BE VOID AB INITIO. IF AT ANY TIME THE COMPANY DETERMINES IN GOOD FAITH THAT A HOLDER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR BENEFICIAL INTEREST THEREIN IS IN BREACH, AT THE TIME GIVEN, OF ANY OF THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT, THE COMPANY SHALL CONSIDER THE ACQUISITION OF SUCH MEMBER INTEREST OR SUCH BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN VOID, OF NO FORCE OR EFFECT AND WILL NOT, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY, OPERATE TO TRANSFER ANY RIGHTS TO THE TRANSFEREE NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY TO THE COMPANY. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY MAY REQUIRE SUCH ACQUIRER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER TO SELL ITS MEMBER INTEREST OR SUCH BENEFICIAL INTEREST THEREIN TO AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER.
(E) the purchaser and each account for which it is purchasing:
(i) alone or in combination with any Parent Company, and any majority-owned subsidiary of the purchaser or the account party and other majority-owned subsidiaries of such Parent Company, in the aggregate owns and invests on a discretionary basis not less than $25,000,000 in investments (as defined in Annex 2) ;
(ii) is not (x) a partnership, common trust fund, special trust, pension fund or retirement plan or other entity in which the partners, beneficiaries, security owners or participants, as the case may be, may designate the particular investments to be made or the allocation thereof, unless each such partner, beneficiary, security owner or participant empowered alone or with other partners, beneficiaries, security owners or other participants to make such decisions meets all requirements set forth herein for qualification as an eligible purchaser, or (y) or an entity that has invested more than 40% of its assets in securities of the Company, giving effect to the amount invested in connection with its acquisition of the Member Interest or a beneficial interest therein, unless each beneficial owner of the eligible purchasers securities meets all requirements set forth herein for qualification as an eligible purchaser ;
(iii) was not formed, reformed, recapitalized, operated or organized for the specific purpose of purchasing the Member Interest or investing in the Company, unless each beneficial owner of the eligible purchasers securities meets all requirements set forth herein for qualification as an eligible purchaser;
(iv) either (x) is not an entity organized prior to April 30, 1996 that is excepted from the Investment Company Act pursuant to section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) thereof or (y) has received the consent of the beneficial owners of its securities with respect to its treatment as a qualified purchaser in the manner required by section 2(a)(51)(c) of the Investment Company Act and the rules thereunder;
(v) will provide notice of the transfer restrictions described in this certificate of transfer to any subsequent transferees;
(vi) may not transfer the Member Interest or beneficial interests therein except to a transferee who can make the same representations and agreements as set forth in this certificate of transfer and the Agreement on behalf of itself and each account for which it is purchasing.
(F) if at any time it shall make a contribution of capital to the Company, it shall, by such action, represent, warrant, acknowledge and agree to the restrictions as set forth in Annex 1 to the Agreement and that if, at any time after its acquisition of a Member Interest it shall be unable to make the representations, warranties, acknowledgments and agreements set forth in Annex 1 to the Agreement, it shall provide prompt notice thereof to the Managing Member.
The purchaser acknowledges that the Member Interest is being offered only in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Member Interests have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and the Company has not been or will be registered under the Investment Company Act, and, if in the future the purchaser decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Member Interest, such Member Interest may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only in accordance with the legend appearing above the schedule of Percentage Interests on Schedule B to the Agreement described above. The purchaser acknowledges that no representation is made by the Company as to the availability of any exemption under the Securities Act or any state securities laws for resale of the Member Interest.
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Annex 1
TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
The provisions of this Annex 1 will be applicable to the Member Interests for so long as the Company determines (in the Companys sole discretion) to retain its ability to qualify for the exception provided by Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement of which this Annex 1 forms a part.
Each purchaser and holder of a Member Interest (including those set forth in Schedule B to the Agreement as they exist from time to time, including as a result of transfers, in each case as of the time of purchase), by virtue of its acquisition and holding of such Member Interest, represents and agrees as follows:
(A) the purchaser (i) is a qualified purchaser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) is aware that the Company will not be registered under the Investment Company Act in reliance on the exemption set forth in Section 3(c)(7) thereof and that the Member Interests have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and (iii) is acquiring such Member Interest for its own account or the account of one or more qualified purchasers as to which the purchaser exercises sole investment discretion and for which all of the other representations and warranties set forth herein and in the legend appearing above the schedule of Percentage Interests on Schedule B to the Agreement, as the case may be, are true and correct;
(B) the purchaser is not purchasing the Member Interest with a view to the resale, distribution or other disposition thereof in violation of the Securities Act;
(C) neither the purchaser nor any account for which the purchaser is acquiring the Member Interest will hold such Member Interest for the benefit of any other person and the purchaser and each such account (and any direct or indirect parent company of the purchaser or such account party of which such purchaser or account party (as applicable) is a majority-owned subsidiary (directly or indirectly) (each, a Parent Company) that meets the definition of a qualified purchaser) will be the sole beneficial owners thereof for all purposes and will not sell participation interests in the Member Interest or enter into any other arrangement pursuant to which any other person will be entitled to an interest in any payments on or based on the Member Interest;
(D) Schedule B setting forth the Percentage Interests in the Company shall bear a legend to the following effect:
LJ VP HOLDINGS LLC (THE COMPANY) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED AS AN INVESTMENT COMPANY UNDER THE U.S. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED (THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT), AND THE MEMBER INTERESTS SET FORTH BELOW HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), AND NEITHER THE MEMBER INTERESTS NOR ANY BENEFICIAL
INTERESTS THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO A PERSON WHO IS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 2(a)(51) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THEREUNDER (QUALIFIED PURCHASER) ACQUIRING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR THE ACCOUNT OF A PERSON WHO IS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER (AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER) AND EACH SUCH PERSON AND ACCOUNT FOR WHICH SUCH PERSON IS PURCHASING (A) ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT PARENT COMPANY OF THE PURCHASER OR SUCH ACCOUNT PARTY OF WHICH SUCH PURCHASER OR ACCOUNT PARTY (AS APPLICABLE) IS A MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY (DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY) (EACH, A PARENT COMPANY), AND ANY MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF THE PURCHASER OR THE ACCOUNT PARTY AND OTHER MAJORITY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES OF SUCH PARENT COMPANY, IN THE AGGREGATE OWNS AND INVESTS ON A DISCRETIONARY BASIS NOT LESS THAN $25,000,000 IN INVESTMENTS (AS DEFINED IN ANNEX 2) , (B) IS NOT (X) A PARTNERSHIP, COMMON TRUST FUND, SPECIAL TRUST, PENSION FUND OR RETIREMENT PLAN OR OTHER ENTITY IN WHICH THE PARTNERS, BENEFICIARIES, SECURITY OWNERS OR PARTICIPANTS, AS THE CASE MAY BE, MAY DESIGNATE THE PARTICULAR INVESTMENTS TO BE MADE OR THE ALLOCATION THEREOF, UNLESS EACH SUCH PARTNER, BENEFICIARY, SECURITY OWNER OR PARTICIPANT EMPOWERED ALONE OR WITH OTHER PARTNERS, BENEFICIARIES, SECURITY OWNERS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE SUCH DECISIONS MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, OR (Y) OR AN ENTITY THAT HAS INVESTED MORE THAN 40% OF ITS ASSETS IN SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY, GIVING EFFECT TO THE AMOUNT INVESTED IN CONNECTION WITH ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, UNLESS EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS SECURITIES MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, (C) WAS NOT FORMED, REFORMED, RECAPITALIZED, OPERATED OR ORGANIZED FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF PURCHASING THE MEMBER INTEREST OR INVESTING IN THE COMPANY, UNLESS EACH BENEFICIAL OWNER OF THE ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS SECURITIES MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF THE COMPANY (THE AGREEMENT) FOR QUALIFICATION AS AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER, AND (D) EITHER (X) IS NOT AN ENTITY ORGANIZED PRIOR TO APRIL 30, 1996 THAT IS EXCEPTED FROM THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(C)(1) OR 3(C)(7) THEREOF OR (Y) HAS RECEIVED THE CONSENT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF ITS SECURITIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS TREATMENT AS A QUALIFIED PURCHASER IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY SECTION 2(A)(51)(C) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT AND THE RULES THEREUNDER. EACH HOLDER AND
TRANSFEREE OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN, BY VIRTUE OF SUCH HOLDING AND ACQUISITION, REPRESENTS THAT IT AGREES TO COMPLY WITH THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT, AND WILL NOT TRANSFER ITS MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN EXCEPT TO AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER WHO, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, MAKES THE REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS PURCHASING SET FORTH IN A TRANSFER CERTIFICATE IN THE FORM ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT B TO THE AGREEMENT . ANY PURPORTED TRANSFER OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN THAT IS IN BREACH, AT THE TIME MADE, OF ANY TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT WILL BE VOID AB INITIO. IF AT ANY TIME THE COMPANY DETERMINES IN GOOD FAITH THAT A HOLDER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER OF A MEMBER INTEREST OR BENEFICIAL INTEREST THEREIN IS IN BREACH, AT THE TIME GIVEN, OF ANY OF THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT, THE COMPANY SHALL CONSIDER THE ACQUISITION OF SUCH MEMBER INTEREST OR SUCH BENEFICIAL INTERESTS THEREIN VOID, OF NO FORCE OR EFFECT AND WILL NOT, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY, OPERATE TO TRANSFER ANY RIGHTS TO THE TRANSFEREE NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRARY TO THE COMPANY. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY MAY REQUIRE SUCH ACQUIRER OR BENEFICIAL OWNER TO SELL ITS MEMBER INTEREST OR SUCH BENEFICIAL INTEREST THEREIN TO AN ELIGIBLE PURCHASER.
(E) the purchaser and each account for which it is purchasing:
(i) alone or in combination with any Parent Company, and any majority-owned subsidiary of the purchaser or the account party and other majority-owned subsidiaries of such Parent Company, in the aggregate owns and invests on a discretionary basis not less than $25,000,000 in investments (as defined in Annex 2) ;
(ii) is not (x) a partnership, common trust fund, special trust, pension fund or retirement plan or other entity in which the partners, beneficiaries, security owners or participants, as the case may be, may designate the particular investments to be made or the allocation thereof, unless each such partner, beneficiary, security owner or participant empowered alone or with other partners, beneficiaries, security owners or other participants to make such decisions meets all requirements set forth herein for qualification as an eligible purchaser, or (y) or an entity that has invested more than 40% of its assets in securities of the Company, giving effect to the amount invested in connection with its acquisition of the Member Interest or a beneficial interest therein, unless each beneficial owner of the eligible purchasers securities meets all requirements set forth herein for qualification as an eligible purchaser;
(ii) was not formed, reformed, recapitalized, operated or organized for the specific purpose of purchasing the Member Interest or investing in the Company, unless each beneficial owner of the eligible purchasers securities meets all requirements set forth herein for qualification as an eligible purchaser;
(iv) either (x) is not an entity organized prior to April 30, 1996 that is excepted from the Investment Company Act pursuant to section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) thereof or (y) has received the consent of the beneficial owners of its securities with respect to its treatment as a qualified purchaser in the manner required by section 2(a)(51)(c) of the Investment Company Act;
(v) will provide notice of the transfer restrictions described in Section 9.5(e) of the Agreement to any subsequent transferees; and
(vi) may not transfer the Member Interest or beneficial interests therein except to a transferee who can make the same representations and agreements as set forth in Section 9.5(e) of the Agreement on behalf of itself and each account for which it is purchasing.
(F) if at any time it shall make a contribution of capital to the Company, it shall, by such action, represent, warrant, acknowledge and agree to the restrictions as set forth in this Annex 1 and that if, at any time after its acquisition of a Member Interest it shall be unable to make the representations, warranties, acknowledgments and agreements set forth in this Annex 1 , it shall provide prompt notice thereof to the Managing Member.
The purchaser acknowledges that the Member Interest is being offered only in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Member Interests have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and the Company has not been or will be registered under the Investment Company Act, and, if in the future the purchaser decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Member Interest, such Member Interest may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred only in accordance with the legend appearing above the schedule of Percentage Interests on Schedule B to the Agreement described above. The purchaser acknowledges that no representation is made by the Company as to the availability of any exemption under the Securities Act or any state securities laws for resale of the Member Interest.
Annex 2
Investments . For the purposes of the definition of Qualified Purchaser, investments are defined as follows:
1. Securities (as defined by Section 2(a)(1) of the Securities Act), other than securities of an issuer that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Prospective Qualified Purchaser that owns such securities, unless the issuer of such securities is:
i. An Investment Vehicle;
ii. A Public Company; or
iii. A company with shareholders equity of not less than $50 million (determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) as reflected on the companys most recent financial statements, provided that such financial statements present the information as of a date within 16 months preceding the date on which the Prospective Qualified Purchaser acquires the securities of a Section 3(c)(7) Company;
2. Real estate held for investment purposes;
3. Commodity Interests held for investment purposes;
4. Physical Commodities held for investment purposes;
5. To the extent not securities, financial contracts (as such term is defined in Section 3(c)(2)(B)(ii) of the Investment Company Act) entered into for investment purposes;
6. In the case of a Prospective Qualified Purchaser that is a Section 3(c)(7) Company or a commodity pool, any amounts payable to such Prospective Qualified Purchaser pursuant to a firm agreement or similar binding commitment pursuant to which a person has agreed to acquire an interest in, or make capital contributions to, the Prospective Qualified Purchaser upon the demand of the Prospective Qualified Purchaser; and
7. Cash and cash equivalents (including foreign currencies) held for investment purposes. For purposes of this definition, cash and cash equivalents include:
i. Bank deposits, certificates of deposit, bankers acceptances and similar bank instruments held for investment purposes; and
ii. The net cash surrender value of an insurance policy. For the purpose of the meaning of investments:
For the purpose of the meaning of investments:
A. Commodity Interests means commodity futures contracts, options on commodity futures contracts, and options on physical commodities traded on or subject to the rules of:
a. Any contract market designated for trading such transactions under the Commodity Exchange Act and the rules thereunder; or
b. Any board of trade or exchange outside the United States, as contemplated in Part 30 of the rules under the Commodity Exchange Act.
B. Family Company means a company described in paragraph (A)(ii) of Section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act.
C. Investment Vehicle means an investment company, a company that would be an investment company but for the exclusions provided by Sections 3(c)(1) through 3(c)(9) of the Investment Company Act or the exemptions provided by Rule 3a-6 or Rule 3a-7, or a commodity pool.
D. Physical Commodity means any physical commodity with respect to which a Commodity Interest is traded on a market specified in paragraph A.a. of above.
E. Prospective Qualified Purchaser means a person seeking to purchase a security of a Section 3(c)(7) Company.
For purposes of determining whether a Prospective Qualified Purchaser is a Qualified Purchaser, the aggregate amount of Investments owned and invested on a discretionary basis by the Prospective Qualified Purchaser shall be the Investments fair market value on the most recent practicable date or their cost, provided that:
a. In the case of Commodity Interests, the amount of Investments shall be the value of the initial margin or option premium deposited in connection with such Commodity Interests; and
b. In each case, there shall be deducted from the amount of Investments owned by the Prospective Qualified Purchaser the amounts specified in the following two paragraphs, as applicable:
· In determining whether any person is a Qualified Purchaser there shall be deducted from the amount of such persons Investments the amount of any outstanding indebtedness incurred to acquire or for the purpose of acquiring the Investments owned by such person.
· In determining whether a Family Company is a Qualified Purchaser, in addition to the amounts specified in the paragraph above, there shall be deducted from the value of such Family Companys Investments any outstanding indebtedness incurred by an owner of the Family Company to acquire such Investments.
F. Public Company means a company that:
a. Files reports pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or
b. Has a class of securities that are listed on a designated offshore securities market as such term is defined by Regulation S under the Securities Act.
G. Section 3(c)(7) Company means a company that would be an investment company but for the exclusion provided by section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act.
Valuations . For purposes of determining the amount of Investments owned by a company under Section 2(a)(51)(A)(iv) of the Investment Company Act, there may be included Investments owned by majority-owned subsidiaries of the company and Investments owned by any direct or indirect parent company of the company of which such company is a majority-owned subsidiary (directly or indirectly) (each, a Parent Company), or by a majority-owned subsidiary of the company and other majority-owned subsidiaries of the Parent Company.
Investment Purposes . For purpose of the meaning investment purposes:
1) Real estate shall not be considered to be held for investment purposes by a Prospective Qualified Purchaser if it is used by the Prospective Qualified Purchaser or a Related Person for personal purposes or as a place of business, or in connection with the conduct of the trade or business of the Prospective Qualified Purchaser or a Related Person, provided that real estate owned by a Prospective Qualified Purchaser who is engaged primarily in the business of investing, trading or developing real estate in connection with such business may be deemed to be held for investment purposes. Residential real estate shall not be deemed to be used for personal purposes if deductions with respect to such real estate are not disallowed by section 280A of the Internal Revenue Code.
2) A Commodity Interest or Physical Commodity owned, or a financial contract entered into, by the Prospective Qualified Purchaser who is engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in Commodity Interests, Physical Commodities or financial contracts in connection with such business may be deemed to be held for investment purposes.
EXHIBIT 10.4
EXECUTION VERSION
AMENDED AND RESTATED PAG CO-OBLIGATION FEE, INDEMNITY
AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED PAG CO-OBLIGATION FEE, INDEMNITY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT is made this 17th day of March, 2015, by PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation ( PAG ), to and in favor of GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ( GECC ).
WHEREAS, PAG, Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, a Delaware corporation (PTLC), certain subsidiaries of GECC and a subsidiary of LJ VP Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Holdings), are partners in Penske Truck Leasing Co., L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the Partnership);
WHEREAS, PAG, PTLC and certain of those GECC subsidiaries became members of Holdings, which was governed by an Amended and Restated Limited Liability Agreement dated April 30, 2012 (the First Amended LLC Agreement);
WHEREAS, GECC and Holdings, as co-obligors, issued $700,000,000 in unsecured notes on April 30, 2012;
WHEREAS, for the purpose of inducing GECC to co-issue such notes, which provided a benefit to PAG, PAG and GECC entered into that certain PAG Co-Obligation Fee, Indemnity and Security Agreement dated April 30, 2012 (the Original Agreement);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Original Agreement, PTLC and Penske System, Inc. entered into a PTLC Co-obligation Fee, Indemnity and Security Agreement dated April 30, 2012 to and in favor of GECC on similar terms and conditions as contained in the Original Agreement, and on the date hereof such agreement is being amended and restated in its entirety (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the PTLC Co-Obligation Agreement );
WHEREAS, GECC caused the assumption by GECC of all obligations with respect to such unsecured notes in the principal amount of $700,000,000 and the indenture under which they were issued, pursuant to section 11.03 of such indenture, on the date hereof (the occurrence of such assumption, the Fall Away Event) and, as a result, (a) Holdings became obligated to pay to GECC 100% (the LJ VP Percentage) of the total obligations GECC owes under such notes and indenture to the extent of Holdings cash and cash equivalents (subject to limitations fully set forth in the Limited Liability Agreement of Holdings) and (b) Holdings was relieved of any and all direct and indirect obligations to the trustee and the noteholders under and with respect to such indenture and notes (and all direct liabilities of Holdings to such trustee and noteholders under such indenture and notes were thereby released, discharged and satisfied); and
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the First Amended LLC Agreement is being amended and restated in its entirety and the Partnership Agreement of the Partnership is being amended to reflect the Fall Away Event, the withdrawal of the remaining GECC subsidiary member of
Holdings, the return to such member of certain partner interests in the Partnership to such member and the reduction of the LJ VP Percentage from 100% to 50.1% and certain other events with respect to Holdings and the Partnership, and the parties to the Original Agreement desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement in its entirety to make corresponding revisions to its terms.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, the undertakings set forth and described herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby mutually acknowledged, PAG, intending to be legally bound, covenants and agrees to and with GECC as follows:
1. Definitions . As used in this Agreement:
Agent shall mean a representative of GECC designated by GECC in writing, which shall initially be GECC until such time as GECC designates another representative of GECC in writing.
Agreement shall mean this PAG Co-Obligation Fee, Indemnity and Security Agreement, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Bankruptcy Action means (i) the filing by PAG of a voluntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment, in any form, of its debts under Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any other federal or state insolvency Law, or PAGs filing an answer consenting to or acquiescing in any such petition, (ii) the making by PAG of any assignment for the benefit of its creditors or (iii) the expiration of sixty (60) days after the filing of an involuntary petition under Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, an application for the appointment of a receiver for a material portion of the assets of PAG, or an involuntary petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or readjustment of its debts under any other federal or state insolvency Law, provided that the same shall not have been vacated, set aside or stayed within such sixty (60) -day period.
Board shall mean the board of directors of PAG.
Bond Indenture shall mean that certain Senior Indenture, dated as of the Effective Date, by and among GECC and Holdings in their capacities as co-issuers of the Bonds, with The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, or any successor thereto appointed as Trustee pursuant to such Indenture, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the Holdings LLC Agreement.
Bonds shall mean the notes issued under the Bond Indenture, in an aggregate principal amount of $700,000,000.
Bonds Maturity Date shall have the meaning set forth in the Holdings LLC Agreement.
Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or other day that commercial banks are required or permitted to be closed in New York City.
Claim shall mean any claim, demand, right, damage, dispute, cost, expense, Lien, debt, liability, loss, judgment, suit, action and cause of action of whatever kind and nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, contingent or absolute.
Collateral shall mean the property, or interests in property, in which PAG has granted security interests to GECC in Section 4, to secure payment of the Secured Obligations.
Collateral Document shall mean the Holdings LLC Agreement.
Collateral Distributions shall mean any monies at any time or from time to time received or receivable by PAG, under, in respect of, or pursuant to, the Collateral Document, howsoever denominated, documented or occurring, including Holdings Member Interest Distributions.
Contribution Subaccount shall have the meaning set forth in the Holdings LLC Agreement.
Co-Obligation shall mean all initially scheduled obligations for the payment of money by GECC as issuer of the Bonds, as initially provided in the Bond Indenture.
Deemed Transfer shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(b).
Default shall mean any of the events specified in the definition of Event of Default whether or not any applicable requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, has been satisfied.
Default Rate shall mean a rate of interest per annum equal to the Prime Rate as it may change from time to time plus 2.5%, provided that the Default Rate shall not exceed a rate that may be lawfully charged.
Effective Date shall mean the date of the Original Agreement.
Event of Default shall mean: (i) the failure of PAG to pay the PAG Co-Obligation Fee, when due; (ii) the failure of PAG to make any Indemnity Payment with respect to the Indemnified Amounts referred to in Section 3(i) below within five (5) Business Days after any such amount is due; (iii) the failure of PAG to make any Indemnity Payment with respect to the Indemnified Amounts referred to in Section 3(ii) or 3(iii) below, when due; (iv) the failure of PAG to observe, comply with or perform any of its material obligations or covenants hereunder (other than the payment obligations referred to in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of this definition) or under any Transaction Document and such default shall remain un-remedied upon the expiration of any grace or cure period provided in respect thereof and, if none has been provided, within five (5) Business Days after receipt of notice from GECC of the failure of PAG to observe, comply with or perform any of such obligations; (v) the failure of PAG to pay any amounts due under Sections 11.7 or 11.8 within five (5) Business Days after any such amount is due; (vi) any breach of any representation or warranty of PAG made hereunder; (vii) the failure of PAG to pay any interest at the Default Rate, when due; or (viii) PAG becoming the subject of any Bankruptcy Action.
Funding Loan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(c).
GECC shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof, including its successors and assigns pursuant to Section 11.4.
GECC Revolver shall have the meaning set forth in the first Whereas clause of this Agreement.
Governmental Authority shall mean any (a) U.S., foreign, federal, state, local or other government, (b) governmental commission, board, body, bureau, agency, department or other judicial, regulatory or administrative authority of any nature, including courts, tribunals and other judicial bodies, (c) self regulatory body or authority, or (d) instrumentality or entity designed to act for or on behalf of the foregoing in exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.
Holdings shall have the meaning set forth in the first Whereas clause of this Agreement.
Holdings LLC Agreement shall mean that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Holdings, dated the date hereof, by and among the managing member and other members of Holdings, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Holdings Members shall mean the Members (as defined in the Holdings LLC Agreement).
Holdings Member Interests shall mean all membership interests (including preferred and common) of Holdings issued to its members at any time or from time to time.
Holdings Member Interest Distributions shall mean any distributions, whether of cash or property, including additional Holdings Member Interests, at any time or from time to time received or receivable from Holdings by any holder of Holdings Member Interests, including dividends and returns of capital.
Holdings Payment Amounts shall mean any amounts paid under Section 10.1 of the Holdings LLC Agreement, which will be deemed distributed when paid in accordance with such Section.
Indemnified Amount shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 below.
Indemnity Payments shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 below.
Interest Obligations shall have the meaning set forth in the Holdings LLC Agreement.
Interest Obligations Deficiency shall have the meaning set forth in the Holdings LLC Agreement.
Law shall mean any applicable foreign or domestic, federal, state or local, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, order, judgment, decree, injunction or requirement of any Governmental Authority or any arbitration tribunal.
Lien shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement) and any capital lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
Losses shall mean all damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by GECC or any of its Affiliates in connection with any breach of or default under an Additional Capital Contribution Loan.
Material Adverse Effect shall mean, with respect to PAG, (i) a material adverse effect on its interest in, or title to, any Collateral, (ii) a material adverse effect on the validity, status, perfection or priority of any Lien granted pursuant to the Original Agreement and hereto or pursuant to any other Transaction Document or (iii) a material adverse effect on the ability of PAG to perform its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents.
Material Agreements shall mean the (i) Organizational Documents of Holdings and (ii) Bond Indenture.
Maturity Obligations shall have the meaning set forth in the Holdings LLC Agreement.
Organizational Documents shall mean: (i) for a corporation, its articles (or certificate) of incorporation and bylaws; (ii) for a limited partnership, its articles (or certificate)of limited partnership and limited partnership agreement; and (iii) for a limited liability company, its articles (or certificate) of formation or organization and any operating agreement or limited liability company agreement; together with, for each such entity and any other entity not described above, such other, similar documents as are integral to its formation or the conduct of its business operations among its shareholders, partners, or members and the corporation, partnership or limited liability company.
PAG shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof, including its permitted successors and permitted assigns pursuant to Section 11.4.
PAG Co-Obligation Fee shall mean a fee per annum (pro-rated quarterly), equal in amount to the product of (x) one and fifty one-hundredths percent (1.50%) (expressed as a decimal), (y) the PAG Co- Obligation Percentage (expressed as a decimal), and (z) $700,000,000, accrued daily from the date of issuance of the Bonds on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months and pro-rated for any partial quarterly period.
PAG Co-Obligation Percentage shall mean 9.02%.
Partnership shall have the meaning set forth in the first Whereas clause of this Agreement.
Partnership Agreement shall mean the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated April 30, 2012, as amended as of the date hereof, by and among the limited partners and general partner of the Partnership, as the same may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Partnership Interest Distributions shall mean any distributions, whether of cash or property, including additional Partnership Interests, at any time or from time to time received or receivable from the Partnership by any holder of Partnership Interests, including dividends and returns of capital.
Partnership Interests shall have the meaning set forth in the Partnership Agreement.
Partnership Member and Partnership Members shall mean each of, and together, PTLC and PAG.
Permitted Collateral Encumbrances shall mean (a) Liens in favor of GECC granted to secure payment of the Secured Obligations; (b) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not delinquent or being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which proper reserves have been taken by PAG; provided , that such Liens, individually or in the aggregate, have no effect on the priority of any Liens in favor of GECC or the value of any assets in which GECC has such a Lien; and (c) the encumbrances granted under the Holdings LLC Agreement.
Permitted Encumbrances shall mean (a) Liens in favor of GECC granted to secure payment of the Secured Obligations; (b) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not delinquent or being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which proper reserves have been taken by PAG; provided , that such Liens, individually or in the aggregate, have no effect on the priority of any Liens in favor of GECC or the value of any assets in which GECC has such a Lien; (c) deposits or pledges to secure obligations under workers compensation, social security or similar Laws, or under unemployment insurance; (d) deposits or pledges to secure bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds and other obligations of like nature arising in the ordinary course of PAGs business; (e) mechanics, workers, materialmens or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of PAGs business with respect to obligations which are not due or which are being contested in good faith by PAG; (f) Liens in the nature of ownership interests of lessors of real and personal property; (g) other Liens incidental to the conduct of PAGs business or the ownership of its property and assets which were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit, and which do not in the aggregate materially detract from GECCs rights to, in or under the Collateral or the value of PAGs business property or assets or which do not materially impair the use thereof in the operation of PAGs business; and (h) the encumbrances granted under the Holdings LLC Agreement, the LJ VP LLC Agreement and the Partnership Agreement.
Person shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.
Prime Rate means the prime rate (the base rate on corporate loans at large U.S. money center commercial banks) as published in the Wall Street Journal or other equivalent publication if the Wall Street Journal no longer publishes such information.
PTL GP, LLC Agreement shall mean that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of LJ VP, LLC, dated as of the Effective Date, executed by Holdings as the sole member of LJ VP, LLC, as the same was amended to change the name of LJ VP, LLC to PTL GP, LLC as of January , 2014, and as the same may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
PTLC shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof, including its permitted successors and permitted assigns pursuant to Article 9 of the Holdings LLC Agreement.
Sale and Sold shall have the meanings set forth in the Holdings LLC Agreement.
Secured Obligations shall mean the obligations of PAG described in Section 4 below as being secured by the Collateral.
Subsidiary of a Person shall refer to (i) any corporation (or equivalent legal entity under foreign Law) of which such Person owns directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the stock, the holders of which are ordinarily and generally, in the absence of contingencies or understandings, entitled to vote for the election of directors, (ii) any limited liability company in which such Person owns directly or indirectly more than fifty percent (50%) of the membership interests, (iii) any partnership in which such other Person owns directly or indirectly more than a fifty percent (50%) interest and (iv) any other entity of which another Person has the voting power to elect the majority of the members of the board of directors, the board of managers, or a similar governing body of such entity.
Transaction Documents shall mean this Agreement, the Original Agreement, the Collateral Document and any and all other agreements, instruments and documents, including guaranties, pledges, powers of attorney, consents and all other writings heretofore, now or hereafter executed by PAG and/or delivered to GECC relating to the security interests granted by this Agreement.
Transfer shall have the meaning set forth in the Holdings LLC Agreement.
Trustee shall have the meaning set forth in the Holdings LLC Agreement.
UCC shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code, as amended from time to time and any successor thereto.
UCC Filing shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(b)(iii).
2. PAG Co-Obligation Fee . In consideration of the Co-Obligation, commencing on the Effective Date and continuing on a calendar quarterly basis thereafter, on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter, until the originally scheduled maturity date of the Bonds, PAG shall pay to GECC the PAG Co-Obligation Fee.
3. Indemnification . Without limiting any other rights which GECC may have hereunder, under any of the other Transaction Documents or under applicable Law, subject to Section 10, PAG hereby agrees to indemnify GECC for losses resulting from (i) (a) at any time when the Bonds are outstanding, the PAG Co-Obligation Percentage of any interest payments on the Bonds and any payments of trustee and similar fees related to the Bonds made directly by GECC under the Co-Obligation and (b) if the Bonds are redeemed by GECC prior to their scheduled maturity date, the PAG Co-Obligation Percentage of the amount of any interest that would have been payable on the Bonds if they had not been so redeemed, accruing from the date of redemption until the originally scheduled maturity date of the Bonds, with any such deemed accrual being due and payable upon each originally scheduled payment date (such payments of deemed accrual amounts to be the applicable indemnification, notwithstanding that the aggregate of these payments may exceed the interest component of the redemption price paid by GECC on the Bonds), (ii) the PAG Co-Obligation Percentage of any principal payments on the Bonds made directly by GECC under the Co-Obligation, with such obligation becoming due and payable on the originally scheduled maturity date of the Bonds (whether or not the Bonds remain outstanding until their originally scheduled maturity date), (iii) without duplication with clauses (i) or (ii), the failure to make any payment due to GECC under Section 11.7 or Section 11.8, (iv) interest at the Default Rate on any payment referred to in clauses (i) - (iii) hereof or with respect to the PAG Co-Obligation Fee when such payment was not made on or prior to the due date thereof and (v) all damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by GECC or any of its Affiliates in connection with the failure of PAG to observe, comply with or perform its material obligations or covenants hereunder or a breach of any representation or warranty of PAG hereunder (all of the foregoing clauses (i) - (v) hereof are called, collectively, the Indemnified Amounts ), which Indemnified Amounts shall be due and payable on demand (such amounts, as and when payment thereof is demanded, are herein collectively called the Indemnity Payments )). Any Holdings Payment Amounts will reduce any Indemnified Amounts due hereunder with respect to PAG by an amount equal to 18% of the Holdings Payment Amounts. The indemnity obligations contained in this Section 3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
4. Security Interests . (a) Grants of Liens . As security for its obligations with respect to the PAG Co-Obligation Fee under Section 2 and all of its Indemnified Amounts, PAG hereby confirms its grant under the Original Agreement and hereby grants to GECC a security interest in all right, title and interest of PAG to, in or under all Holdings Member Interests held by PAG on or after the Effective Date, including (i) all Holdings Member Interest Distributions thereunder, (ii) any certificate at any time issued to represent or evidence its right, title and interest therein, and (iii) all proceeds of the foregoing; which security interest PAG at all times shall cause to be first priority and perfected.
(b) Collateral Representation and Warranties . PAG represents and warrants to GECC with respect to the Collateral that:
(i) It is the owner of the Collateral pledged by it free and clear of any and all Liens, other than Permitted Collateral Encumbrances.
(ii) It has all power, statutory and otherwise, to grant the first priority, perfected security interest in the Collateral pledged by it.
(iii) No authorization, approval or other action by, and, except with respect to PAGs disclosure obligations as a public company, no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required (i) for its granting of a security interest in the Collateral pursuant hereto, (ii) except for filings with the Secretary of State of Delaware under Article 9 of the UCC of the State of Delaware (the UCC Filing ), which were made concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Original Agreement, for the perfection of such security interest as a first priority security interest or (iii) for the exercise by GECC of any rights or remedies pursuant to this Agreement or applicable Law.
(iv) The UCC Filing was made concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Original Agreement, and created a valid first priority, perfected security interest in the Collateral of PAG securing the payment of the Secured Obligations which remains validly perfected with a first priority as of the date hereof. All filings and other actions necessary or desirable to perfect and protect such first priority, perfected security interest have been duly taken and GECC has a first priority, perfected security interest in the Collateral of PAG, subject only to the Permitted Collateral Encumbrances.
(c) Collateral Covenants . PAG covenants to GECC with respect to the Collateral that:
(i) At any time and from time to time, upon the written request of GECC, and at the sole expense of PAG, PAG will promptly and duly execute and deliver any and all such further instruments and documents and take such further actions as GECC may reasonably deem desirable to obtain the full benefits of this Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted with respect to PAG, including the execution and filing of any financing or continuation statements under the UCC in effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the first priority, perfected security interest granted hereby and by the Original Agreement and, if otherwise required hereunder, transferring Collateral to the possession of Agent (if a first priority, perfected security interest in such Collateral can be perfected by possession) or causing Holdings to agree (in writing) that it will only comply with instructions originated by Agent without further consent by PAG upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default with respect to PAG. PAG also hereby authorizes GECC to file any such financing or continuation statement without the signature of PAG to the maximum extent not prohibited by applicable Law.
(ii) PAG will defend the right, title and interest hereunder of GECC, as holder of a first priority, perfected security interest in the Collateral in which PAG has granted a first priority, perfected security interest to GECC hereunder or under the Original Agreement, against the Claims of all Persons whomsoever.
(iii) PAG will not change its name in any manner which might make any financing or continuation statement filed hereunder seriously misleading within the meaning of Section 9-507 of the UCC of the State of New York (or any
other then-applicable provision of the UCC of the State of New York), unless PAG shall have given GECC at least thirty (30) days prior written notice thereof and shall have taken all action (or made arrangements to take such action substantially simultaneously with such change if it is impossible to take such action in advance) necessary or reasonably requested by GECC to amend such financing statement or continuation statement so that it is not seriously misleading. PAG will not sign or authorize the signing on PAGs behalf of any financing statement naming PAG as debtor covering all or any portion of PAGs Collateral, except financing statements naming GECC as secured party.
(iv) PAG will not directly or indirectly Transfer or create or suffer or permit to be created any Lien on any of the Collateral, other than Permitted Collateral Encumbrances or as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, provided that nothing in this Section 4(c)(iv) will prevent the payment of Holdings Member Interest Distributions, and the application such funds by PAG, at any time an Event of Default shall not then exist.
(v) PAG will perform all of its obligations (if any) under the Collateral Document prior to the time that any interest or penalty would attach against PAG or any of the Collateral as a result of PAGs failure to perform any of such obligations.
(vi) PAG will not (x) suffer or permit any amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification or waiver of its Organizational Documents unless and to the extent (1) required by Law to do so, or (2) such amendment, restatement, supplement or other modification or waiver (A) would not cause any contravention of, or conflict with, any material term or condition of this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, or any Material Agreement, or (B) would not otherwise reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (y) waive, release or compromise any Claims PAG may have against any other Person which arise under any Collateral Document.
(vii) So long as an Event of Default shall not then exist, PAG shall be entitled (1) to exercise for any purpose any and all powers, and (2) to receive any and all Holdings Member Interest Distributions (if any) arising from or relating to the Collateral; provided , however , that PAG shall not exercise such rights or powers, or approve or consent to any action that would be in contravention of the provisions of, or constitute a breach or Default under, this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents.
(viii) If there is an Event of Default with respect to PAG, any Event of Default attributable to a failure to pay any Indemnified Amounts shall be deemed waived upon the receipt by GECC of amounts sufficient to satisfy all such Indemnified Amounts then due and payable by PAG.
(d) Event of Default . If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing (and not waived in accordance herewith), the Agent may exercise in addition to all other
rights and remedies granted to it in this Agreement, the Holdings LLC Agreement and in any other Transaction Documents, all rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC of the State of New York with respect to the Collateral described in Section 4(a) hereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, PAG expressly agrees that in any such event Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, advertisement or notice of any kind (except the notice specified below of time and place of public or private sale) to or upon PAG or any other Person (all and each of which demands, advertisements or notices are hereby expressly, irrevocably and unconditionally waived), may forthwith collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon such Collateral in which PAG has granted a security interest to GECC with respect thereto, or any part thereof, or may forthwith sell, lease, assign, give option or options to purchase, or sell or otherwise dispose of and deliver such Collateral (or contract to do so), or any part thereof, in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange or brokers board or at any of the Agents offices or elsewhere at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without the assumption of any credit risk. PAG expressly acknowledges that private sales may be less favorable to a seller than public sales but that private sales shall nevertheless be deemed commercially reasonable and otherwise permitted hereunder. In view of the fact that federal and state securities Laws and/or other applicable Laws may impose certain restrictions on the method by which a sale of such Collateral may be effected, PAG agrees that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to it, the Agent may, from time to time, attempt to sell all or any part of such Collateral in which PAG has granted a security interest to GECC relating to such Event of Default hereunder, by means of a private placement, restricting the prospective purchasers to those who will represent and agree that they are purchasing for investment only and not for distribution. In so doing, the Agent may solicit offers to buy such Collateral, or any part thereof, for cash, from a limited number of investors deemed by the Agent in its judgment, to be financially responsible parties who might be interested in purchasing such Collateral, and if the Agent solicits such offers, then the acceptance by the Agent of the highest offer obtained therefrom shall be deemed to be a commercially reasonable method of disposing of such Collateral. GECC or the Agent shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the maximum extent not prohibited by applicable Law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of such Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption, which equity of redemption PAG hereby irrevocably and unconditionally releases. GECC shall apply the net proceeds of any such collection, recovery, receipt, appropriation, realization or sale to the Secured Obligations in such order and manner as GECC may elect. Only after so paying over such net proceeds and after the payment by the Agent of any other amount required by any provision of Law, including Section 9-608(a)(1)(C) of the UCC of the State of New York, need GECC account for the surplus, if any, to PAG. To the maximum extent not prohibited by applicable Law, PAG hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives all Claims against the Agent and/or GECC arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of such Collateral except in each case such as arise out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent or GECC. Any notification of intended disposition of any of such Collateral required by Law will be deemed to be a reasonable authenticated notification of disposition if given at least ten (10) days prior to such disposition and such notice shall (i) describe GECC and PAG, (ii) describe such
Collateral that is the subject of the intended disposition, (iii) state the method of the intended disposition, (iv) state that PAG is entitled to an accounting of the Secured Obligations and state the charge, if any, for an accounting and (v) state the time and place of any public disposition or the time after which any private sale is to be made. The Agent and/or GECC may disclaim any representations or warranties that might arise in connection with the Sale or other Transfer of such Collateral and has no obligation to provide any representations or warranties at such time except to advise the purchaser in writing of provisions of the Collateral Document or instruments to which it will succeed or be subject to. Except as expressly required by the UCC of the State of New York or by the equitable principles of good faith and fair dealing, the Agent and/or GECC shall have no duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or nominee of the Agent and/or GECC or as to any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties hereto agree that to the extent that PAG is the Managing Member (as defined in the Holdings LLC Agreement) at the time that GECC exercises its remedies with respect to any Holdings Member Interests in the Collateral, then the transferee of such Holdings Member Interests shall become the Managing Member only to the extent permitted and as provided in the Holdings LLC Agreement.
(e) Default Rate . If any payments hereunder are not received by GECC on the due date therefor, interest on such payments shall accrue at the Default Rate with respect to any of such payments until such payments and all accrued interest thereon have been fully paid to GECC.
(f) Inspection of Premises . At all reasonable times, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Default, at PAGs expense, GECC shall have full access to and the right to audit, check, inspect and make abstracts and copies from PAGs books, records, audits, correspondence and all other papers relating to the Collateral from time to time in GECCs sole discretion. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Default, GECC may also enter upon PAGs premises at any time during business hours and at any other reasonable time, and from time to time, for the purpose of inspecting the Collateral and any and all records pertaining thereto.
(g) GECCs Discretion . After an Event of Default exists, and while it is continuing, GECC shall have the right in its sole discretion to determine which rights, Liens or remedies GECC may at any time pursue, relinquish, subordinate, or modify or to take any other action with respect thereto and such determination will not in any way modify or affect any of GECCs rights hereunder. In no event shall PAG have any right to require GECC to marshal any Collateral.
(h) Waiver of Subrogation . Except as provided in Section 7.6, PAG shall not have any right of subrogation as to any Collateral until this Agreement has terminated as provided in Section 11.16.
5. Conditions . Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the occurrence of the following, the Agreement shall amend and restate, without novation, the Original Agreement:
(a) Organizational Documents . GECC shall have received on or prior to the date hereof the following items, each of which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to GECC:
(i) a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of PAG, dated the date hereof, and certifying (A) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the resolutions of the Board of PAG authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Holdings LLC Agreement (as amended and restated on the date hereof) and the other documents to be delivered by it hereunder and thereunder and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and that such resolutions have not been amended, modified, revoked or rescinded and are in full force and effect, (B) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of such Partys Organizational Documents, each as in effect as of the Effective Date and (C) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer or authorized signatory executing this Agreement or any other document delivered in connection herewith or therewith on behalf of PAG, together with evidence of the incumbency of such Secretary or Assistant Secretary;
(ii) copies of certificates of good standing dated as of a recent date of PAG from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
(b) Lien Searches . GECC shall have received on or prior to the date hereof the following items, each of which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to GECC:
(i) certified copies of requests for information or copies (Form UCC-11) dated a date reasonably near the date hereof listing all effective financing statements which name PAG (under its present name or any previous name in the past ten years) as transferor or debtor and which are filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware, together with copies of such financing statements, and tax and judgment lien searches showing no such liens that are not permitted by the Transaction Documents;
(c) UCCs . The following filings shall have been made on or prior to the date hereof, each of which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to GECC:
(i) proper financing statements (Form UCC-1), naming PAG, as the debtor, and GECC, as secured party, in respect of the first priority, perfected security interest created hereunder and proper financing statements (Form UCC-3), if any, necessary to release all first priority, perfected security interests and other rights of any other Person in the Collateral previously granted by PAG shall have been filed and all filing fees, taxes or other amounts required to be paid in connection with such filings shall have been paid;
(d) Opinions . GECC shall have received on or prior to the date hereof the following items, each of which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to GECC:
(i) the executed legal opinions of Shane Spradlin, general counsel of PAG, dated the date hereof and addressed to GECC, with respect to certain corporate Law matters, including due organization, valid existence and good standing, power and authority, and due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Holdings LLC Agreement (as amended and restated on the date hereof), the Partnership Agreement (as amended and restate on the date hereof), the Governmental Authority consents or filings required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents, the absence of conflicts with the Organizational Documents of PAG or Laws and regulations arising from the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and the Collateral Document, the absence of conflicts with court orders or agreements or other contracts arising from the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and the Collateral Document, the absence of litigation affecting the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the enforceability of this Agreement, and the Collateral Document and the other Transaction Documents, the creation, attachment and continued perfection of the perfected security interests in the Collateral granted by PAG pursuant hereto, and other such matters as GECC may request.
6. General Representations and Warranties . PAG hereby represents and warrants to GECC that:
6.1. Authority . PAG has full power, authority and legal right to enter into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is party and to perform all its respective obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party (a) are within PAGs corporate (or other organizational) powers, have been duly authorized, are not in contravention of Law or the terms of its Organizational Documents of any Collateral Document or Material Agreement or undertaking to which PAG is a party or by which PAG is bound, and (b) will not conflict with nor result in any breach in any of the provisions of or constitute a default under or result in the creation of any Lien (except Liens created pursuant to this Agreement or permitted by this Agreement) upon any asset of PAG under the provisions of any Organizational Document or other instrument to which PAG or its property is a party or by which it may be bound.
6.2. Formation and Qualification .
(a) PAG is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in the states or other jurisdictions listed on Schedule 6.2 which constitute all states in which qualification and good standing where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on PAG.
(b) PAG (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, its Subsidiaries) has not been known by any other organization name in the ten (10) years immediately preceding the date hereof (other than United Auto Group, Inc.) and does not itself sell inventory under any other name; nor has PAG been the surviving organization of a merger or consolidation during the ten (10) years immediately preceding the date hereof.
6.3. Enforceable Obligations . This Agreement is, and each other Transaction Document executed by PAG, constitutes (or will constitute upon the execution and delivery thereof), the legal, valid and binding obligation of PAG, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement is subject to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors rights generally, and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at Law).
6.4. Financial Condition Representation . The consolidated financial statements of PAG and its subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2015 comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of PAG and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (as defined in the Partnership Agreement) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby. Since December 31, 2014, PAG has conducted its business in the ordinary course in all material respects consistent with past practice, and, since such date, there has not been any changes, events or occurrences which has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to PAG.
6.5. Absence of Claims Against PTLC . PAG does not have any Claim against PTLC.
7. Covenants .
PAG shall, until payment in full of the Secured Obligations and termination of this Agreement (except as otherwise expressly provided below):
7.1. Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence and Assets . (a) Keep in full force and effect (i) its existence and (ii) the Material Agreements to which it is then a party, each to the extent within PAGs control and using its reasonable best efforts to the extent not within PAGs control; and (b) make all such reports and pay all such franchise and other taxes and license fees and do all such other acts and things as may be lawfully required to maintain its rights, licenses, leases, powers and franchises under the Laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.2. Requirements of Law . Comply at all times, in all material respects, with all requirements of Law, the failure to comply with which would reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect and promptly notify GECC in writing of any violation by PAG of any requirement of Law which violation would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.3. Notice of Default . Promptly give written notice to GECC of the occurrence of any Default by PAG.
7.4. Books and Records . Keep proper books and records of account in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States of America and all requirements of Law shall be made in all material respects of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities.
7.5. Further Assurances . Execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional instruments, certificates, legal opinions or documents, and take such actions, as the Agent may reasonably request for the purposes of implementing or effectuating the provisions of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents upon the exercise by GECC of any power, right, privilege or remedy pursuant to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, including any filings necessary to perfect and protect the first priority, perfected security interest, which requires any consent, approval, recording, qualification or authorization of any Governmental Authority, and it shall execute and deliver, or shall cause the execution and delivery of, all applications, certifications, instruments and other documents and papers that such Agent may be required to obtain from it for such governmental consent, approval, recording, qualification or authorization.
7.6. No Enforcement of Claims . Until the termination of the PTLC Co-Obligation Agreement in accordance with Section 9.16 thereof, not enforce any Claim against PTLC other than any Claim PAG may have against PTLC arising after the date hereof directly as a result of any action or inaction of PTLC as general partner of the Partnership.
8. Intentionally Left Blank .
9. Tax Characterization . PAG and GECC agree to the following characterization, for tax purposes, of the Bonds and related payments and expenses:
(a) The Bonds shall be treated as debt of GECC and not as debt of Holdings;
(b) An amount equal to the net proceeds of the Bonds shall be treated as having been transferred in cash by GECC to each member as of the Effective Date in proportion to the members Holdings Member Interest as of such date (each such transfer a Deemed Transfer );
(c) Each Deemed Transfer to a Partnership Member shall be treated as the proceeds of a loan from GECC to Partnership Member (each such loan a Funding Loan ) with a face amount equal to the product of the face amount of the Bonds and such Partnership Members respective Co-Obligation Percentage, being, in the case of PAG, the PAG Co-Obligation Percentage;
(d) Each Funding Loan shall be treated as having terms consistent with the agreement between GECC and the Partnership Members, as reflected in the Holdings LLC Agreement and this Agreement, relating to their economic sharing of obligations relating to the Bonds, including the treatment of all PAG Co-Obligation Fees paid or accrued by a Partnership Member as interest paid or accrued on such Partnership Members Funding Loan and the treatment of all payments by a Partnership Member of an Indemnified Amount described in Section 3(i) or Section 3(ii) or, to the extent related to the PAG Co-Obligation Fee or to payments referred to in Section 3(i) or Section 3(ii), Section 3(iv) as payments made on, or of financing costs or other fees or expenses with respect to, such Partnership Members Funding Loan;
(e) Each member in Holdings as of the Effective Date shall be treated as having contributed cash, in an amount equal to the amount of the Deemed Transfer to such member, to Holdings as a Capital Contribution (as defined in the Holdings LLC Agreement) on the date the Bonds were issued;
(f) All payments by Holdings on, or of financing costs or other fees or expenses with respect to, the Bonds shall be treated as having been distributed in cash to the members in Holdings in proportion to such members Holdings Member Interest on the date such payment was made, with amounts so treated as distributed to each Partnership Member further treated as used to make payments to GECC on, or of financing costs or other fees or expenses with respect to, such Partnership Members Funding Loan, and then used by GECC to make payments on, or of financing costs or other fees or expenses with respect to, the Bonds; and
(g) All Holdings Payment Amounts treated under Section 10.1 of the Holdings LLC Agreement as distributed to a Partnership Member shall be treated as used by such Partnership Member to make payments to GECC on, or of financing costs or other fees or expenses with respect to, such Partnership Members Funding Loan, and then used by GECC to make payments on, or of financing costs or other fees or expenses with respect to, the Bonds;
PAG and GECC are aware of the income tax consequences of the above characterizations of the Bonds and the related payments and expenses described in this Section 9 and hereby agree to be bound by the tax characterizations as set forth in this Section 9 in reporting such items for income tax purposes.
10. Reinstatement of Indemnity Obligation. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Holdings LLC Agreement to the contrary, PAGs indemnification obligations pursuant to Section 3 shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment of any Indemnity Payments by or on behalf of PAG hereunder, or if any of the funds previously paid out of the Funding Subaccount or the Contribution Subaccount to or for the account of GECC under the Original Agreement or under the Holdings LLC Agreement prior to its amendment on the date hereof, is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned upon any Bankruptcy of PAG or otherwise.
11. Miscellaneous .
11.1. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK APPLIED TO CONTRACTS TO BE PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW RULES THAT MIGHT LEAD TO THE APLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST PAG WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF THE OBLIGATIONS, THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING ALL MATTERS OF CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY OR PERFORMANCE) OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT OR RELATED TRANSACTION MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THE CITY, COUNTY AND STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, PAG ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS, AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT RENDERED THEREBY IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT. PAG HEREBY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT AND CONSENTS THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED MAIL (RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) DIRECTED TO PAG AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 11.5 AND SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED COMPLETED FIVE (5) BUSINESS DAYS AFTER THE SAME SHALL HAVE BEEN SO DEPOSITED IN THE MAILS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND, AT GECCS OPTION, BY SERVICE UPON THE CT CORPORATION (OR ANY SUCCESSOR OR REPLACEMENT PERSON, AS SELECTED BY GECC), WHICH PAG IRREVOCABLY APPOINTS AS PAGS AGENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACCEPTING SERVICE WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF GECC TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PAG IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. PAG WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF ANY ACTION INSTITUTED HEREUNDER AND SHALL NOT ASSERT ANY DEFENSE BASED ON LACK OF JURISDICTION OR VENUE OR BASED UPON FORUM NON CONVENIENS . ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY PAG AGAINST GECC INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER OR CLAIM IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO OR CONNECTED WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENT, SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A FEDERAL OR STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, STATE OF NEW YORK.
11.2. Entire Understanding . This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the Material Agreements contain the entire understanding between PAG and GECC relative to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, if any, relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement does not modify or amend any rights or obligations of PAG or GECC with respect to events or circumstances arising prior to the date hereof which matters will continue to be governed by the Original Agreement. Any promises, representations, warranties or guarantees not herein contained and hereinafter made shall have no force and effect unless in writing, signed by the respective officers of the party making such promises, representations, warranties or guarantees. Neither this Agreement nor any other Transaction Document, nor any portion or provisions hereof or thereof may be changed, modified, amended, waived, supplemented, discharged, cancelled or terminated, in whole or in
part, orally or by any course of dealing, or in any manner other than by an agreement in writing, signed by the party to be charged.
11.3. Advice of Counsel . PAG and GECC acknowledges that it has been advised by counsel in connection with the execution of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and is not relying upon oral representations or statements inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
11.4. Successors and Assigns .
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of PAG and GECC and all future holders of the Secured Obligations and their respective successors and assigns, except that PAG may not Transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement except as expressly permitted hereunder or in the Holdings LLC Agreement. Any purported Transfer which is not in compliance with this Agreement shall be null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever.
(b) PAG authorizes GECC to disclose to any of its transferees or potential transferees any and all financial information in GECCs possession concerning PAG which has been delivered to GECC by or on behalf of PAG pursuant to this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, the Material Agreements or in connection with GECCs credit evaluation of PAG subject, however, to the provisions on confidentiality set forth in Section 6.8 of the Holdings LLC Agreement and Section 6.4(i) of the Partnership Agreement.
(c) In the case of a Sale of Holdings Member Interests pursuant to Article 9 of the Holdings LLC Agreement, subject to the restrictions and requirements thereunder and under the Partnership Agreement, such purchaser or transferee shall duly execute an instrument of assumption in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and delivered to GECC setting forth such purchasers or transferees agreement to be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement (including the portion of the Indemnified Amounts corresponding to the Member Interests being transferred) and acknowledging that such Membership Interests are under and subject to the security interest granted hereunder and, upon the execution and delivery of such agreement, shall be deemed PAG for purposes of such portion hereunder with respect to such Membership Interests being transferred or otherwise; provided, that the Agent shall have the opportunity to request additional information or documentation reasonably necessary to make a determination that the assumption of the obligations to pay the PAG Co-Obligation Fee and the Indemnified Amounts is being made by a creditworthy party (who shall be at least as creditworthy as the transferor as of the Effective Date) and such transfer shall not be permitted unless and until this determination is made by the Agent, which determination shall be made promptly, reasonably and in good faith; provided further, that the assumption of the obligations to pay the PAG Co-Obligation Fee and the Indemnified Amounts shall not release PAG of any of its obligations or liabilities hereunder. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding proviso, if (i) Penske Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or PTLC acquires PAGs Holdings Member Interest and PTLC or Penske Corporation, as applicable, fully assumes all of PAGs obligations to pay the
PAG Co-Obligation Fee under Section 2, all Indemnified Amounts under Section 3 (then existing and future) and all other obligations hereunder, and all such obligations are joint and several with PTLCs obligations to pay the PTLC Co-Obligation Fee (as defined in the PTLC Co-Obligation Agreement) under Section 2 of the PTLC Co-Obligation Agreement and Indemnified Amounts under Section 3 (then existing and future) of the PTLC Co-Obligation Agreement, (ii) GECC continues to have a first priority, perfected security in such Sold Holdings Member Interest and such Sale is made in accordance with this Section 11.4, and (iii) GECC simultaneously obtains a first priority, perfected security interest in the Trademark License Fee (as defined in the PTLC Co-Obligation Agreement) as security for the performance of the obligations of Penske Corporation or PTLC, as applicable, to pay the PAG Co-Obligation Fee under Section 2 and Indemnified Amounts under Section 3(i), Section 3(iii), Section (v) (to the extent relating to payments under Section 3(i)) and Section 3(vi) (to the extent relating to payments under Section 3(i) and 3(iii)) with respect to PAGs Indemnity Payment obligations hereunder, then PAG will be released from its obligations to pay the PAG Co-Obligation Fee under Section 2 and Indemnified Amounts under Section 3 for obligations or liabilities incurred in the future and all other future obligations hereunder (but not any then existing obligations or liabilities, including with respect to any then existing Additional Capital Contribution Loan, whether or not then due).
11.5. Notice . Any notice or request hereunder may be given to PAG or to GECC at their respective addresses set forth below or at such other address as may hereafter be specified in a notice designated as a notice of change of address under this Section. Any notice or request hereunder may be given by (a) hand delivery, (b) overnight courier, (c) registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, (d) electronic transmission or facsimile (or such other e-mail address or number as may hereafter be specified in a notice designated as a notice of change of address), with electronic confirmation of its receipt and subsequently confirmed by registered or certified mail or overnight courier. Any notice or other communication required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed given (a) when personally delivered to any officer of the party to whom it is addressed, (b) on the earlier of actual receipt thereof or five (5) Business Days following posting thereof by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, or (c) upon actual receipt thereof when sent by a recognized overnight delivery service or (d) upon actual receipt thereof when sent by electronic transmission or by facsimile to the address or number set forth below with electronic confirmation of its receipt, in each case, addressed to each party at its address set forth below or at such other address as has been furnished in writing by a party to the other by like notice, provided, that in order for an electronic transmission to constitute proper notice hereunder, such electronic transmission must specifically reference this Section 9.5 and state that it is intended to constitute notice hereunder:
(A) If to GECC at: |
GECC |
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201 Main Avenue |
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Norwalk CT 06851 |
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Attention . Managing Director-Business Development |
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Facsimile: 203-229-5742 |
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Email: john.gamber@ge.com |
11.6. Severability . If any part of this Agreement is contrary to, prohibited by, or deemed invalid under applicable Laws, such provision shall be inapplicable and deemed omitted to the extent so contrary, prohibited or invalid, but the remainder hereof shall not be invalidated thereby and shall be given effect so far as possible.
11.7. Expenses . All costs, fees and expenses, including reasonable attorneys, consultants or accountants fees and disbursements, incurred by GECC under, pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Transaction Document in respect of the following: (a) all efforts made to enforce payment of any Secured Obligations or effect collection of any Collateral, or (b) after the occurrence of an Event of Default, as permitted by this Agreement,
inspection of PAGs books and records or any Collateral, including field audits, or any physical inventory or any appraisal of any Collateral, or (c) liquidating, enforcing or foreclosing on GECCs security interest in or Lien on any of the Collateral, whether through judicial proceedings or otherwise, or (d) defending or prosecuting any actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, shall, in each case, be charged to PAGs account as and when incurred, shall be due and payable on demand, shall bear interest at the Default Rate until paid in full, shall be part of the Secured Obligations, and shall be secured by the Collateral. This Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
11.8. Right to Cure . GECC may, in its sole discretion, (a) cure any default or event of default by PAG under any Transaction Document or Material Agreement that affects the Collateral, the value of the Collateral or the ability of GECC to collect or Sell any Collateral or the rights and remedies of GECC therein, (b) pay or bond on appeal any judgment entered against PAG, (c) discharge any Liens at any time levied on or existing with respect to the Collateral and (d) pay any amount, incur any expense or perform any act which GECC, in its sole discretion determines is necessary or appropriate to preserve, protect, insure or maintain the Collateral and the rights of GECC with respect thereto. GECC may add any amounts so expended to the Secured Obligations and charge PAG in default therefor, such amounts to be repayable by PAG on demand, shall bear interest at the Default Rate until paid in full, shall be part of the Secured Obligations of PAG, and shall be secured by the Collateral. GECC shall be under no obligation to effect such cure, payment or bonding and shall not, by doing so, be deemed to have assumed any obligation or liability of PAG. Any payment made or other action taken by GECC under this Section shall be without prejudice to any right to assert a Default or an Event of Default and to proceed accordingly. This Section 11.8 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
11.9. Injunctive Relief . PAG recognizes that, in the event PAG fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, any remedy at Law may prove to be inadequate relief to GECC and, therefore, GECC, if GECC so requests, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving that actual damages are not an adequate remedy or posting any bond.
11.10. Consequential Damages . PAG hereby waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by Law, any right it may have to claim or recover any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.
11.11. Captions . The captions at various places in this Agreement and any other Transaction Document are intended for convenience only and do not constitute and shall not be interpreted as part of this Agreement or any Other Document.
11.12. Counterparts; Telecopied Signatures . This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents may be executed in any number of separate counterparts and by different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of a counterpart hereto or to any other Transaction Document by facsimile transmission or by electronic transmission of an Adobe portable document format file (also known as a PDF file ) shall be as effective as delivery of an original counterpart hereto.
11.13. Survival of Representations and Warranties . All representations and warranties of PAG made in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall be true at the time of such partys execution of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, and shall survive the execution, delivery and acceptance thereof by the parties thereto and the closing of the transactions described therein or related thereto. Upon any Sale of a Holdings Member Interest in accordance with Article 9 of the Holdings LLC Agreement, any purchaser or transferee pursuant to such Sale shall confirm the accuracy of the representations and warranties hereto with respect to such purchaser or transferee and the transferred Holdings Member Interests as of the effective date of such Sale pursuant to an instrument of assumption in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent setting forth such purchasers or transferees agreement to be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement, delivered to GECC.
11.14. Certain Matters of Construction . Unless the context otherwise requires, (a) the terms herein, hereof and hereunder and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision; (b) terms used herein in the singular also include the plural and vice versa; (c) all references to statutes and related regulations shall include any amendments of same and any successor statutes and regulations; (d) references herein or in any other Transaction Document to any actions being taken (or omitted to be taken) by GECC or its assignee or transferee after a Default or Event of Default shall be presumed to mean, unless otherwise expressly provided, while such Default or Event of Default is continuing; (e) any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms; (f) the words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation; (g) the word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall; (h) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Section of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement; and (i) 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.
11.15. Time . Time is of the essence in this Agreement and each other Transaction Document. Unless otherwise expressly provided, all references herein and in any other Transaction Documents to time shall mean and refer to New York time.
11.16. Termination . This Agreement, and the assignments, pledges and security interests created or granted hereby, shall terminate when all Secured Obligations shall have been fully paid and satisfied, except that Section 7.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement as set forth therein. At such time, GECC shall release and reassign (without recourse upon, or any warranty whatsoever by, GECC), and deliver to PAG all Collateral then in the custody or possession of GECC, and provide or authorize termination statements under the UCC of the State of Delaware, all without recourse upon, or warranty whatsoever by, GECC and at the cost and expense of PAG. This Agreement shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Secured Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by GECC upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of PAG, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee of similar officer for, PAG or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, PAG has caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by its authorized representative as of the date first above written.
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PENSKE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ David Jones |
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Name: |
David Jones |
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Title: |
EVP & CFO |
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Accepted: |
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GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION |
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By: |
/s/ Dennis M. Murray |
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Name: |
Dennis M. Murray |
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Title: |
President |
Exhibit 12
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
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Three Months Ended |
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March 31, |
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Year Ended December 31, |
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2015 |
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2014 |
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2014 |
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2013 |
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2012 |
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2011 |
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2010 |
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Income from continuing operations before income taxes |
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$ |
115.9 |
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102.3 |
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462.0 |
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374.2 |
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290.8 |
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244.8 |
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184.7 |
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Less undistributed earnings of equity method investments |
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$ |
(6.7 |
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(5.1 |
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(40.8 |
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(30.7 |
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(27.6 |
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(25.5 |
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(20.6 |
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Plus distributed earnings of equity method investments |
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$ |
4.3 |
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3.0 |
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15.5 |
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10.8 |
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23.6 |
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9.2 |
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9.9 |
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Plus amortization of capitalized interest |
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$ |
0.2 |
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0.2 |
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0.8 |
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0.8 |
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0.8 |
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0.8 |
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0.8 |
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Income from continuing operations before undistributed earnings of equity method investments, amortization of capitalized interest, and taxes |
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$ |
113.7 |
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100.4 |
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437.5 |
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355.1 |
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287.6 |
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229.3 |
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174.8 |
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Plus: |
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Fixed charges: |
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Other interest expense (includes amortization of deferred financing costs) |
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$ |
16.3 |
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12.4 |
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52.8 |
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45.2 |
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46.1 |
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44.0 |
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48.4 |
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Debt discount amortization |
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$ |
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1.7 |
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8.6 |
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Floor plan interest expense |
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$ |
10.1 |
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11.1 |
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46.1 |
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43.1 |
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38.0 |
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26.6 |
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32.4 |
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Capitalized interest |
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$ |
0.2 |
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0.2 |
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0.8 |
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0.7 |
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0.6 |
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0.7 |
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0.5 |
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Interest factor in rental expense |
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$ |
16.2 |
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14.8 |
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62.8 |
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57.0 |
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55.4 |
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53.1 |
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50.2 |
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Total fixed charges |
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$ |
42.8 |
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38.5 |
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162.5 |
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146.0 |
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140.1 |
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126.1 |
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140.1 |
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Less: |
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Capitalized interest |
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$ |
0.2 |
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0.2 |
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0.8 |
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0.7 |
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0.6 |
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0.7 |
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0.5 |
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Earnings |
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$ |
156.3 |
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138.7 |
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599.2 |
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500.4 |
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427.1 |
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354.7 |
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314.4 |
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges |
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3.7 |
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3.6 |
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3.7 |
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3.4 |
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3.0 |
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2.8 |
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2.2 |
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Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Roger S. Penske, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Penske Automotive Group, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
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/s/ Roger S. Penske |
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Roger S. Penske |
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Chief Executive Officer |
May 1, 2015
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, David K. Jones, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Penske Automotive Group, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting.
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/s/ David K. Jones |
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David K. Jones |
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Chief Financial Officer |
May 1, 2015
Exhibit 32
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the quarterly report of Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (the Company) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), we, Roger S. Penske and David K. Jones, Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, respectively, of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
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/s/ Roger S. Penske |
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Roger S. Penske |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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May 1, 2015 |
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/s/ David K. Jones |
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David K. Jones |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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May 1, 2015 |
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A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Penske Automotive Group, Inc. and will be retained by Penske Automotive Group, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.