UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 15, 2015

 


 

Dollar General Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

 

Tennessee

 

001-11421

 

61-0502302

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

100 Mission Ridge
Goodlettsville, Tennessee

 

37072

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (615) 855-4000

 

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 


 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 



 

ITEM 1.01                                   ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

On October 15, 2015, Dollar General Corporation (the “Company”) entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”) with respect to the Company’s issuance and sale of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.150% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”).  Settlement for the offering of the Notes occurred on October 20, 2015.  The net proceeds from the offering of the Notes were or will be used, together with borrowings under the Company’s new senior unsecured credit facilities described below (the “New Credit Facilities”), to repay all of the outstanding borrowings under the Company’s Existing Credit Agreement (as defined below) and for general corporate purposes.

 

The sale of the Notes was made pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-187493) (the “Registration Statement”), including a prospectus supplement dated October 15, 2015 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the prospectus contained therein dated March 25, 2013 (the “Base Prospectus”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and a free writing prospectus dated October 15, 2015 (the “Free Writing Prospectus”), filed by the Company with the Commission, pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

 

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants and includes the terms and conditions for the sale of the Notes, indemnification and contribution obligations and other terms and conditions customary in agreements of this type.

 

Certain of the Underwriters and/or their affiliates are lenders under the Company’s Existing Credit Agreement and received a portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes.

 

In addition, certain of the Underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory, investment banking, commercial banking and other services for the Company for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.  The Underwriters and their respective affiliates may also, from time to time, enter into arm’s-length transactions with the Company in the ordinary course of their business.

 

Supplemental Indenture

 

On October 20, 2015, the Company completed the public offering of the Notes.  The Notes have been registered under the Securities Act, pursuant to the Registration Statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement and the Free Writing Prospectus.

 

The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (as supplemented and amended, the “Indenture”) dated as of July 12, 2012 between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 20, 2015 between the Company and the Trustee (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”).

 

A copy of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1, and is incorporated herein by reference.  The descriptions of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Notes in this report are summaries and are qualified in their entirety by the terms of the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the form of Notes attached hereto.

 

2



 

The Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company and rank equally and ratably with the Company’s other existing and future debt not expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and will be effectively subordinated to the Company’s secured debt to the extent of the value of the collateral.  The Notes are structurally subordinated to the claims of creditors of subsidiaries of the Company.

 

The Company will pay interest on the Notes semi-annually on May 1 and November 1, beginning May 1, 2016, to holders of record on the preceding April 15 and October 15, as the case may be.  Interest will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  The Notes will mature on November 1, 2025.  Prior to August 1, 2025, the Company may redeem the Notes in whole or in part at any time and from time to time prior to their stated maturity at the redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of the principal and interest thereon to August 1, 2025 (not including any portions of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis plus a premium equal to the applicable treasury rate plus 35 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.  Beginning August 1, 2025, the Company may redeem some or all of the Notes, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

 

In the event of a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture), the holders of the Notes may require the Company to purchase for cash all or a portion of their Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase.  The Supplemental Indenture also contains certain customary covenants, including limitations on the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries, with exceptions, to incur debt secured by a pledge of or a lien on the voting stock of their significant subsidiaries.  The Supplemental Indenture also provides for events of default which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal of and accrued interest on the Notes to become or to be declared due and payable, as applicable.

 

The net proceeds from the offering of the Notes were or will be used, together with borrowings under the Company’s New Credit Facilities, to repay all of the outstanding borrowings under the Company’s Existing Credit Agreement and for general corporate purposes.

 

U.S. Bank National Association also serves as trustee under the indenture governing the Company’s existing senior notes due 2017, 2018 and 2023, and an affiliate of U.S. Bank National Association acted as an underwriter for the Company’s offering of the Notes for which they have received customary compensation.

 

Amendment to Prior Supplemental Indentures

 

The Fifth Supplemental Indenture also contains a corrective amendment to the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 12, 2012 and the $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 4.125% Senior Notes due 2017 (the “2017 Notes”) issued pursuant thereto, the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 11, 2013 and the $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 1.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “2018 Notes”) issued pursuant thereto, and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 11, 2013 and the $900,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 3.250% Senior Notes due 2023 issued pursuant thereto (the “2023 Notes” and, together with the 2017 Notes and the 2018 Notes, the “Prior Securities”), to correct an omission of a provision contained in the descriptions of notes sections of the Company’s prospectus supplements relating to the Company’s prior offerings of the Prior Securities.

 

3



 

The omitted provision (which is included in the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Notes described above) provides that the Company may provide the financial information required under the indenture by providing financial information of a future parent holding company in lieu of financial information for the Company, if the Company also provides reasonably detailed consolidating financial information for the Company and its subsidiaries separate from that of such future parent holding company.

 

New Credit Agreement

 

Concurrently with the issuance of the Notes, the Company effected a refinancing of all of the outstanding term loans and revolving loans issued under its Existing Credit Agreement.

 

On October 20, 2015, the Company entered into an unsecured amended and restated credit agreement (the “New Credit Agreement”) with Citibank, N.A. as administrative agent, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC as co-syndication agents and joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner, U.S. Bank, National Association and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as joint lead arrangers, joint bookrunners, and co-documentation agents, and Compass Bank, Fifth Third Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Mizuho Bank, Ltd., PNC Bank, National Association, and Regions Bank as co-documentation agents, and the initial lenders named therein.  The New Credit Agreement provides for total loans and commitments under the New Credit Facilities equal to $1,425.0 million.  The New Credit Facilities consist of a $425.0 million five-year unsecured term loan facility (the “Term Loan Facility”) and a $1,000.0 million five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Facility”) of which up to $175.0 million is available for letters of credit.  The Revolving Facility also includes borrowing capacity available for short-term borrowings referred to as swingline loans.  The Term Loan Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility are referred to together as the New Credit Facilities.

 

A copy of the New Credit Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.3 and is incorporated herein by reference.  The description of the New Credit Agreement in this report is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the New Credit Agreement attached hereto.

 

The New Credit Facilities provide that the Company has the right at any time to request increased revolving commitments and/or incremental term loan facilities, in an aggregate amount of up to $150.0 million.  The lenders under the New Credit Facilities will not be under any obligation to provide any such increased revolving commitments or incremental term loan facilities and any such addition of or increase in commitments or facilities will be subject to certain customary conditions precedent.  The Company’s ability to obtain extensions of credit under these increased revolving commitments or incremental facilities will also be subject to substantially the same conditions as the initial extensions of credit under the New Credit Facilities.

 

Borrowings under the New Credit Facilities bear interest at a rate equal to an applicable interest rate margin plus, at the Company’s option, either (a) LIBOR or (b) a base rate (which is the highest of (i) Citibank’s publicly announced “base rate”, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.5% and (iii) the LIBOR rate for an interest period of one month, but in no event less than 0%).  The Company is also required to pay a facility fee to the lenders under the New Credit Facilities for any used and unused commitments and customary letter of credit fees.  As of October 20, 2015, the applicable interest rate margin for LIBOR loans is 1.100% and the commitment fee rate is 0.150%.  The applicable interest rate margins, the letter of credit fees and the commitment fees are subject to adjustment from time to time based on the Company’s long-term senior unsecured non-credit-enhanced debt ratings.

 

4



 

The Company may voluntarily repay outstanding loans under the New Credit Facilities at any time without premium or penalty, other than customary “breakage” costs with respect to LIBOR loans.

 

There will be no required amortization under the New Credit Facilities.

 

The New Credit Agreement contains a number of customary affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, restrict, subject to certain exceptions, the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ ability to: incur additional subsidiary indebtedness; incur additional liens; sell all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and consummate certain fundamental changes or change the Company’s lines of business.  The New Credit Agreement also contains a maximum leverage ratio covenant, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio covenant and customary events of default.

 

Certain of the Underwriters in the Notes offering and/or their affiliates perform roles under the New Credit Facilities for which they have received customary compensation.

 

ITEM 1.02                                   TERMINATION OF A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

 

In connection with the refinancing of the Existing Credit Agreement, on October 20, 2015 the Company repaid in full all outstanding loans incurred under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of April 11, 2013, by and among the Company, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other credit parties and lenders from time to time party thereto (the “Existing Credit Agreement”).  The Company repaid in full all of the amounts outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement with a combination of the proceeds from the issuance of the Notes and borrowings under the New Credit Agreement, each as described above under Item 1.01.

 

ITEM 2.03                                   CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT.

 

The information provided in Item 1.01 of this report is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

ITEM 8.01                                   OTHER EVENTS.

 

In connection with the offering by the Company of the Notes, as described in response to Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, the following exhibits are filed herewith in order to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and/or the Prospectus Supplement: (i) the Underwriting Agreement (Exhibit 1.1 hereto), (ii) the opinions of counsel with respect to the validity of the Notes sold in the offering (Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2 hereto) and (iii) certain information relating to Part II, Item 14 “Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution” of the Registration Statement (Exhibit 99.1 hereto).

 

ITEM 9.01                                   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

 

(d)      Exhibits .  See Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page hereto.

 

5



 

SIGNATURE

 

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Date: October 20, 2015

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John W. Garratt

 

 

John W. Garratt

 

 

Interim Chief Financial Officer

 

6



 

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

1.1

 

Underwriting Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2015, among the Company, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 20, 2015, between Dollar General Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Form of 4.150% Senior Notes due 2025 (included in Exhibit 4.1)

 

 

 

4.3

 

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 20, 2015, among Dollar General Corporation, as borrower, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other credit parties and lenders party thereto.

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC.

 

 

 

5.2

 

Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).

 

 

 

23.2

 

Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.2).

 

 

 

99.1

 

Information relating to Part II, Item 14 “Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution” of the Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-187493).

 

7


Exhibit 1.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

$500,000,000

4.150% Notes Due 2025

 

Dollar General Corporation

 

New York, New York
October 15, 2015

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

 

As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

 

c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282

 

c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Dollar General Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Tennessee (the “Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.150% Notes Due 2025 (the “Securities”), to be issued under an indenture (the “Base Indenture”) dated as of July 12, 2012, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and the fifth supplemental indenture to be dated as of October 20, 2015 (the “Supplemental Indenture,” and collectively with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Securities will be issued, between the Company and the Trustee.

 



 

Concurrently with the issuance of the Securities, the Company intends to effect a refinancing (the “Refinancing”) (i) of all of the outstanding term loans incurred under that Credit Agreement (the “Existing Credit Agreement”), dated as of April 11, 2013, among the Company, the several lenders from time to time party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders, and (ii) to replace the revolving facility under the Existing Credit Agreement with a combination of the proceeds from the issuance of the Securities and borrowings under a new Credit Agreement, to be dated the Closing Date (as defined herein), which will provide for a new five-year unsecured term loan and a five-year unsecured revolving credit facility (collectively, the “New Credit Agreement”), with total loans and commitments equal to $1.425 billion, among the Company, as borrower, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lending institutions from time to time party thereto.

 

Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 21 hereof.  The use of the neuter in this Agreement shall include the feminine and masculine wherever appropriate.  Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.

 

1.                                       Representations and Warranties .

 

The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.

 

(a)                                  The Company meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement, as defined in Rule 405 (file number 333-187493) on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of a number of classes and series of securities, including the Securities.  Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, became effective upon filing. The Company may have filed with the Commission, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 424(b), one or more preliminary prospectus supplements relating to the Securities, each of which has previously been furnished to the Representatives.  The Company will file with the Commission a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with Rule 424(b).  As filed, such final prospectus supplement shall contain all information required by the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the

 

2



 

Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to the Representatives prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the Base Prospectus and any Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised the Representatives, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein.  The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x).  The initial Effective Date of the Registration Statement was not earlier than the date three years before the Execution Time.

 

(b)                                  On each Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined herein), the Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act; on each Effective Date and at the Execution Time, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, the Indenture did or will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and any settlement date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

 

(c)                                   (i) The Disclosure Package and (ii) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including without limitation, any road show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433) when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that

 

3



 

the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

 

(d)                                  (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), and (iii) at the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (iii)), the Company was or is (as the case may be) a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405.  Neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Securities before the filing of the Registration Statement, whether or not in reliance on the exemption in Rule 163.

 

(e)                                   The Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405) as of the relevant date of determination specified in Rule 405 without taking into account any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

 

(f)                                    Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement.  The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

 

(g)                                   The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Tennessee with full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.  The Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(h)                                  Each of the Company’s “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (each, a “Significant Subsidiary”) has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, and is validly existing as an entity in good standing (to the extent that such concept is applicable to a particular jurisdiction) under the laws of the jurisdiction in which

 

4



 

it is incorporated or organized with full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except in each case where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(i)                                      All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the subsidiaries are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries, free and clear of any claims, liens or encumbrances.

 

(j)                                     The Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(k)                                  There is no franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be filed (including through incorporation by reference as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission) as an exhibit thereto, which is not described or filed as required in all material respects; and the statements in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the headings “Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences,” “Description of the Notes” and “Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees” and the statements in Part I, Item 3 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2015, as updated by the disclosure in Part II, Item 1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 31, 2015, insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings in all material respects.

 

(l)                                      The Company has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Securities and the Supplemental Indenture and to perform its obligations thereunder.

 

(m)                              The Base Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and was duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

5



 

(n)                                  The Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company.  When the Supplemental Indenture is duly executed and delivered by the Company, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee, the Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

(o)                                  The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

(p)                                  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Company has the corporate power and authority to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

(q)                                  The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(r)                                     No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Act and the Exchange Act and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein and in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such other approvals as have been obtained.

 

(s)                                    The execution and delivery by the Company of each of this Agreement and the Indenture, the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company, the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the Indenture and the compliance by the Company with the terms thereof, will not conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws (or similar organizational document) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note

 

6



 

agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), where such conflict, breach, violation or imposition would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(t)                                     No holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement, except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or except, with respect to certain piggyback registration rights which have been granted to certain employees, as have been waived or satisfied in connection with the offering of the Securities.

 

(u)                                  The consolidated historical financial statements and schedules, if any, of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and have been prepared in conformity, in all material respects, with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein).  The summary financial data set forth under the captions “Summary Historical Financial and Other Data” in the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and Registration Statement fairly present, in all material respects, the information included therein.  The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (defined below) fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

(v)                                  Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto that has not been made part of the Disclosure Package), no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w)                                Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries owns or leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its operations as presently conducted, except where such failure would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

7



 

(x)                                  Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or bylaws, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), where such violation or default, as the case may be, would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(y)                                  Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules, if any, included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.

 

(z)                                   There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under U.S. federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

(aa)                           The Company has filed all tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect) and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(bb)                           Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto that has not been made part of the Disclosure Package), no labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(cc)                             The Company and each of its subsidiaries self insures, or maintains insurance covering, its properties, operations, personnel and businesses as the Company deems adequate and customary for companies engaged in similar businesses and all such policies are in full force and effect in all material respects, except where a failure to maintain such insurance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

8



 

(dd)                           Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto that has not been made part of the Disclosure Package), the Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by all applicable authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except for the failure to possess any of the foregoing that would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ee)                             The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.  As of January 30, 2015, the last date as of which such controls were evaluated, the Company and its subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting were effective and there were no changes to the Company and its subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting since January 30, 2015 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  The Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any material weakness in their internal controls over financial reporting.

 

(ff)                               The Company and its subsidiaries maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of July 31, 2015 and there have been no changes in such disclosure controls and procedures since July 31, 2015.

 

(gg)                             The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

9



 

(hh)                           Except for such matters that would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of the Company’s subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, any rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, the “Environmental Laws”), owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any Environmental Laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws, or is subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws; and the Company is not aware of any pending investigation which would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ii)                                   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

(jj)                                 Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, and since such date, there has not been any change in the share capital or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(kk)                           The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, and all assets held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, except such exceptions as are described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as would not, in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ll)                                   The Company and each of its subsidiaries own, license, possess or can acquire on reasonable terms all adequate rights to use all material patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade

 

10



 

secrets and other rights, and all registrations or applications relating thereto, described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned by the Company and its subsidiaries and necessary for the conduct of their business, except as such would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any pending or threatened claim to the contrary or any pending or threatened challenge by any other person to the rights of the Company or its subsidiaries with respect to the foregoing which, if determined adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

 

2.                                       Purchase and Sale .  Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 99.194% of the aggregate principal amount thereof for the Securities, plus accrued interest, if any, on the Securities from October 20, 2015, to the Closing Date, the aggregate principal amount of the Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.

 

3.                                       Delivery and Payment .  Delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made at 10:00 AM, New York City time, on October 20, 2015, or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”).  Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company.  Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

 

4.                                       Offering by Underwriters .  It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Prospectus.

 

5.                                       Agreements .  The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:

 

(a)                                  Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus) to the Base

 

11



 

Prospectus unless the Company has furnished the Representatives a copy for review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement which shall be disapproved by the Representatives promptly after reasonable notice thereof. The Company will cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representatives with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing.  The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (ii) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.  The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

 

(b)                                  The Company shall prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in the form approved by the Representatives and attached as Schedule III hereto and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) within the time required by such Rule.

 

(c)                                   If, at any time prior to the filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Representatives in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

12



 

(d)                                  If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the rules thereunder, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Representatives of any such event; (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; (iii) use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in the use of the Prospectus; and (iv) supply any supplemented Prospectus to the Representatives in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(e)                                   As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

 

(f)                                    The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(g)                                   The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

 

(h)                                  The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

13



 

(i)                                      The Company will not, without the prior written consent of each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, offer, sell, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities) or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 30 days after the date of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, directly or through a subsidiary, (i) borrow under the Existing Credit Agreement or the New Credit Agreement, (ii) obtain letters of credit and (iii) enter into such other commercial lending transactions consistent with the Company’s business.

 

(j)                                     The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(k)                                  The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters:  (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Indenture, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) to the extent applicable, the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (v) any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification and in connection with the preparation of the blue sky memorandum and any supplement thereto); (vi) any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such filings); (vii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities; provided , however , that the Underwriters shall be responsible for 50% of the equivalent third party costs

 

14



 

of any private aircraft, if any, incurred by or on behalf of the Company in connection with such presentations; (viii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.

 

(l)                                      The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of any Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule II and III hereto, any electronic road show and any free writing prospectus that contains only (1) information describing the preliminary terms of the Securities or their offering, (2) information that describes the final terms of the Securities or their offering that is included in the final term sheet contemplated by Section 5(b) hereto or (3) information permitted under Rule 134.  Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.”  The Company agrees that (x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

 

(m)                              The Company agrees to pay the fees required by the Commission relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

 

6.                                       Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters .  The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company, of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

 

(a)                                  The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); the final term sheet contemplated by Section 5(b) hereto and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration

 

15



 

Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

 

(b)                                  The Company shall have requested and caused Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Company, to have furnished to the Representatives their opinion and negative assurance letter, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, substantially in the forms set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 hereto.

 

(c)                                   The Company shall have requested and caused Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, special Tennessee counsel for the Company, to have furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

 

(d)                                  [Reserved].

 

(e)                                   The Company shall have requested and caused Rhonda M. Taylor, the General Counsel of the Company, to have furnished to the Representatives her opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C hereto.

 

(f)                                    The Representatives shall have received from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the sale of the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

(g)                                   The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

 

(i)                                      the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement that are not qualified by materiality are true and correct in all material respects, and that the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement that are qualified by materiality are true and correct, in each case, on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied in all material respects with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(ii)                                   no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued

 

16



 

and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and

 

(iii)                                since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto that has not been made part of the Disclosure Package), there has been no material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto that has not been made part of the Disclosure Package).

 

(h)                                  [Reserved].

 

(i)                                      The Company shall have requested and caused Ernst & Young LLP to have furnished to the Representatives at the Execution Time a letter dated as of the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, a letter, dated as of the Closing Date, each in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement.

 

(j)                                     Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto that has not been made part of the Disclosure Package), there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (i) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto that has not been made part of the Disclosure Package) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto that has not been made part of the Disclosure Package).

 

(k)                                  Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any

 

17



 

such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

 

(l)                                      [Reserved].

 

(m)                              Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives.  Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

 

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022, on the Closing Date.

 

7.                                       Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses .  If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through the Representatives on demand for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities; provided that the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter in respect of the Securities not so delivered except as provided in Sections 5(k) and 8 hereof.

 

8.               Indemnification and Contribution.   (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or the information contained in the final term sheet required to be prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) 

 

18



 

hereto, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided , however , that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

 

(b)                                  Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have.  The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth (i) in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Securities and (ii) under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest),” (A) the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities, (B) the second, third and fourth sentences of the third paragraph and (C) the ninth and tenth paragraphs in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b).

 

(c)                                   Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) 

 

19



 

above.  The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided , however , that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party.  Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party.  An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)                                  In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and by the Underwriters from the offering of the Securities; provided , however , that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder.  If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is

 

20



 

appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus.  Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.  The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

 

9.                                       Default by an Underwriter .  If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided , however , that in the event that the aggregate principal amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Company.  In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as

 

21



 

the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

 

10.                                Termination .  This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by federal or New York State authorities, (iii) a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

11.                                Representations and Indemnities to Survive . The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.  The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

 

12.                                Notices .  All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the Citigroup Global Markets Inc. General Counsel (fax no.: (646) 291-1469 and confirmed to the General Counsel, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Attention: General Counsel; the Goldman, Sachs & Co. Registration Department, at 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attention: Registration Department (tel. no.: (866) 471-2526); and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, at 50 Rockefeller Plaza, NY1-050-12-01, New York, New York 10020, Attn: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal (fax no.: (646) 855-5958); with a copy for information purposes to Paul D. Tropp, Esq. (fax no.: (646) 465-7481) and confirmed to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, at 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Paul D. Tropp, Esq.; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Rhonda M. Taylor, Esq. (fax no.: (615) 855-5517) and confirmed to it at Dollar General Corporation, at 100 Mission Ridge, Goodlettsville, Tennessee 37072, attention of Rhonda M. Taylor, Esq., with a copy for information purposes to Joseph H. Kaufman, Esq. (fax no.: (212) 455-2502) and

 

22



 

confirmed to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, at 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017-3954, attention of Joseph H. Kaufman, Esq.

 

13.                                Successors .  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

 

14.                                No Fiduciary Duty . The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters).  The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

15.                                Patriot Act Notice .   In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

16.                                Integration . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) among the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

17.                                Applicable Law .  This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

 

18.                                Waiver of Jury Trial . The Company and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

19.                                Counterparts .  This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

20.                                Headings .  The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

23



 

21.                                Definitions .  The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

 

“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in Section 1(a) above contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.

 

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

 

“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus that is generally distributed to investors and used to offer the Securities, including any document that is incorporated by reference therein, (iii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto, including the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto and (iv) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.

 

“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or becomes effective.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Execution Time” shall mean 3:25 PM New York City time on October 15, 2015.

 

“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

 

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.

 

“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus referred to in Section 1(a) above which is used prior to the filing of the Prospectus, together with the Base Prospectus.

 

“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time, together with the Base Prospectus.

 

24



 

“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended.

 

“Rule 134”, “Rule 158”, “Rule 163”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430B”, “Rule 433”, “Rule 456” and “Rule 457” refer to such rules under the Act.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Well-Known Seasoned Issuer” shall mean a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405.

 

25



 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

Dollar General Corporation

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John W. Garratt

 

 

Name: John W. Garratt

 

 

Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

26



 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

 

 

 

 

 

By: Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/Brian D. Bednarski

 

 

Name: Brian D. Bednarski

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

By: Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Adam Greene

 

 

Name: Adam Greene

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

By: Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Shawn Cepeda

 

 

Name: Shawn Cepeda

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

For themselves and the other several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the foregoing Agreement.

 

 

27



 

SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriters

 

Principal Amount of
Securities to be 
Purchased

 

 

 

4.150% Senior Notes Due 
2025

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

$

90,000,000

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

 

90,000,000

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

 

90,000,000

 

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

 

52,000,000

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

52,000,000

 

BBVA Securities Inc.

 

18,500,000

 

Fifth Third Securities LLC

 

18,500,000

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

 

18,500,000

 

Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

 

18,500,000

 

PNC Capital Markets LLC

 

18,500,000

 

Regions Securities LLC

 

18,500,000

 

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

 

5,000,000

 

Capital One Securities, Inc.

 

5,000,000

 

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

 

5,000,000

 

Total

 

$

500,000,000

 

 



 

SCHEDULE II

 

Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package:

 

The pricing term sheet, filed with the SEC on October 15, 2015, the form of which is set forth on Schedule III hereto.

 



 

SCHEDULE III

 

ISSUER FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Registration No. 333-187493

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION

PRICING TERM SHEET

October 15, 2015

 

$500,000,000 4.150% Senior Notes Due 2025

 

Issuer:

 

Dollar General Corporation

 

 

 

Expected Settlement Date:

 

October 20, 2015

 

 

 

Current Ratings*:

 

[  ] by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
[  ] by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services

 

 

 

Final Maturity Date:

 

November 1, 2025

 

 

 

Principal Amount:

 

$500,000,000

 

 

 

Coupon:

 

4.150%

 

 

 

Interest Payment Dates:

 

May 1 and November 1, commencing May 1, 2016

 

 

 

Price to Public:

 

99.844%, plus accrued interest, if any, from October 20, 2015

 

 

 

Benchmark Treasury:

 

2.000% U.S. Treasury due August 1, 2025

 

 

 

Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield:

 

99-26+; 2.019%

 

 

 

Spread to Benchmark Treasury:

 

215 basis points

 

 

 

Yield to Maturity:

 

4.169%

 

 

 

Make-Whole Call:

 

T+35 basis points (prior to August 1, 2025)

 

 

 

Par Call:

 

On and after August 1, 2025 at 100%, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date

 



 

Use of Proceeds:

 

We estimate that our net proceeds from this offering, after deducting the underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us, will be approximately $494.9 million. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering, together with borrowings under our New Credit Facilities, to repay all of the outstanding borrowings under our Existing Credit Facilities and for general corporate purposes.

The weighted average interest rates for borrowings under our Existing Credit Facilities were 1.5% and 1.6% (without giving effect to the interest rate swaps) as of January 30, 2015 and July 31, 2015, respectively. The Existing Credit Facilities are scheduled to mature on April 11, 2018.

Certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates are lenders under our Existing Credit Facilities and will receive a portion of the net proceeds from this offering. For more information, see “Conflicts of Interest.”

 

 

 

CUSIP and ISIN:

 

CUSIP: 256677AD7
ISIN: US256677AD70

 

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers:

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

 

 

Senior Co-Managers:

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
Regions Securities LLC
BBVA Securities Inc.
PNC Capital Markets LLC
Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

 

 

 

Co-Managers:

 

Capital One Securities, Inc.
BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

 

 

 

Conflicts of Interest:

 

Affiliates of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Regions Securities LLC, BBVA Securities Inc. and PNC Capital Markets LLC may receive at least 5% of the net proceeds of this offering in connection with the repayment of the Existing Credit Facilities. See “Use of Proceeds.” Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121. Because the notes to be offered will be rated investment grade, pursuant to Rule 5121, the appointment of a qualified independent underwriter is not necessary. Pursuant to FINRA Rule 5121, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. will not confirm sales of the notes to any account over which they exercise discretionary authority without the prior written approval of the customer.

 



 


*Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

 

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus and a prospectus supplement) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication related.  Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and prospectus supplement in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov . Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus and the prospectus supplement if you request them by calling Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, Telephone: (800) 831-9146 or email prospectus@citi.com; Goldman, Sachs & Co., Prospectus Department, 100 Burma Road, Jersey City, NJ 07305, Telephone: (201) 793-5170 or by emailing prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; or Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 222 Broadway, New York, NY 10058, Telephone: (800) 294-1322, dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com.

 



 

Exhibit A-1

 

OPINION OF SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 6(b)

 

We have acted as counsel to Dollar General Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the purchase by you of $[ · ] aggregate principal amount of [ · ]% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”) issued by the Company, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated October [ · ], 2015 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company and you.

 

We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-187493) (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); the Company’s prospectus dated March 25, 2013 (the “Base Prospectus”), which pursuant to Form S-3 incorporates by reference the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2015 (the “2015 10-K”), the portions of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 2, 2015 that are incorporated by reference in the 2015 10-K, the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended May 1, 2015 and July 31, 2015, and the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 12, 2015, March 13. 2015, March 19, 2015, May 28, 2015, June 10, 2015, June 25, 2015, August 7, 2015 and October 13, 2015 (in each case, as applicable, other than Items 2.02 and 7.01 thereof), each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; the Company’s preliminary prospectus supplement dated October [ · ], 2015 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act; the Company’s prospectus supplement

 



 

dated October [ · ], 2015 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act; the pricing term sheet dated October [ · ], 2015 relating to the Notes filed by the Company as a free writing prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act (the “Free Writing Prospectus” and, together with the Preliminary Prospectus, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”); the Indenture, dated as of July 12, 2012 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) relating to the Notes, as supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October [ · ], 2015 (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee; duplicates of the global note representing the Notes; and the Underwriting Agreement.  In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, the documents delivered to you at the closing and upon originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth.

 

In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.  We have also assumed that (i) the Company is validly existing and in good standing under the law of the State of Tennessee and has full corporate power and authority to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; (ii) the Company has duly authorized, executed

 



 

and delivered the Indenture, the Notes and the Underwriting Agreement; (iii) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture and the issuance and performance of the Notes by the Company do not constitute a violation or breach of any agreement or instrument which is binding upon the Company (except that no such assumption is made with respect to those agreements or instruments that are the subject of the opinion set forth in paragraph 5) or its charter or bylaws; and (iv) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture and the issuance and performance of the Notes by the Company will not violate the law of the State of Tennessee or the laws of any other jurisdiction (except that no such assumption is made with respect to the federal law of the United States and the law of the State of New York).

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.                                       The Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company in accordance with the law of the State of New York and, assuming that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee, the Indenture constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms and the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”) and conforms in all material respects to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder.

 

2.                                       The Notes have been duly executed and issued by the Company in accordance with the law of the State of New York and, assuming due authentication thereof by the Trustee and upon payment and delivery in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

3.                                       The statements made in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees”, as supplemented and modified by the statements made under the caption “Description of the Notes” (including, in the case of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the information contained in the Free Writing Prospectus), insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of certain terms of documents referred to therein, constitute accurate summaries of such terms of such documents in all material respects.

 

4.                                       The statements made in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus

 



 

under the caption “Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences”, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of matters of United States federal tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all material respects.

 

5.                                       The issue and sale of the Notes by the Company, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement and the execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture by the Company will not breach or result in a default under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, nor will such action violate any federal or New York State statute or any rule or regulation that has been issued pursuant to any federal or New York State statute or any order known to us issued pursuant to any federal or New York State statute by any federal or New York State court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, provided that no opinion is given in this paragraph 5 with respect to any federal or state securities laws.

 

6.                                       No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any federal or New York State governmental agency or body or, to our knowledge, any federal or New York State court is required for the issue and sale of the Notes by the Company and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement applicable to it, except for the registration under the Securities Act of the Notes, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Notes by the Underwriters.

 

7.                                        The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, and the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus were each filed on October 15, 2015, pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act and, to our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued or proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission.

 

8.                                       To our knowledge, there are no contracts or agreements between the Company and any person granting such person the right (other than as described in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement and other than rights which have been waived or satisfied) to require the Company to include any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

9.                                       The Company is not, and after the application of the proceeds from the offering will not be on the date hereof, an “investment company” within the meaning of and subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Our opinions set forth in paragraphs 1 and 2 above are subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether

 



 

considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

Our opinions set forth in paragraphs 5 and 6 above are based on our review of only those statutes, rules and regulations that, in our experience, are customarily applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement.

 

We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States.

 

This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the above-described transaction.  This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or relied upon by, or furnished to, any other person, firm or corporation without our prior written consent, except that the Trustee, solely in its capacity as trustee under the Indenture may rely upon paragraphs 1, 2 and 7 of this opinion, subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations relating thereto set forth herein.

 

Very truly yours,

 



 

Exhibit A-2

 

NEGATIVE ASSURANCE LETTER OF SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 6(b)

 

We have acted as counsel to Dollar General Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the purchase by you of $[ · ] aggregate principal amount of [ · ]% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”) issued by the Company, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated October [ · ], 2015 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company and you.

 

We have not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements made or included in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-187493) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); the Company’s prospectus dated March 25, 2013 (the “Base Prospectus”), as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated October [ · ], 2015 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act, the Company’s preliminary prospectus supplement dated October [ · ], 2015 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act, the pricing term sheet dated October [ · ], 2015 relating to the Notes filed by the Company as a free writing prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act (such free writing prospectus, together with the Preliminary Prospectus, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”), or in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the

 



 

fiscal year ended January 30, 2015 (the “2015 10-K”), the portions of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 2, 2015 that are incorporated by reference in the 2015 10-K, the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended May 1, 2015 and July 31, 2015, and the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 12, 2015, March 13. 2015, March 19, 2015, May 28, 2015, June 10, 2015, June 25, 2015, August 7, 2015 and October 13, 2015 (in each case, as applicable, other than Items 2.02 and 7.01 thereof) (collectively, the “Exchange Act Documents”), each as filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and we take no responsibility therefor, except as and to the extent set forth in numbered paragraphs 3 and 4 of our opinion letter to you dated the date hereof.

 

In connection with, and under the circumstances applicable to, the offering of the Notes, we participated in conferences with certain officers and employees of the Company, representatives of Ernst & Young LLP, representatives of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, your representatives and your counsel in the course of the preparation by the Company of the Registration Statement, the documents comprising the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and also reviewed certain records and documents furnished to us, or publicly filed with the Commission, by the Company, as well as the documents delivered to you at the closing.  We did not participate in the preparation of the Exchange Act Documents; however, we discussed certain Exchange Act Documents with the Company prior to their filing with the Commission.  Based upon our review of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Exchange Act Documents and the Prospectus, our participation in the

 



 

conferences referred to above, our review of the records and documents as described above, as well as our understanding of the U.S. federal securities laws and the experience we have gained in our practice thereunder:

 

(i)                                      we advise you that each of the Registration Statement, as of its effective date under the Securities Act, and the Prospectus, as of October [ · ], 2015, appeared, on its face, to be appropriately responsive, in all material respects, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, except that in each case we express no view with respect to the financial statements or other financial or accounting data contained in, incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in, or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents; and

 

(ii)                                   nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that (a) the Registration Statement (including the Exchange Act Documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein and the Prospectus deemed to be a part thereof), as of October [ · ], 2015, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, (b) the Pricing Disclosure Package (including the Exchange Act Documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein), as of the time of the pricing of the offering of the Notes on October [ · ], 2015, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not

 



 

misleading, or (c) the Prospectus (including the Exchange Act Documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein), as of October [ · ], 2015 or as of the date hereof, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that we express no belief in any of clauses (a), (b) or (c) above with respect to the financial statements or other financial or accounting data contained in, incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in, or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the Exchange Act Documents.

 

This letter is delivered to you in connection with the above-described transaction.  This letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or relied upon by, or furnished to, any other person, firm or corporation.

 



 

Exhibit B

 

OPINION OF BAKER, DONELSON, BEARMAN, CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ PC
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 6(c)

 

We have acted as counsel to Dollar General Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (“Dollar General” or the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale of (i) the Company’s [ · ]% Notes due 2025 in the aggregate principal amount of $[500,000,000] (the “Securities”) in an underwritten public offering pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.  The Securities are to be offered and sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated October [ · ], 2015 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), and the accompanying base prospectus dated March 25, 2013 (the “Base Prospectus” and collectively with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”) that form part of the Company’s effective registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-187493) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

 

The Securities will be issued under an indenture, dated July 12, 2012, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “Base Indenture”) and the fifth supplemental indenture dated as of October  [ · ], 2015 (the “Supplemental Indenture,” and collectively with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Securities will be issued, between the Company and the Trustee.

 

This Opinion Letter is being delivered in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 6(c) of the Underwriting Agreement.  All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided therefor in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

For purposes of the opinions expressed below, we have assumed that all signatures (other than those of representatives of Dollar General) on all documents submitted to us are genuine; that all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic; that all documents submitted to us as certified copies, telecopies or photocopies conform to the originals of such documents, which themselves are authentic; that the Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto other than Dollar General; that the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto other than Dollar General; that any natural persons executing any document have legal capacity to do so; and that all public records reviewed are true and complete.  We have further assumed, without investigation, that the representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement pertaining to factual matters are true and correct as set forth therein; and that any certificate, representation or document that we have received from any governmental authority and upon which we have relied and which was given or dated earlier than the date of this letter continues to remain accurate, insofar as relevant to the opinions contained herein, from such earlier date through and including the date hereof.

 

With respect to the assumptions set forth hereinabove, in the course of our representation of Dollar General, we have not discovered any condition or fact which would lead us to believe that our reliance upon such assumptions is not reasonable.

 



 

For purposes of giving this letter, we have examined such corporate records of Dollar General, certificates of public officials, certificates of appropriate officials of Dollar General, and such other documents, and have made such inquiries, as we have deemed relevant as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.  In basing certain of the opinions expressed herein on “our knowledge,” or matters with respect to which we are “aware,” the words “our knowledge” or “aware” signify that, in the course of our representation of Dollar General as aforesaid, no information has come to our attention which has given us actual knowledge that any such opinions are not accurate or that any of the documents, certificates and information on which we have relied in expressing any such opinions are not true and complete in all material respects.  The phrase “our knowledge” and the term “aware” are each limited to the actual knowledge of the lawyers within our firm who participate in our representation of Dollar General.  The phrases “set forth in,” “described in,” “contained in” or words of similar import, when used in reference to information contained in either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, includes information that is appropriately incorporated by reference into such document pursuant to Commission rules and regulations.

 

We have participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Indenture.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the other assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, it is our opinion that as of the date hereof:

 

1.                                       Dollar General has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the state of Tennessee, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

2.                                       Dollar General, except where the failure so to register or qualify would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification.

 

3.                                       Dollar General’s authorized equity capitalization is as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock.”  The issued and outstanding capital stock of Dollar General conforms in all material respects to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock,” and the Company’s $0.875 par value common stock (the “Common Stock”) conforms in all material respects to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock.”  All shares of Common Stock outstanding have been duly authorized and validly

 



 

issued, are nonassessable and, to our knowledge, were fully paid.  The Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of the Notes” and, insofar as applicable, “Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees.”

 

4.                                       The statements set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock — Tennessee Anti-Takeover Statutes,” insofar as such statements constitute matters of law, summaries of legal matters, the Company’s charter or bylaw provisions, documents, or legal conclusions, have been reviewed by us and fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.

 

5.                                       Neither the execution, delivery or performance by Dollar General of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities, nor compliance by Dollar General with the applicable provisions thereof: (a) conflicts or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach of the charter or bylaws of Dollar General; or (b) violates or will result in any violation of any existing law, statute or regulation (assuming compliance with all applicable state or foreign securities and/or “Blue Sky” laws) or any ruling, judgment, injunction, order or decree of which we have knowledge, except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

6.                                       The execution and delivery by Dollar General and the performance of its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities do not require any consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration, qualification or filing with, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, agency or official (except such as has been obtained or is required under the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and except for compliance with the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of various state and foreign jurisdictions).

 

7.                                       Dollar General has corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Underwriting Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture and to perform its obligations thereunder.

 

8.                                       The Underwriting Agreement, the Securities, the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Dollar General.

 

In connection with rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have assumed the following:

 

(a)                                  The Underwriters are duly organized and validly existing corporations or limited liability companies, as the case may be, in

 



 

good standing in their respective states of incorporation or organization; are qualified to do business and are in good standing as foreign corporations or limited liability companies, as the case may be, in such states as is required by applicable law; and have full corporate or limited liability company, as the case may be, power and authority to enter into and perform the obligations described in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Each of the Underwriters has the legal power to engage in and to perform all transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement and is not prohibited by their respective charters, certificates or articles of incorporation, certificates or articles of organization, by-laws, operating agreements (or other applicable organizational documents), policies or boards of directors, or by any agreement to which such parties, or any of them, are bound, or by any statute, law, ordinance or regulation of the United States government or of any state, or by any injunction, order or decree of any court, administrative agency or other governmental authority of any state from engaging and performing all transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Neither the Underwriters nor their legal counsel has any current actual knowledge that any opinion set forth herein is inaccurate in any respect.

 

(d)                                  All necessary governmental consents, authorizations, orders, approvals, registrations, recordations, declarations or filings required for the valid authorization, execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement, to the extent such matters are not governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee or by the federal laws of the United States of America, have been duly obtained, received, made or accomplished.

 

(e)                                   With respect to the Underwriters, all necessary governmental consents, authorizations, orders, approvals, registrations, recordations, declarations or filings required for the valid authorization, execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement have been duly obtained, received, made or accomplished.

 

(f)                                    Dollar General and the Underwriters each will comply with their respective obligations under the Underwriting Agreement.

 

The opinions set forth in this Opinion Letter also are subject to the following qualifications:

 



 

(a)                                  Our opinions as set forth herein are limited in all respects to the laws of the State of Tennessee and the federal laws of the United States of America.  No opinion is given regarding the laws of any other jurisdiction except with respect to the matters addressed in numbered paragraph 2 of this Opinion Letter regarding the qualification of Dollar General.

 

(b)                                  With respect to the opinions set forth in numbered paragraph 1 of this Opinion Letter related to the good standing of Dollar General, we have relied solely upon a certificate of existence issued by the Tennessee Secretary of State as conclusive evidence as to such matter, and we have assumed that such certificate remained accurate through the date hereof.

 

(c)                                   With respect to the opinions set forth in numbered paragraph 2 of this Opinion Letter regarding the qualification of Dollar General, we have relied solely upon certificates of existence and certificates of good standing and/or qualification to do business as conclusive evidence as to such matters, and we have assumed that such certificates remained accurate through the date hereof.

 

(d)                                  We express no opinion with respect to the registration or qualification of the Securities under any state securities or “Blue Sky” laws or the securities laws of any foreign jurisdiction.

 

(e)                                   This letter is strictly limited to those matters expressly addressed herein.  We express no opinion as to any matter not specifically stated to be and numbered above as an opinion.

 

(f)                                    This letter is rendered as of the date hereof and we assume no responsibility to update this letter for any changes in applicable law occurring after the date hereof.

 

Our opinions contained herein are rendered solely in connection with the transactions contemplated under the Underwriting Agreement and may not be relied upon in any manner by any Person other than the addressees hereof (with the exception of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Underwriters, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and the Trustee, each of whom may rely upon this opinion) and any successor or assignee of any addressee (including successive assignees).  Our opinions herein shall not be furnished to any Person, except with our consent, or as may be required by applicable law or regulation, and may not be quoted or otherwise included, summarized or referred to in any publication or document, in whole or in part, for any purposes whatsoever.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 



 

Exhibit C

 

OPINION OF RHONDA M. TAYLOR
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 6(e)

 

I am general counsel to Dollar General Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (the “Company”) and have represented the Company in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement, dated October [ · ], 2015, by and among the Company and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated as Representatives of the Underwriters listed in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), and the transactions contemplated thereby.  Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.  This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to Section 6(e) of the Underwriting Agreement.

 

I have examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, instruments and other documents and have made such other investigations as I have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinion expressed herein.

 

In rendering the opinion set forth below, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to me as duplicates or certified or conformed copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, I am of the opinion that:

 

The statements made in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2015 under the heading “Legal Proceedings” contained in Part I, Item 3 therein as updated by the disclosure in Part II, Item 1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 31, 2015 and incorporated by reference in each of the Preliminary Prospectus, dated October [ · ], 2015 and the Prospectus, dated October [ · ], 2015, constitute accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all material respects.

 

I express no opinion with respect to any other matter not specifically stated to be an opinion herein.

 

I am admitted in the State of Tennessee, and the foregoing opinion is limited to the law of the State of Tennessee and the Federal law of the United States.  I express no opinion as to any other laws or regulations.

 

This opinion letter is rendered to you solely in connection with the above described transactions and is as of the date hereof.  This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you

 



 

for any other purpose, or relied upon by, or furnished to, any other person, firm or corporation without my prior written consent.  I assume no obligation to update or supplement the opinion expressed herein to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to my attention or any change in laws that may hereafter occur.

 


Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Version

 

FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of October 20, 2015

 

Supplementing that Certain

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of July 12, 2012

 

between

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION, as Issuer

 

and

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Trustee

 

4.150% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2025

 



 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.1.

Certain Terms Defined in this Indenture

2

SECTION 1.2.

Definitions

2

SECTION 1.3.

Other Definitions

6

 

 

 

ARTICLE II.

 

FORM AND TERMS OF THE NOTES

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.1.

Form and Dating

7

SECTION 2.2.

Certain Terms of the Notes

8

SECTION 2.3.

Optional Redemption

9

SECTION 2.4.

Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event

9

SECTION 2.5.

Limitation on Liens

11

SECTION 2.6.

Events of Default

11

SECTION 2.7.

SEC Reports

12

 

 

 

ARTICLE III.

 

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.1.

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

13

SECTION 3.2.

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

13

SECTION 3.3.

Covenant Defeasance

14

SECTION 3.4.

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

14

SECTION 3.5.

Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

16

SECTION 3.6.

Repayment to Company

16

SECTION 3.7.

Reinstatement

17

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV.

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.1.

Satisfaction and Discharge

17

SECTION 4.2.

Application of Trust Money

18

 

 

 

ARTICLE V.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.1.

Relationship with Indenture

19

SECTION 5.2.

Trust Indenture Act Controls

19

SECTION 5.3.

Governing Law

19

SECTION 5.4.

Counterparts

19

 

i



 

SECTION 5.5.

Severability

19

SECTION 5.6.

Ratification

20

SECTION 5.7.

Headings

20

SECTION 5.8.

Effectiveness

20

 

EXHIBIT A — Form of 4.150% Senior Notes due 2025

 



 

FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

This Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 20, 2015, by and between DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Tennessee (the “ Company ”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a duly organized and existing national banking association under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee are parties to that certain Indenture, dated as of July 12, 2012 (as amended or supplemented through the date hereof, the “ Base Indenture ”), as supplemented by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 20, 2015 (this “ Fifth Supplemental Indenture ,” and together with the Base Indenture, this “ Indenture ”), providing for the issuance by the Company of an unlimited number of series of Securities from time to time;

 

WHEREAS, the Base Indenture provides that the Securities of a series shall be in the form and shall have such terms and provisions as may be established in one or more supplemental indentures thereto;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has determined to issue a series of senior Securities under this Indenture designated as the Company’s “4.150% Senior Notes due 2025” (hereinafter called the “ Notes ”) pursuant to the terms of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture and substantially in the form as set forth in Exhibit A hereto, with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and this Fifth Supplemental Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has previously issued (a) $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.125% Senior Notes due 2017 (the “ 2017 Notes ”)  pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 12, 2012 (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ”), (b) $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 1.875% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “ 2018 Notes ”) pursuant to the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 11, 2013 (the “ Third Supplemental Indenture ”) and (c) $900,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.250% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “ 2023 Notes ” and, together with the 2017 Notes and the 2018 Notes, the “ Prior Securities ”) pursuant to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 11, 2013 (the “ Fourth Supplemental Indenture ”);

 

WHEREAS, Section 9.1(l) of the Base Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder to, among other things, conform any provision of this Indenture and the Securities of any Series to the description of such Securities contained in the Company’s prospectus supplement with respect to the offering of the Securities of such Series to the extent that such description was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision in the Indenture or such Securities;

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have determined that they wish to amend and supplement the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture to include certain provisions omitted therefrom which were included in

 



 

the descriptions of the Prior Securities contained in the prospectus supplements relating to such offerings of Prior Securities, which were in each case intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision in each such Series of Prior Securities, in each case, as more particularly set forth in Section 2.7 of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company, by action duly taken, has authorized the execution of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the issuance of the Notes;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the promises stated herein and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, the parties hereto hereby enter into this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.1.                                      Certain Terms Defined in this Indenture .

 

For purposes of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, all capitalized terms used but not defined herein or therein, as applicable, shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in this Indenture.  For the avoidance of doubt, references to any “Section” of the “Indenture” refer to such Section of the Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

 

SECTION 1.2.                                      Definitions .

 

For the benefit of the Holders, Section 1.1 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding or substituting, as applicable, the following new definitions:

 

Authorized Newspaper ” means a newspaper in an official language of the country of publication customarily published at least once a day for at least five days in each calendar week and of general circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used. If it shall be impractical in the opinion of the Trustee to make any publication of any notice required hereby in an Authorized Newspaper, any publication or other notice in lieu thereof that is made or given by the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice.

 

Below Investment Grade Rating Event ” means, with respect to the Notes, the Notes become rated below an Investment Grade Rating by both of the Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies (the “ Relevant Period ”)); provided that, a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of “Change of Control Triggering Event”) if the Rating

 

2



 

Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply either (1) did not reduce the ratings of the Notes during the Relevant Period or (2) do not announce or publicly confirm that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

 

Board of Directors ” means the board of directors or comparable governing body of the Company, or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on its behalf.

 

Capital Stock ” means:

 

(a)                                  in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(b)                                  in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(c)                                   in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

(d)                                  any other interest or participation that confers on a person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “Person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “Person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of the Company’s Voting Stock; (3) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors; or (4) the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution; or (5) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control if (1) the Company becomes a wholly owned Subsidiary of a holding company that has agreed to be bound by the terms of this Indenture and (2) the holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately

 

3



 

following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction.

 

Change of Control Triggering Event ” means, with respect to the Notes, the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event, with respect to the Notes.

 

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

 

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Company obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

 

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means the Company’s total assets, less net goodwill and other intangible assets, less total current liabilities, all as described on the Company’s and its consolidated Subsidiaries’ most recent balance sheet and calculated based on positions as reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and after giving pro forma effect to any acquisitions or dispositions which occur after such balance sheet date.

 

Continuing Directors ” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the Issue Date; or (2) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by specific action of the Board of Directors or by approval by such directors of the Company’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director).

 

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any of the Company’s Subsidiaries which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

Global Notes ” means, individually and collectively, each of the Notes in the form of global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

Government Securities ” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.

 

Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

 

4



 

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement Rating Agency or Rating Agencies.

 

Issue Date ” means October 20, 2015.

 

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

 

Person ” means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint stock company, business trust, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or political subdivision or agency thereof.

 

Rating Agencies ” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if either Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Company (as certified by a Board Resolution) as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both of them, as the case may be.

 

Reference Treasury Dealers ” means (1) each of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall substitute another nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer, and (2) one other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. New York time on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

 

Senior Credit Facility ” means that certain credit agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, as borrower, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other lending institutions from time to time party thereto, including any guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and any amendments, supplements, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, refunding or refinancing thereof and any indentures, notes, debentures or credit facilities or commercial paper facilities with banks or other institutional lenders or investors that replace, refund or refinance all or any part of the loans, notes, other credit facilities or commitments thereunder, including any such replacement, refunding or refinancing facility or indenture that increases the amount borrowable thereunder or alters the maturity thereof.

 

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

 

Significant Subsidiary ” means a Subsidiary (treated for purposes of this definition on a consolidated basis together with its Subsidiaries) which meets any of the following conditions:

 

5



 

(a)                                  the Company’s and the Company’s other Subsidiaries’ investments in and advances to the Subsidiary exceed ten percent of the total assets of the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries consolidated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year;

 

(b)                                  the Company’s and the Company’s other Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) of the Subsidiary exceeds ten percent of the total assets of the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries consolidated as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year; or

 

(c)                                   the Company’s and the Company’s other Subsidiaries’ equity in the income from continuing operations before income taxes, extraordinary items and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles of the Subsidiary exceeds ten percent of such income of the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries consolidated for the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Subsidiary ” of any specified Person means any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.

 

Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to a maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

 

Voting Stock ” means Capital Stock the holders of which have general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the Board of Directors; provided that, for the purpose of such definition, Capital Stock which carries only the right to vote conditioned on the occurrence of an event shall not be considered Voting Stock whether or not such event shall have occurred.

 

SECTION 1.3.                                      Other Definitions .

 

 

 

DEFINED IN

 

TERM

 

SECTION

 

“Additional Notes”

 

2.2

 

“Change of Control Offer”

 

2.4

 

“Change of Control Payment”

 

2.4

 

“Change of Control Payment Date”

 

2.4

 

“Covenant Defeasance”

 

3.3

 

“Depository”

 

2.1

 

“Legal Defeasance”

 

3.2

 

“Make-whole Deficit”

 

4.1

 

“Maturity Date”

 

2.2

 

 

6



 

ARTICLE II.

 

FORM AND TERMS OF THE NOTES

 

SECTION 2.1.                                      Form and Dating .

 

The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by two of the officers of the Company specified in Section 2.3 of the Base Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

The terms and notations contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture; and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby; provided that, to the extent of any inconsistency between the terms and provisions in this Indenture and those contained in the Notes, this Indenture shall govern.

 

(a)                                  Global Notes .  The Notes designated herein shall be issued initially in the form of one or more fully registered permanent global Securities, which shall be held by the Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (the “ Depositary ”), and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the Depositary’s nominee, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

 

Unless and until the Global Notes are exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Notes represented thereby pursuant to Section 2.15 of the Base Indenture, such Global Notes may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to its nominee or by its nominee to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any of its nominees to a successor depositary or any nominee of such successor depositary. Upon the occurrence of the events specified in Section 2.15 of the Base Indenture in relation thereto, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order for authentication, authenticate and deliver, Notes in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Notes in exchange for such Global Note.

 

(b)                                  Book-Entry Provisions . This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to the Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.

 

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver the Global Notes that shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary and shall be held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary.

 

Participants of the Depositary shall have no rights either under this Indenture or with respect to any Global Notes. The Depositary shall be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all

 

7



 

purposes under this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its participants, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in the Global Notes.

 

(c)                                   Definitive Notes . Definitive Notes issued in physical, certificated form, registered in the name of the beneficial owner thereof, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, but without including the text referred to therein as applying only to Global Notes. Except as provided above in subsection (a), owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Notes.

 

(d)                                  Transfer and Exchange of the Notes .  The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Global Notes.

 

(e)                                   Paying Agent and Registrar .  The Company appoints the Trustee as the initial Paying Agent of the Company for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on, the Notes, and the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee be, and hereby is, designated as the office or agency where the Notes may be presented for payment and where notices to or demands upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Fifth Supplemental Indenture and this Indenture pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued may be made. The Company appoints the Trustee as the initial Security Registrar with respect to the Notes.

 

SECTION 2.2.                                      Certain Terms of the Notes .

 

The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:

 

(a)                                  Title . The Notes shall constitute a series of senior Securities having the title “4.150% Senior Notes due 2025.”

 

(b)                                  Principal Amount . The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be initially authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 and 9.6 of the Base Indenture) shall be FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($500,000,000). The Company may, from time to time, without the consent of the Holders, issue and sell additional Notes (“ Additional Notes ”) ranking equally and ratably with the Notes in all respects (other than the issue date, and to the extent applicable, issue price, initial date of interest accrual and the initial interest payment date of such Additional Notes). Any such Additional Notes shall be consolidated with and form a single series with the Notes for all purposes under this Indenture.

 

(c)                                   Ranking .  The Notes shall constitute senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company and shall rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior indebtedness of the Company and, to the extent of the value of the collateral, will be effectively subordinated to the Company’s secured indebtedness.

 

8



 

(d)                                  Maturity Date . The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on November 1, 2025 (the “ Maturity Date ”).

 

(e)                                   Interest Rate . The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 4.150% per annum, computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months; the date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be October 20, 2015, or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be the 1st day of May and November of each year, commencing on May 1, 2016; the interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will be paid, in immediately available funds, to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or one or more predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the 15th day of April and October (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or such other office or agency of the Company as may be designated for such purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that each installment of interest, premium, if any, and principal on the Notes may at the Company’s option be paid in immediately available funds by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee located in the United States.

 

(h)                               Sinking Fund .  The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund.

 

SECTION 2.3.                                      Optional Redemption .

 

(a)                                  Applicability of Article III .  The provisions of Article III of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes, as supplemented by Sections 2.3(b) and (c) below.

 

(b)                                  Make Whole Redemption .  Prior to August 1, 2025, the Notes shall be redeemable, for cash, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at any time and from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of the principal and interest thereon to August 1, 2025 (not including any portions of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate, plus 35 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

 

(c)                                   Par Redemption .  Notwithstanding the foregoing Section 2.3(b), at any time on or after August 1, 2025, the Notes will be redeemable, as a whole or in part, at the Company’s option and at any time or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

 

SECTION 2.4.                                      Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event .

 

If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs with respect to the Notes, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described in Section 2.3 or exercised its

 

9



 

option to satisfy and discharge this Indenture as set forth in Article IV hereof, Holders shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part in an integral multiple of $1,000 of their Notes (provided that no Note will be purchased in part if the remaining principal amount of such Note would be less than $2,000) pursuant to the offer described below (the “ Change of Control Offer ”). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company shall offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes subject to such offer, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to, but excluding, the date of purchase (the “ Change of Control Payment ”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to Holders describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”), pursuant to the procedures described herein and in such notice. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. The Company must comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions herein, the Company shall only be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of this Indenture by virtue of such conflicts.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and the third party repurchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, the Company will not repurchase any Notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an Event of Default under this Indenture, other than a Default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

 

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall to the extent lawful (i) accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased.

 

The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder who has properly tendered Notes the applicable Change of Control Payment, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000.

 

10



 

SECTION 2.5.                                      Limitation on Liens. (a) The Company shall not, and the Company shall not permit any Subsidiary to, incur, issue, assume or guarantee any indebtedness for money borrowed if such indebtedness is secured by a pledge of, lien on or security interest in any shares of Voting Stock of any Significant Subsidiary, whether such Voting Stock is now owned or is hereafter acquired, without providing that the Notes (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other indebtedness or obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary ranking equally with the Notes and then existing or thereafter created) shall be secured equally and ratably with such indebtedness.  The foregoing limitation shall not apply to indebtedness:

 

(1) secured by a pledge of, lien on or security interest in any shares of Voting Stock of any entity at the time it becomes a Significant Subsidiary;

 

(2) of a Subsidiary owed to the Company or indebtedness of a Subsidiary owed to another Subsidiary;

 

(3) incurred, together with all other indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries similarly secured by liens on shares of Voting Stock pursuant to this clause (3), in an amount not to exceed at the time of such creation, assumption, renewal, extension or replacement 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

 

(4) incurred for the sole purpose of extending, renewing, replacing or refinancing indebtedness secured by any lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (1) to (3); provided, however, that the principal amount of indebtedness secured by that lien shall not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing, plus any amounts necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums relating to such extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing.

 

SECTION 2.6.                                      Events of Default .

 

(a)                                  Applicability of Section 6.1 .  Section 6.1 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes, as supplemented by Sections 2.6(b), (c) and (d) below; provided that this Section 2.6 shall not become part of the terms of any other series of Securities.

 

The occurrence of the events set forth in Sections 2.6(b) or 2.6(c) will constitute an “Event of Default” with respect to the Notes:

 

(b)                                  default after the expiration of the grace period in the payment of principal when due, or resulting in acceleration, of other indebtedness (other than non-recourse debt) of the Company or any Significant Subsidiaries, for borrowed money or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary if the aggregate principal amount with respect to which the default or acceleration has occurred exceeds $85,000,000 and such indebtedness has not been discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration has not been cured or rescinded, prior to written notice of acceleration of the Notes; or

 

(c)                                   failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $85,000,000, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days after such judgments become final and non-appealable, and in the event such judgment is covered by insurance, an

 

11



 

enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or decree which is not promptly stayed.

 

(d)                                  In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 2.6(b), such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose: (1) the indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged; (2) holders thereof have rescinded or waived acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or (3) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

 

SECTION 2.7.                                      SEC Reports .  For the benefit of the Holders, the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing Section 4.4 thereof in its entirety with this Section 2.7, provided that, except as set forth in the second paragraph of Section 2.7(c) below, this Section 2.7 shall not become part of the terms of any other series of Securities.

 

The Company will for so long as any Notes are outstanding:

 

(a)                                  make available to the Trustee and the Holders of Notes copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports which the Company may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided that for this purpose the filing with the SEC of such reports, information and documents shall be sufficient; or

 

(b)                                  if the Company is not then subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, make available to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes (including, without limitation, by means of a public or private website), substantially similar periodic information (excluding exhibits) which would be required to be included in periodic reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or any successor form or forms) under the Exchange Act within the time periods set forth in the applicable SEC rules and regulations as if the Company were a non-accelerated filer as defined in such applicable SEC rules and regulations; provided that in each case such information may be subject to exclusions if the Company in good faith determines that such excluded information would not be material to the interests of the Holders of the Notes (it being understood that the information required by Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X and Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act is not material).

 

The delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 2.7 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants under this Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

(c)                                   In the event that any direct or indirect parent company of the Company becomes a guarantor of the Notes, the Company may satisfy its obligations in this covenant with respect to financial information relating to the Company by furnishing financial information relating to

 

12



 

such parent; provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such parent, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

 

The foregoing first paragraph of this Section 2.7(c) hereby modifies, supplements and amends each of the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture by (1) amending Section 4.4 of the Base Indenture solely as it relates to the 2017 Notes to include the first paragraph of Section 2.7(c) and (2) supplementing Section 2.7 of each of the Third Supplemental Indenture and the 2018 Notes and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and the 2023 Notes with the first paragraph of Section 2.7(c) hereof, in each case as if the same were fully set forth therein.

 

ARTICLE III.

 

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

For the benefit of the Holders, the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing Article VIII thereof in its entirety with this Article III, provided that this Article III shall not become part of the terms of any other series of Securities:

 

SECTION 3.1.                                      Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

 

The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 3.2 or 3.3 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below, in this Article III.

 

SECTION 3.2.                                      Legal Defeasance and Discharge .

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 3.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 3.2, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.4 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“ Legal Defeasance ”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 3.5 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(a)                                  the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust funds referred to below;

 

(b)                                  the Company’s obligations under Sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8 and 2.11 of the Base Indenture;

 

13



 

(c)                                   the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee for such Notes under Article VII of the Base Indenture, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(d)                                  this Section 3.2.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article III, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 3.2.

 

SECTION 3.3.                                      Covenant Defeasance .

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 3.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 3.3, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.4 hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 and 4.8 of the Base Indenture and 2.4 , 2.5 and 2.7 hereof on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 3.4 hereof are satisfied (“ Covenant Defeasance ”), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.1 of the Base Indenture, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 3.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 3.3 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.4 hereof, Section 2.6(b) and (c) hereof and Section 6.1(c) of the Base Indenture shall not constitute Events of Default.

 

SECTION 3.4.                                      Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance .

 

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 3.2 or 3.3 hereof to the outstanding Notes:

 

(1)                                  the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, as trust funds, in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in Dollars, non-callable Government Securities or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes issued under this Indenture on the stated date for payment or on the redemption date, as the case may be, of such principal, installment of principal or of interest on such Notes and the Company must specify whether such Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;

 

14



 

(2)                                  in the case of an election under Section 3.2 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

 

(A)                                the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

 

(B)                                since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

 

in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders and beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(3)                                  in the case of an election under Section 3.3 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders and beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(4)                                  no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith);

 

(5)                                  such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Senior Credit Facility or any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound (other than that resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith);

 

(6)                                  the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others; and

 

(7)                                  the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that the conditions provided for in,

 

15



 

in the case of the Officers’ Certificate, clauses (1) through (6) and, in the case of the Opinion of Counsel, clauses (2) and/or (3) and (5) of this Section 3.4 have been complied with.

 

SECTION 3.5.                                      Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions .

 

Subject to Section 3.6 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.4 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 3.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Article III to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 3.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 3.4 hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

SECTION 3.6.                                      Repayment to Company .

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Notes and remaining unclaimed for one year after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holders will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

16



 

SECTION 3.7.                                      Reinstatement .

 

If, in connection with a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any Dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 3.5 hereof, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 3.2 or 3.3 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 3.5 hereof; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of or interest on any Notes following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE IV.

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

For the benefit of the Holders, the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing Article XI thereof in its entirety with this Article IV, provided that this Article IV shall not become part of the terms of any other series of Securities:

 

SECTION 4.1.                                      Satisfaction and Discharge .

 

This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to the Notes issued hereunder, when:

 

(a)                                  either:

 

(i)                                      all outstanding Notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(ii)                                   all outstanding Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year or have been called for redemption under Section 2.3 hereof and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in Dollars, non-callable Government Securities or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption, as the case may be; provided that for any such redemption conducted pursuant to Section 2.3(b) hereof, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee calculated as required by such Section 2.3(b) using the Treasury Rate as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the redemption date (any such amount, the “ Make-whole Deficit ”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or

 

17



 

prior to the redemption date. Any Make-whole Deficit will be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Make-whole Deficit that confirms that such Make-whole Deficit will be applied toward such redemption;

 

(b)                                  no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Senior Credit Facility or any other material instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound (other than a breach, violation or default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith);

 

(c)                                   the Company has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and

 

(d)                                  the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee for such Notes under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of such Notes at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

In addition, the Company shall deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee for such Notes stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied, and all fees and expenses of the Trustee shall have been paid.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (ii) of clause (a) of this Section 4.1, the provisions of Section 3.6 and 4.2 hereof will survive. In addition, nothing in this Section 4.1 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.7 of the Base Indenture that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 4.2.                                      Application of Trust Money .

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 3.6 hereof, all money or Government Securities deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 4.1 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or

 

18



 

otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE V.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 5.1.                                      Relationship with Indenture .

 

The terms and provisions contained in the Base Indenture will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture. However, to the extent any provision of the Base Indenture conflicts with the express provisions of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture will govern and be controlling. In all other respects, the Base Indenture is confirmed by the parties hereto as supplemented by the terms of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

 

SECTION 5.2.                                      Trust Indenture Act Controls .

 

If any provision of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Fifth Supplemental Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, the required provision shall control. If any provision of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Fifth Supplemental Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 5.3.                                      Governing Law .

 

This Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

SECTION 5.4.                                      Counterparts .

 

The parties may sign multiple counterparts of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture. Each signed counterpart shall be deemed an original, but all of them together represent one and the same Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

 

SECTION 5.5.                                      Severability .

 

Each provision of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be considered separable and if for any reason any provision which is not essential to the effectuation of the basic purpose of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture or the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and a Holder shall have no claim therefor against any party hereto.

 

19



 

SECTION 5.6.                                      Ratification .

 

Each of the Base Indenture, and to the extent set forth in the second paragraph of Section 2.7(c) hereof, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, in each case as supplemented and amended by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed. The Base Indenture and this Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. All provisions included in this Fifth Supplemental Indenture supersede any conflicting provisions included in the Base Indenture, unless not permitted by law. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Fifth Supplemental Indenture.

 

SECTION 5.7.                                      Headings .

 

The Section headings in this Fifth Supplemental Indenture are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction thereof.

 

SECTION 5.8.                                      Effectiveness .

 

The provisions of this Fifth Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.

 

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]

 

20



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Fifth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION,

 

as Issuer

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John W. Garratt

 

 

Name:  John W. Garratt

 

 

Title:  Interim Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Wally Jones

 

 

Name:  Wally Jones

 

 

Title:  Vice President

 

[ Signature Page to Fifth Supplemental Indenture ]

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of 4.150% Senior Notes due 2025

 

[Include the following legend on each Note that is a Global Note:

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“ DTC ”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO. HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.  TRANSFER OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO HEREIN.]

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION

 

4.150% Senior Notes due 2025

 

REGISTERED

 

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $500,000,000

No.

 

 

 

CUSIP: 256677AD7

 

 

ISIN: US256677AD70

 

 

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION, a Tennessee corporation (herein called the “ Company ,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($500,000,000) on November 1, 2025 (the “ Maturity Date ”) (except to the extent redeemed or repaid prior to the Maturity Date) and to pay interest thereon from October 20, 2015 (the “ Original Issue Date ”) or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for at the rate of 4.150% per annum, on the 1st day of May and November (of each year each such date, an “ Interest Payment Date ”), commencing on May 1, 2016, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.

 

(1)                                  Payment of Interest .  The interest so payable, and punctually paid or made available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date, will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid, in immediately available funds, to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the 15th day of April and October (whether or not a Business Day, as defined in the Indenture referred to

 

A- 1



 

herein), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date (the “ Regular Record Date ”).

 

(2)                                  Place of Payment .  Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on this Note will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or such other office or agency of the Company as may be designated for such purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that each installment of interest, premium, if any, and principal on this Note may at the Company’s option be paid in immediately available funds by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee located in the United States.

 

(3)                                  Time of Payment .  In any case where any Interest Payment Date, the Maturity Date or any date fixed for redemption of the Notes shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture or this Note), payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, the Maturity Date or the date so fixed for redemption or repayment, as the case may be, and no interest shall accrue in respect of the delay.

 

(4)                                  General .  This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities of the Company, issued and to be issued in one or more series under an indenture (the “ Base Indenture ”), dated as of July 12, 2012, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture with respect to the series of which this Note is a part), as supplemented by a Fifth Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of October 20, 2015 (the “ Fifth Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), between the Company and the Trustee. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered; provided that to the extent of any inconsistency between the terms and provisions in the Indenture and those contained in this Note, the Indenture shall govern. This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities designated as “4.150% Senior Notes due 2025” (collectively, the “ Notes ”), initially limited in aggregate principal amount to FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($500,000,000).

 

(5)                                  Further Issuance .  The Company may, from time to time, without the consent of the Holders, issue and sell additional Notes (“ Additional Notes ”) ranking equally and ratably with the Notes in all respects (other than the issue date, and to the extent applicable, issue price, initial date of interest accrual and initial interest payment date of such Additional Notes). Any such Additional Securities shall be consolidated with and form a single series with the Notes for all purposes under the Indenture.

 

(6)                                  Ranking .  The Notes shall constitute senior indebtedness of the Company and shall rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior indebtedness

 

A- 2



 

of the Company and, to the extent of the value of the collateral, will be effectively subordinated to the Company’s secured indebtedness.

 

(7)                                  Events of Default .  If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

 

(8)                                  Sinking Fund .  The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund.

 

(9)                                  Optional Redemption .  Prior to August 1, 2025, the Notes shall be redeemable, for cash, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option, at any time and from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of the principal and interest thereon to August 1, 2025 (not including any portions of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate, plus 35 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

 

(10)                           Par Redemption .  Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph (9), at any time on or after August 1, 2025, the Notes will be redeemable, as a whole or in part, at the Company’s option and at any time or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

 

(11)                           Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event .  If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs with respect to the Notes, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described above under “Optional Redemption” or has exercised its option to satisfy and discharge the Indenture under Article IV thereof, Holders shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of their Notes for a price in cash equal to 101% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to, but not including, the date of purchase.

 

(12)                           Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance .  The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire indebtedness of the Company on this Note and (b) certain restrictive covenants and the related Events of Default, in each case which provisions shall apply to this Note.

 

(13)                           Modification and Waivers; Obligations of the Company Absolute .  The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities. Such amendment may be effected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, on behalf of the

 

A- 3



 

Holders of all outstanding Securities, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture. Furthermore, provisions in the Indenture permit the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of individual series to waive on behalf of all of the Holders of Securities of such individual series certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver shall be conclusive and binding upon the Holder of this Note and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, this Note at the time, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

(14)                           Limitation on Suits .  As set forth in, and subject to, the provisions of the Indenture, no Holder of any Note will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceedings as trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 90 days; provided, however, that such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or interest on, this Note on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

(15)                           Registration of Transfer or Exchange .  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the register of the Notes maintained by the Registrar upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange (except as provided by the Indenture), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Holder as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

A- 4



 

(16)                           Defined Terms . All terms used in this Note, which are defined in the Indenture and are not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

(17)                           Governing Law . The Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]

 

A- 5



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated:                , 2015

 

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION,

 

as Issuer

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

A- 6



 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

Dated:                     , 2015

 

A- 7



 

ASSIGNMENT

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

 

 

 

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address, including postal zip code, of assignee)

 

the within Note and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints

 

 

 

 

 

to transfer said Note on the books of the Trustee, with full power or substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

 

 

 

Signature of Guarantee

 

 

 

A- 8


Exhibit 4.3

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

U.S. $1,425,000,000

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of October 20, 2015

 

Among

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
as Borrower

 

and

 

THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN
as Initial Lenders

 

and

 

CITIBANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. AND
GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC
as Co-Syndication Agents

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,
GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC,

U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AND WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

 

as

 

Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners

 

COMPASS BANK, FIFTH THIRD BANK, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., MIZUHO BANK, LTD., PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, REGIONS BANK, U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AND WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

as

 

Co-Documentation Agents

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

 

 

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms

1

SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods

22

SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms

22

SECTION 1.04. Terms Generally

23

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

 

 

AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

 

 

SECTION 2.01. The Advances and Letters of Credit

23

SECTION 2.02. Making the Advances

25

SECTION 2.03. Issuance of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under Letters of Credit

27

SECTION 2.04. Fees

30

SECTION 2.05. Termination or Reduction of the Commitments

31

SECTION 2.06. Repayment of Advances and Letter of Credit Drawings

31

SECTION 2.07. Interest on Advances

33

SECTION 2.08. Interest Rate Determination

34

SECTION 2.09. Optional Conversion of Advances

35

SECTION 2.10. Optional Prepayments of Advances

35

SECTION 2.11. Increased Costs

36

SECTION 2.12. Illegality

37

SECTION 2.13. Payments and Computations

37

SECTION 2.14. Taxes

38

SECTION 2.15. Sharing of Payments, Etc.

42

SECTION 2.16. Evidence of Debt

42

SECTION 2.17. Use of Proceeds

43

SECTION 2.18. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

43

SECTION 2.19. Cash Collateral

44

SECTION 2.20. Defaulting Lenders

45

SECTION 2.21. Increase in the Aggregate Commitments

48

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

 

 

CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Amendment and Restatement

50

SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing and Issuance

51

SECTION 3.03. Determinations Under Section 3.01

52

 

i



 

ARTICLE IV

 

 

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties of the Borrower

52

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

 

 

COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER

 

 

 

SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants

56

SECTION 5.02. Negative Covenants

59

SECTION 5.03. Financial Covenants

61

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

 

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

 

 

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default

62

SECTION 6.02. Actions in Respect of the Letters of Credit upon Default

65

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

 

 

THE AGENT

 

 

 

SECTION 7.01. Appointment and Authority

65

SECTION 7.02. Rights as a Lender

66

SECTION 7.03. Exculpatory Provisions

66

SECTION 7.04. Reliance by Agent

67

SECTION 7.05. Delegation of Duties

67

SECTION 7.06. Resignation of Agent

68

SECTION 7.07. Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders

69

SECTION 7.08. No Other Duties, Etc.

69

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc.

69

SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc.

70

SECTION 8.03. No Waiver; Remedies

71

SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses

72

SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off

74

SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect

74

SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations

74

SECTION 8.08. Confidentiality

79

SECTION 8.09. Governing Law

80

SECTION 8.10. Execution in Counterparts

80

 

ii



 

SECTION 8.11. Jurisdiction, Etc.

80

SECTION 8.12. No Liability of the Issuing Banks

81

SECTION 8.13. Patriot Act Notice

81

SECTION 8.14. Other Relationships; No Fiduciary Relationships

81

SECTION 8.15. Waiver of Jury Trial

83

 

iii



 

Schedules

 

Schedule I - Commitments

 

Schedule 4.01(f) - Disclosed Litigation

 

Schedule 5.02(a) - Existing Liens

 

Schedule 5.02(d) - Existing Subsidiary Debt

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A-1

Form of Revolving Credit Note

 

 

 

Exhibit A-2

Form of Term Note

 

 

 

Exhibit B

Form of Notice of Borrowing

 

 

 

Exhibit C

Form of Assignment and Assumption

 

 

 

Exhibit D

Form of Tax Compliance Certificates

 

iv



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of October 20, 2015

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION, a Tennessee corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders (the “ Initial Lenders ”) and issuers of letters of credit (“ Initial Issuing Banks ”) listed on Schedule I - Commitments hereto, and CITIBANK, N.A. (“ Citibank ”), as agent (the “ Agent ”) for the Lenders (as hereinafter defined), agree as follows:

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT.  The Borrower, the lenders parties thereto and Citibank, as administrative agent, are parties to the Credit Agreement dated as of April 11, 2013 (the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”).  Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.01, the Borrower and the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement as herein set forth.

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

 

SECTION 1.01.  Certain Defined Terms .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

 

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

 

Advance ” means a Revolving Credit Advance, a Swing Line Advance or a Term Advance, as the context may require.

 

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

 

Agent’s Account ” means the account of the Agent maintained by the Agent at Citibank at its office at 1615 Brett Road, Building #3, New Castle, Delaware 19720, Account No. 36852248, Attention:  Bank Loan Syndications or such other account of the Agent as is designated in writing from time to time by the Agent to the Borrower and the Lenders for such purpose.

 

AML Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of the United States applicable to any Lender, the Borrower or the Borrower’s Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to anti-money laundering.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 and any similar laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries  from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

 



 

Applicable Lending Office ” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Base Rate Advance and such Lender’s Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Advance.

 

Applicable Margin ” means as of any date, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date as set forth below:

 

Public Debt Rating
S&P/Moody’s

 

Applicable
Margin for
Base Rate
Advances

 

Applicable
Margin for
Eurodollar
Rate Advances

 

Applicable
Margin for
Standby
Letters of
Credit

 

Applicable
Margin for
Trade Letters
of Credit

 

Level 1
BBB+/Baa1 or above

 

0.000

%

0.875

%

1.000

%

0.500

%

Level 2
BBB/Baa2

 

0.100

%

1.100

%

1.250

%

0.625

%

Level 3
BBB-/Baa3

 

0.175

%

1.175

%

1.375

%

0.6875

%

Level 4
BB+/Ba1

 

0.375

%

1.375

%

1.625

%

0.8125

%

Level 5
A Public Debt Rating lower than Level 4

 

0.575

%

1.575

%

1.875

%

0.9375

%

 

Applicable Percentage ” means, as of any date a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date as set forth below:

 

Public Debt Rating
S&P/Moody’s

 

Applicable Percentage

 

Level 1
BBB+/Baal or above

 

0.125

%

Level 2
BBB/Baa2

 

0.150

%

Level 3
BBB-/Baa3

 

0.200

%

Level 4
BB+/Ba1

 

0.250

%

Level 5
A Public Debt Rating lower than Level 4

 

0.300

%

 

Appropriate Lender ” means, at any time, (a) with respect to any of the Term Facility or the Revolving Credit Facility, a Lender that has a Commitment with respect to such Facility or holds a Term Advance or a Revolving Credit Advance, respectively, at such time, (b) with respect to the Letter of Credit Facility, (i) the Issuing Banks and (ii) if any Letters of Credit have been issued hereunder, the Revolving Credit Lenders and (c) with respect to the

 

2



 

Swing Line Commitments, (i) the Swing Line Bank and (ii) if any Swing Line  Advances are outstanding hereunder, the Revolving Credit Lenders.

 

Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

Assignment and Assumption ” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 8.07), and accepted by the Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit C or any other form approved by the Agent.

 

Assuming Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.21(d).

 

Assumption Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.21(e)(i)(B).

 

Available Amount ” of a Letter of Credit at any time means the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided , however , that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any L/C Related Document, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

Base Rate ” means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the highest of:

 

(a)                                  the rate of interest announced publicly by Citibank in New York, New York, from time to time, as Citibank’s base rate;

 

(b)                                  ½ of one percent per annum above the Federal Funds Rate; and

 

(c)                                   the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited Settlement Rate (or the successor thereto if ICE Benchmark Administration Limited is no longer making such rates available)  applicable to Dollars for a period of one month (“ One Month LIBOR ”) plus 1.00% (for the avoidance of doubt, the One Month LIBOR for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on Reuters LIBOR01 Page (or other commercially available source providing such quotations as designated by the Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day); provided that, if One Month LIBOR shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Base Rate Advance ” means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.07(a)(i).

 

Borrowing ” means a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a Swing Line Borrowing or a Term Borrowing, as applicable.

 

3



 

Borrowing Minimum ” means $5,000,000 in respect of Borrowings consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances and $1,000,000 in respect of Borrowings consisting of Base Rate Advances.

 

Borrowing Multiple ” means $1,000,000.

 

Business Day ” means a day of the year on which banks are not required or authorized by law to close in New York City and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market and banks are open for business in London.

 

Capitalized Lease Obligations ” means, as applied to any Person, all obligations under Capital Leases of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case taken at the amount thereof accounted for as liabilities in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Leases ” means all leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized leases.

 

Cash Collateralize ” means, to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Agent, for the benefit of one or more of the Issuing Banks or Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances or, if the Agent and each applicable Issuing Bank shall agree in their sole discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and each applicable Issuing Bank.  “ Cash Collateral ” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

 

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

 

Citibank ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

Commitment ” means a Revolving Credit Commitment, a Letter of Credit Commitment, a Swing Line Commitment or a Term Commitment, as the context may require.

 

Commitment Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.21(b).

 

4



 

Commitment Increase ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.21(a).

 

Connection Income Taxes ” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

 

Consolidated ” refers to the consolidation of accounts in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated EBITDAR ” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus the following, to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income and without duplication: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, State, local and foreign income taxes for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) all non-cash charges and items, including for share-based compensation ((x) other than in respect of any non-recurring provision for doubtful accounts or any non-recurring provision for obsolescence and (y) excluding any such non-cash item to the extent that it represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period), (v) non-recurring items not exceeding $100,000,000 in the aggregate within any 12-month period, and (vi) Consolidated Rental Expense, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP for such period.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any period, without duplication, the net interest expense on a Consolidated basis as determined in accordance with GAAP and applied consistently; provided that obligations in respect of Debt incurred by a Person in advance of, and the proceeds of which are to be applied in connection with, the consummation of a transaction shall be excluded from Consolidated Interest Expense solely to the extent the proceeds of such Debt are and continue to be held in an escrow, trust, collateral or similar account or arrangement and are not otherwise made available to such Person.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, the net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (excluding extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses) for that period.

 

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, less goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and related expense and other like intangibles, all as described on the most recent Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and calculated based on positions as reported in the Borrower’s Consolidated financial statements determined in conformity with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Rental Expense ” means, for any period, the aggregate rental expense (including any contingent or percentage rental expense) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for such period (excluding real estate taxes and common area maintenance charges) in respect of all rent obligations under all operating leases for real or personal property minus any rental income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis for such period, all as determined in conformity with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, (a) (i) all indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for borrowed money, (ii) the face amount of all

 

5



 

standby letters of credit issued for the account of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and (iii) the principal component of all Capitalized Lease Obligations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in each case actually owing on such date and to the extent appearing on the balance sheet of the Borrower determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that such Debt incurred by a Person in advance of, and the proceeds of which are to be applied in connection with, the consummation of a transaction shall be excluded from Consolidated Total Debt solely to the extent the proceeds of such Debt are and continue to be held in an escrow, trust, collateral or similar account or arrangement and are not otherwise made available to such Person.

 

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

 

Convert ”, “ Conversion ” and “ Converted ” each refers to a conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.08 or 2.09.

 

Debt ” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable and other accrued liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments (other than performance, surety and appeal bonds arising in the ordinary course of business), (d) all obligations of such Person created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Capitalized Lease Obligations, (f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, letters of credit or similar extensions of credit, (g) all net obligations of such Person in respect of Hedge Agreements, (h) all Debt of others referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above or clause (i) below and other payment obligations (collectively, “ Guaranteed Debt ”) guaranteed directly or indirectly in any manner by such Person, or in effect guaranteed directly or indirectly by such Person through an agreement (1) to pay or purchase such Guaranteed Debt or to advance or supply funds for the payment or purchase of such Guaranteed Debt, (2) to purchase, sell or lease (as lessee or lessor) property, or to purchase or sell services, primarily for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of such Guaranteed Debt or to assure the holder of such Guaranteed Debt against loss, (3) to supply funds to or in any other manner invest in the debtor (including any agreement to pay for property or services irrespective of whether such property is received or such services are rendered) or (4) otherwise to assure a creditor against loss, and (i) all Debt referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above (including Guaranteed Debt) secured by (or for which the holder of such Debt has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Debt; provided that “Debt”, for purposes of this definition, shall not include obligations in respect of trade letters of credit incurred in connection with the acquisition of inventory in the ordinary course of business.

 

6



 

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 from time to time in effect.

 

Default ” means any Event of Default or any event that would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means at any time, subject to Section 2.20(b), (i) any Lender that has failed for three or more Business Days to comply with its obligations under this Agreement to make an Advance or make any other payment due hereunder (each, a “ funding obligation ”), unless such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding have not been satisfied and such Lender has notified the Agent and the Borrower in writing thereof (which conditions precedent, together with the applicable default, if any, will be specifically identified in such writing), (ii) any Lender that has notified the Agent or the Borrower in writing, or has stated publicly, that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, unless such intention is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding cannot be satisfied (which conditions precedent, together with the applicable default, if any, will be specifically identified in such writing or public statement), (iii) any Lender that has defaulted on its funding obligations under other loan agreements or credit agreements generally under which it has commitments to extend credit or that has notified, or whose Parent Company has notified, the Agent or the Borrower in writing, or has stated publicly, that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under loan agreements or credit agreements generally, (iv) any Lender that has, for three or more Business Days after written request of the Agent or the Borrower, failed to confirm in writing to the Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (iv) upon the Agent’s and the Borrower’s receipt of such written confirmation), or (v) any Lender with respect to which a Lender Insolvency Event has occurred with respect to such Lender or its Parent Company; provided that a Lender Insolvency Event shall not be deemed to occur with respect to a Lender or its Parent Company solely as a result of the acquisition or maintenance of an ownership interest in such Lender or Parent Company by a Governmental Authority or instrumentality thereof where such action 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 or instrumentality) 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 of clauses (i) through (v) above will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, and such Lender will be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender (subject to Section 2.20(b)) upon notification of such determination by the Agent to the Borrower and the Lenders.

 

Dollars ” and the “ $ ” sign each means lawful currency of the United States of America.

 

Domestic Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Domestic Lending Office” in its Administrative Questionnaire delivered

 

7



 

to the Agent, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Agent.

 

Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

 

Eligible Assignee ” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 8.07(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 8.07(b)(iii)).

 

Environmental Action ” means any action, suit, demand, demand letter, claim, notice of non-compliance or violation, notice of liability or potential liability, investigation, proceeding, consent order or consent agreement relating in any way to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Materials, including, without limitation, (a) by any governmental or regulatory authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages and (b) by any governmental or regulatory authority or any third party for damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief.

 

Environmental Law ” means any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, order, judgment, decree or legally enforceable judicial or agency requirement relating to pollution or protection of the environment, health and safety (as affected by exposure to Hazardous Materials) or natural resources, including, without limitation, those relating to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials.

 

Environmental Permit ” means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.

 

ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.  Section references to ERISA are to ERISA as in effect at the Effective Date and any subsequent provisions of ERISA amendatory thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

 

ERISA Affiliate ” means each person (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) that together with the Borrower would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

Eurocurrency Liabilities ” has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

 

Eurodollar Lending Office ” means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its “Eurodollar Lending Office” in its Administrative Questionnaire delivered to the Agent, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Agent.

 

Eurodollar Rate ” means, for any Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum obtained by dividing (a) the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited LIBOR Rate as

 

8



 

published on Reuters LIBOR01 Page (or any successor page) as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period; provided that, if the Eurodollar Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Eurodollar Rate Advance ” means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.07(a)(ii).

 

Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage ” for any Interest Period for all Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing means the reserve percentage applicable two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or with respect to any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Eurodollar Rate Advances is determined) having a term equal to such Interest Period.

 

Events of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

 

Excluded Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Recipient, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or overall gross income, franchise Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (i) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable lending office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of a Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender with respect to an applicable interest in an Advance or Commitment pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (x) such Lender acquires such interest in the Advance or Commitment (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.18(b)) or (y) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 2.14, amounts with respect to (x) or (y) such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.14(f) and (d) any U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.

 

Existing Credit Agreement ” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statement.

 

Existing Subsidiary Debt ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.02(d).

 

Facility ” means the Revolving Credit Facility, the Letter of Credit Facility or the Term Facility, as the context may require.

 

9



 

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

 

Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the rate published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the quotation for such day on such transactions received by the Agent from a Federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it.

 

Final Maturity Date ” means October 20, 2020.

 

Financial Officer ” means the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or the controller of the Borrower.

 

Foreign Lender ” means a Lender that is not a U.S. Person.

 

Foreign Plan ” shall mean any employee benefit plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to employees employed outside the United States.

 

Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to any Issuing Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Ratable Share of the outstanding L/C Obligations with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Bank, such Defaulting Lender’s Ratable Share of outstanding Swing Line Advances made by the Swing Line Bank other than Swing Line Advances as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders.

 

Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural Person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

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

 

10



 

pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Hazardous Materials ” means (a) petroleum and petroleum products, byproducts or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas and (b) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental Law.

 

Hedge Agreements ” means interest rate swap, cap or collar agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements.

 

Increase Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.21(a).

 

Increasing Lender ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.21(b).

 

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

 

Information ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.08.

 

Information Memorandum ” means the information memorandum dated September 15, 2015 used by the Agent in connection with the syndication of the Commitments.

 

Insufficiency ” means, with respect to any Plan, the amount, if any, of its unfunded benefit liabilities, as defined in Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA.

 

Interest Period ” means, for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Eurodollar Rate Advance or the date of the Conversion of any Base Rate Advance into such Eurodollar Rate Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below.  The duration of each such Interest Period shall be (x) one, two, three or six months, (y) until November 30, 2015, one week and (z) subject to clause (c) of this definition, twelve months, in each case as the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Agent not later than 12:00 P.M. (noon) (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select; provided , however , that:

 

(a)                                  with respect to the Revolving Facility, the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Termination Date and with respect to the Term Facility, the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Final Maturity Date;

 

(b)                                  Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing shall be of the same duration;

 

11



 

(c)                                   in the case of any such Borrowing, the Borrower shall not be entitled to select an Interest Period having duration of twelve months unless, by 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, each Appropriate Lender notifies the Agent that such Lender will be providing funding for such Borrowing with such Interest Period (the failure of any Appropriate Lender to so respond by such time being deemed for all purposes of this Agreement as an objection by such Lender to the requested duration of such Interest Period); provided that, if any or all of the Appropriate Lenders object to the requested duration of such Interest Period, the duration of the Interest Period for such Borrowing shall be one, two, three or six months, as specified by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Borrowing as the desired alternative to an Interest Period of twelve months;

 

(d)                                  whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided , however , that, if such extension would cause the last day of any Interest Period of one month or longer to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day; and

 

(e)                                   whenever the first day of any Interest Period of one month or longer occurs on a day of an initial calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months equal to the number of months in such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such succeeding calendar month.

 

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

ISP ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

Issuance ” with respect to any Letter of Credit means the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit.  “ Issue ” has a corresponding meaning.

 

Issuing Bank ” means an Initial Issuing Bank or any Eligible Assignee to which a portion of the Letter of Credit Commitment hereunder has been assigned pursuant to Section 8.07 or any other Lender so long as such Eligible Assignee or Lender expressly agrees to perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as an Issuing Bank and notifies the Agent of its Applicable Lending Office (which information shall be recorded by the Agent in the Register), for so long as such Initial Issuing Bank, Eligible Assignee or Lender, as the case may be, shall have a Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

L/C Cash Deposit Account ” means an interest bearing cash deposit account to be established and maintained by the Agent, over which the Agent shall have sole dominion and control, upon terms as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

 

12



 

L/C Obligations ” means, as of any date, the aggregate Available Amount of outstanding Letters of Credit and Revolving Credit Advances made by an Issuing Bank in accordance with Section 2.03 that have not been funded by the Lenders. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.

 

L/C Related Documents ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(c)(i).

 

Lender Insolvency Event ” means that (a) a Lender or its Parent Company is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due, or admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due, or makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or (b) such Lender or its Parent Company has become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or a receiver, trustee, conservator, intervener or sequestrator or the like has been appointed for such Lender or its Parent Company, or such Lender or its Parent Company has taken any action in furtherance of or indicating its consent to or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment.

 

Lenders ” means each Initial Lender, each Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Bank, each Assuming Lender that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 2.21 and each Person that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.07.

 

Letter of Credit ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(c).

 

Letter of Credit Agreement ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).

 

Letter of Credit Commitment ” means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the obligation of such Issuing Bank to Issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower and its specified Subsidiaries in (a) the Dollar amount set forth opposite the Issuing Bank’s name on Schedule I - Commitments hereto under the caption “Letter of Credit Commitment” or (b) if such Issuing Bank has entered into one or more Assignment and Assumptions, or if such Person became an Issuing Bank after the date hereof, the Dollar amount set forth for such Issuing Bank in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(c) as such Issuing Bank’s “Letter of Credit Commitment”, in each case as such amount may be reduced prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

Letter of Credit Facility ” means, at any time, an amount equal to the least of (a) the aggregate amount of the Issuing Banks’ Letter of Credit Commitments at such time, (b) $175,000,000 and (c) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments, as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

Lien ” means any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement, including, without limitation, the lien or retained security title of a conditional vendor and any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property.

 

13



 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, each L/C Related Document, if any, and the Notes, if any.

 

Material Adverse Change ” means any material adverse change in the business, financial condition or operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, financial condition or operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the rights and remedies of the Agent or any Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (c) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means, at any time, any Subsidiary of the Borrower (i) whose total assets at such time, less net goodwill and other intangible assets, less total current liabilities, all determined in conformity with GAAP, are equal to or greater than 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets or (ii) whose revenue is equal to or greater than 5% of Consolidated revenue of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

Minimum Collateral Amount ” means, at any time, (i) with respect to Cash Collateral consisting of cash or deposit account balances, an amount equal to 100% of the Fronting Exposure of all Issuing Banks with respect to Letters of Credit issued and outstanding at such time and (ii) otherwise, an amount determined by the Agent and the Issuing Banks in their sole discretion.

 

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

 

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

 

Multiple Employer Plan ” shall mean a single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one Person other than the Borrowers and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which any Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.

 

Non-Approving Lender ” means any Lender that does not approve any consent, waiver or amendment that requires the approval of all affected Lenders in accordance with the terms of Section 8.01 and has been approved by the Required Lenders.

 

Non-Defaulting Lender ” means, at any time, each Lender that is not a Defaulting Lender at such time.

 

Note ” means a Revolving Credit Note or Term Note, as the context may require.

 

Notice of Borrowing ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).

 

Notice of Issuance ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).

 

14



 

Notice of Swing Line Borrowing ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(b).

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced this Agreement, or sold or assigned an interest in any Advance).

 

Other Taxes ” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.18(b)).

 

Parent Company ” means, with respect to a Lender, the bank holding company (as defined in Federal Reserve Board Regulation Y), if any, of such Lender, or if such Lender does not have a bank holding company, then any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity owning, beneficially or of record, directly or indirectly, a majority of the Voting Stock of such Lender.

 

Participant ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(d).

 

Participant Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(d).

 

Patriot Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001.

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor).

 

Permitted Liens ” means:

 

(a) Liens granted by any Subsidiary of the Borrower in favor of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower;

 

(b) Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or Liens for taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof);

 

(c) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and suppliers and other Liens imposed by law or pursuant to customary reservations or retentions of title arising in the ordinary course of business, provided that any such Liens which are material secure only amounts not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or, if

 

15



 

overdue for a period of more than 30 days, are unfiled and no other action has been taken to enforce the same or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP have been established (and as to which the property subject to any such Lien is not yet subject to foreclosure, sale or loss on account thereof);

 

(d) Liens (other than Liens created or imposed under ERISA) incurred or deposits made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money);

 

(e) Liens in connection with judgment bonds so long as the enforcement of such liens is effectively stayed and the claims secured thereby are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices;

 

(f) zoning restrictions, easements, rights of way and other encumbrances on title to real property that do not render title to the property encumbered thereby unmarketable or materially adversely affect the use of such property for its present purposes;

 

(g) leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and any interest of title of any lessor under any lease;

 

(h) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i) normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions and Liens of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection;

 

(j) Liens on any inventory of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in favor of a vendor of such inventory, arising in the normal course of business upon its sale to the Borrower or any such Subsidiary;

 

(k) Liens in respect of licensing of intellectual property in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l) protective Uniform Commercial Code filings with respect to any leased or consigned personal property;

 

(m) Liens on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing or payment of premiums with respect thereto in the ordinary course of business, to the extent not exceeding the amount of such premiums; and

 

16



 

(n) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business on the proceeds of prepaid cards or stored value cards.

 

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

 

Plan ” shall mean any (a) Single Employer Plan that is or was within any of the preceding six plan years maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate (or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has or had an obligation to contribute or to make payments) and is subject to Title IV of ERISA or the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code or (b) Multiple Employer Plan.

 

Public Debt Rating ” means, as of any date, the rating that has been most recently announced by either S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, for any class of non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt issued by the Borrower or, if any such rating agency shall have issued more than one such rating, the lowest such rating issued by such rating agency.  For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if only one of S&P and Moody’s shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage shall be determined by reference to the available rating; (b) if neither S&P nor Moody’s shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage will be set in accordance with Level 5 under the definition of “ Applicable Margin ” or “ Applicable Percentage ”, as the case may be; (c) if the ratings established by S&P and Moody’s shall fall within different levels, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Percentage shall be based upon the higher rating unless the such ratings differ by two or more levels, in which case the applicable level will be deemed to be one level below the higher of such levels; (d) if any rating established by S&P or Moody’s shall be changed, such change shall be effective as of the date on which such change is first announced publicly by the rating agency making such change; and (e) if S&P or Moody’s shall change the basis on which ratings are established, each reference to the Public Debt Rating announced by S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be, shall refer to the then equivalent rating by S&P or Moody’s, as the case may be.

 

Ratable Share ” of any amount means (a) with respect to any Term Lender at any time, the percentage of the Term Facility represented by (i) on or prior to the Effective Date, such Term Lender’s Term Commitment at such time and (ii) thereafter, the principal amount of such Term Lender’s Term Advances at such time and (b) with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender at any time, the percentage of the Revolving Credit Facility represented by such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.  If the commitment of each Revolving Credit Lender to make Revolving Credit Advances and the obligation of the Issuing Banks to Issue Letters of Credit have been terminated pursuant to Section 6.01, or if the Revolving Credit Commitments have expired, then the Ratable Share of each Revolving Credit Lender in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility shall be determined based on the Ratable Share of such Revolving Credit Lender in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments.

 

Recipient ” means (a) the Agent, (b) any Lender and (c) any Issuing Bank, as applicable.

 

17



 

Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(c).

 

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

 

Reportable Event ” shall mean an event described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations thereunder, other than any event as to which the thirty day notice period has been waived.

 

Required Lenders ” means at any time Lenders owed at least a majority in interest of the sum of the (a) aggregate principal amount of all Total Revolving Credit Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Revolving Credit Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Advances being deemed “held” by such Revolving Credit Lender for purposes of this definition), (b) the aggregate principal amount of the Term Facility and (c) the aggregate unused amount of the Commitments; provided , that the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings of, the Advances owed to or Commitments held by any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.

 

Required Revolving Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Revolving Credit Lenders holding more than 50% of the sum of the (a) Total Revolving Credit Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Revolving Credit Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Advances being deemed “held” by such Revolving Credit Lender for purposes of this definition) and (b) aggregate Unused Revolving Credit Commitments; provided , that the Unused Revolving Credit Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Revolving Credit Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Revolving Lenders.

 

Required Term Lenders ” means, as of any date of determination, Term Lenders holding more than 50% of the Term Facility on such date; provided , that the portion of the Term Facility held by any Defaulting Lender shall in each case be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Term Lenders.

 

Revolving Credit Advance ” means an advance by a Revolving Credit Lender to the Borrower as part of a Revolving Credit Borrowing and refers to a Base Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance (each of which shall be a “ Type ” of Revolving Credit Advance).

 

Revolving Credit Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit Advances of the same Type made by each of the Revolving Credit Lenders.

 

Revolving Credit Commitment ” means as to any Lender (a) the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule I - Commitments hereto as such Lender’s “Revolving Credit Commitment”, (b) if such Lender has become a Revolving Credit Lender hereunder pursuant to an Assumption Agreement, the Dollar amount set forth in such Assumption Agreement as such Lender’s “Revolving Credit Commitment” or (c) if such Lender has entered into an Assignment and Assumption, the Dollar amount set forth for such Lender in

 

18



 

the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(c) as such Lender’s “Revolving Credit Commitment”, as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.05 or increased pursuant to Section 2.21.  The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Credit Commitments is $1.000,000,000.

 

Revolving Credit Facility ” means, at any time, (a) on or prior to the Termination Date, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments at such time and (b) thereafter, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances and Swing Line Advances outstanding at such time plus the Available Amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time.

 

Revolving Credit Lender ” means, at any time, any Lender that has a Revolving Credit Commitment at such time.

 

Revolving Credit Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of any Lender, delivered pursuant to a request made under Section 2.16 in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Revolving Credit Advances made by such Lender to the Borrower.

 

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

 

Sanctioned Country ” means, at any time, a country, region or territory which is itself the subject or target of any Sanctions.

 

Sanctioned Person ” means, at any time, (a) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list of designated Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State or by the European Union or (b) any Person majority-owned or controlled by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clause (a).

 

Sanctions ” means economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by (a) the U.S. government, including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State, or (b) the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom.

 

Single Employer Plan ” means a single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and no Person other than the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.

 

Solvent ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) the sum of such Person’s debt (including contingent liabilities) does not exceed the present fair saleable value of such Person’s present assets; (ii) such Person’s capital is not unreasonably small in relation to its business as contemplated on the Effective Date; and (iii) such Person has not incurred and does not intend to incur, or believe that it will incur, debts including current obligations beyond its

 

19



 

ability to pay such debts as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise); and (b) such Person is “solvent” within the meaning given that term and similar terms under applicable laws relating to fraudulent transfers and conveyances.  For purposes of this definition, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such contingent liabilities meet the criteria for accrual under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 5).

 

Subsidiary ” of any Person means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or estate of which (or in which) more than 50% of (a) the issued and outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time capital stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency), (b) the interest in the capital or profits of such limited liability company, partnership or joint venture or (c) the beneficial interest in such trust or estate is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person’s other Subsidiaries.

 

Swing Line Advance ” means an advance made by the Swing Line Bank pursuant to Section 2.01(d) or any Lender pursuant to Section 2.02(b).

 

Swing Line Bank ” means Citibank, N.A.

 

Swing Line Borrowing ” means a borrowing consisting of a Swing Line Advance made by the Swing Line Bank.

 

Swing Line Commitment ” means with respect to the Swing Line Bank at any time the amount set forth opposite the Swing Line Bank’s name on Schedule I - Commitments hereto, as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

Taxes ” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

Term Advance ” means an advance by a Term Lender to the Borrower under the Term Facility and refers to a Base Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance (each of which shall be a “Type” of Term Advance).

 

Term Borrowing ” means, initially, the Term Advances made by the Term Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01. After the initial funding, “Term Borrowing” means a portion of the Term Advances (as to which each Term Lender has a ratable part) that (a) bears interest by reference to the Base Rate or (b) bears interest by reference to the Eurodollar Rate and has a single Interest Period.

 

Term Commitment ” means as to any Lender (a) the Dollar amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule I - Commitments hereto as such Lender’s “Term Commitment”, (b) if such Lender has become a Term Lender hereunder pursuant to an Assumption Agreement, the Dollar amount set forth in such Assumption Agreement as such

 

20



 

Lender’s “Term Commitment” or (c) if such Lender has entered into an Assignment and Assumption, the Dollar amount set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(c) as such Lender’s Term Commitment, as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.05 or increased pursuant to Section 2.21.  The initial aggregate amount of the Term Commitments is $425,000,000.

 

Term Facility ” means, at any time (a) on or prior to the Effective Date, the aggregate amount of the Term Commitments at such time and (b) thereafter, the aggregate principal amount of the Term Advances outstanding at such time.

 

Term Lender ” means (a) at any time prior to the Effective Date, any Lender that has a Term Commitment at such time and (b) at any time after the Effective Date, any Lender that has an outstanding Term Advance at such time.

 

Term Note ” means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of any Lender, delivered pursuant to a request made under Section 2.16 in substantially the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Term Advances made by such Lender to the Borrower.

 

Termination Date ” means the earlier of the Final Maturity Date and the date of termination in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.05 or 6.01.

 

Total Revolving Credit Outstandings ” means the aggregate outstanding amount of all Revolving Credit Advances, Swing Line Advances and Letters of Credit.

 

Type ” when used in reference to any Advance or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Advance, or on the Advances comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Eurodollar Rate or the Base Rate.

 

UCP ” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, International Chamber of Commerce (“ ICC ”) Publication No. 600 (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).

 

Unfunded Current Liability ” of any Plan shall mean the amount, if any, by which the Accumulated Benefit Obligation (as defined under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification No. 715: Compensation-Retirement Benefits (“ASC 715”)) under the Plan as of the close of its most recent plan year, determined in accordance with ASC 715 as in effect on the Effective Date, exceeds the fair market value of the assets allocable thereto.

 

Unissued Letter of Credit Commitment ” means, with respect to any Issuing Bank, the obligation of such Issuing Bank to Issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower or its specified Subsidiaries in an amount equal to the excess of (a) the amount of its Letter of Credit Commitment over (b) the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank.

 

Unused Revolving Credit Commitment ” means, with respect to each Lender at any time, (a) such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment at such time minus (b) the sum of

 

21



 

(i) the aggregate principal amount of all Advances made by such Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) and outstanding at such time, plus (ii) such Lender’s Ratable Share of (A) the aggregate Available Amount of all the Letters of Credit outstanding at such time, (B) the aggregate principal amount of all Advances made by each Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.03(c) that have not been ratably funded by such Lender and outstanding at such time and (C) the aggregate principal amount of all Swing Line Advances then outstanding.

 

U.S. Person ” means any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.14(f).

 

Withdrawal Liability ” has the meaning specified in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Withholding Agent ” means the Borrower and the Agent.

 

Voting Stock ” means capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent interests in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

 

SECTION 1.02.  Computation of Time Periods .  In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from”  means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”.

 

SECTION 1.03.  Accounting Terms .  (a)  Generally .  All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.  For avoidance of doubt, for purposes of determining compliance with this Agreement, all leases of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be accounted for in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the date of this Agreement and any determination whether a lease is an operating lease or a Capital Lease shall be made without giving effect to any change in GAAP (including any required adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, the effects of FASB ASC 825 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

 

(b)                                  Changes in GAAP .  If at any time any change in GAAP (including any required adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards) would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth herein, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided , that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Agent a reconciliation between

 

22



 

calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

 

SECTION 1.04.  Terms Generally .  The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”  The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”  Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) any reference to any law or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (f) 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 II

 

AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

SECTION 2.01.  The Advances and Letters of Credit .

 

(a)                                  The Term Advances .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term Lender severally agrees to make a single loan to the Borrower on the Effective Date in Dollars in an amount not to exceed such Lender’s Term Commitment.  Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01(a) and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.  The Term Lenders shall not have any obligation to make any Term Advances to the Borrower after the Effective Date, except to the extent a Term Lender’s Term Commitments are increased pursuant to Section 2.21.

 

(b)                                  The Revolving Credit Advances .  Each Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date in an amount not to exceed such Lender’s Unused Revolving Credit Commitment.  Each Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be in an amount not less than the Borrowing Minimum or the Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof and shall consist of Revolving Credit Advances of the same Type made on the same day by the Revolving Credit Lenders ratably according to their respective Revolving Credit Commitments (it being understood that multiple Revolving Credit Borrowings may be requested on any Business Day).  Within the limits of each Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment, the Borrower

 

23



 

may borrow under this Section 2.01(b), prepay pursuant to Section 2.10 and reborrow under this Section 2.01(b).

 

(c)                                   Letters of Credit .  (i) Each Issuing Bank agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, in reliance upon the agreements of the Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in this Agreement, to issue standby and trade letters of credit (each, a “ Letter of Credit ”) denominated in Dollars for the account of the Borrower and its specified Subsidiaries from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until 15 days before the Termination Date in an aggregate Available Amount (i) for all Letters of Credit issued by each Issuing Bank not to exceed at any time the lesser of (x) the Letter of Credit Facility at such time and (y) such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitment at such time and (ii) for each such Letter of Credit not to exceed an amount equal to the Unused Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders at such time.  Within the limits referred to above, the Borrower may from time to time request the issuance of Letters of Credit under this Section 2.01(c).  Each letter of credit outstanding under the Existing Credit Agreement shall be deemed to constitute a Letter of Credit issued hereunder, and each Lender that is an issuer of such a Letter of Credit shall, for purposes of Section 2.03, be deemed to be an Issuing Bank for each such letter of credit, provided that any renewal or replacement of any such letter of credit shall be issued by an Issuing Bank pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

(ii)                                   No Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date (including all rights of the Borrower or the beneficiary to require renewal) later than the earlier of 15 days before the Termination Date and one year after the date of Issuance thereof (or such longer period agreed to by the applicable Issuing Bank in its sole discretion), but may by its terms be renewable annually automatically or upon written notice (a “ Notice of Renewal ”) given to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Agent on or prior to any date for notice of renewal set forth in such Letter of Credit but in any event at least three Business Days prior to the date of the expiration of such standby Letter of Credit; provided, that the terms of each standby Letter of Credit that is automatically renewable annually (“ Auto-Extension Letter of Credit ”) shall permit the applicable Issuing Bank to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “ Non-Extension Notice Date ”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued.  Unless otherwise directed by the applicable Issuing Bank, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to such Issuing Bank for any such extension.  Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the applicable Issuing Bank to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than 15 days before the Termination Date; provided , however , that such Issuing Bank shall not permit any such extension if (A) such Issuing Bank has reasonably determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit (as extended) under the terms hereof, or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 3.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing such Issuing Bank not to permit such extension.

 

24



 

(d)                                  The Swing Line Advances .  The Swing Line Bank agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Swing Line Advances denominated in Dollars to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the date hereof until the Termination Date (i) in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding $50,000,000 (the “ Swing Line Facility ”) and (ii) in an amount for each such Advance not to exceed the Unused Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders on such Business Day.  No Swing Line Advance shall be used for the purpose of funding the payment of principal of any other Swing Line Advance.  Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be in an amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall consist of a Base Rate Advance.  Within the limits of the Swing Line Facility and within the limits referred to in clause (ii) above, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(d), prepay pursuant to Section 2.10 and reborrow under this Section 2.01(d).

 

SECTION 2.02.  Making the Advances .

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.02(b) or Section 2.03(c), each Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than (x) 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances or (y) 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed Borrowing in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances, by the Borrower to the Agent, which shall give to each Appropriate Lender prompt notice thereof.  Each such notice of a Borrowing (a “ Notice of Borrowing ”) shall be by telephone (confirmed immediately in writing) electronic delivery, or telecopier in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, specifying therein (in addition to specifying whether such Borrowing as a Revolving Credit Borrowing or Term Borrowing) the requested (i) date and Facility of such Borrowing, (ii) Type of Advances comprising such Borrowing, (iii) aggregate amount of such Borrowing, and (iv) in the case of a Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances, initial Interest Period for each such Advance.  Each Appropriate Lender shall, before 3:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at the Agent’s Account, in same day funds, such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing.  After the Agent’s receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower consistent with the instructions set forth in the Notice of Borrowing; provided , however , that, in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing, the Agent shall first make a portion of such funds equal to the aggregate principal amount of any Swing Line Advances made by the Swing Line Bank and by any Revolving Credit Lender and outstanding on the date of such Borrowing, plus interest accrued and unpaid thereon to and as of such date, available to the Swing Line Bank and such other Lenders for repayment of such Swing Line Advances.

 

(b)                                  Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than 3:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing by the Borrower to the Swing Line Bank and the Agent, of which the Agent shall give prompt notice to the Appropriate Lenders.  Each such notice of a Swing Line Borrowing (a “ Notice of Swing Line Borrowing ”) shall be by telephone (confirmed immediately in writing), electronic delivery, or telecopier, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such Borrowing, (ii) amount of such Borrowing and (iii) maturity of such Borrowing (which maturity shall be no later than the tenth Business Day after the requested date of such Borrowing).  The Swing Line Bank shall, before

 

25



 

5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Swing Line Borrowing, make such Swing Line Borrowing available to the Agent at the Agent’s Account, in same day funds.  After the Agent’s receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower consistent with the instructions set forth in the Notice of Borrowing.   Upon written demand by the Swing Line Bank, with a copy of such demand to the Agent, each Revolving Credit Lender will purchase from the Swing Line Bank, and the Swing Line Bank shall sell and assign to each such other Lender, such other Lender’s Ratable Share of such outstanding Swing Line Advance, by making available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent for the account of the Swing Line Bank, by deposit to the Agent’s Account, in same day funds, an amount equal to the portion of the outstanding principal amount of the Swing Line Advance to be purchased by such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to each such sale and assignment.  Each Revolving Credit Lender agrees to purchase its Ratable Share of an outstanding Swing Line Advance on (i) the Business Day on which demand therefor is made by the Swing Line Bank, provided that notice of such demand is given not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such Business Day or (ii) the first Business Day next succeeding such demand if notice of such demand is given after such time.  Upon any such assignment by the Swing Line Bank to any Revolving Credit Lender of a portion of a Swing Line Advance, the Swing Line Bank represents and warrants to such other Lender that the Swing Line Bank is the legal and beneficial owner of such interest being assigned by it, but makes no other representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the Swing Line Advance, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or the Borrower.  If and to the extent that any Revolving Credit Lender shall not have so made the amount of such Swing Line Advance available to the Agent, such Lender agrees to pay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such Lender is required to have made such amount available to the Agent until the date such amount is paid to the Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.  If such Lender shall pay to the Agent such amount for the account of the Swing Line Bank on any Business Day, such amount so paid in respect of principal shall constitute a Swing Line Advance made by such Lender (with interest on such Swing Line Advance payable to such Lender) on such Business Day for purposes of this Agreement, and the outstanding principal amount of the Swing Line Advance made by the Swing Line Bank shall be reduced by such amount on such Business day.

 

(c)                                   Anything in subsection (a) above to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) the Borrower may not select Eurodollar Rate Advances for any Borrowing if the aggregate amount of such Borrowing is less than the Borrowing Minimum or if the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to Section 2.08 or 2.12 and (ii) the Eurodollar Rate Advances may not be outstanding as part of more than six separate Term Borrowings and ten separate Revolving Credit Borrowings.

 

(d)                                  Each Notice of Borrowing and Notice of Swing Line Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.  In the case of any Borrowing that the related Notice of Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Borrower shall indemnify each Appropriate Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of Borrowing for such Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the

 

26



 

liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.

 

(e)                                   Unless the Agent shall have received notice from an Appropriate Lender prior to the time of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of such Borrowing, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02, and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount.  If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion available to the Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Borrowings and (ii) in the case of such Lender or Swing Line Bank, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.  If such Lender shall repay to the Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender’s Advance as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.

 

(f)                                    The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Advances and to make payment pursuant to Section 8.04(c) are several and not joint.  The failure of any Appropriate Lender to make any Advance or to make any payment under Section 8.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Appropriate Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Advance or to make its payment under Section 8.04(c).

 

SECTION 2.03.  Issuance of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under Letters of Credit .

 

(a)                                  Request for Issuance .  (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued upon notice, given not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the fifth Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Issuance of such Letter of Credit (or on such shorter notice as the applicable Issuing Bank may agree), by the Borrower to any Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank shall give the Agent, prompt notice thereof.  Each such notice by the Borrower of Issuance of a Letter of Credit (a “ Notice of Issuance ”) shall be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing, electronic delivery or telecopier specifying therein the requested (A) date of such Issuance (which shall be a Business Day), (B) Available Amount of such Letter of Credit, (C) expiration date of such Letter of Credit, (D) name and address of the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit and (E) form of such Letter of Credit.  Each Letter of Credit shall be issued pursuant to such application and agreement for letter of credit as such Issuing Bank and the Borrower shall agree for use in connection with such requested Letter of Credit (a “ Letter of Credit Agreement ”).  If the requested form of such Letter of Credit is acceptable to such Issuing Bank in its reasonable discretion (it being understood that any such form shall have only explicit documentary conditions to draw and shall not include discretionary conditions), such Issuing Bank shall, unless such Issuing Bank has received written notice from any Lender or the Agent, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of Issuance or amendment of the applicable

 

27



 

Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Section 3.02 shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such Issuing Bank’s usual and customary business practices.  Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, as such Issuing Bank or the Agent may reasonably require.  In the event and to the extent that the provisions of any Letter of Credit Agreement shall conflict with this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Issuing Banks may send a Letter of Credit or conduct any communication to or from the beneficiary via the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (“ SWIFT ”) message or overnight courier, or any other commercially reasonable means of communicating with a beneficiary.

 

(b)                                  Participations .  By the Issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing or decreasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank or the Revolving Credit Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving Credit Lender, and each Revolving Credit Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Ratable Share of the Available Amount of such Letter of Credit.  The Borrower hereby agrees to each such participation.  In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving Credit Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Agent, for the account of such Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Ratable Share of each drawing made under a Letter of Credit funded by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date made, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason, which amount will be advanced, and deemed to be an Advance to the Borrower hereunder, regardless of the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.02.  Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.  Each Revolving Credit Lender further acknowledges and agrees that its participation in each Letter of Credit will be automatically adjusted to reflect such Lender’s Ratable Share of the Available Amount of such Letter of Credit at each time such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment is amended pursuant to a Commitment Increase in accordance with Section 2.21, an assignment in accordance with Section 8.07 or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Drawing and Reimbursement .  The payment by an Issuing Bank of a draft drawn under any Letter of Credit which is not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date made shall constitute for all purposes of this Agreement the making by any such Issuing Bank of an Advance, which shall be a Base Rate Advance, in the amount of such draft, without regard to whether the making of such an Advance would exceed such Issuing Bank’s Unused Revolving Credit Commitment.  Each Issuing Bank shall give prompt notice of each drawing under any Letter of Credit issued by it to the Borrower and the Agent.  The Borrower shall reimburse such Issuing Bank (which, in the case of any standby Letter of Credit, shall be through the Agent) in

 

28



 

an amount equal to such drawing (i) in the case of a trade Letter of Credit, on the date the Borrower receives such notice of payment by the applicable Issuing Bank and (ii) in the case of a standby Letter of Credit, on (A) the date the Borrower receives such notice of payment by the applicable Issuing Bank; provided that such notice is given not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such day, or (B) the first Business Day next succeeding such day if notice of such payment is given after such time .  If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank by such time, the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender the amount of the unreimbursed drawing, and the amount of such Lender’s Ratable Share thereof.  Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to make Advances pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.  Promptly after receipt thereof, the Agent shall transfer such funds to such Issuing Bank.  Each Revolving Credit Lender agrees to fund its Ratable Share of an outstanding Advance on (i) the Business Day on which demand therefor is made by such Issuing Bank, provided that notice of such demand is given not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such Business Day, or (ii) the first Business Day next succeeding such demand if notice of such demand is given after such time.  If and to the extent that any Revolving Credit Lender shall not have so made the amount of such Advance available to the Agent, such Lender agrees to pay to the Issuing Bank forthwith on demand such amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date of demand by any such Issuing Bank until the date such amount is paid to the Agent, at the higher of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Issuing Bank in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.  A certificate of an Issuing Bank submitted to any Lender (through the Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 2.03(c) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  If such Lender shall pay to the Agent such amount for the account of any such Issuing Bank on any Business Day, such amount so paid in respect of principal shall constitute an Advance made by such Lender on such Business Day for purposes of this Agreement, and the outstanding principal amount of the Advance made by such Issuing Bank shall be reduced by such amount on such Business Day.

 

(d)                                  Letter of Credit Reports .  Each Issuing Bank shall furnish (i) to the Agent (with a copy to the Borrower), on the first Business Day of each week a written report summarizing Issuance and expiration dates of trade Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the preceding week and drawings during such week under all trade Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, (ii) to the Agent (with a copy to the Borrower), on the first Business Day of each month a written report summarizing Issuance and expiration dates of Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the preceding month and drawings during such month under all Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank and (iii) to the Agent (with a copy to the Borrower), on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter a written report setting forth (A) the average daily aggregate Available Amount and (B) the amount available to be drawn, in each case, during the preceding calendar quarter of all Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank.  The Agent shall give to each Revolving Credit Lender prompt notice of each report delivered to it pursuant to this Section.

 

29



 

(e)                                   Failure to Make Advances .  The failure of any Revolving Credit Lender to make the Advance to be made by it on the date specified in Section 2.03(c) shall not relieve any other Revolving Credit Lender of its obligation hereunder to make its Advance on such date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance to be made by such other Lender on such date.

 

(f)                                    Applicability of ISP and UCP; Limitation of Liability . Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Issuing Banks and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the UCP shall apply to each trade Letter of Credit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Issuing Bank shall be responsible to the Borrower for, and no Issuing Bank’s rights and remedies against the Borrower shall be impaired by, any action or inaction of such Issuing Bank required or permitted under any law, order, or practice that is required or permitted to be applied to any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, including any order of a jurisdiction where such Issuing Bank or the beneficiary is located, the practice stated in the ISP or UCP, as applicable, or in the decisions, opinions, practice statements or official commentary of the ICC Banking Commission, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade - International Financial Services Association (BAFT-IFSA), or the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, whether or not any Letter of Credit chooses such law or practice.

 

(g)                                   Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries .  Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit.  The Borrower hereby acknowledges that the issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the Borrower, and that the Borrower’s business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 2.04.  Fees .

 

(a)                                  Facility Fee .  The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee on the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment(s) and Term Commitment(s), as applicable, from the Effective Date in the case of each Initial Lender and from the effective date specified in the Assumption Agreement or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender until the Termination Date at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the date that is five Business Days after the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing December 31, 2015, and on the Termination Date (or such later date on which the applicable Advances have been paid in full and, in the case of the Revolving Credit Lenders, the participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Advances of such Lender have terminated).

 

(b)                                  Letter of Credit Fees .

 

(i)  The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender a commission on such Lender’s Ratable Share of the average daily aggregate amount available to be drawn of all Letters of Credit issued for the account of

 

30



 

the Borrower and outstanding from time to time at a rate per annum equal to the sum of, (x) for standby Letters of Credit the Applicable Margin for Standby Letters of Credit in effect from time to time during such calendar quarter and (y) for trade Letters of Credit, the Applicable Margin for Trade Letters of Credit in effect from time to time during such calendar quarter, in each case, payable in arrears quarterly on the date that is five Business Days after the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the quarter ended December 31, 2015, and on the Termination Date (or such later date on which the participations in Letters of Credit of such Lender have terminated).

 

(ii)                                   The Borrower shall pay to each Issuing Bank, for its own account, a fronting fee and such other commissions, issuance fees, transfer fees and other fees and charges in connection with the Issuance or administration of each Letter of Credit as the Borrower and such Issuing Bank shall agree. The fronting fees described in this clause (ii) shall be due and payable (A) in the case of trade Letters of Credit, on the date of Issuance thereof and (B) in the case of standby Letters of Credit, in arrears quarterly on the date that is five Business Days after the last day of each March, June, September and December, and on the Termination Date (or such later date on which such standby Letter of Credit has been terminated).

 

(c)                                   Agent’s Fees .  The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for its own account such fees as may from time to time be agreed between the Borrower and the Agent.

 

SECTION 2.05.  Termination or Reduction of the Commitments .  (a)  Optional . The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least three Business Days notice to the Agent, to terminate in whole or permanently reduce ratably in part the Unused Revolving Credit Commitments or the Unissued Letter of Credit Commitments of the Lenders, provided that each partial reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.  Once terminated, a commitment may not be reinstated.

 

(b)                                  Mandatory . On the Effective Date, after giving effect to the Term Advances made in accordance with Section 2.01(a), and from time to time thereafter upon each prepayment or repayment of the Term Advances, the Term Commitments of the Term Lenders shall be automatically and permanently reduced on a pro rata basis by an amount equal to the amount by which (i) the aggregate Term Commitments immediately prior to such reduction exceeds (ii) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Term Advances outstanding at such time.

 

SECTION 2.06.  Repayment of Advances and Letter of Credit Drawings .

 

(a)                                  Term Advances .  The Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the ratable account of the Term Lenders on the Final Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of the Term Advances made to it and then outstanding.

 

(b)                                  Revolving Credit Advances .  The Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the ratable account of the Revolving Credit Lenders on the Termination Date the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances made to it and then outstanding.

 

31



 

(c)                                   Letter of Credit Drawings .  The obligations of the Borrower under any Letter of Credit Agreement and any other agreement or instrument relating to any Letter of Credit shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such Letter of Credit Agreement and such other agreement or instrument under all circumstances, including, without limitation, the following circumstances (it being understood that any such payment by the Borrower is without prejudice to, and does not constitute a waiver of, any rights the Borrower might have or might acquire as a result of the payment by the applicable Issuing Bank or any Revolving Credit Lender of any draft or the reimbursement by the Borrower thereof):

 

(i)                                      any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Letter of Credit Agreement, any Letter of Credit or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto (all of the foregoing being, collectively, the “ L/C Related Documents ”);

 

(ii)                                  any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of any L/C Related Document or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the L/C Related Documents;

 

(iii)                              the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of a Letter of Credit (or any Persons for which any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), any Issuing Bank, the Agent, any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with the transactions contemplated by the L/C Related Documents or any unrelated transaction;

 

(iv)                               any statement or any other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

 

(v)                                  payment by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;

 

(vi)                               any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any guarantee, for all or any of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of the L/C Related Documents;

 

(vii)                            any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or a guarantor;

 

(viii)                         waiver by any Issuing Bank of any requirement that exists for such Issuing Bank’s protection and not the protection of the Borrower or any waiver by such Issuing Bank which does not in fact materially prejudice the Borrower;

 

32



 

(ix)                               honor of a demand for payment presented electronically even if such Letter of Credit requires that demand be in the form of a draft; or

 

(x)                                  any payment made by any Issuing Bank in respect of an otherwise complying item presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under such Letter of Credit if presentation after such date is authorized by the UCC, the ISP or the UCP, as applicable.

 

The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the applicable Issuing Bank.  The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against such Issuing Bank and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.

 

(d)                                  Swing Line Advances .  The Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the ratable account of the Swing Line Bank and each Revolving Credit Lender which has made a Swing Line Advance the outstanding principal amount of each Swing Line Advance made to it by each of them on the earlier of the maturity date specified in the applicable Notice of Swing Line Borrowing (which maturity shall be no later than ten Business Days after the requested date of such Borrowing) and the Termination Date.

 

SECTION 2.07.  Interest on Advances .

 

(a)                                  Scheduled Interest .  The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance made to it and owing to each Lender from the date of such Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:

 

(i)                                      Base Rate Advances .  During such periods as such Advance is a Base Rate Advance and for each Swing Line Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum of (x) the Base Rate in effect from time to time plus (y) the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Advances in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the date that is five Business Days after the last day of each March, June, September and December during such periods and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full or Swing Line Advance is paid in full.

 

(ii)                                   Eurodollar Rate Advances .  During such periods as such Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during each Interest Period for such Advance to the sum of (x) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period for such Advance plus (y) the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Advances in effect from time to time, payable in arrears on the last day of such Interest Period and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day of such Interest Period and on the date such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.

 

33



 

(b)            Default Interest .  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a), the Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders shall, require the Borrower to pay interest (“ Default Interest ”) on (i) the unpaid principal amount of each Advance owing to each Lender, payable in arrears on the dates referred to in clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on such Advance pursuant to clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, the amount of any interest, fee or other amount payable hereunder that is not paid when due, from the date such amount shall be due until such amount shall be paid in full, payable in arrears on the date such amount shall be paid in full and on demand, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on Base Rate Advances pursuant to clause (a)(i) above; provided , however , that following acceleration of the Advances pursuant to Section 6.01, Default Interest shall accrue and be payable hereunder whether or not previously required by the Agent.

 

SECTION 2.08.  Interest Rate Determination .

 

(a)            The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the Agent for purposes of Section 2.07(a)(i) or (ii).

 

(b)            If, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advances under any Facility, the Required Revolving Lenders or the Required Term Lenders, as applicable, notify the Agent that (i) they are unable to obtain matching deposits in the London inter-bank market at or about 11:00 A.M. (London time) on the second Business Day before the making of a Borrowing in sufficient amounts to fund their respective Advances as a part of such Borrowing during its Interest Period or (ii) the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period for such Advances will not adequately reflect the cost to such Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective Eurodollar Rate Advances for such Interest Period, the Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon (A) the Borrower will, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, either (x) prepay such Advances or (y) Convert such Advances into Base Rate Advances and (B) the obligation of the Appropriate Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

 

(c)            If the Borrower shall fail to select the duration of any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the definition of “Interest Period” in Section 1.01, the Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Appropriate Lenders and such Advances will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate Advances.

 

(d)            On the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by payment or prepayment or otherwise, to less than the Borrowing Minimum, such Advances shall automatically  Convert into Base Rate Advances.

 

(e)            Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest

 

34



 

Period therefor be Converted into Base Rate Advances and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended.

 

(f)             If neither Reuters’ LIBOR01 Page nor another commercially available source providing quotations of the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited LIBOR Rate as designated by the Agent from time to time is available,

 

(i)             the Agent shall forthwith notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the interest rate cannot be determined for such Eurodollar Rate Advances,

 

(ii)            each such Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance (or if such Advance is then a Base Rate Advance, will continue as a Base Rate Advance), and

 

(iii)           the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to Convert Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

 

SECTION 2.09.  Optional Conversion of Advances .  The Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Agent not later than 12:00 P.M. (noon) (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.08 and 2.12, Convert all Advances of one Type comprising the same Borrowing into Advances of the other Type; provided, however, that any Conversion of Eurodollar Rate Advances into Base Rate Advances shall be made only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advances, any Conversion of Base Rate Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be in an amount not less than the Borrowing Minimum for Eurodollar Rate Advances and no Conversion of any Advances shall result in more separate Borrowings than permitted under Section 2.02(c).  Each such notice of a Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify (i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Advances to be Converted, and (iii) if such Conversion is into Eurodollar Rate Advances, the duration of the initial Interest Period for each such Advance.  Each notice of Conversion shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.

 

SECTION 2.10.  Optional Prepayments of Advances .  The Borrower may, upon notice at least two Business Days’ prior to the date of such prepayment, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances, and not later than 12:00 P.M. (noon) (New York City time) on the date of such prepayment, in the case of Base Rate Advances, to the Agent stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided, however, that (x) each partial prepayment of Advances shall be in an aggregate principal amount of not less than the Borrowing Minimum or a Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof, (y) each partial prepayment of Swing Line Advances shall in an aggregate principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 and (z) in the event of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance made prior to the last day of any Interest Period, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to

 

35



 

Section 8.04(f).  Each prepayment of outstanding Term Advances shall be applied as directed by the Borrower or, in the absence of such direction, in the inverse order of maturity.

 

SECTION 2.11.  Increased Costs .  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)             impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Eurodollar Rate);

 

(ii)            subject any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

 

(iii)           impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Advances made by such Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender or such other Recipient of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Advance or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Advance, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or other Recipient hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or other Recipient, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or other Recipient, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)            Capital Adequacy .  If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any lending office of such Lender or such Lender’s Parent Company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s Parent Company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Advances made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s Parent Company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s Parent Company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s Parent Company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)            Certificates for Reimbursement .  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its Parent Company as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)            Delay in Requests .  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to

 

36



 

demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions, and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

SECTION 2.12.  Illegality .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender under any Facility shall notify the Agent that the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is unlawful, for such Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform its obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder, (a) each Eurodollar Rate Advance outstanding under such Facility will automatically, upon such demand be Converted into a Base Rate Advance and (b) the obligation of the Appropriate Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to Convert Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Appropriate Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

 

SECTION 2.13.  Payments and Computations .

 

(a)            The Borrower shall make each payment hereunder, irrespective of any right of counterclaim or set-off, not later than 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the day when due in Dollars to the Agent at the Agent’s Account in same day funds.  The Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest, fees or commissions ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.04(b), 2.11, 2.14 or 8.04(c)) to the Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to such Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  Upon any Assuming Lender becoming a Lender hereunder as a result of a Commitment Increase pursuant to Section 2.21 and upon the Agent’s receipt of such Lender’s Assumption Agreement and recording of the information contained therein in the Register, from and after the applicable Increase Date, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder and under any other Loan Documents issued in connection therewith in respect of the interest assumed thereby to the Assuming Lender.  Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Assumption and recording of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(c), from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Assumption, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder and under the other Loan Documents in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and Assumption shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior to such effective date directly between themselves.

 

(b)            All computations of interest based on Citibank’s base rate shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all computations of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or One Month LIBOR and of fees and Letter of Credit commissions shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of

 

37



 

360 days, in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest, fees or commissions are payable.  Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(c)            Whenever any payment hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest, fee or commission, as the case may be; provided , however , that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.

 

(d)            Unless the Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Agent on such date and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender.  If and to the extent the Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Agent, at the higher of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

SECTION 2.14.  Taxes .

 

(a)            Payments Free of Taxes .  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made without deduction or withholding for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law.  If any applicable law (as determined in the good faith discretion of an applicable Withholding Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by a Withholding Agent, then the applicable Withholding Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after such deduction or withholding for Indemnified Taxes has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.

 

(b)            Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower .  The Borrower shall timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.

 

(c)            Indemnification by the Borrower .  The Borrower shall indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under

 

38



 

this Section) payable or paid by such Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Agent), or by the Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)            Indemnification by the Lenders .  Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 8.07(d) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Agent in connection with this Agreement, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Each Lender hereby authorizes the Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or otherwise payable by the Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Agent under this paragraph (d).

 

(e)            Evidence of Payments .  As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.14, the Borrower shall deliver to the Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

 

(f)             Status of Lenders .  (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Section 2.14(f)(ii)(A), (ii)(B) and (ii)(D) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

(ii)            Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,

 

39



 

(A)           any Lender that is a U.S. Person shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Agent), executed originals of IRS Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax;

 

(B)           any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Agent), whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(i)             in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under this Agreement, executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under this Agreement, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;

 

(ii)            executed originals of IRS Form W-8ECI;

 

(iii)           in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D-1 to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “ U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ”) and (y) executed originals of IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E; or

 

(iv)           to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed originals of IRS Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-8ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D-2 or Exhibit D-3, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner;

 

40



 

(C)           any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or the Agent), executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower or the Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made; and

 

(D)           if a payment made to a Lender under this Agreement would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Lender has complied with such Lender’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this clause (D), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

(g)            Treatment of Certain Refunds .  If any party determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 2.14 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.14), it shall pay to the indemnifying party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses (including Taxes) of such indemnified party and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund).  Such indemnifying party, upon the request of such indemnified party, shall repay to such indemnified party the amount paid over pursuant to this paragraph (g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event that such indemnified party is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (g), in no event will the indemnified party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this paragraph (g) the payment of which would place the indemnified party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than the indemnified party would have been in if the indemnification payments or additional amounts giving rise to such refund had never been paid.  This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any

 

41



 

other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.

 

(h)            Survival .  Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.14 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.15.  Sharing of Payments, Etc .  If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Advances or other obligations hereunder resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its Advances and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Advances and such other obligations before the Termination Date of the other Appropriate Lenders, and, on and after the Termination Date, of all other Lenders or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Appropriate Lenders or all Lenders, as applicable, ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Advances and other amounts owing them; provided that:

 

(i)             if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

 

(ii)            the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Advances to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply).

 

The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

SECTION 2.16.  Evidence of Debt .

 

(a)            Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Advance owing to such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder in respect of Advances.  The Borrower agrees that upon notice by any Lender to the Borrower (with a copy of such notice

 

42



 

to the Agent) to the effect that a Note is required or appropriate in order for such Lender to evidence (whether for purposes of pledge, enforcement or otherwise) the Advances owing to, or to be made by, such Lender, the Borrower shall promptly execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to the order of such Lender in a principal amount up to the applicable Commitment of such Lender.

 

(b)            The Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(c) shall include a control account, and a subsidiary account for each Lender, in which accounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the date and amount of each Borrowing made hereunder, the Type of Advances comprising such Borrowing and, if appropriate, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the terms of each Assumption Agreement and each Assignment and Assumption delivered to and accepted by it, (iii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iv) the amount of any sum received by the Agent from the Borrower hereunder and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(c)            Entries made in good faith by the Agent in the Register pursuant to subsection (b) above, and by each Lender in its account or accounts pursuant to subsection (a) above, shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement, absent manifest error; provided , however , that the failure of the Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.17.  Use of Proceeds .  The proceeds of the Advances shall be available (and the Borrower agrees that it shall use such proceeds) for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the refinancing, repayment or prepayment of existing Debt and other obligations.

 

SECTION 2.18.  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .

 

(a)            Designation of a Different Applicable Lending Office .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.11, or requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.14, then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable efforts to designate a different Applicable Lending Office for funding or booking its Advances hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.11 or 2.14 as the case may be, in the future, and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender.  The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(b)            Replacement of Lenders .  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.11, or if the Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amounts to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to

 

43



 

Section 2.14 and, in each case, such Lender has declined or is unable to designate a different Applicable Lending Office in accordance with Section 2.18(a), or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or a Non-Approving Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 8.07), all of its interests, rights (other than its existing rights to payments pursuant to Section 2.11 or Section 2.14 and obligations under this Agreement to an Eligible Assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

 

(i)             the Borrower shall have paid to the Agent the assignment fee (if any) specified in Section 8.07;

 

(ii)            such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder (including any amounts under Section 8.04(f)) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

 

(iii)           in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.11 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.14, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;

 

(iv)           such assignment does not conflict with applicable law; and

 

(v)            in the case of any assignment resulting from a Lender becoming a Non-Approving Lender, the applicable assignee shall have consented to the applicable amendment, waiver or consent.

 

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

 

SECTION 2.19.  Cash Collateral .

 

(a)            At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, within one Business Day following the written request of the Agent or any Issuing Bank (with a copy to the Agent) the Borrower shall Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender (determined after giving effect to any reallocation pursuant to Section 2.20(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by such Defaulting Lender) in an amount not less than the Minimum Collateral Amount.

 

(b)            Grant of Security Interest .  The Borrower, and to the extent provided by any Defaulting Lender, such Defaulting Lender, hereby grants to the Agent, for the benefit of the Issuing Banks, and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such Cash Collateral as security for the Defaulting Lenders’ obligation to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations, to be applied pursuant to clause (b) below.  If at any time the Agent determines that

 

44



 

Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Agent and the Issuing Banks as herein provided or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the Minimum Collateral Amount, the Borrower will, promptly upon demand by the Agent, pay or provide to the Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency (after giving effect to any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).

 

(c)            Application .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under this Section 2.19 or Section 2.20 in respect of Letters of Credit shall be applied to the satisfaction of the Defaulting Lender’s obligation to fund participations in respect of L/C Obligations (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may otherwise be provided for herein.

 

(d)            Termination of Requirement .  Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce any Issuing Bank’s Fronting Exposure shall no longer be required to be held as Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.19 following (i) the elimination of the applicable Fronting Exposure (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender), or (ii) the existence of excess Cash Collateral, as reasonably determined by the Agent and each Issuing Bank; provided that, subject to Section 2.20 the Person providing Cash Collateral and each Issuing Bank may agree that Cash Collateral shall be held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.

 

SECTION 2.20.  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 Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement 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 Article VI or otherwise) or received by the Agent from a Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 8.05 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 , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Bank hereunder; third , to Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender in accordance with 2.19; fourth , as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Advance in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Agent; fifth , if so determined by the Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a deposit account

 

45



 

and released pro rata in order to (x) satisfy such Defaulting Lender’s potential future funding obligations with respect to Advances under this Agreement and (y) Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ future Fronting Exposure with respect to such Defaulting Lender with respect to future Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement, in accordance with Section 2.19; sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Banks or the Swing Line Bank as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Banks or the Swing Line Bank against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh , so long as no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth , 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 Advances or L/C Obligations in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, and (y) such Advances were made or the related Letters of Credit were issued at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 3.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Advances of, and L/C Obligations owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Advances of, or L/C Obligations owed to, such Defaulting Lender until such time as all Advances and funded and unfunded participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Advances are held by the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Commitments under the applicable Facility without giving effect to Section 2.20(a)(iv).  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 2.20(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(iii)           Certain Fees .

 

(A)           Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive a facility fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to extent allocable to the sum of (1) the outstanding principal amount of the Advances funded by it, and (2) its Ratable Share of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.19.

 

(B)           Each Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to receive letter of credit fees for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender only to the extent allocable to its Ratable Share of the stated amount of Letters of Credit for which it has provided Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.19.

 

(C)           With respect to any facility fee or letter of credit fee not required to be paid to any Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (A) or (B) above, the Borrower shall (x) pay to each Non-Defaulting Lender that portion of any

 

46



 

such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Advances that has been reallocated to such Non-Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (iv) below, (y) pay to each Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Bank, as applicable, the amount of any such fee otherwise payable to such Defaulting Lender to the extent allocable to such Issuing Bank’s or Swing Line Bank’s Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, and (z) not be required to pay the remaining amount of any such fee.

 

(iv)           Reallocation of Participations to Reduce Fronting Exposure .  All or any part of such Defaulting Lender’s participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Advances shall be reallocated among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Ratable Shares (calculated without regard to such Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment) but only to the extent that such reallocation does not cause the sum of the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Advances, the participations in outstanding Letters of Credit and participation in Swing Line Advances of any Non-Defaulting Lender to exceed such Non-Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment.  No reallocation hereunder shall constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder against a Defaulting Lender arising from that Lender having become a Defaulting Lender, including any claim of a Non-Defaulting Lender as a result of such Non-Defaulting Lender’s increased exposure following such reallocation.

 

(v)            Cash Collateral, Repayment of Swing Line Advances .  If the reallocation described in clause (iv) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, the Borrower shall, without prejudice to any right or remedy available to it hereunder or under law, (x)  first , prepay Swing Line Advances in an amount equal to the Swing Line Bank’s Fronting Exposure and (y)  second , Cash Collateralize the Issuing Banks’ Fronting Exposure in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.19.

 

(b)            Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrower, the Agent, the Swing Line Bank and each Issuing Bank 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 in respect of such Facility, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Advances of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Advances and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Advances to be held pro rata by the Appropriate Lenders in accordance with the Commitments under the applicable Facility (without giving effect to Section 2.20(a)(iv)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or other payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower 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 Non-Defaulting Lender will

 

47



 

constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

(c)            New Swing Line Advances/Letters of Credit .  So long as any Revolving Credit Lender is a Defaulting Lender, in each case after giving effect to Section 2.20(a)(iv), (i) the Swing Line Bank shall not be required to fund any Swing Line Advances unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect to such Swing Line Advance and (ii) no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, extend, renew or increase any Letter of Credit unless it is satisfied that it will have no Fronting Exposure after giving effect thereto.

 

SECTION 2.21.  Increase in the Aggregate Commitments .

 

(a)            Request for Increase .  The Borrower may, at any time but in any event not more than once in any calendar year prior to the Termination Date, by notice to the Agent, request that the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment and/or Term Commitment be increased by an amount of $25,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof (each a “ Commitment Increase ”) to be effective as of a date that is at least 90 days prior to the Termination Date (the “ Increase Date ”) as specified in the related notice to the Agent; provided , however that in no event shall the aggregate amount of the Commitment Increases at any time exceed $150,000,000; and provided , further , that, in respect of any proposed increase of the Term Facility, the Increase Date shall be the last day of an Interest Period for Term Advances.

 

(b)            Lender Election to Increase .  The Agent shall promptly notify such Lenders and Eligible Assignees as are designated by the Borrower of a request by the Borrower for a Commitment Increase, which notice shall include (i) the Facility to be increased, (ii) the proposed amount of such requested Commitment Increase, (iii) the proposed Increase Date and (iv) the date by which such Lenders and Eligible Assignees wishing to participate in the Commitment Increase must commit to an increase in the amount of their respective applicable Commitments (the “ Commitment Date ”).  Each such Lender and Eligible Assignee that is willing to participate in such requested Commitment Increase (each an “ Increasing Lender ”) shall, in its sole discretion, give written notice to the Agent on or prior to the Commitment Date of the amount by which it is willing to increase its Commitment or to establish its Commitment, as the case may be.  If such Lenders and Eligible Assignees notify the Agent that they are willing to participate in the requested Commitment Increase with applicable Commitments in an aggregate amount that exceed the amount of the requested Commitment Increase, the requested Commitment Increase shall be allocated among such Lenders and Eligible Assignees in such amounts as are agreed between the Borrower and the Agent. No Lender shall be obligated to participate in such Commitment Increase.

 

(c)            Notification by Agent .  Promptly following each Commitment Date, the Agent shall notify the Borrower as to the amount, if any, by which such Lenders and Eligible Assignees are willing to participate in the requested Commitment Increase; provided , however , that the Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Commitment, as applicable, of each such Eligible Assignee shall be in an amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.

 

48



 

(d)            Assuming Lenders .  On each Increase Date, each Eligible Assignee that accepts an offer to participate in a requested Commitment Increase in accordance with Section 2.21(b) (each such Eligible Assignee, an “ Assuming Lender ”) shall become a Lender party to this Agreement as of such Increase Date and the Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Commitment, as applicable, of each Increasing Lender for such requested Commitment Increase shall be so increased by such amount (or by the amount allocated to such Lender pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.21(b)) as of such Increase Date.

 

(e)            Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase .  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Commitment Increase pursuant to this Section shall not be effective with respect to any Lender or Eligible Assignee unless (i) the Agent shall have received on or before such Increase Date the following, each dated such date:

 

(A)           certified copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower or comparable governing body authorizing the Commitment Increase and the corresponding modifications to this Agreement;

 

(B)           an assumption agreement from each Assuming Lender, if any, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Agent (each an “ Assumption Agreement ”), duly executed by such Assuming Lender, the Agent and the Borrower; and

 

(C)           confirmation from each Increasing Lender of the increase in the amount of its Revolving Credit Commitment or Term Commitment, as applicable, in a writing reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and the Agent; and

 

(ii)            on the date of request for a Commitment Increase and on the applicable Increase Date the following statements shall be true (and the giving of the request for Commitment Increase shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of such request and on such Increase Date such statements are true):

 

(A)           no Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date and after giving effect to such Commitment Increase; and

 

(B)           the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of such date of, before and after giving effect to, such Commitment Increase, and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent any of such representations and warranties refers to an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of such

 

49



 

date of, before and after giving effect to, such Commitment Increase, and to the application of the proceeds therefrom.

 

On each Increase Date, upon fulfillment of the conditions set forth in this Section 2.21(e), the Agent shall notify the Appropriate Lenders (including, without limitation, each Assuming Lender) and the Borrower, on or before 1:00 P.M. (New York City time), of the occurrence of the Commitment Increase to be effected on such Increase Date and shall record in the Register the relevant information with respect to each Increasing Lender and each Assuming Lender on such date.  Each Increasing Lender and each Assuming Lender shall, before 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the Increase Date, to the extent applicable, (a) in the case of any increase in the Revolving Credit Facility, purchase at par that portion of outstanding Advances of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Advances to be held pro rata by the Lenders in accordance with the Commitments and/or (b) in case of any increase in the Term Facility, make available to the Agent at the Agent’s Account, in same day funds, an amount equal to such Increasing Lender’s or Assuming Lender’s increased Term Commitment.

 

ARTICLE III

 

CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING

 

SECTION 3.01.  Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Amendment and Restatement .  The amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement shall become effective on and as of the first date (the “ Effective Date ”) on which the following conditions precedent have been satisfied:

 

(a)            The Borrower shall have notified each Lender and the Agent in writing as to the proposed Effective Date.

 

(b)            The Borrower shall have paid all accrued fees and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders (including the accrued fees and expenses of counsel to the Agent).

 

(c)            On the Effective Date, the following statements shall be true and the Agent shall have received for the account of each Lender a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, dated the Effective Date, stating that:

 

(i)             The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are correct on and as of the Effective Date, and

 

(ii)            No event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Default.

 

(d)            The Agent shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following, each dated such day, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent:

 

(i)             Counterparts of this Agreement, duly executed and delivered by each of the Lenders, the Borrower and the Agent (or in the case of any such party as to which an executed counterpart shall not have been received, the Agent shall

 

50



 

have received, in form reasonably satisfactory to it, telecopy, email or other written confirmation from such party of its execution of a counterpart of this Agreement).

 

(ii)            The Notes to the order of the Lenders to the extent requested by any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16 at least five Business Days prior to the Effective Date.

 

(iii)           Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower approving this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

(iv)           A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder.

 

(v)            A favorable opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Borrower.

 

(e)            The Borrower shall, substantially simultaneously with the occurrence of the Effective Date (and in any event no later than the close of business on the Effective Date), repay or prepay all of the accrued obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement and each of the Lenders that is a party to the Existing Credit Agreement hereby waives any claim it may have under Section 8.04(f) of the Existing Credit Agreement in respect of such payments made on the Effective Date.

 

(f)             Each Lender shall have received all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act to the extent requested by such Lender at least five Business Days prior to the Effective Date.

 

SECTION 3.02.  Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing and Issuance .  The obligation of each Lender and the Swing Line Bank to make an Advance (other than (x) a Swing Line Advance made by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.02(b) or (y) an Advance made by any Issuing Bank or any Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(c)) on the occasion of each Borrowing and the obligation of each Issuing Bank to Issue a Letter of Credit shall be subject to the conditions precedent that the Effective Date shall have occurred and on the date of such Borrowing or such Issuance (as the case may be) (a) the Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Swing Line Borrowing or Notice of Issuance, (b) the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Borrowing, Notice of Swing Line Borrowing or Notice of Issuance and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of such Borrowing or such Issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of such Borrowing or such Issuance that such statements are true):

 

51



 

(i)             the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 (except the representations and warranties set forth in the last sentence of Section 4.01(e) and in Section 4.01(f)(i)) are true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of such date, before and after giving effect to such Borrowing or such Issuance and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent any of such representations and warranties refers to an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of such date of, before and after giving effect to, such Borrowing or such Issuance, and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, and

 

(ii)            no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Borrowing or such Issuance or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default;

 

and (c) the Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions or documents as any Lender through the Agent may reasonably request.

 

SECTION 3.03.  Determinations Under Section 3.01 .  For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 3.01, each Lender shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to the Lenders unless an officer of the Agent responsible for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the date that the Borrower, by notice to the Lenders, designates as the proposed Effective Date, specifying its objection thereto.  The Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of the occurrence of the Effective Date.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

SECTION 4.01.  Representations and Warranties of the Borrower .  The Borrower represents and warrants as follows:

 

(a)            The Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Tennessee.

 

(b)            The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to be delivered by it, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, are within the Borrower’s corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not contravene (i) the Borrower’s charter or by-laws or (ii) any law or any contractual restriction binding on or affecting the Borrower.

 

52



 

(c)            No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to be delivered by it, except for such authorizations and approvals which have been obtained and notices and filings which have been made.

 

(d)            This Agreement has been, and each of the Notes to be delivered by it when delivered hereunder will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower.  This Agreement is, and each of the Notes when delivered hereunder will be, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their respective terms, except as may enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.

 

(e)            The Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at January 30, 2015, and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, accompanied by an opinion of Ernst & Young LLP, independent public accountants, and the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at July 31, 2015, and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the six months then ended, duly certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, copies of which have been furnished to each Lender, fairly present, subject, in the case of said balance sheet as at July 31, 2015, and said statements of income and cash flows for the six months then ended, to year end audit adjustments, the Consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such dates and the Consolidated results of the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the periods ended on such dates, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.  Since January 30, 2015, there has been no Material Adverse Change.

 

(f)             There is no pending or threatened action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding, including, without limitation, any Environmental Action, affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that (i) could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect other than the matters described on Schedule 4.01(f) Disclosed Litigation hereto or (ii) purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(g)            The Borrower 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 (within the meaning of Regulations T, U or X issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and no proceeds of any Advance will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock in violation of said Regulations T, U or X or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock in violation of said Regulations T, U or X.  Following application of the proceeds of each Advance, not more than 25 percent of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis) that are subject to a

 

53



 

restriction on sale, pledge, or disposal under this Agreement will be represented by margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System).

 

(h)            The Borrower is not an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(i)             Neither the Information Memorandum nor any other written information, exhibit or report furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation and syndication of this Agreement or delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (other than information of a general economic or industry nature or financial estimates, forecasts and other forward-looking information and after giving effect to all supplements and updates thereto) contains, when taken as a whole, any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made.

 

(j)             (i) Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect:  Each Plan is in compliance with ERISA, the Code and any applicable Requirement of Law; no Reportable Event has occurred; no Plan is reasonably likely to be insolvent or in reorganization and no written notice of any such insolvency or reorganization has been given to the Borrower; each Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA has satisfied the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) applicable to such Plan, and there has been no determination that any such Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 303 of ERISA; none of the Borrower has incurred (or is reasonably likely to incur) any liability to or on account of a Plan pursuant to Section 406, 409, 502(c), (i) or (l), 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201, 4204 or 4071 of ERISA or has been notified in writing that it will incur any liability under any of the foregoing Sections with respect to any Plan; no proceedings have been instituted (or are reasonably likely to be instituted) to terminate or to reorganize any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, and no written notice of any such proceedings has been given to the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; and no lien imposed under Section 401(a)(29) or 430(k) of the Code or pursuant to ERISA on the assets of the Borrower exists (or is reasonably likely to exist) nor has the Borrower been notified in writing that such a lien will be imposed on the assets of the Borrower on account of any Plan, except to the extent that a breach of any of the representations, warranties or agreements in this Section 4.01(j)  would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in an amount of liability that would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) has an Unfunded Current Liability that would, individually or when taken together with any other liabilities referenced in this Section 4.01(j), be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has been notified by the sponsor of a Mulitemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or has been determined to be in “endangered or critical” status with the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA and no such Multiemployer Plan is reasonably expected to be insolvent or in “endangered or critical” status. With respect to Plans that

 

54



 

are Multiemployer Plans, the representations and warranties in this Section 4.01(j), other than any made with respect to (i) liability under Section 4203 or 4205 of ERISA or (ii) liability for termination or reorganization of such Plans under ERISA, are made to be best knowledge of the Borrower. Neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred nor reasonably expects to incur any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Plan maintained by an ERISA Affiliate, including the imposition of any Lien in favor of the PBGC .

 

(ii)            All Foreign Plans are in compliance with, and have been established, administered and operated in accordance with, the terms of such Foreign Plans and applicable law, except for any failure to so comply, establish, administer or operate the Foreign Plans as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  All contributions or other payments which are due with respect to each Foreign Plan have been made in full and there are no funding deficiencies thereunder, except to the extent any such events would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(k)            Except where the failure of which would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) each of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries has filed all federal income tax returns and all other tax returns, domestic and foreign, required to be filed by it and has paid all material taxes payable by it that have become due, other than those (i) not yet delinquent or (ii) contested in good faith as to which adequate reserves have been provided to the extent required by law and in accordance with GAAP and (b) the Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries have paid, or have provided adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower or such Subsidiary) in accordance with GAAP for the payment of, all federal, state, provincial and foreign taxes applicable for the current fiscal year to the Effective Date.

 

(l)             The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with Environmental Laws and have not received written notice of any pending or threatened claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, except in each case as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(m)           On the Effective Date, immediately following the making of each Advance made on the Effective Date and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Advances, the Borrower on a Consolidated basis with its Subsidiaries is Solvent.

 

(n)            The Borrower and each of the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to or leasehold interests in all properties that are necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted, free and clear of all Liens (other than any Liens permitted by this Agreement) and except where the failure to have such good title would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

55



 

(o)            The Borrower has implemented and maintains in effect policies and procedures designed to promote compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with AML Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions, and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and to the knowledge of the Borrower their respective officers, employees and directors, are in compliance with applicable Sanctions in all material respects.  None of (a) the Borrower or any Subsidiary or (b) to the knowledge of the Borrower, any of their respective directors, officers, employees or designated agents that will act in any capacity in connection with or directly benefit from the use of proceeds of the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person.

 

ARTICLE V

 

COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER

 

SECTION 5.01.  Affirmative Covenants .  So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid, any Letter of Credit is outstanding or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will:

 

(a)            Compliance with Laws, Etc .  Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, except where the failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include, without limitation, compliance with ERISA, Environmental Laws and the Patriot Act.

 

(b)            Payment of Taxes, Etc .  Pay and discharge, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its property and (ii) all material lawful claims that, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon its property; provided , however , that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or discharge any such tax, assessment, charge or claim that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained, unless and until any Lien resulting therefrom attaches to its property and becomes enforceable against its other creditors.

 

(c)            Maintenance of Insurance .  Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such risks as is (i) commercially reasonable in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower and (ii) either consistent with past practices or in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses or owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary operates; provided , however , that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may self-insure to the extent deemed commercially reasonable in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower.

 

(d)            Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc .  Preserve and maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to preserve and maintain, its corporate existence, rights

 

56



 

(charter and statutory) and franchises; provided , however , that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may consummate any merger or consolidation permitted under Section 5.02(b) and provided further that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve the existence of any Subsidiary or any right or franchise of the Borrower or any Subsidiary if the management of the Borrower shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or if the failure to preserve such existence, right or franchise would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)            Visitation Rights .  At any reasonable time and from time to time, permit the Agent or any of the Lenders or any agents or representatives thereof, to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the properties of, the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries with any of their officers or directors and with their independent certified public accountants.

 

(f)             Keeping of Books .  Keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account in conformity with GAAP.

 

(g)            Maintenance of Properties, Etc .  Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its properties that are used or useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, in each case except where the failure to so maintain and preserve would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(h)            Reporting Requirements .  Furnish to the Lenders:

 

(i)             as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such quarter, duly certified (subject to year-end audit adjustments) by the chief financial officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and certificates of a Financial Officer of the Borrower as to compliance with the terms of this Agreement and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations necessary to demonstrate compliance with Section 5.03, provided that in the event of any change in generally accepted accounting principles used in the preparation of such financial statements, the Borrower shall also provide, if necessary for the determination of compliance with Section 5.03, a statement of reconciliation conforming such financial statements to GAAP;

 

(ii)            as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the annual audit report for such year for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, containing the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and

 

57



 

Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, in each case accompanied by an audit opinion by Ernst & Young LLP or other independent public accountants of national standing or otherwise acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report shall be unqualified as to scope of audit and shall state that such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition as at the end of such fiscal year, and certificates of a Financial Officer of the Borrower as to compliance with the terms of this Agreement and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations necessary to demonstrate compliance with Section 5.03, provided that in the event of any change in generally accepted accounting principles used in the preparation of such financial statements, the Borrower shall also provide, if necessary for the determination of compliance with Section 5.03, a statement of reconciliation conforming such financial statements to GAAP;

 

(iii)           as soon as possible and in any event within five days after an officer of the Borrower obtains knowledge thereof, the occurrence of each Default continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of an officer of the Borrower setting forth details of such Default and the action that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;

 

(iv)           promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all reports that the Borrower sends to any of its security holders, and copies of all reports and registration statements that the Borrower or any Subsidiary files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities exchange;

 

(v)            promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of all actions and proceedings before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the type described in Section 4.01(f); and

 

(vi)           such other information respecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as any Lender through the Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

 

Any information or document that is required to be delivered to the Agent or any Lender pursuant to this Section 5.01(h) shall be deemed delivered to the Agent and the Lenders upon the filing of such information with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the time such information or document becomes available on EDGAR provided that the Borrower gives timely notice to the Agent of the filing thereof.

 

(i)             Transactions with Affiliates.   Conduct, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to conduct, all transactions otherwise permitted under this Agreement with any of their Affiliates on terms that, in the good faith judgment of the management of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, are fair and reasonable and no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person not an Affiliate; provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to (a) transactions between or among the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries or between and among any Subsidiaries, (b) the payment of reasonable fees and out-of-pocket costs to directors, and compensation and employee benefit arrangements paid

 

58



 

to, and indemnities provided for the benefit of, directors, officers or employees of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or (c) any issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Borrower’s board of directors.

 

SECTION 5.02.  Negative Covenants .  So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid, any Letter of Credit is outstanding or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will not:

 

(a)            Liens, Etc .  Create or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to assign, any right to receive income, other than:

 

(i)             Permitted Liens;

 

(ii)            Liens securing obligations under Capital Leases;

 

(iii)           purchase money Liens upon or in any real property or equipment acquired or held by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of such property or equipment or to secure Debt incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of such property or equipment, or Liens existing on such property or equipment at the time of its acquisition (other than any such Liens created in contemplation of such acquisition that were not incurred to finance the acquisition of such property) or extensions, renewals or replacements of any of the foregoing for the same or a lesser amount, provided , however , that no such Lien shall extend to or cover any properties of any character other than the real property or equipment being acquired, and no such extension, renewal or replacement shall extend to or cover any properties not theretofore subject to the Lien being extended, renewed or replaced;

 

(iv)           the Liens existing on the Effective Date and described on Schedule 5.02(a) — Existing Liens hereto;

 

(v)            Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower and Liens on assets existing at the time such assets are acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided that such Liens were not created in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person so merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or such Subsidiary or acquired by the Borrower or such Subsidiary;

 

(vi)           Liens securing any Advances, L/C Obligations or any other obligations under or in connection with the Loan Documents;

 

59



 

(vii)          Liens securing Debt of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time outstanding, together with any Debt incurred under Section 5.02(d)(x), 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; and

 

(viii)         the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by clause (iii) or (iv) above upon or in the same property theretofore subject thereto or the replacement, extension or renewal (without increase in the amount or change in any direct or contingent obligor) of the Debt secured thereby.

 

(b)            Mergers, Etc .  Merge or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to, any Person, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, except that (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of assets to, any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of assets to the Borrower, (iii) the Borrower may merge with any other Person so long as the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (iv) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge into another Person or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of assets to any other Person in connection with a disposition of such Subsidiary if such Subsidiary, after giving effect thereto, is no longer a Subsidiary of the Borrower so long as the disposition of such Subsidiary does not constitute all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower and (v) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge or consolidate into another Person if the surviving Person of such merger or consolidation shall become a Subsidiary of the Borrower, provided , in each case, that no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such proposed transaction or would result therefrom.

 

(c)            Change in Nature of Business .  Make, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make, any material change in the nature of its business as carried on at the date hereof.

 

(d)            Subsidiary Debt .  Permit any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Debt other than:

 

(i)             Debt owing to the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

(ii)            existing Debt outstanding on the Effective Date, and listed on Schedule 5.02(d) - Existing Subsidiary Debt (the “ Existing Subsidiary Debt ”), and any Debt extending the maturity of, or replacing, refunding, renewing or refinancing, in whole or in part, the Existing Subsidiary Debt; provided , that the principal amount of such Existing Subsidiary Debt shall not be increased above the principal amount thereof outstanding immediately prior to such extension, replacement, refunding, renewal or refinancing (except by an amount equal to any existing commitments utilized thereunder) as a result of or in connection with such extension, replacement, refunding, renewal or refinancing;

 

60



 

(iii)           guarantees by any Subsidiary in respect of Debt of any other Subsidiary otherwise permitted under this Section 5.02(d);

 

(iv)           Debt representing deferred compensation or similar obligations to employees of incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(v)            any Debt of (A) a Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower to the extent such Debt exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary and (B) a Subsidiary to the extent such Debt is assumed in connection with an acquisition made by such Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of such acquisition; provided , however , that such Debt shall not be guaranteed by any other Subsidiary;

 

(vi)           any guarantees for Advances, L/C Obligations or any other obligations under or in connection with the Loan Documents;

 

(vii)          endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business;

 

(viii)         Debt under Capital Leases;

 

(ix)           unsecured obligations due to vendors under any vendor factoring line; and

 

(x)            other Debt aggregating for all of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries together with Debt secured by Liens permitted under Section 5.02(a)(vii) in an amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

(e)            AML Laws, Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions.  Use the proceeds of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person which uses such proceeds for the purpose of funding activities or business directly, or to the knowledge of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, indirectly (A) in violation of AML Laws, (B) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any Person in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws or (C) for the purpose of funding, financing or facilitating any activities, business or transaction of or with any Sanctioned Person, or in any Sanctioned Country to the extent such activities, businesses or transaction would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by a U.S. Person.

 

SECTION 5.03.  Financial Covenants .  So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid, any Letter of Credit is outstanding or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will, in each case as of the last day of each full fiscal quarter of the Borrower ending after the Effective Date (each such date, a “ Measurement Date ”):

 

61



 

(a)            Leverage Ratio .  Maintain a ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as of such Measurement Date plus six (6) times Consolidated Rental Expense for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such Measurement Date to (ii) Consolidated EBITDAR for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such Measurement Date of not greater than 3.5:1.0.

 

(b)            Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio .  Maintain a ratio of (i) Consolidated EBITDAR for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such Measurement Date to (ii) the sum of Consolidated Interest Expense and Consolidated Rental Expense for the four fiscal quarter period ending on such Measurement Date of not less than 2.0:1.0.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

SECTION 6.01.  Events of Default .  If any of the following events (“ Events of Default ”) shall occur and be continuing:

 

(a)            The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance when the same becomes due and payable; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Advance or make any other payment of fees or other amounts payable under this Agreement or any Note within five days after the same becomes due and payable; or

 

(b)            Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein or by the Borrower (or any of its officers) in any certificate, document, financial or other statement in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made; or

 

(c)            (i) The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(d) (as to the existence of the Borrower), 5.02, 5.03 or 2.17, or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or observed if such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Agent or any Lender; or

 

(d)            The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Debt that is outstanding in a principal or notional amount of at least $75,000,000 in the aggregate (but excluding Debt outstanding hereunder) of the Borrower or such Subsidiary (as the case may be), when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Debt; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Debt and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Debt; or any such Debt shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be repaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption, or, with respect to any secured Debt,

 

62



 

resulting from a disposition, condemnation, insured loss or similar event relating to the property securing such Debt), purchased or defeased, or an offer to repay, redeem, purchase or defease such Debt shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof; provided that this Section 6.01(d) shall not apply to secured Debt that becomes due as a result of a sale, transfer, condemnation or similar event relating to the property or assets securing such Debt; or

 

(e)            The Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (e); or

 

(f)             Judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $75,000,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by a court of competent jurisdiction and such judgment or order for payment is not satisfied, discharged, vacated, bonded or stayed pending appeal within a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(g)            Any non-monetary judgment or order shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by a court of competent jurisdiction that could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and such judgment or order is not satisfied, discharged, vacated, bonded or stayed pending appeal within a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(h)            (i) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the equity securities of the Borrower entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Borrower on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or

 

63



 

group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right); or (ii) during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Borrower cease to be composed of individuals (x) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (y) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (x) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (z) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (x) and (y) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body; or

 

(i)            (i) Any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standard required for any plan year or part thereof or a waiver of such standard or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under Section 412 of the Code; any Plan is or shall have been terminated or is the subject of termination proceedings under ERISA (including the giving of written notice thereof); an event shall have occurred or a condition shall exist in either case entitling the PBGC to terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan (including the giving of written notice thereof); a Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA is, or is expected to be, in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 303 of ERISA); the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or is likely to incur a liability to or on account of a Plan under Section 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069, 4201 or 4204 of ERISA Title IV of ERISA (including the giving of written notice thereof), (ii) there could result from any event or events set forth in clause (i) this Section 6.01(i) the imposition of a lien, the granting of a security interest, or a liability, or the reasonable likelihood of incurring a lien, security interest or liability, (iii) a determination that any Plan is or is reasonably likely to be in at risk status (within the meaning of Section 303 of ERISA), or (iv) the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate receives notice from the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA), or has been determined to be in “endangered or critical” status with the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA or such Multiemployer Plan is reasonably expected to be insolvent or in “endangered or critical” status, and (v) such lien, security interest or liability described in clauses (i) — (iv) of this Section 6.01(i) will or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(j)            Any provision of this Agreement shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against the Borrower, or the Borrower shall so state in writing;

 

then, and in any such event, the Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the obligation of each Lender to make Advances (other than Advances to be made by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.02(b) or by an Issuing Bank or a Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(c)) and of the Issuing Banks to Issue Letters of Credit to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Advances, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall

 

64



 

become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; provided , however , that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (A) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances (other than Advances to be made by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.02(b) or by an Issuing Bank or a Lender pursuant to Section 2.03(c)) and of the Issuing Banks to Issue Letters of Credit shall automatically be terminated and (B) the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

 

SECTION 6.02.  Actions in Respect of the Letters of Credit upon Default .  If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Agent may with the consent, or shall at the request, of the Required Revolving Credit Lenders, irrespective of whether it is taking any of the actions described in Section 6.01 or otherwise, make demand upon the Borrower to, and forthwith upon such demand the Borrower will, (a) pay to the Agent on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders in same day funds at the Agent’s office designated in such demand, for deposit in the L/C Cash Deposit Account, an amount equal to the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding or (b) make such other arrangements in respect of the outstanding Letters of Credit as shall be acceptable to the Required Revolving Credit Lenders and not more disadvantageous to the Borrower than clause (a); provided , however , that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, an amount equal to the aggregate Available Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit shall be immediately due and payable to the Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders without notice to or demand upon the Borrower, which are expressly waived by the Borrower, to be held in the L/C Cash Deposit Account.  If at any time an Event of Default is continuing the Agent determines that any funds held in the L/C Cash Deposit Account are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Agent and the Lenders or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit, the Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the L/C Cash Deposit Account, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such aggregate Available Amount over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then held in the L/C Cash Deposit Account that the Agent determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim.  Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit, to the extent funds are on deposit in the L/C Cash Deposit Account, such funds shall be applied to reimburse the Issuing Banks to the extent permitted by applicable law.  After all such Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon and all other obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such L/C Cash Deposit Account shall be returned to the Borrower.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

THE AGENT

 

SECTION 7.01.  Appointment and Authority .  Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Citibank to act on its behalf as the Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions

 

65



 

and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third-party beneficiary of any of such provisions.  It is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” herein or in any Loan Document (or any other similar term) with reference to the Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law.  Instead such term is used as a matter of market custom, and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties.

 

SECTION 7.02.  Rights as a Lender .  The Person serving as the Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent, and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.  Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for, and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

SECTION 7.03.  Exculpatory Provisions .

 

(a)           The Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, and its duties hereunder shall be administrative in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Agent:

 

(i)            shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

(ii)           shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents); provided that the Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law, including for the avoidance of doubt any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any Debtor Relief Law or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any Debtor Relief Law; and

 

(iii)          shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

66



 

(b)           The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 8.01 and 6.01), or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment.  The Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Agent in writing by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

(c)           The Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article III or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Agent.

 

SECTION 7.04.  Reliance by Agent .  The Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person.  The Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon.  In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of an Advance or the issuance, extension, renewal or increase of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing Bank, the Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or Issuing Bank prior to the making of such Advance or the issuance of such Letter of Credit.  The Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

 

SECTION 7.05.  Delegation of Duties .  The Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Agent and reasonably acceptable to the Borrower.  The Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties.  The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the Facilities as well as activities as Agent.  The Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

67



 

SECTION 7.06.  Resignation of Agent .

 

(a)           The Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower.  Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Resignation Effective Date ”), then the retiring Agent may (but shall not be obligated to), on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above.  Whether or not a successor has been appointed, such resignation shall become effective in accordance with such notice on the Resignation Effective Date.

 

(b)           If the Person serving as Agent is a Defaulting Lender pursuant to clause (v) of the definition thereof, the Required Lenders may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by notice in writing to the Borrower and such Person remove such Person as Agent and, in consultation with the Borrower, appoint a successor.  If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days (or such earlier day as shall be agreed by the Required Lenders) (the “ Removal Effective Date ”), then such removal shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice on the Removal Effective Date.

 

(c)           With effect from the Resignation Effective Date or the Removal Effective Date (as applicable) (1) the retiring or removed Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Agent on behalf of the Lenders hereunder, the retiring or removed Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Agent is appointed) and (2) except for any indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Agent, all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent as provided for above.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Agent (other than any rights to indemnity payments owed to the retiring or removed Agent), and the retiring or removed Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents.  The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor.  After the retiring or removed Agent’s resignation or removal hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 8.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring or removed Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring or removed Agent was acting as Agent.

 

(d)           Any resignation pursuant to this Section by a Person acting as Agent shall, unless such Person shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders otherwise, also act to relieve such Person and its Affiliates of any obligation to advance or issue new, or extend existing, Swing Line Advances or Letters of Credit where such advance, issuance or extension is to occur on or

 

68



 

after the effective date of such resignation.  Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Agent hereunder, (i) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Issuing Bank and Swing Line Bank, (ii) the retiring Issuing Bank and Swing Line Bank shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, (iii) the successor Swing Line Bank shall enter into an Assignment and Assumption and acquire from the retiring Swing Line Bank each outstanding Swing Line Advance of such retiring Swing Line Bank for a purchase price equal to par plus accrued interest and (iv) the successor Issuing Bank shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the retiring Issuing Bank to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring Issuing Bank with respect to such Letters of Credit.

 

SECTION 7.07.  Non-Reliance on Agent and Other Lenders .  Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement.  Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

SECTION 7.08.  No Other Duties, Etc .  Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners or Co-Syndication Agents or Co-Documentation Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Agent or a Lender hereunder.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 8.01.  Amendments, Etc .  No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided , however , that (a) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders, do any of the following:  (i) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01, (ii) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances, or the number of Lenders, that shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder, or (iii) amend this Section 8.01 and (b) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by each Lender directly affected thereby, do any of the following: (i) increase the Commitments of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal of, or rate of interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable to such Lender hereunder, or (iii) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable to such Lender hereunder (including, but not limited to, the Final Maturity Date) or the pro rata

 

69



 

application of repayments after acceleration of the Advances in accordance with Section 6.01; and provided , further , that (x) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Agent in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (y) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Bank, in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or obligations of the Swing Line Bank under this Agreement, and (z) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Issuing Banks in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, adversely affect the rights or obligations of the Issuing Banks in their capacities as such under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 8.02.  Notices, Etc .

 

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

 

(i)            if to the Borrower, to it at 100 Mission Ridge, Goodlettsville, TN 37072, Attention of Barbara Springer, Vice President and Treasurer (Facsimile No. 615-855-4808; Telephone No. 615-855-4825);

 

(ii)           if to the Agent, to Citibank at Building #3 1615 Brett Road, New Castle, Delaware  19720, Attention of Bank Loan Syndications  (Facsimile No. (646) 274-5090; Telephone No. (302) 894-6010);

 

(iii)          if to any Issuing Bank, to it at the address provided in writing to the Agent and the Borrower at the time of its appointment as an Issuing Bank hereunder; and

 

(iv)          if to a Lender, to it at its address (or facsimile number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.

 

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).  Notices delivered through electronic communications, to the extent provided in paragraph (b) below, shall be effective as provided in said paragraph (b).

 

(b)           Electronic Communications .  Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the Issuing Banks hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II if such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified the Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Agent or the Borrower may, in its reasonable discretion, agree to accept notices and other

 

70



 

communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

Unless the Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient, at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i), of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor; provided that, for both clauses (i) and (ii) above, if such notice, email or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient.

 

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

 

(d)           Platform.

 

(i)            The Borrower agrees that the Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make the Communications (as defined below) available to the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders by posting the Communications on Debt Domain, Intralinks, Syndtrak or a substantially similar electronic transmission system (the “ Platform ”).

 

(ii)           The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.”  The Agent Parties (as defined below) do not warrant the adequacy of the Platform and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the Communications.  No warranty of any kind, express, implied or statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent Party in connection with the Communications or the Platform.  In no event shall the Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “ Agent Parties ”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person or entity for damages of any kind, including, without limitation, direct or indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s  or the Agent’s transmission of communications through the Platform.  “ Communications ” means, collectively, any notice, demand, communication, information, document or other material provided by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated therein which is distributed to the Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank by means of electronic communications pursuant to this Section, including through the Platform.

 

SECTION 8.03.  No Waiver; Remedies .  No failure on the part of any Lender or the Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such

 

71



 

right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.  The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

SECTION 8.04.  Costs and Expenses .

 

(a)           Costs and Expenses .  The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Agent), in connection with the syndication of the Facilities, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by any Issuing Bank in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder, and (iii) all out of pocket expenses incurred by the Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Advances made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out of pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Advances or Letters of Credit.

 

(b)           Indemnification by the Borrower .  The Borrower shall indemnify the Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each Issuing Bank, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any Person (including the Borrower) other than such Indemnitee and its Related Parties  arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Advance or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit) or (iii) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.  This Section 8.04(b) shall not apply with respect to Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim.

 

72



 

(c)           Reimbursement by Lenders .  To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), any Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Bank or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Bank or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on each Lender’s share of the aggregate principal amount of all Advances and the Available Amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time) of such unpaid amount (including any such unpaid amount in respect of a claim asserted by such Lender); provided that with respect to such unpaid amounts owed to any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Bank solely in its capacity as such, only the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be required to pay such unpaid amounts, such payment to be made severally among them based on such Lenders’ Ratable Share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) provided , further , 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), such Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Bank in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Agent (or any such sub-agent), such Issuing Bank or any the Swing Line Bank in connection with such capacity.  The obligations of the Lenders under this paragraph (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.02(f).

 

(d)           Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc.   To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Advance or Letter of Credit, or the use of the proceeds thereof.  No Indemnitee referred to in paragraph (b) above 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.

 

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

 

(f)            Breakage .  If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any Eurodollar Rate Advance is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Lender (i) other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance, as a result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.08, 2.10 or 2.12, acceleration of the maturity of the Notes pursuant to Section 6.01 or for any other reason, or by an Eligible Assignee to a Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance upon an assignment of rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.07 as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.07 or (ii) as a result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.08, 2.10 or 2.12, the Borrower shall, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that it may reasonably incur as a result of

 

73



 

such payment or Conversion, including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such Advance.

 

(g)           Survival .  Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in Sections 2.11, 2.14 and 8.04 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 8.05.  Right of Set-off .  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held, and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing, by such Lender or any such Affiliate, to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or its Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of set-off, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.20 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 the Advances owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of set-off.  The rights of each Lender and its Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) that such Lender or its Affiliates may have.  Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Agent promptly after any such set-off and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

 

SECTION 8.06.  Binding Effect .  This Agreement shall become effective (other than Section 2.01, which shall only become effective upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.01) when it shall have been executed by the Borrower and the Agent and when the Agent shall have been notified by each Lender that such Lender has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower shall be null and void).

 

SECTION 8.07.  Assignments and Participations .

 

(a)           Successors and Assigns Generally .  No Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the

 

74



 

provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of paragraph (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in paragraph (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Assignments by Lenders .  Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Advances at the time owing to it); provided that (in each case with respect to any Facility) any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i)            Minimum Amounts .

 

(A)          in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and/or the Advances at the time owing to it (in each case with respect to any Facility) or contemporaneous assignments to related Approved Funds that equal at least the amount specified in paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section in the aggregate or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

 

(B)          in any case not described in paragraph (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Advances outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Advances of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Agent or, if “ Trade Date ” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date) shall not be less than $5,000,000 and shall be in increments of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, unless each of the Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(ii)           Proportionate Amounts .  Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Advance or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not prohibit any Lender from assigning all or a portion of its rights and obligations among separate Facilities on a non-pro rata basis.

 

75



 

(iii)          Required Consents .  No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by paragraph (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

 

(A)          the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (x) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment, or (y) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided , that, with respect to assignments of Advances under the Term Facility, the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Agent within ten Business Days after having received notice thereof;

 

(B)          the consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of (i) the Revolving Credit Facility or any unfunded Commitments with respect to the Term Facility if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Commitment in respect of such Facility, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender, or (ii) any Term Advances to a Person who is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

 

(C)          the consent of each Issuing Bank and the Swing Line Bank shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving Credit Facility (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(iv)          Assignment and Assumption .  The parties to each assignment (which shall not include the Borrower unless its consent to such assignment is required hereunder) shall execute and deliver to the Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived by the Agent in its sole discretion); provided , that only a single processing and recordation fee shall be payable in respect of multiple contemporaneous assignments to Approved Funds with respect to any Lender.   The assignee if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

 

(v)           No Assignment to Certain Persons .  No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B).

 

(vi)          No Assignment to Natural Persons .  No such assignment shall be made to a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person).

 

76



 

(vii)         Certain Additional Payments .  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 Borrower and the Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Advances 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, each Issuing Bank, the Swing Line Bank and each other Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon), and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Advances and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Advances in accordance with its Ratable 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.

 

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Agent pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections  2.11 and 8.04 and remain liable under Section 8.04(c) with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment; provided , that 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 Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (d) of this Section.

 

(c)           Register .  The Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in the United States a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts (and stated interest) of the Advances owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement.  The Register shall be available

 

77



 

for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender (with respect to its Commitment(s)), at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(d)           Participations .  Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower, the Agent, any Issuing Bank or the Swing Line Bank, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural Person (or a holding company, investment vehicle or trust for, or owned and operated for the primary benefit of, a natural Person) or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Advances owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, and (iii) the Borrower, the Agent, the Issuing Banks and Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  For the avoidance of doubt, each Lender shall be responsible for the indemnity under Section 8.04 with respect to any payments made by such Lender to its Participant(s).

 

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that affects such Participant.  The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.11, 8.04(f) and 2.14 (subject to the requirements and limitations therein, including the requirements under Section 2.14(f) (it being understood that the documentation required under Section 2.14(f) shall be delivered to the participating Lender)) to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that such Participant (A) agrees to be subject to the provisions of Section 2.18 as if it were an assignee under paragraph (b) of this Section; and (B) shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.11 or 2.14, with respect to any participation, than its participating Lender would have been entitled to receive, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.18 with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 8.05 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.15 as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Advances or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant

 

78



 

Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Agent (in its capacity as Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(e)           Certain Pledges .  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

SECTION 8.08.  Confidentiality .  Each of the Agent and the Lenders agree to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its Related Parties in connection with its participation in any of the transaction evidenced by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the administration of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, in each case on a need to know basis (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential); (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners); (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process (in which case the Agent or applicable Lender shall inform the Borrower of such disclosure to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation; (d) to any other party hereto; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder; (g) on a confidential basis to (i)  any rating agency in connection with rating the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or the Facilities or (ii) the CUSIP Service Bureau or any similar agency in connection with the issuance and monitoring of CUSIP numbers with respect to the Facilities; and (h) with the consent of the Borrower; or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section, or (y) becomes available to the Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not to the knowledge of the Agent or such Lender subject to confidentiality obligations to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

For purposes of this Section, “ Information ” means all information received from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Bank on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any

 

79



 

of its Subsidiaries after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

SECTION 8.09.  Governing Law .  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any claims, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except, as to any other Loan Document, as expressly set forth therein) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

SECTION 8.10.   Execution in Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier or email shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 8.11.  Jurisdiction, Etc .

 

(a)           Jurisdiction .  The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that it will not commence any action, litigation or proceeding of any kind or description, whether in law or equity, whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, against the Agent, any Lender or any Related Party of the foregoing in any way relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions relating hereto or thereto, in any forum other than the courts of the State of New York sitting in New York County, and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the jurisdiction of such  courts and agrees that all claims in respect of any such action, litigation or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action, litigation or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.  Nothing in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

(b)           Waiver of Venue .  The Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section.  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

80



 

(c)           Service of Process .  Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 8.02.  Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

 

SECTION 8.12.  No Liability of the Issuing Banks .  The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee of any Letter of Credit with respect to its use of such Letter of Credit.  Neither an Issuing Bank nor any of its Related Parties shall be liable or responsible for:  (a) the use that may be made of any Letter of Credit or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee in connection therewith; (b) the failure to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit); (c) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or of any endorsement thereon, even if such documents should prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (d) payment by such Issuing Bank against presentation of documents that do not comply with the terms of a Letter of Credit, including failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to the Letter of Credit; or (e) any other circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make payment under any Letter of Credit, except that the Borrower shall have a claim against such Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank shall be liable to the Borrower, to the extent of any direct, but not consequential, damages suffered by the Borrower that the Borrower proves were caused by such Issuing Bank’s willful misconduct or gross negligence when determining  whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, such Issuing Bank may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to excuse such Issuing Bank if it acts with gross negligence or willful misconduct in accepting such documents.

 

SECTION 8.13.  Patriot Act Notice .  Each Lender and the Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act.  The Borrower shall provide such information and take such actions as are reasonably requested by the Agent or any Lenders in order to assist the Agent and the Lenders in maintaining compliance with the Patriot Act.

 

SECTION 8.14.  Other Relationships; No Fiduciary Relationships .  No relationship created hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall in any way affect the ability of the Agent and each Lender to enter into or maintain business relationships with the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof beyond the relationships specifically contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  The Borrower agrees that in connection with all aspects of the transactions contemplated hereby and any communications in connection therewith, the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Agent, the Lenders and their respective Affiliates, on the other hand, will have a business relationship that does not create, by implication or otherwise, any advisory, equitable or fiduciary duties on the part of the Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates, and no such duties will be deemed to have arisen in connection with any such transactions or

 

81



 

communications.  The Borrower acknowledges that the Agent, each Lender and their Affiliates may have economic interests that conflict with those of the Borrower, its stockholders and/or its Affiliates.  The Borrower also hereby agrees that none of the Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates have advised and are advising the Borrower as to any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax matters, and that the Borrower is consulting its own advisors concerning such matters to the extent it deems appropriate.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

82



 

SECTION 8.15. Waiver of Jury Trial .  Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in any legal proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (whether based on contract, tort or any other theory).  Each party hereto (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other person has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other person would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in the Section.

 

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

 

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John W. Garratt

 

 

Name:

John W. Garratt

 

 

Title:

Interim Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CITIBANK, N.A.,

 

as Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Carolyn Kee

 

 

Name:

Carolyn Kee

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initial Lenders

 

 

 

CITIBANK, N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Carolyn Kee

 

 

Name:

Carolyn Kee

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Carlos J. Medina

 

 

Name:

Carlos J. Medina

 

 

Title:

Vice President, Wholesale Credit

 

83



 

 

 

GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Rebecca Kratz

 

 

 

Name:

Rebecca Kratz

 

 

 

Title: 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Conan Schleicher

 

 

 

Name:

Conan Schleicher

 

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ekta Patel

 

 

 

Name:

Ekta Patel

 

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPASS BANK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Khoa Duong

 

 

 

Name:

Khoa Duong

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIFTH THIRD BANK, an Ohio Banking Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lisa R. Cook

 

 

 

Name: 

Lisa R. Cook

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John A. Horst

 

 

 

Name:

John A. Horst

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Director

 

84



 

 

 

MIZUHO BANK, LTD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Lim

 

 

 

Name:

David Lim

 

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mary Ann Amshoff

 

 

 

Name:

Mary Ann Amshoff

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REGIONS BANK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Louis Alexander

 

 

 

Name:

Louis Alexander

 

 

 

Title:

SVP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R. Andrew Beam

 

 

 

Name:

R. Andrew Beam

 

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CAPITAL ONE, N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David Maheu

 

 

 

Name:

David Maheu

 

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Thomas A. Crandell

 

 

 

Name:

Thomas A. Crandell

 

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

85



 

 

 

BANK OF THE WEST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Brian Conley

 

 

 

Name:

Brian Conley

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BMO HARRIS BANK N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Mark Mital

 

 

 

Name:

Mark Mital

 

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST TENNESSEE BANK, N.A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Drew Rodgers

 

 

 

Name:

Drew Rodgers

 

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Joshua D. Elsen

 

 

 

Name:

Joshua D. Elsen

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

86



 

SCHEDULE I

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

COMMITMENTS

 

Name of Initial 
Lender

 

Revolving Credit 
Commitment

 

Term 
Commitment

 

Letter of Credit 
Commitment

 

Swing Line 
Commitment

 

Citibank, N.A.

 

$

80,701,754.39

 

$

34,298,245.61

 

$

72,500,000.00

 

$

50,000,000.00

 

Bank of America, N.A.

 

$

80,701,754.39

 

$

34,298,245.61

 

$

72,500,000.00

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC

 

$

80,701,754.39

 

$

34,298,245.61

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Bank, National Association

 

$

80,701,754.39

 

$

34,298,245.61

 

 

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

 

$

80,701,754.39

 

$

34,298,245.61

 

 

 

 

 

Compass Bank

 

$

59,649,122.81

 

$

25,350,877.19

 

 

 

 

 

Fifth Third Bank, an Ohio Banking Corporation

 

$

59,649,122.81

 

$

25,350,877.19

 

 

 

 

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

$

59,649,122.81

 

$

25,350,877.19

 

 

 

 

 

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

 

$

59,649,122.81

 

$

25,350,877.19

 

 

 

 

 

PNC Bank, National Association

 

$

59,649,122.81

 

$

25,350,877.19

 

 

 

 

 

Regions Bank

 

$

59,649,122.81

 

$

25,350,877.19

 

 

 

 

 

Branch Banking and Trust Company

 

$

50,877,192.98

 

$

21,622,807.02

 

 

 

 

 

Capital One, N.A.

 

$

50,877,192.98

 

$

21,622,807.02

 

 

 

 

 

KeyBank National Association

 

$

45,614,035.09

 

$

19,385,964.91

 

$

30,000,000.00

 

 

 

Bank of the West

 

$

31,578,947.36

 

$

13,421,052.64

 

 

 

 

 

BMO Harris Bank N.A.

 

$

31,578,947.36

 

$

13,421,052.64

 

 

 

 

 

First Tennessee Bank, NA

 

$

14,035,087.71

 

$

5,964.912.29

 

 

 

 

 

The Huntington National Bank

 

$

14,035,087.71

 

$

5,964.912.29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL:

 

$

1,000,000,000.00

 

$

425,000,000.00

 

$

175,000,000.00

 

$

50,000,000.00

 

 



 

SCHEDULE 4.01(f)

 

DISCLOSED LITIGATION

 

On October 31, 2014, a lawsuit entitled Ronda Hood v. Dollar General Corporation (the “Company”) was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (Case No. 2:14-cv-02512-JTM-DEK) (“Hood”).  In the Complaint, the Hood plaintiff seeks to proceed on a nationwide collective basis under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) on behalf of herself and other similarly situated store managers who allegedly were improperly classified as exempt executive employees under the FLSA and seeks to recover overtime pay, liquidated damages, and attorneys’ fees and costs.  The Hood plaintiff also asserts individual causes of action for alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Louisiana Human Rights Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and negligent infliction of emotional distress and seeks damages for those claims including back wages, compensatory damages, liquidated and/or punitive damages, reinstatement and/or front pay, interest, and attorneys’ fees and costs.  The Company filed its answer to the complaint on January 16, 2015.

 

The Hood plaintiff did not seek certification of her FLSA claims.  Based on the current status of this matter, the Company does not believe that the outcome of this litigation is likely to have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial statements as a whole.

 

In September 2011, the Chicago Regional Office of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC” or “Commission”) notified the Company of a cause finding related to the Company’s criminal background check policy.  The cause finding alleges that the Company’s criminal background check policy, which excludes from employment individuals with certain criminal convictions for specified periods, has a disparate impact on African-American candidates and employees in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (“Title VII”).

 

The Company and the EEOC engaged in the statutorily required conciliation process, and despite the Company’s good faith efforts to resolve the matter, the Commission notified the Company on July 26, 2012 of its view that conciliation had failed.

 

On June 11, 2013, the EEOC filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois entitled Equal Opportunity Commission v. Dolgencorp, LLC d/b/a Dollar General (Case No. 1:13-cv-04307) in which the Commission alleges that the Company’s criminal background check policy has a disparate impact on “Black Applicants” in violation of Title VII and seeks to recover monetary damages and injunctive relief on behalf of a class of “Black Applicants.”  The Company filed its answer to the complaint on August 9, 2013.

 

The Court has bifurcated the issues of liability and damages for purposes of discovery and trial.  Fact discovery related to liability is to be completed on or before February 16, 2016.

 

On July 29, 2014 and May 5, 2015, the court entered orders requiring the Company to produce certain documents, information, and electronic data for the period 2004 to present.

 

The Company believes that its criminal background check process is both lawful and

 



 

necessary to a safe environment for its employees and customers and the protection of its assets and shareholders’ investments.  The Company also does not believe that this matter is amenable to class or similar treatment.  However, at this time, it is not possible to predict whether the action will ultimately be permitted to proceed as a class or in a similar fashion or the size of any putative class.  Likewise, at this time, it is not possible to estimate the value of the claims asserted, and, therefore, the Company cannot estimate the potential exposure or range of potential loss.  If the matter were to proceed successfully as a class or similar action or the Company is unsuccessful in its defense efforts as to the merits of the action, the resolution of this matter could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as a whole.

 

On May 23, 2013, a lawsuit entitled Juan Varela v. Dolgen California and Does 1 through 50 (Case No. RIC 1306158) (“Varela”) was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Riverside.  In the original complaint, the Varela plaintiff alleges that he and other “key carriers” were not provided with meal and rest periods in violation of California law and seeks to recover alleged unpaid wages, injunctive relief, consequential damages, pre-judgment interest, statutory penalties and attorneys’ fees and costs and seeks to represent a putative class of California “key carriers” as to these claims.  The Varela plaintiff also asserts a claim for unfair business practices and seeks to proceed under California’s Private Attorney General Act (the “PAGA”).   The Company filed its answer to the complaint on July 1, 2013.

 

On November 4, 2014, the Varela plaintiff filed an amended complaint to add Victoria Lee Dinger Main as a named plaintiff and to add putative class claims on behalf of “key carriers” for alleged inaccurate wage statements and failure to provide appropriate pay upon termination in violation of California law.  The Company filed its answer to the amended complaint on December 23, 2014.  The parties have been ordered to engage in informal discovery and mediation.

 

On January 15, 2015, a lawsuit entitled Kendra Pleasant v. Dollar General Corporation, Dolgen California, LLC, and Does 1 through 50 (Case No. CIVDS1500651) (“Pleasant”) was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Bernardino in which the plaintiff seeks to proceed under the PAGA for various alleged violations of California’s Labor Code.  Specifically, the plaintiff alleges that she and other similarly situated non-exempt California store-level employees were not paid for all time worked, provided meal and rest breaks, reimbursed for necessary work related expenses, and provided with accurate wage statements and seeks to recover unpaid wages, civil and statutory penalties, interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. On March 12, 2015, the Company filed a demurrer asking the court to stay all proceedings in the Pleasant matter pending an issuance of a final judgment in the Varela matter.  The court granted the Company’s demurrer and stayed proceedings until resolution of the Varela matter. Subsequently, the Pleasant plaintiff moved to transfer this matter to the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Riverside where the Varela matter is pending, which the Company opposed.  The court denied the Pleasant plaintiff’s motion to transfer.

 

On February 20, 2015, a lawsuit entitled Julie Sullivan v. Dolgen California and Does 1 through 100 (Case No. RG 15759417) (“Sullivan”) was filed in the Superior Court of the State

 



 

of California for the County of Alameda in which the plaintiff alleges that she and other similarly situated Dollar General Market store managers in the State of California were improperly classified as exempt employees and were not provided with meal and rest breaks and accurate wage statements in violation of California law.  The Sullivan plaintiff also alleges that she and other California store employees were not provided with printed wage statements, purportedly in violation of California law.  The plaintiff seeks to recover unpaid wages, including overtime pay, civil and statutory penalties, interest, injunctive relief, restitution, and attorneys’ fees and costs.

 

On April 8, 2015, the Company removed this matter to the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 3:15-cv-01617-JD) and filed its answer on the same date.  On April 29, 2015, the Sullivan plaintiff amended her complaint to add a claim under PAGA.  The Company’s response to the amended complaint was filed on May 14, 2015.

 

The Company believes that its policies and practices comply with California law and that the Varela, Pleasant , and Sullivan actions are not appropriate for class or similar treatment.  The Company intends to vigorously defend these actions; however, at this time, it is not possible to predict whether the Varela, Pleasant , or Sullivan action ultimately will be permitted to proceed as a class, and no assurances can be given that the Company will be successful in its defense of these actions on the merits or otherwise. Similarly, at this time the Company cannot estimate either the size of any potential class or the value of the claims asserted in the Varela , Pleasant , or Sullivan action. For these reasons, the Company is unable to estimate any potential loss or range of loss in these matters; however, if the Company is not successful in its defense efforts, the resolution of any of these actions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as a whole.

 

From time to time, the Company is a party to various other legal actions involving claims incidental to the conduct of its business, including actions by employees, consumers, suppliers, government agencies, or others through private actions, class actions, administrative proceedings, regulatory actions or other litigation, including without limitation under federal and state employment laws and wage and hour laws. The Company believes, based upon information currently available, that such other litigation and claims, both individually and in the aggregate, will be resolved without a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as a whole. However, litigation involves an element of uncertainty. Future developments could cause these actions or claims to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows, or financial position. In addition, certain of these lawsuits, if decided adversely to the Company or settled by the Company, may result in liability material to the Company’s financial position or may negatively affect operating results if changes to the Company’s business operation are required .

 



 

SCHEDULE 5.02(a)

 

EXISTING LIENS

 

1.               The Ashley River Insurance Company, Inc. minimum capital requirement for state regulators in the amount of $250,000, required to be maintained in a depository account

 

2.               Liens securing Existing Subsidiary Debt as described in items 1-5 on schedule 5.02(d)

 

3.               UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Indianola DG Property, LLC c/o Castle Cooke Properties, Inc. FU/DG Indianola LLC and First Union Commercial Corporation in the State of Tennessee on 6/07/2000, file number 300-034269, as amended, for Computers to run warehouse management systems, wireless display and keypad/scanner interface devices, printers and print services used for corporate computer systems, 1000 printers used for shipping and receiving, and network equipment

 

4.               UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Sensormatic Electronics Corporation, ADT Security Services Inc and Tyco Integrated Security LLC in the State of Tennessee on 11/13/2003, file number 303-045207, as amended, for certain equipment provided by Sensormatic Electronics Corporation

 

5.               UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of EMC Corporation in the State of Tennessee on 03/31/2010, file number 310-018388 for the domain names “dg.com” and “dg.net”

 

6.               UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of CIT Technology Financing Services, Inc. in the State of Tennessee on 05/19/2010, file number 310-029479 for certain Kyocera equipment

 

7.               UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of American Greetings Corporation in the State of Tennessee on 1/13/2011, file number 211-052134, as amended, for certain inventory provided by American Greetings Corporation and the proceeds thereof

 

8.               UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of EverBank Commercial Finance, Inc. in the State of Tennessee on 1/14/2011, file number 111-011293 for certain Kyocera equipment

 

9.               UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Marlin Leasing Corp in the State of Tennessee on 06/01/2011, file number 311-032590, as amended, for certain Kyocera equipment

 

10.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Marlin Leasing Corp in the State of Tennessee on 12/27/2011, file number 211-091932, as amended, for certain Kyocera equipment

 

11.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Marlin Business Bank in the State of Tennessee on 1/17/2012, file number 212-002736 for certain Kyocera equipment

 



 

12.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Marlin Business Bank in the State of Tennessee on 3/15/2012, file number 312-312549 for certain Kyocera equipment

 

13.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Marlin Business Bank in the State of Tennessee on 6/26/2012, file number 112-221378 for certain Kyocera equipment

 

14.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Marlin Business Bank in the State of Tennessee on 2/28/2012, file number 312-308825, as amended, for certain Kyocera equipment

 

15.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Marlin Business Bank in the State of Tennessee on 6/26/2012, file number 112-221377 for certain Kyocera equipment

 

16.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Marlin Business Bank in the State of Tennessee on 8/8/2012, file number 212-045296 for certain Kyocera equipment

 

17.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of RGGD, Inc d/b/a Crystal Art Gallery in the State of Tennessee on 9/13/2012, file number 312-338476, for certain for certain inventory provided by RGGD, Inc d/b/a Crystal Art Gallery and the proceeds thereof

 

18.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Platinum Disc, LLC (DBA Echo Bridge Home Entertainment) in the State of Tennessee on 10/16/2012, file number 212-065924 for DVDs shipped to Dollar General Corporation

 

19.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Platinum Disc, LLC (DBA Echo Bridge Home Entertainment) in the State of Kentucky on 10/16/2012, file number 2012260567788 for DVDs shipped to Dollar General Corporation

 

20.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Great America Leasing Corporation in the State of Tennessee on 10/31/2012, file number 212-070471 for certain Kyocera equipment

 

21.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Carlson Systems LLC in the State of Tennessee on 6/28/2013, file number 113-032446, for certain packing supplies

 

22.        UCC Lien against Dolgencorp, LLC in favor of BCNY International, Inc. in the State of Kentucky on 8/19/2013, file number 2013266020678, for certain inventory provided by BCNY International, Inc. and all proceeds thereof

 

23.        UCC Lien against Dolgencorp of Texas, Inc. in favor of BCNY International, Inc. in the State of Kentucky on 8/19/2013, file number 2013266020890, for certain inventory provided by BCNY International, Inc. and all proceeds thereof

 

24.        UCC Lien against Dolgencorp of New York, Inc. in favor of BCNY International, Inc. in the State of Kentucky on 8/19/2013, file number 2013266020789, for certain inventory provided by BCNY International, Inc. and all proceeds thereof

 

25.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Partners in favor of BCNY International, Inc. in the State

 



 

of Kentucky on 8/19/2013, file number 2013266020901, for certain inventory provided by BCNY International, Inc. and all proceeds thereof

 

26.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of TNG GP in the State of Tennessee on 3/20/2014, file number 421259826, for certain inventory provided by TNG GP and the proceeds thereof

 

27.        UCC Lien against Dolgencorp, LLC in favor of TNG GP in the State of Kentucky on 7/3/2014, file number 2014271477520, for all frequencies and categories of magazines, comic books, calendars, puzzles and other periodicals and publications consigned by TNG GP, and all proceeds thereof

 

28.        UCC Lien against Dolgencorp of Texas, Inc. in favor of TNG GP in the State of Kentucky on 7/3/2014, file number 2014271478107, for all frequencies and categories of magazines, comic books, calendars, puzzles and other periodicals and publications consigned by TNG GP, and all proceeds thereof

 

29.        UCC Lien against Dolgencorp of New York, Inc. in favor of TNG GP in the State of Kentucky on 7/3/2014, file number 2014271477853, for all frequencies and categories of magazines, comic books, calendars, puzzles and other periodicals and publications consigned by TNG GP, and all proceeds thereof

 

30.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Partners in favor of TNG GP in the State of Kentucky on 7/3/2014, file number 2014271478541, for all frequencies and categories of magazines, comic books, calendars, puzzles and other periodicals and publications consigned by TNG GP, and all proceeds thereof

 

31.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Moneygram Payment Systems Inc. in the State of Tennessee on 3/10/2015, file number 422894678, for furniture, fixtures, equipment, inventory, accounts (including deposit accounts and accounts receivable), insurance, instruments and documents, books and records, contract rights and general intangibles and accessions and proceeds thereof

 

32.        UCC Lien against Dollar General Corporation in favor of Canon Solutions America, Inc. in the State of Tennessee on 9/16/2015, file number 423845249, for the equipment covered under equipment trial schedule 336969-4850 to trial agreement #T336969 between the secured party and the debtor, and all accessions, attachments, replacements, substitutions, modifications, and additions thereto and all proceeds thereof (including insurance proceeds)

 

33.        Purchase money security interest against Dolgencorp, LLC, Dolgencorp of Texas, Inc., Dolgencorp of New York, Inc., DG Retail, LLC, Dollar General Corporation, Dolgen California, LLC and Dollar General Partners in favor of American Greetings Corporation in the State of Kentucky on 01/07/2011 and amended on 02/27/2012, file number 2011-2495504-33, for inventory delivered by American Greetings Corporation to debtors, including various counter cards, stickers and all proceeds thereof on a direct-to-store delivery basis for sale

 

34.        UCC-1 filing against Dolgencorp of New York, Inc., Dolgen Midwest, LLC, Dolgen

 



 

California, LLC, DG Retail, LLC, Dollar General Corporation, Dollar General Partners, Dolgencorp, LLC, Dolgencorp of Texas, Inc. for inventory delivered for sale pursuant to scan-based trading and consignment terms from time to time, including without limitation framed art and wall décor, including but not limited to, framed artwork, canvas art, metal art, plaques and glass art, together with all proceeds thereof, in favor of of RGGD, INC d/b/a CRYSTAL ART GALLERY, filed in the State of Kentucky and in the State of Tennessee under various file numbers

 



 

SCHEDULE 5.02(d)

 

EXISTING SUBSIDIARY DEBT

 

1.               Lease dated as of January 19, 1999 between DG Ardmore, LLC as Landlord and Dollar General Corporation as Tenant (Ardmore, OK distribution center)

 

2.               Loan Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2005 between City of Marion, IN and Dolgencorp, LLC (f/k/a Dolgencorp, Inc.) (currently secured by Letter of Credit Reimbursement Agreement dated July 1, 2005 between Dolgencorp, Inc. and Keybank National Association), current amount outstanding: $10,590,000.00

 

3.               Dollar General Market store lease, Scottsville, KY, store 9806 (Capital Lease) between Jones & Sons Properties LLC, as lessor and Dollar General Partners as lessee

 

4.               Dollar General Market store lease, Bowling Green, KY, store 9811 (Capital Lease) between Jones & Sons Properties LLC, as lessor and Dollar General Partners as lessee

 

5.               Dollar General Market store lease, Lewisburg, TN, store 9824 (Capital Lease) between DGM Lewisburg, LLC, as lessor and Dolgencorp, Inc. as lessee

 



 

EXHIBIT A-1 - FORM OF
REVOLVING CREDIT
PROMISSORY NOTE

 

U.S.$               

 

Dated:                , 20     

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION, a Tennessee corporation (the “ Borrower ”), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the order of                           (the “ Lender ”) for the account of its Applicable Lending Office on the Termination Date (each as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below) the principal sum of U.S.$[amount of the Lender’s Revolving Credit Commitment in figures] or, if less, the aggregate principal amount of the Advances made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October   , 2015 among the Borrower, the Lender and certain other lenders parties thereto, and Citibank, N.A. as Agent for the Lender and such other lenders (as amended or modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined) outstanding on the Termination Date.

 

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit Advance from the date of such Revolving Credit Advance until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates, and payable at such times, as are specified in the Credit Agreement.

 

Both principal and interest in respect of each Revolving Credit Advance are payable in lawful money of the United States of America to the Agent at its account maintained at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, in same day funds.  Each Revolving Credit Advance owing to the Lender by the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and all payments made on account of principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender and, prior to any transfer hereof, endorsed on the grid attached hereto which is part of this Promissory Note.

 

This Promissory Note is one of the Revolving Credit Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement.  The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of Revolving Credit Advances by the Lender to the Borrower from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the Dollar amount first above mentioned, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each such Advance being evidenced by this Promissory Note and (ii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

 

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 



 

ADVANCES AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

 

Date

 

Amount of 
Advance

 

Amount of 
Principal Paid 
or Prepaid

 

Unpaid Principal 
Balance

 

Notation Made 
By

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2



 

EXHIBIT A-2 - FORM OF

TERM PROMISSORY NOTE

 

U.S.$               

 

Dated:                 , 20     

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION, a Tennessee corporation (the “ Borrower ”), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the order of                           (the “ Lender ”) for the account of its Applicable Lending Office on the Final Maturity Date (each as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below) the principal sum of U.S.$[amount of the Lender’s Term Commitment in figures] or, if less, the aggregate principal amount of the Term Advances made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October   , 2015 among the Borrower, the Lender and certain other lenders parties thereto, and Citibank, N.A. as Agent for the Lender and such other lenders (as amended or modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined) outstanding on the Final Maturity Date.

 

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Term Advance from the date of such Advance until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates, and payable at such times, as are specified in the Credit Agreement.

 

Both principal and interest in respect of the Term Advances are payable in lawful money of the United States of America to the Agent at its account maintained at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, in same day funds.  The Term Advances owing to the Lender by the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and all payments made on account of principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender and, prior to any transfer hereof, endorsed on the grid attached hereto which is part of this Promissory Note.

 

This Promissory Note is one of the Term Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement.  The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of a Term Advance by the Lender to the Borrower in an amount equal to Dollar amount first above mentioned, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from such Advance being evidenced by this Promissory Note and (ii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.

 

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Title:

 



 

ADVANCES AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL

 

Date

 

Amount of 
Advance

 

Amount of 
Principal Paid 
or Prepaid

 

Unpaid 
Principal 
Balance

 

Notation Made 
By

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2



 

EXHIBIT B - FORM OF NOTICE OF
BORROWING

 

Citibank, N.A., as Agent
for the Lenders parties
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
1615 Brett Road, Building #3
New Castle, Delaware 19720

 

[Date]

 

Attention:  Bank Loan Syndications Department

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned, Dollar General Corporation, refers to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October   , 2015 (as amended or modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”, the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for said Lenders, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Borrowing (the “ Proposed Borrowing ”) as required by Section 2.02(a) of the Credit Agreement:

 

(i)                                      The Proposed Borrowing shall be comprised of [Term][Revolving Credit] Advances.

 

(ii)                                   The Business Day of the Proposed Borrowing is                , 20  .

 

(iii)                                The Type of Advances comprising the Proposed Borrowing is [Base Rate Advances] [Eurodollar Rate Advances].

 

(iv)                               The aggregate amount of the Proposed Borrowing is $               ].

 

[(v)                              The initial Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the Proposed Borrowing is       month[s].]

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Borrowing:

 

(A)                                the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement (except the representations and warranties set forth in the last sentence of Section 4.01(e) thereof and in Section 4.01(f)(i) thereof), are true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects), before and after giving effect to the Proposed Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent any of such representations

 



 

and warranties refers to an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty is true and correct in all material respects (other than any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of such date; and

 

(B)                                no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Proposed Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 

2



 

EXHIBIT C - FORM OF
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

This Assignment and Assumption (the “ Assignment and Assumption ”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the][each] (1) Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an] “ Assignor ”) and [the][each](2) Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each, an] “ Assignee ”).  [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the Assignees](3) hereunder are several and not joint.](4)  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (as amended, the “ Credit Agreement ”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by [the][each] Assignee.  The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

 

For an agreed consideration, [the][each] Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to [the Assignee][the respective Assignees], and [the][each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors], subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of [the Assignor’s][the respective Assignors’] rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender][their respective capacities as Lenders] under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of [the Assignor][the respective Assignors] under the respective facilities identified below (including without limitation any letters of credit, guarantees, and swingline loans included in such facilities), and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of [the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender)][the respective Assignors (in their respective capacities as Lenders)] against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned by [the][any]

 


(1)              For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language.  If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language.

 

(2)              For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language.  If the assignment is to multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language.

 

(3)              Select as appropriate.

 

(4)              Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees.

 



 

Assignor to [the][any] Assignee pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as [the][an] “ Assigned Interest ”).  Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to [the][any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by [the][any] Assignor.

 

1.

 

Assignor[s]:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Assignor [is] [is not] a Defaulting Lender]

 

 

 

 

2.

 

Assignee[s]:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[for each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate][Approved Fund] of [ identify Lender ]

 

 

 

 

3.

 

Borrower(s):

Dollar General Corporation

 

 

 

 

4.

 

Administrative Agent:

Citibank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

 

 

 

 

5.

 

Credit Agreement:

The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October   , 2015 among Dollar General Corporation, the Lenders parties thereto, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents parties thereto

 

 

 

 

6.

 

Assigned Interest[s]:

 

 

Assignor[s](5)

 

Assignee[s](6)

 

Facility 
Assigned(7)

 

Aggregate 
Amount of 
Commitment/
Advances for all
Lenders(8)

 

Amount of 
Commitment/
Advances 
Assigned(8)

 

Percentage 
Assigned of 
Commitment/
Advances(9)

 

CUSIP 
Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

 

%

 

 

[7.                                   Trade Date:                                                                                              ](10)

 


(5)              List each Assignor, as appropriate.

 

(6)              List each Assignor, as appropriate.

 

(7)              Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Assignment (e.g., “Revolving Credit Commitment,” “Term Commitment,” etc.)

 

(8)              Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.

 

(9)              Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Advances of all Lenders thereunder.

 

(10)       To be completed if the Assignor(s) and the Assignee(s) intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

 

2



 

Effective Date:                    , 20    [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

 

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

 

ASSIGNOR[S](11)

 

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNEE[S](12)

 

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Title:

 

[Consented to and](13) Accepted:

 


(11)   Add additional signature blocks as needed.  Include both Fund/Pension Plan and manager making the trade (if applicable).

 

(12)   Add additional signature blocks as needed.  Include both Fund/Pension Plan and manager making the trade (if applicable).

 

(13)   To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

3



 

[NAME OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT], as

 

  Administrative Agent

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Title:

 

 

4



 

[Consented to:]

 

 

 

[NAME OF RELEVANT PARTY]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Title:

 

 

5



 

ANNEX 1

 

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

 

1.                                       Representations and Warranties .

 

1.1                                Assignor[s] .  [The][Each] Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the][such] Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim, (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) it is [not] a Defaulting Lender; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document, or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

 

1.2.                             Assignee[s] .  [The][Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section 8.07(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) of the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 8.07(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire the Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(h) thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender attached to the Assignment and Assumption is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the][such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, [the][any] Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in

 

6



 

accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

2.                                       Payments .  From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the][each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to [the][the relevant] Assignee whether such amounts have accrued prior to, on or after the Effective Date.  The Assignor[s] and the Assignee[s] shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments by the Administrative Agent for periods prior to the Effective Date or with respect to the making of this assignment directly between themselves  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments of interest, fees or other amounts paid or payable in kind from and after the Effective Date to [the][the relevant] Assignee.

 

3.                                       General Provisions .  This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy or email shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption.  This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

7



 

EXHIBIT D-1

 

FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October   , 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Dollar General Corporation, the Lenders parties thereto, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the other agents parties thereto, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Advance(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Advance(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

1



 

EXHIBIT D-2

 

FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October   , 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Dollar General Corporation, the Lenders parties thereto, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the other agents parties thereto, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

2



 

EXHIBIT D-3

 

FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October   , 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Dollar General Corporation, the Lenders parties thereto, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the other agents parties thereto, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

3



 

EXHIBIT D-4

 

FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(For Foreign Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October   , 2015 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Dollar General Corporation, the Lenders parties thereto, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, the other agents parties thereto, and each lender from time to time party thereto.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Advance(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Advance(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Advance(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Advance(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

4


Exhibit 5.1

 

BAKER DONELSON CENTER
SUITE 800
211 COMMERCE STREET
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
37201
PHONE: 615.726.5600
FAX: 615.726.0464
MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. BOX 190613
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
37219

 

www.bakerdonelson.com

 

October 20, 2015

 

Dollar General Corporation

100 Mission Ridge

Goodlettsville, TN 37072

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Dollar General Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale of the Company’s 4.150% Notes due 2025 in the aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000 (the “Notes”) in an underwritten public offering pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement dated October 15, 2015 between the Company and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representatives of the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”).  The Notes are to be offered and sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated October 15, 2015 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), and the accompanying base prospectus dated March 25, 2013 (the “Base Prospectus” and collectively with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”) that form part of the Company’s effective registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-187493) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

 

The Notes will be issued under an indenture, dated July 12, 2012, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “Base Indenture”), and the fifth supplemental indenture dated as of October 20, 2015 (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture,” and collectively with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Notes will be issued, between the Company and the Trustee.

 

We have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture.  We also have examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such corporate and other records, agreements, documents and other instruments and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth.  As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied, without independent investigation, upon the representations and warranties made by the parties in the

 



 

Indenture and the Underwriting Agreement, and upon certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.

 

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.  We also have assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.

 

Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

 

(1)                                  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the state of Tennessee.

 

(2)                                  The Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Indenture.

 

(3)                                  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Indenture will not violate the law of the state of Tennessee, and does not and will not constitute a breach or violation of its charter or bylaws.

 

It is further our opinion that, when the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act and such “Blue Sky” or other state securities laws as may be applicable shall have been complied with and when the Notes have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered by or on behalf of the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus:

 

(1)                                  The Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

Our opinion rendered above relating to the enforceability of the Notes is subject to the following exceptions, limitations and qualifications: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity (including, without limitation, laches and estoppel as equitable defenses, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and considerations of impracticability or impossibility of performance and defenses based upon unconscionability), whether enforcement is considered or applied in a proceeding at law or in equity, and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought; and (iii) the qualification that the remedies of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

2



 

Our opinions as set forth herein are limited to the federal law of the United States and the laws of the State of Tennessee.  No opinion is given regarding the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

This letter speaks as of the date hereof.  The foregoing opinions are rendered solely for the benefit of the Company; provided, however, that the foregoing opinions may be relied upon by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.  We disclaim any obligation to provide any subsequent opinion or advice by reason of any future changes or events which may affect or alter any opinion rendered herein.  Our opinion is limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is to be implied or inferred beyond the matters stated herein.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K, which we understand will be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement.  In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the Commission’s rules and regulations.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

/s/ BAKER, DONELSON, BEARMAN, CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ, P.C.

 

 

 

BAKER, DONELSON, BEARMAN, CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ, P.C.

 

3


Exhibit 5.2

 

October 20, 2015

 

Dollar General Corporation

100 Mission Ridge

Goodlettsville, Tennessee 37072

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Dollar General Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-187493) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the issuance by the Company of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.150% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Notes”).  The Notes will be issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of July 12, 2012 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 20, 2015 (the “Supplemental Indenture,” together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee.

 

We have examined the Registration Statement as it became effective under the Securities Act; the prospectus dated March 25, 2013 (the “Base Prospectus”), as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated October 15, 2015 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act; the Indenture; duplicates of the global notes representing

 



 

the Notes; and the Underwriting Agreement dated October 15, 2015 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company and the underwriters named therein.

 

We also have examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinion hereinafter set forth.  As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.

 

In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.  We also have assumed that at the time of execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of the Notes, the Indenture will be the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.

 

We have assumed further that (1) the Company is validly existing and in good standing under the law of the State of Tennessee, (2) the Indenture and the Notes have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company in accordance with the law of the State of Tennessee, and (3) the execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture and the Notes by the Company will not violate the law of the State of Tennessee or any other applicable law (except that we make no such assumption with respect to the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States).

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that, assuming due authentication of the Notes by the

 

2



 

Trustee, and upon payment for, and delivery of, the Notes in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

Our opinion set forth above is subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an Exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K, which we understand will be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

/s/ Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

 

 

 

SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

 

3


Exhibit 99.1

 

Information Relating to Part II, Item 14. — Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

The expenses in connection with the offer and sale of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.150% Senior Notes due 2025, registered pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-187493) filed on March 25, 2013, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, are set forth in the following table.  All amounts are estimated except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee

 

$

50,271.45

 

Accounting Fees and Expenses

 

40,000.00

 

Printing Expenses

 

20,000.00

 

Legal Fees and Expenses

 

190,000.00

 

Blue Sky Fees and Expenses

 

10,000.00

 

Rating Agency Fees and Expenses

 

650,000.00

 

Miscellaneous Expenses

 

100,000.00

 

Total

 

$

1,060,271.45